Chapter Eight:

Islam

Culture and Values, 6th Ed.Cunningham and Reich

Spread of Islam

Muhammad and the Birth of Islam

Muhammad born in Mecca (570)– Founder of Islam– Orphaned, reared in poverty and married a rich

widow who had a daughter

Fatima (Muhammad’s daughter)– Model of piety and purity

• Married the first Imam (authoritative religious leader) of the Shiites

Muhammad and the Birth of Islam

Muhammad retreated into caves to meditate and ponder reasons for his good fortune

Received revelations of God through angel Gabriel– Preached against idolatry in Mecca; taught worship of

one God

– Encountered severe opposition

Fled From Mecca to Medina - Hegira (622)– Beginning of Muslim calendar

Muhammad and the Birth of Islam

Developed a following in Medina Returned to Mecca 10 years later Qa’aba – (Arabic for “cube”) the Meccan pagan

shrine that became focal point of the new religion

“Islam” means submission to God– monotheistic– Rejection of Christian doctrine of the Trinity

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Recitation of the Muslim act of faith– One God; Muhammad is God’s messenger

2. Obligation of prayer– 5 times a day in a direction that points to the Qa’aba

in Mecca

3. Charity – give of one’s wealth (surplus) 4. Fasting during Ramadan –

– Abstinence of all food and drink from sunrise to sunset

Five Pillars of Islam

5. Pilgrimage (Haj)– Travel to Mecca at least once in a lifetime

Muhammad traveled to the purified and restored Qa’aba in 632– Muhammad’s Haj– Died the same year

Millions of people participate in the pilgrimage each year

Qa’aba in Mecca

Practices of Islam

No pork, alcohol Male circumcision Polygamy acceptable, but not practiced

worldwide Usury (loan interest) forbidden Observation of feast days

Practices of Islam

Simplicity of the teaching:– Submission to the will of the one God– Insistence on daily prayer– Appeal for charity– And demand for asceticism (self denial)

All these led to rapid growth and spread of religion

The Qur’an

Central text of Islam– Collation of Muhammad’s oral revelations– Revelations were maintained orally, but soon after

Muhammad’s death, followers wrote down the revelations

– Qur’an (AKA Koran) is Arabic for “recitation”

114 chapters (sûras)– Arranged in terms of length: longest to shortest– Roughly as long as Christian New Testament

The Qur’an

Opening chapter in the form of a short prayer invoking the name of God

Other 113 chapters (sûras) are arranged by length: longest to shortest

Written in Arabic– Cannot be translated into other languages b/c it came as the

result of divine dictation – Written and read from right to left

Vernacular versions exist, but are considered paraphrases or glosses

The Qur’an

Source of unifications for all Muslims– Only recited in Arabic

Memorization and recitation– Sign of devotion– Competitions for reciting the Qur’an– In cities having a Muslim majority, it is not

uncommon to find radio stations that feature reading of the Qur’an 24 hours/day.

The Qur’an

Qur’an, Hadith, Shari’a (“law”)– Hadith – authoritative commentators on the

Qur’an and explication of certain oral traditions about the Prophet and early Islamic community make up this body of literature

– Shari’a – complex legal code based on Qur’an and Hadith

– Islamic law for their governance• Both traditional and conservative

Calligraphy

Greek for “Beautiful writing” Kufic (most characteristic form of writing) see

Fig. 8.2 Decorative feature of mosques as well as on the

text of the Qur’an– Decorates great halls erected for assemblies for

Friday prayers– “mosque” (from “masjid”) – a place for ritual

prostration, show submission to God

Page from the Qur’an, eighth century

Calligraphy Abstract, geometric designs with text and to

decorate interior and exterior of mosques– No depictions of divinity – Allah is beyond all imagining

– Arabesque – highly complex interlaced lines (See Fig. 8.3)

• Used with sacred texts for decoration

– No narrative scenes• Scenes usually depict nonhuman images of plants and

flowers

Portal of the Isfahan Mosque

Islamic Architecture

Functions of Islamic mosques Large gathering area for prayer and meeting

• Especially for Friday prayers• Gathering area is covered with rugs

– Steps lead up to a Minbar (the pulpit), only furniture in mosque

• No furniture in a mosque

Islamic Architecture

Michrab – niche in wall that indicates direction of Mecca

Fountains – in traditional Friday mosques Devout may ritually cleanse their hands, feet, and mouth

Muezzin – they call the faithful to prayer five times a day from tower or minarets next to the mosque

Islamic Architecture

Serve as community gathering centers• Scholars study and debate• Courtroom proceedings• Place to sit and relax in courtyard

– Gathering place for the community to express itself

Islamic Architecture:The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

One of the earliest achievements of Islamic architecture

Caliph Abd al Malik - architect– Built on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem

• An elevated space that was once the site of the Jewish temple destroyed by the Romans in C.E. 70

Octagonal building, capped by golden dome Roman+Byzantine architecture Lavish mosaics in interior

Islamic Architecture:The Dome of the Rock (see Fig. 8.4)

Qur’anic verses in interior Uncertain original functionality

– Mausoleum?– Mosque?– Counterpoint to Church of the Holy Sepulcher?

• Rebuff in stone to Christianity

– Possibly built as a rival to the Qa’aba– Scholars don’t agree on the original purpose of the

building

The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Islamic Architecture:

Mosque of Damascus (Figs. 8.5 & 8.6)

Abd al Walid – builder of mosque– Built on the site of a Roman temple turned into a Byzantine

church• Used walls surrounding the church complex for walls of

mosque Lavish interior decoration

– Marble – paneled lower walls– Byzantine mosaics – on upper walls

• Depiction of heaven with palaces and fountains Caliph’s palace (now gone) – next to mosque for easy

movement between both

Mosque of Damascus

Islamic Architecture:Mosque in Córdoba, Spain (Fig. 8.7 & 8.8)

Muslim capital in Spain Construction began in 8th century, courtyard and prayer hall

additions were added in 9th and 10th centuries Al-Hakam – ruler of Córdoba

– Al-Hakam wanted a rival of Great Mosque of Damascus• Interior columns support Roman arches (Fig. 8.8)

– Requested Constantinople artisans, workmen– Emperor sent 17 tons of tesserae (cubes that make up a

mosaic) along with the workers

Islamic Architecture:Mosque in Córdoba, Spain (Fig. 8.7 & 8.8)

Survived the Reconquista – Christians drove Muslims out of Spain in 1492– Destroyed other Islamic buildings

Central dome in Mosque of Cordoba

[Image 8.8]Maqsura screen of the Córdoba Mosque

Maqsura screen: of Cordoba Mosque

Islamic Architecture:

The Alhambra – Granada, Spain

Exterior : complex of towers and walls provide no hint to beauty of the interior

Built in 13th & 14th centuries: Consists of two adjacent palaces: Both have central courtyards w/ covered walkways or porches

– Palace of the Myrtles• Named for the myrtles that grow there• Used for public occasions

– Palace of the Lions (Fig. 8.9)• Used as a private residence• Pinnacle of opulence – slender columns, wooden ceiling

work, molded plaster

Islamic Architecture:

The Alhambra – Granada, Spain

Possibly used for Islamic university– Study, teaching, and research

Lavishly Decorated: Colored tiles and intricate woodwork Infusion of interior streams that spring up into

fountains– Water runs throughout all parts of the palaces

Islamic Architecture:

Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Mughal reign 1526-1858 – height of Muslim culture Emperor Shah Jahan

– Built Taj Mahal as a tribute to wife, Mumtaz Mahal (palace favorite) - House her body and honor her memory

Set on the river Jumna Dome atop octagonal structure, has 4 slender minarets Building made from highly polished white marble

– Restrained exterior decoration, little attempt to add color Large garden setting w/ reflecting pools Inspired by the description of paradise in the Qur’an

[Image 8.10]Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Sufism

Sunni and Shi’a traditions

– 85% of Muslims belong to Sunni (“well trod”) tradition

– Significant minority (the majority in Iran) belong to Shi’a branch of Islam

From literary perspective, Sufism is one of the most influential traditions– The name “sufi” derives from Arabic word for unbleached wool

Sufism describes an ancient and complex movement of communities or small groups of sheyks and their disciples that emphasized practices and disciplines that would lead a person to a direct experience with God.

Sufism Sufism = represents mystical dimension of Islam

– Sheyks (teachers of immense religious authority) and disciples

– Sufi mystics live retirement in poverty– Preach about piety and repentance– Sometimes embraced with enthusiasm; other times

viewed with suspicion

Sufi tariqas (communities) in North Africa, Egypt, and other Muslim lands

Sufi Writers

Two writers give insight to Sufi thought and expression: Saint Rabia & Rumi

Saint Rabia: Sufi woman, known as the flute player– Was a mystic poet– Expressed convictions in aphorisms, poems,

meditations– Focus on the love of Allah was central – A focus of Allah’s love excluded any fear of

damnation as well as hope for paradise– “possess nothing…except Allah”

Sufi Writers

Rumi – mystic poet (13th century)– Persian poems (rhyming couplets)

• Wrote more than 3000 poems• Body of work: “the Qur’an in Persian”

– Discourses on mystical experiences– Recitation of poetry and movement (dervishes)

• Recite poetry while dancing in a formal but ecstatic fashion• Poetry and movement would focus total attention on Allah• Founded community of dervishes (see Fig. 8.11)

The Culture of Islam and the West

Abbasid Dynasty – centered in Baghdad (present day Iraq) – one of the high points of Islamic culture– Built paper making factory in 794– Learned the technique from a Chinese prisoner

Caliph Al-Mamun – built library & study center– Bait al-hikma: “House of Wisdom”– Translated texts into Arabic

• Preservation of works of Aristotle• Translation of Platonic works; medical texts of Galen, & other

treatises– Translations of Greek texts

The Culture of Islam and the West

Advances in mathematics, medicine– Al-Khwarizmi – greatest single scholar in House of Wisdom

• Polymath researcher• Invented algebra• Adapted Hindu numerical system, and created the “zero”

as a place holder and number– Al Hazen – crucial work in optics

• Technology of grinding and making lenses– Rhazes – doctor; clinical observation of smallpox and

measles (distinguished between the two diseases)

The Culture of Islam and the West

Exchange of goods / ideas with Europe– Quality swords (Damascus, Syria & Toledo, Spain), silk

(damask), coffee – Windmills (West learned from the Muslims)– Lexicon contributions (orange, lemon, sugar, saffron,

syrup, alcohol) – Arabic words Al-Ghazali

– The Incoherence of the Philosophers: attacked Greek philosophy

The Culture of Islam and the West

Averröes – responded to Al Ghazali and showed how Islam could be reconciled with Greek philosophy– “He of the Great Commentary”– The Incoherence of Incoherence