Political Islam

World History - Libertyville HS

Why Did Islam Spread?

Before death in 632, Muhammad told followers to spread Muslim faith to rest of world

Abu Bakr – elected caliph to succeed Muhammad in 632

He invoked jihad against non believers

What does “jihad” mean?

Literally means “striving” (3 types) Personal striving (purify

soul) Verbal striving (justice) Physical striving

(contextual) In Qur’anic context, it

means an Islamic holy war against unbelievers

Jihad Quotes from the Qur’an

“But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, And seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent (accept Islam) and establish regular prayers and practices regular charity then open the way for them; for God is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”  

(Qur’an 9:5)

Jihad Quotes from the Qur’an

“O ye who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are near to you, and let them find harshness in you, and know that Allah is with those who keep their duty (unto Him)” (Quran-9:123)

“….Allah promises you much booty (spoils of war) that you will capture from the defeated infidels….”  (Qur’an 48:20)

Historical Jihad

Invitation was sent to neighboring locations of unbelievers to voluntarily convert to Islam or face invasion Pagans = convert or die People of the Book

(Jews, Christians ) = Convert or be conquered and become dhimmi

Islam to 661 AD

Four caliphs after Muhammad were known as the “Rightly Guided Caliphs”

Next two caliphs, including Ali, son in law of Muhammad, saw expansion of Muslim Empire into Persian, Byzantine Empires

Each caliph was assassinated by rivals

The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)

After Ali’s death, the Umayyads (Arab family from Mecca) seized power

Umayyads moved capital from Mecca to Damascus

They continued conquests into Pakistan, Africa, & Spain

Rise of the Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258)

The Abbasids were primarily Persian rebels against the Umayyads

They took over after slaughtering all but one Umayyad prince, who fled to Spain and set up a kingdom there (Moors)

Abbasids moved capital to Baghdad, mainly for reasons of trade

Islam in 1000 AD

Golden Age of Abbasid Caliphate

Baghdad quickly grew as money from conquest and tribute flowed

Abbasids established a strong central government to control empire

Scholars flocked to Baghdad Large libraries Muslims very respectful of

learning of all cultures

Abbasid Golden Age

Translation of Chinese, Indian scientific works into Arabic

Muslim state was the most advanced of this period

They collected knowledge of all peoples

BUT they did not necessarily effectively use that knowledge

Disintegration and Fragmentation

Islam’s empire was too big for control from one center

Caliphs were isolated from and not responsive to the people

Three way fight for power developed Abbasids (Persia) Fatimids took over Egypt Seljuk Turks

Seljuk Turks

Took over Syria, Palestine, Islamic Asia

Fought against crusaders

Eventually eliminated by the Mongols

The Mongols and Islam

The Mongols under Genghis Khan swept through the Abbasid Caliphate and destroyed it by 1258

Mongols destroyed everything in their path Irrigation systems of Persia,

Mesopotamia Main reason why area is desert

today Mongols stopped in Egypt in

1260 by Mamelukes, (Christian slave-soldiers)

Rise of the Ottoman Turks

Ottoman Turks, steppe people, were driven from central Asia by Mongols in 1200s

Made their way to Anatolia

In 1300s, Ottomans united and forged an empire in Anatolia, fighting the Byzantines

Ottomans Conquer Islamic World

From Anatolia, the Ottomans crossed the Bosphorus Straits into Europe and began conquering the Balkans

In 1453, their ruler, Mehmet II, conquered Constantinople and ended the Byzantine Empire

Went on to conquer Muslim world, parts of Europe

Greatest Extent of Ottoman Empire