Chapter Eight:

Islam

Culture and Values, 6th Ed.Cunningham and Reich

Muhammad and the Birth of Islam

Muhammad born in Mecca (570) Fatima, piety and purity Revelations of God through Gabriel From Mecca to Medina - Hegira (622) Qa’aba Islam: “submission to God”

Five Pillars of Islam

Recitation of the Muslim act of faith Obligation of prayer Charity Fasting during Ramadan Pilgrimage (Haj)

Practices of Islam

No pork, alcohol Male circumcision Polygamy acceptable Usury forbidden Observation of feast days Simplicity and asceticism

– Rapid growth and spread of religion

The Qur’an

Central text of Islam– Collation of Muhammad’s oral revelations

114 chapters (sûras) Written in Arabic

– Cannot be translated

Source of unifications for all Muslims Memorization and recitation Qur’an, Hadith, Shari’a

Calligraphy

“Beautiful writing” Kufic (characteristic form) Decorative feature of mosques Abstract, geometric designs with text

– No depictions of divinity– Arabesque– No narrative scenes

Islamic Architecture

Functions of Islamic mosques– Community gathering centers

Large gathering area– Minbar– Michrab– Fountains

Islamic Architecture:

The Dome of the Rock

Caliph Abd al Malik– Temple Mount, Jerusalem

Octagonal building, golden dome Roman+Byzantine architecture Lavish mosaics Qur’anic verses Uncertain original functionality

Islamic Architecture:

Mosque of Damascus

Abd al Walid Lavish interior decoration

– Marble– Byzantine mosaics

Caliph’s palace

Islamic Architecture:

Mosque in Córdoba

Muslim capital in Spain Rival of Great Mosque of Damascus Al-Hakam

– Constantinople artisans, workmen– 17 tons of tesserae

Survived the Reconquista

[Image 8.8]Maqsura screen of the Córdoba Mosque

Islamic Architecture:

The Alhambra

Exterior : complex of towers and walls Islamic university? Infusion of interior streams Palace of the Myrtles

– Public occasions Palace of the Lions

– Private residence– Pinnacle of opulence

Islamic Architecture:

Taj Mahal

Mughal reign 1526-1858 Emperor Shah Jahan

– Tribute to wife, Mumtaz Mahal

Dome atop octagonal structure Highly polished white marble

– Restrained exterior decoration

Inspired by Qur’an

[Image 8.10]Taj Mahal

Sufism

Sunni and Shi’a traditions Sufism = mystical dimension of Islam

– Sheyks and disciples– Retirement in poverty– Piety and repentance

Sufi tariqas in North Africa, Egypt

Sufi Writers

Saint Rabia– Aphorisms, poems, meditations– Focus on the love of God– “possess nothing…except Allah”

Rumi– Persian poems (rhyming couplets)– Discourses on mystical experiences– Recitation and movement (dervishes)

The Culture of Islam and the West

Abbasid Dynasty Caliph Al-Mamun’s “House of Wisdom”

– Translations of Greek texts

Advances in mathematics, medicine– Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Uqlidisi, Al-Hazen,

Rhazes, Avicenna, Averröes– Moses Maimonides, Jewish physicians

The Culture of Islam and the West

Exchange of goods / ideas– Quality swords, silk (damask), coffee– Windmills– Lexicon contributions

Al-Ghazali– The Incoherence of the Philosophers

Averröes– “He of the Great Commentary”– The Incoherence of Incoherence

Chapter Eight: Discussion Questions

In what ways are the Five Pillars of Islam similar to the basic tenets of Christianity? Explain the similarities and differences between the two religions.

What role did Islamic culture play in the tradition of Western literary (and, thus, philosophical) thought? What circumstances facilitated this contribution?

To what must we attribute the slow movement of ideas from their Islamic origins to the Western world? Does the Western canon today, in your opinion, assign adequate notoriety to those non-Western advanced thinkers? What are the implications of recognizing the origin of a technology? Explain.