...بن المغيرة المخزومي; 592–642) also known as Sayf Allāh al-Maslūl (Arabic: سيف الله المسلول; Drawn Sword of God), was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is noted for his military tactics and prowess, commanding the forces of Medina under Muhammad and the forces of his immediate successors of theRashidun Caliphate; Abu Bakr and Umar ibn Khattab.[1] It was under his military leadership that Arabia, for the first time in history, was united under a single political entity, the Caliphate. Commanding the forces of the nascent Islamic State, Khalid was victorious in over a hundred battles, against the forces of the Byzantine-Roman Empire, Sassanid-Persian Empire, and their allies, in addition to other Arab tribes. His strategic achievements include the conquest of Arabia, Persian Mesopotamia and Roman Syria within several years from 632 to 636. He is also remembered for his decisive victories at Yamamah, Ullais, and Firaz, and his tactical successes at Walaja andYarmouk.[2] Khalid ibn al-Walid (Khalid son of al-Walid, lit. Immortal son of the Newborn) was from the Meccan tribe of Quraysh, from a clan that initially opposed Muhammad. He played a vital role in the Meccan victory at the Battle of Uhud against the Muslims. He converted toIslam, and joined Muhammad after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and participated in various expeditions for him, such as the Battle of Mu'tah. It was the first battle between the Romans and the Muslims. Khalid ibn Al-Walid reported that the fighting...
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...THE EARLY ISLAMIC ERA Name Institution Introduction The start and spread of Islam is a broad body of knowledge that has been explained extensively by religious scholars and philosophers alike. Despite the presence of Christianity from the ancient times, Islam has had a tremendous growth particularly in the Middle East where up to now it is still the leading religion in the region. The early Islamic era is a fascinating study for historians who seek to understand the dynamics that gave birth to one of the biggest religion in the world; and with such a strong faith base. Islam is characterized by a unifying component that places all the Muslims across the nations in one category of identity. According to Khan (2011), it is very easy to recognize that an environment belongs to Islam than it is to identify the other religions. The early Islamic era, if it is anything to believe, was stronger than the crystallized Islam we have today. There is a concept that Islam spread rapidly because of the use of the sword in one hand and the Quran on the other hand. This is believed to have been done by the Jihadist among other substantial members of the Muslim faith. This notion forms the controversy that further catapults this study and makes it more interesting. This paper thus, focuses and explores the reasons that underpinned the rapid spread of Islam beyond Arabia. It also seeks to establish the understanding of the motive behind the early Islamic conquests. More importantly it sought...
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...Course ID: LBA 101 © Prof. M. Emdadul Haq 22 February 2010 Arab Conquest of Sindh and the Emergence of Muslim Bengal Introduction: • While Harsha Bhardan was reigning over a powerful kingdom in north India when Huen-Tsang, the Chinese scholar-pilgrim, was studying at Nalanda University in Magada, and Islam was emerging as a great religion in Saudi Arabia. It took nearly 600 years before the new religion reached the heart of India and then to Bengal as an ideology. • Prophet Mohammad (SWA) vitalized his followers and filled them with faith and enthusiasm, developed the zeal and self-confidence to change the course of history. • The Arabs, with their passionate enthusiasm and dynamic energy, had spread out and conquered from Spain to the borders of Mongolia carrying with them a brilliant culture. They crossed the Straits of Gibraltar, narrow straits between Africa and Europe, and entered Spain in 711 AD. They occupied the whole of Spain and crossed the Pyrenees into France subsequently. • At the dawn of the 8th century the Arabs had spread over Iraq, Iran, and central Asia. In 712 AD they reached and occupied Sindh in the northwest India and stopped there for a few hundred years. A great desert separated this area from the more fertile parts of northeastern India. Conquest of Sindh: • The conquest of Sindh by the Arabs laid the foundation of future Muslim rule in India. Arab traders had business links with India during the pre-Islamic days. Through their business...
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...Fatima Soleman Abdi Idd Hist 275 Essay 1 : Islam was born in the Hijaz in the 7th century and expanded to the rest of the Middle East where its key institutions were established. Simultaneously, it went through a rapid wave of expansion and eventually reached the African continent though North Africa and was progressively embraced in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, we cannot say there was such a thing as a unique process of expansion of Islam because an African identity was inexistent. Indeed, the continent and especially our area of focus, consisting of North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, was composed of different regions defined by their ethnicity and their ancestry. Furthermore, the physical separation created by the Sahara desert also played a major role into accentuating the disparities. We will explore here, how the introduction of Islam in both regions differed significantly and how in the secondary phase of “rooting” of the faith, this key difference in the first contacts the religion had in these two regions led to the establishment of two distinct Islams. Finally, we will demonstrate that when we look beyond the complexity of both processes, they ultimately share many similarities. The main difference in the process of arrival of Islam in North Africa and Sub-Saharan African is displayed by the rapidity of expansion. Whereas by 720, North Africa was controlled by the Muslims, the adoption of Islam below the Sahara appeared to be more slowly...
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...by those Arab Mahometans , but no Mahometan power can be said to have made any impression on Hindostan until the eleventh century of the Christian era. Mahmood, the son of Sabatagin, better known as Sultan Mah- mood, had at this period established himself at Ghuzni, in Afghan- istan, and founded the Ghuznividian dynasty. He rose from a humble station, and about A.D. 999 conquered Korasan. In 1001 he invaded and conquered Lahore, extended his con- quests to Guzerat, and his fame is remembered and execrated to this day by Hindoos generally as the destroyer of many monuments of their idolatry, notably the temples of Napakote and Somnaut. His dominions extended from the banks of the Ganges to the shores of the Caspian Sea; but in many of the conquered districts his power was more nominal than real. This nominal supremacy was the cause of frequent inroads into India by successive princes of the dynasty, for the purpose of enforcing tribute due from pro- vinces subdued by former invaders. The successors of Mahmood having been driven from Ghuzni by the Afghan house of Ghoor, their capital was established at Lahore. The last of this line of princes was treacherously murdered by Mahomed Ghoory, with whom began the Gaurian dynasty. In 1193 Delhi was wrested from its Hindoo ruler by Kotb-od- deen, Mahomed's general. In this reign Ajmere, Guzerat, and Agra fell under the Mahometan rule, and succeeding princes of the dynasty carried their conquests to Bengal...
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...THE FATE OF EMPIRES and SEARCH FOR SURVIVAL Sir John Glubb John Bagot Glubb was born in 1897, his father being a regular officer in the Royal Engineers. At the age of four he left England for Mauritius, where his father was posted for a three-year tour of duty. At the age of ten he was sent to school for a year in Switzerland. These youthful travels may have opened his mind to the outside world at an early age. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in September 1914, and was commissioned in the Royal Engineers in April 1915. He served throughout the first World War in France and Belgium, being wounded three times and awarded the Military Cross. In 1920 he volunteered for service in Iraq, as a regular officer, but in 1926 resigned his commission and accepted an administrative post under the Iraq Government. In 1930, however, he signed a contract to serve the Transjordan Government (now Jordan). From 1939 to 1956 he commanded the famous Jordan Arab Legion, which was in reality the Jordan Army. Since his retirement he has published seventeen books, chiefly on the Middle East, and has lectured widely in Britain, the United States and Europe. William Blackwood & Sons Ltd 32 Thistle Street Edinburgh EH1 1HA Scotland © J. B. G. Ltd, 1976, 1977 ISBN 0 85158 127 7 Printed at the Press of the Publisher Introduction As we pass through life, we learn by experience. We look back on our behaviour when we were young and think how foolish we were. In the same way our family...
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...The Spread of Islam The true incubator of Islam was the coalition of civilizations in the Near East starting in the early 7th century. In less than two hundred years, Islam went from not existing to being the the political and religious organizing principle of one of the largest empires in the world. To understand the birth of Islam, one must first understand the environment that empowered its rise to become a global religion. Pre Islamic Arabia was divided amongst the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine Empire (Housed in modern day Turkey), and the Persian or Sasanian empire. Both were extremely powerful empires with strong military and political strength, each defending their own religious views; the Byzantine protecting the Orthodox Christianity, and the Sasanians protecting the Zoroastrian orthodoxy. These two empires were in a seemingly endless battle for hundreds of years due to aberrations of their innate tribal ethos. It is important to note that at this time, there was a strong sense of tribalism, and...
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...of the seventh century on? For more than fourteen centuries ago, Islam has started by prophet Muhammad in the Arabian Peninsula, and since that time, Islam has faced so many difficulties either with spreading the religion or fighting against the enemies who were against the religion, but because of the unity of the Muslim community during that time, Muslim people were able to avoid defeat at the hands of the enemy. After the death of prophet Muhammad in 632AD, Islam spread widely around the Arabian Peninsula during the caliphs’ leadership and during the Islamic empires. The expansion of Islam would not have succeeded with its prophet, Muhammed, who was able win some support for his spiritual and political status within Arabia in the early seventh century. There were so many conflicts between Quraysh and Muslims, and in 630, the Quraysh broke an earlier treaty that had been established. After the broke of the treaty, prophet Muhammed march upon Mecca with 10.000 men and take the city without any fighting. In less than one century after the death of prophet Muhammed, Muslims ruled more of the earth than the Roman Empire had at its peak. The first caliph, Abu Bakr, had so many difficulties with uniting all the tribes in the Arabian Peninsula after the death of the prophet. Abu Bakr was able to unify the Arabian Peninsula before his death in year 634 A.D. After the death of the first caliph, the spread of Islam continued, and won several military campaigns abroad. From 634-644...
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...disarray: • Byzantine was in decline, pressed by invading Ottoman Turks. Constantinople fell to Turks in 1453, ending empire. • By 1200s, the Muslims had fallen to Mongols. Arabs never able to unite the entire region again. Decline of Islamic caliphate: decline of caliphate and its economy was gradual and incomplete – not at all like the dramatic fall of Rome • authority of caliphate declined, landlords seized power, peasants became serfs on large estates • agricultural productively declined, tax revenues declined • Arab and Middle Eastern traders lose ground: European merchants began to exercise control of their turf and challenge the Arabs in other parts of the Mediterranean. Still, Arab and Persian commerce remained active in Indian Ocean. • The emerging Ottoman Turks expanded into southeastern Europe, and the power (both politically and militarily) was frightening to other people in other areas, such as western Europe. A Power Vacuum in International Leadership • Turkish rulers unable to reestablish Islamic position in international trade. Turks scornful of Arabs (though both were Muslim), did not promote trade, especially maritime trade, as vigorously as in past. • Turkic expansion was important well into 17th century, but real focus was on conquest and administration • Mongols developed first alternative international framework with influence in central Asia, China, Russia, Middle East, south Asia. Trade encouraged many...
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...in-depth look at the rise and fall of this dynasty, paying close attention to women of this time and the roles they played. Abbott discusses early Umayyad Caliph's and their wives, giving awareness to Uthman and Na'ilah as well as Mu'awiyah and Maisun bint Bahdal. Each of these matches is portrayed by Abbott as somewhat equal or at least a mutual respect between the couples. But as time wore on slowly the ideal Arab wife was being infringed upon by the harems that the elite Umayyads were setting up. Filling their halls with slave women from far off lands, such as Persia. An example of the impact that these women had on the Caliph can be seen during Walid I reign, where although he had eight different free Arab wives only one borne him any children, the rest of his off spring came from his servant girls. This shows that Walid I preferred these foreign women to those of his own Arab decent. Abbott states that with the rise of the Umayyad Empire came a change in the political status of Arab women. Pride and race and other virtues were gradually receding into the background. With the accession of Yazid III dealt the royal Arab women a hard blow since the sons of the harem wives stood up to become the next heir. With this the Arab Islamic women officially became a prisoner with in the political society. In the conclusion of this chapter Abbott blames Arab women as the case for the decline in the status of Muslim women, saying if such wives as Umm al-Hajjaj (Yazid II) had not catered to the...
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...Trade 4 IV. Political Dominance 7 V. Monotheism 10 VI. Conclusion 11 Bibliography 12 Thesis Statement The rise of Islam is due in part to the cultural climate from its beginnings in the form of global trade advantages, political dominance, and monotheism. Introduction This paper will look into issues surrounding the rise of the religion of Islam. As the current fastest growing world religion, Islam has a history reaching back fourteen centuries. To learn what continues to drive this system of belief, it is essential to understand its roots. The heart of Islam’s beginning originates in Mohammad’s vision from God. Still, there must be more than this to drive such a powerful system. Why did Islam have its beginnings in the Arab world in the late sixth century? And further, why did the religion spread so rapidly? Are the factors internal or external? In other words, is growth to be attributed to Islam’s comprehensively sound teachings for all peoples? Or is the growth to be attributed to situations surrounding its origins? To analyze the internal factors would ultimately lead to whether or not God is the cause of the success of Islam. This is beyond the nature of the task at hand. Therefore, attention will be directed to analyzing the external factors. The rise of Islam occurred around the year 600 AD. Across the globe political, social, economic, and geographic changes were shaping a new era. Of these many changes there were a few key factors which greatly influenced...
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...Explain the role of pre-Islamic culture in shaping Muhammad’s beliefs and why he adopted monotheism Islam originated in Arabia. Before Islam, the dominant peoples were the Bedouin. Mecca was simply the largest, most affluent trading location of that time, and Medina was simply “an important agricultural settlement” 1. Life in these Bedouin tribes was divided by a clan system; related families formed clans, clans would form tribes, and leaders and councils would be elected for the tribe by the tribe. One major aspect of Arab Bedouin belief was that they “placed great emphasis on tribal ties, group loyalty or solidarity, as the source of power for a clan or tribe” 2. However, the Bedouins in Arabia did not see an importance for anything that did not happen during a person’s lifetime, and didn’t believe in many standard religious beliefs, such as reincarnation or divine judgment from greater beings after death. This meant that morality was not of much importance, and Muhammad aimed to fix that when he became the prophet. At the age of forty, Muhammad traveled up to a cave in the mountains. He traveled there to think about how he could better his life and fix the problems of his society. It was here that the archangel Gabriel flew down to speak to him, and this is most likely part of the reason that Islam holds morality as a strong staple. Means of communication were adopted into Islam as a way to spread the religion. A tradition from Mecca “was that of the mu'allaquat (literally...
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...ESSAYS: 2. What does the Persian poet-astronomer mean when he writes the following: “And do you think that unto such as you A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew God gave a secret, and denied it me? Well, well—what matters it? Believe that, too!” Ghiyāth ad-Dīn Abu'l-Fatḥ Umar ibn Ibrāhīm al-Khayyām Nīshāpūrī was a Persian philosopher, poet, scientist, and astronomer of 11th century. Khayyam was a very knowledgeable polymath, but what made this fierce and sensitive philosopher famous was his words especially in his Rubbiayat that shows his philosophical poets on human condition. He did not dislike Islam or he was not against Islam or Muhammad, but he disliked Muslims who held too much to the words of Quran rather than being a little logical and reasonable. Khayyam was rationalist philosopher who attracted a lot of people for his knowledge, but some Muslims disliked him, because he knew a lot more than them. Moreover, fundamentalist Muslims were not only persecuting such knowledgeable people but also murdering them; they were watching innocent people suffer. Khayyam was only defending rationalism, and that’s why he always had a voice of protest in his poems against the unjust world that the some contemporary Muslims created; he was only opposing their nightmarish beliefs. He refers to those orthodoxy Muslims as ‘maggot-minded’ that were forming a cruel and ignorant society. What those orthodoxy Muslims would mean to say to Khayyam in a question form would be ‘what is...
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...unacceptable. Among Macedonian warriors it was not. Indeed, the drinking of large amounts of unwatered wine after battle was expected and may even have had a religious connotation. Yet ancient Athenians, Victorians and modern day twelve steppers have stigmatized him for doing exactly what was acceptable at a time and place where strong warriors fought hard and drank hard far into the night. Throughout his life Alexander was scrupulous about behaving in a manner appropriate for a 4th Century B.C. warrior king of Macedonia. Jewish, Christian, and Moslem scholars have been horrified at tales of Alexander's homosexual affairs. The social stigmatization of homosexual activity is a relatively recent phenomenon. It began in Judaism and was adopted early in the history of The Christian Church and later in Islam. This socio religious taboo was undreamed of in the Macedonia of the 4th century B.C. Still Christian moralist scholars have spent lifetimes...
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...History of Egypt From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Recentism.svg This article or section may be slanted towards recent events. Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective. (April 2014) Part of a series on the History of Egypt All Gizah Pyramids.jpg Prehistoric Egypt pre–3100 BC Ancient Egypt Early Dynastic Period 3100–2686 BC Old Kingdom 2686–2181 BC 1st Intermediate Period 2181–2055 BC Middle Kingdom 2055–1650 BC 2nd Intermediate Period 1650–1550 BC New Kingdom 1550–1069 BC 3rd Intermediate Period 1069–664 BC Late Period 664–332 BC Achaemenid Egypt 525–332 BC Classical Antiquity Ptolemaic Egypt 332–30 BC Roman and Byzantine Egypt 30 BC–641 AD Sassanid Egypt 621–629 Middle Ages Arab Egypt 641–969 Fatimid Egypt 969–1171 Ayyubid Egypt 1171–1250 Mamluk Egypt 1250–1517 Early Modern Ottoman Egypt 1517–1867 French occupation 1798–1801 Egypt under Muhammad Ali 1805–1882 Khedivate of Egypt 1867–1914 Modern Egypt British occupation 1882–1922 Sultanate of Egypt 1914–1922 Kingdom of Egypt 1922–1953 Republic 1953–present Portal icon Egypt portal v t e The history of Egypt has been long and rich, due to the flow of the Nile river, with its fertile banks and delta. Its rich history also comes from its native inhabitants and outside influence. Much of Egypt's ancient history was a mystery until the secrets of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs were deciphered with the discovery and help of the Rosetta Stone. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the...
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