12 Islam and the state: Sunnism Flashcards
Muslims rulers dealt with ______ Imams dealt with______
government, army / religious and family matters to do with the shar’ia
the Muslim empire divided into two caliphates-
the Ummayad dynasty and the Abbasid dynasty.
who ruled
The Abbasid Caliphs
what schools of thought supported The Abbasid Caliphs? As long as..
The Hanbalite and Asharite schools of thought supported The Abbasid Caliphs unless they committed acts of apostasy-
why was it very hard to dispose of The Abbasid Caliphs
Even usurpers (people who unjustly take a position of power) were acknowledged.
Doctrine of non resistance prevailed.
The Caliph did not have to be sinless (as in the shi’ia tradition) but only needed to be able to judge disputes and have a sound view of war.
There was no procedure for overthrowing a caliph -
It would only be allowed for serious injustice, imprisonment, physical incapacity.
Who were the Abbasid Caliphs elected by
he Ulama (learned members of the community/ jurists).
Sunni jurist
Al Mawardi
Al Mawardi : ________ are the basis of____-
Religion, kinship and friendship are the basis of social solidarity.
Al Mawardi : opinions on reason and revelation
There should be a superior form of political organisation which is known by revelation (the Qur’an).
- Reason tell us that we should implement justice and strengthen ties of friendship.
- Revelation tells Muslims of other functions of the Leadership i.e. arrangements for communal prayer, pilgrimage, taxation, appointments of religious judges, public morality, land ownership etc..
According to Al-Mawardi - the caliphate should have authority over
The Caliphate should have authority over political and religious matters.
According to Al-Mawardi -the Caliph delegated power to the…
Wazir (government ministers) either with full powers or for specific purposes only.
Sultans - commanders of military affairs but also judicial, financial and religious functions.
What are the powers of a caliph established Redress court
It had right of power which meant that it could give harsher punishments than those prescribed by religious law.
A Caliph also made it easier to get rid of a usurper who did not abide by Islam or justice.
Ultimately what happened was that Sultans…
Sultans carried out the religious functions of the Caliph.
what was the contractual nature of the sunni state in premodern islam
In premodern Islam, the Sunni state was seen as a contractual relationship between the ruler (caliph or sultan) and the Muslim community (ummah).
The ruler was expected to uphold Islamic law, protect the rights of the people, and govern with justice and fairness. In return, the people were expected to obey the ruler, pay taxes, and defend the state when necessary. This contractual nature of the Sunni state meant that the ruler’s power was not absolute, but rather was based on the consent and support of the people. It also meant that the people had certain rights and obligations under Islamic law that the ruler was expected to respect and uphold.
Sunni massive fan of sultans
Nizam al-Mulk
What did N-A mulk do? Who did he accompany? what was the period of his reign called?
He became a chief vizier and accompanied the Sultan Arslan on his travels and campaigns. This period became known as “The destined reign of Nizam”.
For mulk - what was the role of the leader?
Mulk saw the ruler’s role to be to ensure the building of both religious and economic infrastructure such as building canals, bridges and schools.
He also advocated that the Sultan would give land in exchange for taxes and military service.
He saw the ruler to be the ultimate owner of all the land.
He saw the Sultan as one who should care for his people and would be sustained by them by consulting with the elders.
For mulk - what was his idea
His ideal was patrimonial monarchy which combined Iranian norms with Islam very well.
For mulk - what was special about sultans
God gives individuals sovereignty and the virtues and wisdom to rule.
For mulk -what is needed for an ordered society
Mulk believed that religious observance and political success went hand in hand. If religious observance was not kept by the sovereign, then there will be disorder.
How did mulk ensure order in society
Mulk combined religious political order by encouraging the Sultan to support the Abbasid Caliphate. He did this through arranged marriages.
why was Mulk unlike Mawardi
Unlike Mawardi, Mulk did not think that rulers were subordinate to the Caliph.
He believed that both were appointed by God.
The Sultan was the supreme military and political head of Islam.
according to Mulk - who was the sultan dependent on?
The Sultan was dependent on the Ulama (learned community). The ulama/ judges ran the Shariah courts and the chief judge was appointed by the Sultan.
According to Mulk - how should the Sultan help the Ulama
The Sultan was responsible for supporting the education of the Ulama.
what role did Mulk play in legal issues?
Mulk also set up Mazalim courts which were not religious and were run by the sultan himself.
Mulk did not take sides regarding the four Law Schools and his policies were tolerant and these policies were very influential in the Ottoman Empire.
Who was mates with Mulk - what happened?
Ghazali was called by Nizam al-Mulk to teach at the new madras a (school) in Baghdad, the next year Mulk was assassinated. It was during this time that Ghazali suffered his spiritual crisis and retreated for 10 years to experience Sufism.
How did Al-ghazali seek knowledge
Al Ghazali sought knowledge through revelation (the Sufi path) rather than through reason which could be doubted.
Al-Ghazali’s views on religion and politics
For Ghazali, religion and politics were intertwined and the only true Politics came through revelation and only those who were equipped well could interpret this for others.
Ghazali believed that if religion was to flourish, religion and government needed to depend upon each other.
Selon Al-ghazali - role of the Jurist
The Jurists (ulama) had to make laws to regulate justice. The Jurist is the master and conscience of the Sultan.
Four types of governance recognised by Ghazali
- The prophets.
- Caliphs Kings and Sultans.
- The learned-Ulama.
- Popular preachers.
Ghazali - ‘the systems _______________’
Ghazali- ‘the systems of this religion are necessary for the success and joys of the hereafter’
Ghazali - what is expected of a caliph and sultan?
The role of the Caliph, according to Ghazali’s own writings is:
a. Ensure good defence.
b. Collection and administration of Zakat.
c. Administering justice.
Religion is the foundation to justice and the ruler is the guardian of it.
why does Ghazali think caliphs and sultans are important?
He says that importance of the Caliphate is shown in that after Muhammad’s death that they delayed preparing Muhammad for his burial in order to appoint the next Imam.
Ghazali - what is not really required from caliph and sultan
Ghazali said the Caliph had to be of sound body and mind but doesn’t have to be the most learned person. In the case of political meltdown, he would have to seek advice from those more learned.
Ghazali -Ulama
The Ulama were the religious experts (faqih).
Primarily, they must put in place the message of Muhammad above anything else -
Ghazali didn’t like the Ulama who tried to put what the government said above religion.
He said the problem with the Ulama accepting gifts was that they may be expected to over look what is wrong in return. Also, the gifts may have been bought with money made from immoral means, so they should separate themselves from them.
which famous Sunni scholar came from a prominent family of Ulama?
Ibn Rushd - He started his career in law and medicine and became a chief judge. He later moved into philosophy.
what does Black say about Rushd
Black says that ‘he is one of the greatest Aristotelian philosophers of all time’.
demonstration is
philosophical proof
Dialectic is
debate used fro discovering truth
rhetoric is..
persuasive communication to the masses
Ibn Rushd’s opinions on gaining knowledge
He did not agree that personal experience was a good starting point for knowledge (Ghazali).
He believed knowledge came through demonstration (philosophical proof)- this was the best type of knowledge, dialectic (debate) and rhetoric (speeches to the masses). This means that everyone can follow the Shariah but they will learn about it in different ways.
So religion is essential as it leads everyone to wisdom. Yet only philosophy could give a complete understanding of divine truths and the Religious Law. His ideas were, therefore, elitist, setting philosophers above others due to their intellect.
Ibn Rushd’s ops on philosophy
He defended Philosophy against Ghazali and taught that the study of causes was vital (like Aristotle) as it underpins all knowledge and leads to God.
For Rushd, only philosophers were in a position to interpret the Qur’an, Sunnah and Shariah. He followed Aristotle in insisting that right and wrong can be known through reason-not revelation as Ghazali said. He believed that the shariah promotes the virtues which Aristotle upheld.
When can there be justice - selon Rushd
Rushd realises that people all have different skills and abilities which, when brought together, can achieve what is necessary to give every man his basic needs e.g. food and shelter.
He believed that there was justice when every individual was doing what they were destined to do. He believed that humans are dependent on each other for fulfilment.
what is a happy society Selon Rushd
A happy society is where the three methods of knowledge are in use. (demonstration, rhetoric, dialectic)
The philosophers cannot achieve happiness without the masses- this was because he believed that happiness was not just an individual pursuit, but a social one as well.
The happiness of an individual is closely linked to the happiness of society as a whole.
The masses need the philosophers for good governance and organisation of society.
Selon Rushd - When society and state work well together…
When society and state work well together, human perfections will be realised
What is the state according to Rushd
The state is a moral agent - it requires justice and education. The state was responsible for the moral character of a person.
How do you develop virtues according to Rushd
Ibn Rushd believed that the noble and educated required knowledge of the virtues to be virtuous.
He believed most men needed fear to develop the virtues.
What do people and the state need according to Rushd
They needed laws (this is very like Aquinas).
The Shariah.
He is different to Aristotle as he demands an absolute monarchy to coerce people into good behaviour- hence a need for Caliph and Sultan.
Rushd ops on caliphs
He does not really make any distinction between Caliph and other rulers perhaps because the role of the Caliph was in decline.
Rusd role of the prophet (nabi)
He believed that the role of prophet and philosopher went together and any Prophet who lay down religious law e.g Muhammad, Isa, Musa were “philosopher kings”.
He believed that the philosopher king must be able to prove philosophical knowledge (demonstration) debate (dialectic) and persuasively communicate to the masses (rhetoric). He must also show moral virtue.
Rushd opinion on women
Ibn Rushd was critical of the subordination of women in his own society.
He felt that that led to economic backwardness.
how was Rushd treated
Rushd’s works on politics were ignored in his time and Sunni legalists surpressed philosophers and persecuted them. Rushd himself was brought before a tribunal.
Who was a contemporary of Rushd
Al-Razi
Selon Razi - what does human life depend on?
He taught that human life depends upon food, shelter and clothing. So it depends upon agriculture, weaving and building.
Selon Razi what is needed for order
There needs to be a King-emperor.
How should the state be comprised - selon Razi
The King-emperor should divide the people of the state into three-
those who have a skill,
those who exercise judgement
and those who guard the state.
what did Al-Razi think of tyranny
He reinforced the idea that people should not resist tyranny as the good that comes from a tyrannical ruler outweighs the evil.
What did Al-razi think of the relationship between ruler and ulama
He believed there needed to be good cooperation between the ruler (external power) and ulama (knowledge)
role of the prophet to al razi
Prophets showed both roles of ruler and ulama (external power and knowledge)
Requirements of a caliph - al razi
He believed the Caliph did not have to be perfect.
Quick bio on Abu Bakr
Muhammad’s father-in-law.
Took over leadership after Muhammad died.
He crushed the Bedouin tribes who had converted to Islam under Muhammad but then converted back to their old religion. This was called the “war of apostasy”.
Quick bio on Umar
Umar added to the title of Caliph “commander of the faithful”.
This showed the Caliph was not just a political leader but a spiritual one too.
Umar was known for his military conquests and very rapid expansion of the Islamic Empire.
His conquests overthrew the Persian Empire and the eastern Mediterranean.
He allowed the inhabitants of the conquered lands to keep their language and religion if they paid a reasonable jizya tax.
Conversion was never forced. Assassinated by a slave.
Quick bio on Uthman
He built the first Muslim navy.
He ordered three of Muhammad’s most trustworthy companions to write the Qur’an. This was to stop variations which were circulating by word of mouth. These companions wrote the Qur’an as it is today.
Turner believes this was his best accomplishment. Otherwise, he spent too much money and practised nepotism (giving jobs and positions to family members!) Uthman was murdered.
Quick bio on Ali
During Ali’s Caliphate there was civil war.
The main reason for this was that Uthman’s cousin Mu’awiya felt that Ali did not punish Uthman’s murderers. There was a civil war- the battle of Camel and Ali was murdered by Mu’awiya who was then made caliph. He started the Umayyad dynasty.
how did The Umayyad dynasty come about
Mu’awiyawas elected his son inept Yazid as Caliph, damaging Mu’awiyawas credibility.
This election was controversial in Medina and there were revolts led by Husayn, (Ali’s son and Muhammad’s grandson.) However, Husayn was massacred, decapitated and his head sent to Damascus.
This saw the rise of the Shi’ites who had supported Ali and now wanted revenge for Husayn’s death.
Husayn was seen as very pious especially compared to Yazid!
· The Marwanid clan then led the Umayyad dynasty.
election of and role of caliphs in Umayyad dynasty
There were 11 Caliphs who were decided by bloodline.
Not by the community- as was in the first four cases.
Mostly, Turner says that these Caliphs were tyrannical.
They used torture and there was a distinct tribal social structure.
At the top were Arab Muslims. After Arab Mulims came Muslim converts, then the dhimmi (non muslims), then slaves and then those with no religion at all.
The Abbasid dynasty quick bio
The second Caliph of the Abbasid dynasty was Al-Mansar.
At this point, Caliphs had semi divine status and they made themselves completely inaccessible to the common people-not at all like Muhammad and the rightly guided Caliphs.
Al Rashid-his Caliphate saw extreme opulence and wine drinking. The Ulama (religious clerics) kept themselves separate from the Caliph.
corrupt!
