Strayer 9, Islam

24/10/2017

Let's get this going guys. Read, diagrammed, verbalized by Sunday night, that not your goal, it's essential! Don't try, do it! Besides, Islam and it's rise is a fantastic story...

40 Comments

Tamara Wattenbarger

25/10/2017 21:30:17

This is the second margin question
What did the Quran expect from those who followed its teachings?
• 5 pillars of Islam
o No god but Allah
o Ritual Prayer, 5 times a day, so that even on a busy day you are reminded of God’s presence
o Almsgiving, which met the Qurans demand for social justice by giving to the poor
o The fasting of Ramadan, to cleanse oneself+ a reminder to help the hungry
o Hajj, or an annual pilgrimage to Mecca
o And kinda maybe sorta a 6th, jihad or struggle (but this one is controversial, can someone explain this one a little better?)
• The creation of Umma, where racial, social and gender status didn’t matter, and was a just community tied together not by land but by faith
• The reinvigoration of the original message of Abraham
• Submission to Allah, not just individually but in aiding the creation of the Umma
• The Quran itself should be read aloud in its original Arabic
• And to understand that Muhammed was the final prophet

not Brandon

26/10/2017 17:01:38

woah man imma have to ask u to slow down i havnt even started the chapter yet

Bingham

26/10/2017 17:24:04

Dude, you are not contributing to the conversation. This is about finding paths to success, building neural pathways, growing as a human being. If you don't get that, then at least keep comments like that off this forum.

not Brandon

26/10/2017 17:32:16

Bingham

26/10/2017 17:33:38

This looks solid. I'll think about it, but it looks pretty comprehensive. Obviously the term "jihad" is loaded in the current context. If I recall, it translates to "struggle" as much as to holy war. A struggle to spread the faith, fight non-believers. But in it's essence, it is the struggle to maintain one's faith, the struggle to care for family, the struggle to build the community. So this is a much more liberal idea in the first 1000 years of Islam, an idea of connectedness. Later, some leaders stressed to more violent meaning of the word.

faith davis

27/10/2017 18:24:40

first margin question: in what ways did the early history of Islam reflect it's Arabian origins?

- Arabs increasingly identified Allah with Yahweh (the Jewish High God)
-regarded themselves as "children of Abraham"
-the Quran denounced the prevailing social practices of an increasingly prosperous Mecca (hoarding of wealth, exploitation of the poor, high interest rates, corrupt business deals, abuse of women, and neglect of widows and orphans)
-sought a return to the older values of Arab tribal life (solidarity, equality, and concern for the poor)
-message of Quran challenged the entire tribal clan structure of Arab society (prone to war, feuding, and violence)
-sought to replace this tribal clan structure with the umma, a just and moral society of Islam, a community of all believers

Bingham

28/10/2017 10:35:14

Excellent. Nice, tight answer.

Jackie

28/10/2017 12:28:00

Would the part of how Quran wanted the community to be submissive go with this answer as well?

Bingham

28/10/2017 19:16:56

I think you're misunderstanding the submission stuff. The idea is individual submission to Allah. Period.

Jackie Simmons

28/10/2017 13:07:42

margin question #4
Why were the Arabs able to construct such a huge empire so quickly?
- the merchant leaders of the new Islamic community wanted to capture profitable trade routes and wealthy agricultural regions
- founded in military expansion a route to wealth and social promotion
- harness the immense energies of the Arabian transformation was also important
- umma threatened to come apart after Muhammad's death, and so the external expansion provided a common task for the community

Am i missing something or is there any part thats wrong? it took me a while to find the answer because i was confused

Allie Guerra

31/10/2017 19:51:11

Hey Jack, I think it might also be important that Arab armies engaged in the Byzantine and Persian empires - the process giving rise to the Arab empire because it made their presence known in Europe and China. This meant that it was easier for them to make their way in when those other empires collapsed. Let me know if I'm wrong please :)

Chaise Jones

31/10/2017 19:56:39

I have a few more:
- The Byzantine and Persian empires were weakened by decades of war with each other and internal revolts (and the Arabs were not seen as a serious threat)
- Followers referred to themselves as “believers,” (which included Jews and Christians) which helped the acceptance of the new political order
- Many were motivated by a religious dimension, as many viewed the mission of empire in terms of jihad

But besides that, I had the same points :)

Alison Wang

31/10/2017 20:41:35

I also found that:
-Byzantine and Persian empires were weakened after decades of war and conflict
-Many Arabs viewed the mission of expansion in terms of jihad, bringing righteous government to the people they conquered
-New rulers were tolerant of established Jewish and Christian faiths

Christina Eagleson

1/11/2017 11:40:51

this is late, but you might also want to consider the fact that most conquered peoples were already monotheists and familiar with the core ideas/practices of the Believer's Movement

Jackie Simmons

28/10/2017 13:22:09

margin question 5
What accounts for the widespread conversion to Islam?

ok It lists the major elements of Islam and then puts its focus on how Islam, from the beginning, associated with the sponsorship of a powerful state. After that, it doesn't list another big reason why they had widespread conversion, it just gives examples. In our answer to this question would you like us to give that answer and examples, like how persia kept their language but half of them were muslims.

jackie simmons

28/10/2017 13:27:45

never mind i have realized some more reason, my mistake

Lia Stallmann

29/10/2017 22:19:03

I was slightly confused on the approach to this question too but I just wanted to throw my answers out:

1. Islam was not dramatically different from other monotheistic religions (Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism), making them already familiar with concepts such as ritual prayer, fasting, divine revelation, etc.

2. Islam was associated with sponsorship from powerful state, in comparison to the beginnings of Buddhism and Christianity

3. Conquest led by Arabian armies called question on the old gods that were worshipped; living in conquered areas also provided reason to convert

4. The prestige of the Arabian Empire made Islam seem more appealing

5. Converts don't need to pay jizya, and Islam was open to commerce

6. Islam provided opportunity for social mobility in reaching official positions

Are there more that I'm missing? Should I be more specific/expand on certain points?

jackie

30/10/2017 13:54:43

hey lia, i also have merchants found a religion friendly commerce and in the Arab Empire they enjoyed huge and secure arena for trade

Chaise Jones

31/10/2017 20:07:12

Lia, I have the same points as you, but I feel like the trade appealing one could be a bit more specific. Strayer uses the words: "Arab Empire they enjoyed a huge and secure arena for trade". I would maybe just add huge and secure arena, but I'm not sure if that really matters, but those might be alligator words Mr. Bingham is looking for.

Bingham

28/10/2017 19:18:48

Ha! I love it when people think out loud on the forum!

Chloe Shupe

28/10/2017 20:53:34

MQ 3. How was Arabia transformed by the rise of Islam?
- Muhammad's military successes convinced other tribes that Muslims were on the rise and they sought to negotiate alliances with this new power
- Growing numbers converted
- Religious appeal, promise of material gain, end of warfare among tribes, skillful military actions led by Muhammad, and the Prophet's willingness to enter into marriage alliances with leading tribes led to consolidation of Islamic control throughout Arabia
- Muhammad purged Kaaba of idols and declared it a shrine to Allah
- By 632, most of Arabia was under control of the Islamic state and many had embraced the faith
- A new religion had been born
- A new state emerged, bringing peace to the warring tribes
- A distinctive society would take shape and serve as a model for Islamic communities everywhere

Am I understanding the question correctly?

Bingham

29/10/2017 14:21:14

Looks good to me.

Tamara Wattenbarger

29/10/2017 12:39:58

MQ 6:
What is the difference between Sunni and Shia muslim?
To Sunni Muslims, religious authority belongs to the community, but in particular to religous scholars (ulama).
Shia Muslims believe that imams (people given religious authority) could without flaw interpret the will of Allah and sharia

This division occurred after the prophet's death. 4 caliphs were chosen as a sort of counsel to further advise Islam. This quickly fell apart. So people who believed that the caliphs were the true political and military leaders, because the community chose them, became Sunni. And people who believed that the leadership should go to someone who is a blood relative of the Prophet became Shia (but the people related to the Prophet were killed)

Chaise Jones

31/10/2017 19:11:07

I would also add (though I am not sure if this is completely correct) that Sunnis were advocates of the established order while Shias were a minority within the order. Also, the fact that the conception of martyrdom became more common with Shias (after many armed revolts occurred) and Shias began to accept that their leaders who had been defeated were not dead but just in hiding.

I'm not really sure what the "While for the Sunni's" would be for the dead leaders part, but I think it could strengthen the answer.

Alison Wang

31/10/2017 21:07:32

I think you could also add to the Shia that only the imams had a religious authority that the caliphs lacked? I'm not 100% sure though.

Christina Eagleson

1/11/2017 16:00:51

^yeah, building off of this, the sunnis' authority emerged from the larger community, specifically from the ulamas (religious scholars), while the shias were led by imams who could infallibly interpret divine revelation and law

Bingham

29/10/2017 14:33:16

You're really going to want to focus on big picture questions, and comparisons in chapter such as these. We need to understand the wider impact of each civilization, (because thats context right? And you need to be able to do that ion the DBQ, right?) so let's get that stuff in your tool box for later. And comparisons (within the civilization) are always a great way to gain deep lasting understanding with memory hooks that work.

So, of the context variety, here's one for free.
In what ways might Islamic civilization be described as cosmopolitan, international, or global?

The Islamic civilization EMBRACED at least parts of VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER CIVILIZATION in the Afro-Eurasian hemisphere.
It fostered A NETWORK OF COMMERCE AND EXCHANGE that facilitated the spread of crops, technologies, and ideas.
The common commitment to Islam created AN IDENTITY THAT TRANSCENDED MORE LOCAL POLITICAL AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES in the Islamic world.

There, now you know you have a three point question if in comes up. You can do this with all questions. Then climb inside my head, (scary, right?) and anticipate what I might put on the next test. "What would Bingham want me to know most?" Then talk about that with friends. Argue for your question, let them argue for yours. Then magically, you've learned something!

Tamara Wattenbarger

29/10/2017 15:53:26

MQ 11:
What makes it possible to speak of the Islamic World as a distinct and coherent civilization:
- The hajj! the islamic world converges on Mecca and rehearses elements of their faith regardless of gender, state, ethnicity or race!
-Sufi religious ideas, as they were everywhere in Islam
-Sufi orders, as they were the ones following armies and traders who established Islam and worked miracles
-The ulama and their system of education is consistent across the World of Islam, along with common texts
-The unquestionable importance of the ulama in the spreading and interpretation of Islam
-and of course, it's commitment to Islam

Bingham

29/10/2017 17:54:15

Nice.

john Liu

29/10/2017 20:50:39

MQ 7
In what ways were Sufi Muslims critical of mainstream Islam?
I put:
-They believed that law and proper behavior brings little to the presence of god
-Desire for emotional union with God
-Read the Quran will help to find the presence of God
-Ulama was comprised of worldly and corrupt governments
-Opposed legalistic and scholarly practitioners of the sharia
Is there anything wrong or I need to add?
Thanks!

Chloe Shupe

30/10/2017 18:30:59

I disagree with the point about desire for emotional union with God. The Sufis were aiming towards emotional union with God so they were not critical of the desire for emotional union with God. Other than that I think your answer looks great!

Olivia Miller

30/10/2017 22:46:42

I would also add that Sufi Muslims saw the worldly success of Islamic civilization as a distraction and deviation from the purer spirituality of Muhammad's time

Tamara Wattebarger

31/10/2017 21:39:36

While they did believe that the sharia got in the way of the experiencing the divine, it was because they urged people to have more intimate and personal relationships with Allah, and they believed laws could get in the way of the individual practice of Islam

jackie

30/10/2017 13:51:15

margin question 10
in what ways was anatolia changed by its incorporation into the Islamic World?
- by 1500, the population was 90 percent muslim and largely Turkic- speaking
- Anatolia was the heartland of the powerful Turkish Ottoman Empire
- massacres, enslavement, famine, and flight led to a sharp drop in the native population
- byzantine state weakened
church properties were confiscated
monasteries were destroyed
- priests or bishops were sometimes unable to serve their congregations

anything else i should add?

Lauren Dotson

1/11/2017 19:24:13

I would also add:
-Sufis established schools, orchards, mills, hospices and other social services replacing Christian Anatolian institutions
-Christians had to pay special taxes, were unable to carry crosses or bibles (so they wouldn't offend the Muslims), and were forbidden to ride horses or carry a sword. This lead to lots of people converting

I'm not sure if these points will be on there, but I hoped they helped!!

Chloe Shupe

31/10/2017 18:17:53

MQ 9. What similarities and differences can you identify in the spread of Islam to India, Anatolia, West Africa, and Spain?
- Similarities:
○ Invaders wreaked havoc in India and Anatolia
○ Sufi practitioners likewise played a major role
○ Arabic did not become the dominant language of daily life in India, Anatolia, West Africa, and Spain
- Differences:
○ Turkic intrusion in Anatolia generated more thorough Islamization than in India
○ Monotheistic ideas from Christianity made conversion in Anatolia easier than in Hindu India
○ Islam accompanied Muslim traders in West Africa rather than invaders as in India and Anatolia
○ In West Africa Islam became Africanized
○ In Spain Muslims were driven out by Christians rather than the other way around as occurred in the other civilizations

Is this the correct interpretation of the question? And does anyone have any suggestions for more points?

Lauren Dotson

1/11/2017 19:19:14

I would also mention:
-Sikkhism developed which was a mix of Islam and Hinduism
-Demographic balances (India around 20-25% Islamic and in Anatolia it was more like 90% due to famine, diseases, massacres, and enslavement of orginial pop. and there was only around 8 million people there at the time compared to 48 million Indians)
-Turkish Islamization in Anatolia similar to West Africa because not all values were continued on as observed by Ibn Battuta(?) ex. they didn't veil their women.
-Peaceful conversion in West Africa unlike Anatolia (you touched on this briefly)
That's all I got I hope that helped a little!!

Alison Wang

31/10/2017 21:35:28

MQ 8: How did the rise of Islam change the lives of women?

-The Quran banned female infanticide, gave women the right to own property, and granted them rights of inheritance. It also allowed men to have sexual relations with consenting female slaves, but any children born of these unions were free, as was the mother once her owner died.
- As the Arab Empire grew in size, the position of women became more limited. Women started to pray at home instead of in the mosque, and veiling and seclusion of women became standard practice among the upper and ruling classes.
-"Honor killing" of women by their male relatives for violating sexual taboos
- Negative views of women (presenting them as weak, deficient, and a distraction/threat to men and social stability) emerged in the hadiths
- Sufi practice of mystical union with Allah allowed a greater role for women than did mainstream Islam. Some orders had parallel groups for women, and some let women join as equal members.
- Female teachers of the Shia faith were called "mullahs," the same as the males. Islamic education allowed some women to become literate and achieve higher levels of learning.
- Visits to tombs and also the ritual of public bath allowed women to interact with other women outside of their own family circle.

Am I missing anything?

Christina Eagleson

1/11/2017 16:58:23

you might also want to add that marriage by capture was considered illegitimate because marriage was seen as a contract between two consenting parties

Lauren Dotson

1/11/2017 19:09:39

Moreover, I remember Strayer talked about spiritually women were equal to men, but in social terms they were lesser (which you touched on briefly). Women had choice in their marriages, they could decline marriage offers ex. Rabia (she also had religious debates with men). Caliph Mansur took this whole women can't be seen thing far as well, he commissioned a bridge to be built across the Euphrates River to the new capital of Baghdad. Justification for why women were inferior was by Al-Ghazali. Oh, and men could have multiple wives, polygamy, (up to 4) he had to treat them all equally (supposedly) and women could only have one husband.

Bingham

Welcome class of 2020. Some years students collaborate in this space effectively, some years not so much. One thing I know, collaboration significantly enhances learning. If you want access to my thoughts, this is the collaboration space to use. Most people propose an answer to margin questions, big picture question, or anything else related to managing Strayer. Other people can then comment leading to a stronger answer. I'll keep an eye on these pages, and pop in when I think you need me.

Strayer 9, Islam

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