Islam After Muhammad

Historical/Geographical Framework

Within one hundred years of Muhammad's death, Muslim Empire covered North Africa, Spain, Sicily, Middle East and was progressing East towards India.

Four "rightly guided" Khalifs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali (632 - 661).

Umayyads - 661 - 750 (continued in Spain)

Abbasids - 750 - 1258 (fall of Baghdad)

Ottomans - 1517 - 1924.

Also the Mughals in India. 1526 - 1858 were a significant Islamic power. They built the beautiful Taj Mahal, completed in 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal - I am in the picture to the right.

After 1924, no single Muslim leader or organization, although most Muslim countries belong to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, founded 1969. Members include democracies, dictatorships, and monarchies. There are Muslims who believe that a form of democracy based on shura (consultation; Q3: 159; 42: 38) and ijma (consensus), which were used by the Prophet, ought to replace other forms of government. Some say that no genuine Islamic government has existed since 661 .Many Muslim countries were dominated by European colonial powers in the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, thus post-independence government are often regarded as more Western than Islamic by Muslims who want to re-introduce Islamic practices, dismantled by the colonialists.

Jerusalem (al-Quds) The Dome of the Rock oldest Islamic building by Khalif Abd al-Malik, (691) marked Islam's triumphant entry onto world stage. Sufi symbolism - square base = fixidity (nafs); octagon = movement towards perfection/ DOME = perfection (unity with God)/ gold = knowledge. Calligraphic inscriptions/columns allowed Dome to substitute for Makkah 684 - 692.

The Alhambra (Red Fort) is a splendid example of Islamic architecture. Muslims lost this, their last stronghold in Spain, in 1492.

SUNNI: majority party follow Sunnah of Muhammad; no single individual possesses special hermeneutic; authority vested in whole community but Khalif exercises responsibility on behalf of all.

• first khalifs "elected" for piety/closeness to Muhammad. After 661 hereditary.

Problems:

1) How to secure succession?

2) How to remove unjust ruler?

SHIA (party of Ali’ 10%) believe that male descendants of Muhammad possess special authority, and ought to rule.

After 940, majority of Shia revere Hidden Imam (al-Mahdi). In his place, the religious scholars exercise power. Minority groups (such as Ismaili) have living Imam (Agha

Shia and Sunni split after battle of Karbala ((October 9 or 10, 680 CE) where Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn, is killed (during the month of Muharram = Shia festival). Shia Imam inherits "light of Muhammad"/special knowledge.

Sunna: collected sayings and doings of Muhammad. Supplement the Qur’an. Six canonical Sunni collections, four Shia.

Shari‘ah (from "path leading to watering whole". Islamic Law, Comprises Qur’an, Hadith and the rulings of the four Imams, Hanafi (d 767), Malik (d 795) Al-Shafi’I (d 820) Hanbal (d 855). Tendency to imitate (taqlid) the past; dislike of innovation (bida).

• interpretations may differ: a fatwa is a legal opinion (not a legal decree).

• jihad: greater jihad, spiritual and social struggle against against Evil/injustice; lesser jihad, armed struggle to right a wrong. Has been used to justify territorial expansion but many Muslims believe believe Qur’an only condones defensive action.

• non-Muslims with scriptures treated as dhimmis (protected minorities). Actual status has varied (see my paper on Islamic Imperialism click here).

in ritual, etc.

• Sufi masters (pirs) stand in spiritual succession to Muhammad. Sufi operates a master-disciple tradition. Much use of imagery, poetry, song.expressive arts.

tajwid - art of reciting (making beautiful) the Qur'an. Sufis especially use MUSIC and DANCE. Organized orders (tariqah) have historically sponsored social and educational programs.

© 2000 Clinton Bennett