Arabian Society
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- Describe Arabian society before Islam. What were the prime targets of the Qur’anic message in that society?
It can be traced in the early 19th century. Nomadic communities who carried out business and moved from one place to another looking for pastures occupied the Arabian society. Christians, Jewish, and pagans inhabited the ancient Arab Empire. The history can be traced from the Muslims scholars, ancient, Old Testament and relics books. The story can be discovered during the rise of Himyarite. They were split into small ethnic groups in Arabic Pensula. Those major clans included the qehtaniyans, the adnaninyans and baidans. The major town was Makka (Mecca) and was the capital or caravan trade.
This period was referred to as Arabic Ignorance Age. They did not have organized political organization. It was dominated by anarchy and lack of law. They had outstanding skills in poetry, archery, and horsemanship. It is claimed they had a sharp memory. Finally, they did not believe any religion. They highly relied on witchcraft and superstition (Hardy & Kinney, 2005).
Islam religion focused on the message of peace to the world. It is referred to as Summand borium. That was to please God as the highest respect being. Islam was guided by the principle of absolute belief and trust in God. Every chapter (sura) in Qur’an describes Almighty God as the merciful, Lord of the people and most gracious for instance, alrahman, rabbah alaman and alrahim. The Bible, refers, God as the God of Moses, Joshua, Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac. The Quran does not relate to any prophet. Islam promotes rational thinking among it believers; it condemns fanaticism and extremism among people. It calls for religious pluralism and universality. It believes Christians, Sabians, and Jews believe in one God and they will be rewarded.
- What were the primary kinds of leadership in the early Islamic politics? To what Extent was political and religious, leadership separated in different offices and Functions?
It was delivered from Sunna and Quran. Those were the sayings of Prophet Muhammad, Islamic history, and early political movements. Political leadership was by election or being appointed a successor of the prophet. The leaders were guided and inspired by Islamic laws. The elected leaders were supposed to consult with sheiks. In 1924, the Islamic world abolished the Ottoman state. That was to resist the western imperialism. They believed in using democracy, the military conquest to enforce sharia law. The fall of Soviet Union led to increasing of Islamic influence and Islamic democracy, Islamism and Islamic fundamentalist (Hardy & Kinney, 2005).
It varies from one Islamic state to another. Muslims believe religion is very crucial and influences every aspect of one’s life. However, some believe its separating secular life from religious work. Secularism in an Islamic state is referred to as Islamism. They promote secular social and political values, which are contrary to the Quran teaching. That has led to application of sharia law in governance and legal systems. Prophet Muhammad was considered a religious leader and a political leader. He moved from Mecca to Medina in 1962 to serve as a judge. Therefore, there is a close relationship between Islamic religion and governance.
- Discuss the "classical" culture of the golden age of the Caliphate. What role did foreign traditions play in it? What were some of its prominent achievements?
That was a crucial period in the Islamic rebirth. It rose from the word successor. That happened after the death of Prophet Muhammad. There was conflict due to a succession of the prophets, which led to the split of Muslims to Suni, and Shiit. The shiit believed the caliphate position should be elective while the Shiit believed the successor should be nominated or proposed by the religious leaders. In the end, the Sunnis won but the battle led to the rise of Islamic movements (Hardy & Kinney, 2005).
This era was done by Abbasad caliphate that brought great achievement to the empire. He managed to conquer and expand his kingdom from Spain up to China. Significant results included expansion of the territory, vast wealth growth; the Caliphate moved the capital to Baghdad and it became a centre for civilization. Finally, it led to the development of classical Islamic culture. That resulted in establishment of Islamic centre of knowledge in 813 in Baghdad. It was named the house of wisdom, which served as Library, translation office, and the academy.
- Discuss the conversion of subject populations in the early centuries of Islamic Empire. What were incentives and obstacles to conversion?
The conversion was boosted by missionary activities by the Suffis who propagated for Islamic religious teaching. The Umayyad and early Abbasand Caliphates were keen to convert all citizens to Islam. They prohibited their followers from taking property after the conquest. They converted people after conquering the states empires. Most Non-Arabs were converted to Islam. The ruling elite were at center stage in spreading Islamic teachings. That made the ruling elites to be more influential, and promoted the growth of Islamic literature. The conversation was easy; one had to believe in the message of Muhammad. In addition, one had to read Quran and adhere to Islamic teachings.
Islamic conversion was promoted by the vast trade growth of trade and rise of cities and urban centres. Muslim economics and commerce activities led to the expansion of Ottoman Empire thus the fast spread of Islam in Mecca, Africa, Atlantic, and Pacific. The rise of various Islamic dynasty and empires in Ajuran, Fatimids, Abbasid Somalia, India and Persia promoted the spread of Islam (Hardy & Kinney, 2005).
The conversion did not face significant challenges since the Arabs did not put much effort and initiative to spread the religion. In addition, they faced challenges from other religions like Christianity, which was sending the missionary all over the world to convert people.