Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 “Islamic Civilization” “Because ‘Islamic’ is a more comprehensive term than ‘Arabic’, we have chosen ‘Islamic Civilization’ for this chapter’s title” (p.107)

2. Rules & Laws of Islams • Law code is called “Shari’a” • “The Shari’a tries to describe all possible human acts, classifying them as obligatory, recommended, neutral, objectionable, or forbidden by God” • Remember that MH wanted to strengthen the code of virtue. Many do’s and don’ts of Islam are spelled out in the Quran • Conquests expose Muslims to Roman and Persian law. Result is Islamic leaders attempt to make Islamic law clear, uniform, acceptable • The main sources of Shari’a law are the Quran and MH’s examples

3. How Could Muslims Know the Truth About Muhammad?? • There had to be a “hadith” (oral report) that MH had done or said something; hadith had to be validated by a chain of reporters (isnad) who served kind of as a source footnote • Several authoritative collections of hadiths were written down and are still used by Muslims today • Of course, some issues not specifically covered were formulated by scholars through analogy or interpretation (i.e. Quran forbids the drinking of wine, Ulamas reasoned that drinking of all liquor should be banned) • Judicial review and legal precedents were used in early times but have become more rare

4. Sunni Legal Systems • Hanafi – largest; born in Iraq under Abbasids; draws heavily on consensus and judicial reasoning; today found in Muslim India, Pakistan and Turkey • Maliki – developed in Medina; relies on prophetic hadiths; today found in upper Egypt, northern and western Africa • Shafi’I – developed in 9th century Egypt as synthesis of above two; strong during time of Saladin; today found in Indonesia • Hanbali – developed by theologian Ahmad ibnHanbal; rejected analysis, consensus, judicial opinion; very strict; inspired modern reform movement; today found in Saudi Arabia

5. Shi’I Legal Systems • While no Sunni systems allow for reinterpretation of Shari’a, Shi’ism does through the Imams • For Shi’a, Imams are believed to be appointed by Allah and are able to lead mankind in all aspects of life • This reexamination of the Quran and hadith has given Shi’is more flexibility • Has remained influential in Iran in particular

6. Administration of the Law • In early days, caliphs and governors enforced the law. Later, they appointed trained people to do so. Various judicial schools and offices evolved • Even under Roman and Mongol invasions, Shari’a continued. Of course, it continues today

7. Applicability of the Law • “Someday perhaps Muslims, Christians, and Jews will settled their differences in order to wage war on their common enemies: secularism, hedonism, positivism, and the various ideologies that have arisen in modern times” (p.113) • Let’s respond to some of the questions posed on p.113…..

8. Islamic Society • “A thousand years of tyranny is preferable to one day of anarchy” Hmmmm…. • Social Groupings: Nomads vs. Settled Peoples • Islam did not proscribe slavery • Islam accords higher status to descendants of MH and of Arabs generally • “Racial discrimination was less acute than it has been in Christian lands in modern times” (p.115)

9. Divisions based on religion were deep and fundamental. Christians and Jews living in Muslim lands were discriminated against. However, Jews were better off in Muslim lands than they were under tsarist Russia or Nazi Germany • Islam is patriarchal. Muslims believe that biology has dictated different roles for the two sexes • Marriages were arranged by the parents. Muslims assumed that love between a man and a woman would develop once married • Polygamy was ok, up to four wives only. Mostly only for men of wealth

10. Parents received the unquestionable obedience of their children throughout life; woman, once married, moved in with her husband and his parents • Physical and verbal expressions of endearment between same-sex friends is common – does not imply homosexuality • Friends would visit one another often at night when the heat was down

11. Intellectual Life • No field of intellectual endeavor was closed to Muslims • Arab conquests brought Muslims into contact with Hellenistic world. (Aristotle was translated into Arabic) • Muslims made huge advancements in mathematics which they applied to accounting, surveying, astronomy, mechanical devices, and military engineering • Muslim scientists, well before Galileo, knew the earth was round and that it revolved around the sun • Muslim historians are first to try and structure history by seeking patterns in the rise and fall of dynasties, peoples and civilizations