Lesson 4 - The History of Islam after Muhammad Flashcards
Who was the first Rashidun Caliphate? What are a couple of important facts?
Abu Bakr (632-634)
- one of Muhammad’s friends and first converts
- Saw a lot of military expansion
- compiled the Quran in the form of a book
Who was the second Rashidun Caliphate? What are a couple of important facts?
Umar (634-644)
- close friend of Muhammad
- Military expansion that included bringing the Sassanid Empire (Persian - Iraq & Iran) under Muslim Control
Who was the third Rashidun Caliphate? What are a couple of important facts?
Uthman (644-656)
- Uthman was from the Umayyad clan (different than Muhammad, Abu Bakr, & Umad)
- Was less violent and less focused on military achievement
- Economic Reform: introduced first Islam coinage
- Administrative organization: divided the Islamic empire into 12 provinces
- Building Construction: Kabaa built in Mecca
- Standardized the Quran
Who was the fourth Rashidun Caliphate? What are a couple of important facts?
Ali (656-661)
- Muhammad’s family
- Strict adherence to the Quran and Sunna
- Islamic captial moved from Medina to Kufa (Iraq)
- First Fitna (Civil War)
What historical events led to the beak between the Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims?
The Shi’ites claimed that Ali was the rightful successor after Muhammad’s death as leader (imam) of the Muslim Community.
- Supporters of Abu Bakr - Sunni’s
- Supporters of Ali - Shi’ites
What was the battle & details that was the definite break between the Sunni & Shi’ite Muslims?
After Ali was assasinated, his 2 sons Hassan & Hussein were denied their right to the Caliphate.
- Battle of Karbala (680) : Hussein was defeated by Umayyad army
- His death is commemorated every year by the Shi’ites with Ashura holiday
What is the Mu’tazilate School of Thought?
Rationalist & Progessive (Liberal)
- Reason
- Allah and his laws can be known through reason
- Right and wrong is judged by reason
- Human free will
- God is first cause, but there are second causes
- Quran is created and not co-eternal with Allah
- Non Muslim philosophy can be useful
What is the Ash’arite school of thought?
Anti-Rationalist & Traditionalist
- Quran & Sunna
- Allah & his laws cannot be comprehended
- reason is not enough to know right from wrong
- divine predestination
- God is the only true cause
- Quran is uncreated and co-eternal with Allah
- Non-Muslim philosophy is not useful for Theologians
What are some factors that have contributed to the modern muslim antipathy toward the West and the US?
– Israeli - Palestinian conflict (establishment of the state of Israel and the defeat of Arab armies constantly by the West)
– United Nations sanctions against Iraq (Iraqs invasion of Kuwait)
– American military presence in Saudi Arabia
- History of Muslim/Christian conflict
- Globalization and the expansion of the west
