THE CENTRAL ISLAMIC LANDS

The Central Islamic Lands

• The Central Islamic Lands is lesson 4 in class 11 History book. The history of Islam concerns the political, social, economic and cultural developments of Islamic civilization. Most historians believe that Islam originated in Mecca and Medina. In this chapter 4 of History Book, we will discuss the rise of Islam in Arabia. Hijri Era is known as Islamic Calendar.

Lesson Plan

• Name of the Teacher : Arvind Mishra, PGT History
• Class : 11
• Subject : History
• Chapter : The Central Islamic Lands
• Instructional Objectives:
• The Comprehensive knowledge about Islam and its origin
• Points for Discussion : The Rise of Islam in Arabia: Faith, Community and Politics

: The Caliphate : Expansion, Civil Wars and Sect Formation

• Recapitulation Question:
• What are the twin objectives of Caliphate?
• Describe in brief how Prophet Muhammad’s religion was a factor in the growth of Arab unity.
• Write in brief about the contribution of the Arab civilization to the world in the field of science.
• Describe the distribution of agricultural land in the conquered territories by the Arabs from the aspect of ownership.

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The Central Islamic Lands

• Islamic lands brought three aspects of human

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civilization: Religion, Community and Politics

Sources to Understand the History of Central Islamic Land

• 1. Semi-historical works, such as biographies, records of the sayings and doings of the Prophet (hadith) and commentaries on the Quran (tafsir) are available.
• 2. Large collection of eyewitness reports (akhbar) transmitted over a period of time either orally or on paper. The authenticity of each report was tested by a critical method called isnad.
• 3. Christian chronicles, written in Syriac are fewer but they throw interesting light on the history of early Islam.
• 4. Besides chronicles, we have legal texts, geographies, travelogues and literary works, such as stories and poems.

Rise of Islam in Arabia

Arabs before Muhammad (Bedouins)

• Before the Prophet Muhammad, the Arabs were divided in to tribes(Qabila).
• A chief was chosen on the basis of his family as well as his personal courage, wisdom and generosity.
• Many Arab tribes were nomadic (Bedouins), moving from dry to green areas (oases) of the desert in search of food.
• Some settled in cities and practiced trade or agriculture.
• Muhammad belongs to tribe known as QURAYSH.

Life of Muhammad (AD 570-632)

• Muhammad was born in Makkah in present day Saudi Arabia to a merchant family. Muhammad married an older widow named Khadija. Over time, he found the richness and corruption of the merchants and townspeople to be troubling. He decided to visit the hills to meditate. Muslims believe that while he was meditating in the hills he received revelations from God through the Angel Gabriel.

The Quran (Koran)

• The Quran, the holy book of Islam, is written in Arabic, which was the language of Muhammad.

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• The Quran contains ethical guidelines and laws by which Muslims (followers of Islam) should live their lives.

After the Revelation

• After Muhammad received his revelation he went to his wife Khadija, she was his first convert to the new religion.
• He began to try to convert the people of Makkah to his message, but he was unsuccessful because of the opposition of wealthy merchants.

Islamic Calendar

• The Muslims and their new religion had faced considerable opposition from the Meccans.
• In AD 622,Muhammad was forced to migrate with his followers to Yathrib. (Renamed as Medina-430 km from Mecca)
• The year of his journey marked the beginning of the Muslim calendar. (Hijrah Era)

Rise of Islam in Arabia

• In Yathrib, renamed Medina (which means the city of the prophet) Muhammad was accepted and gained followers.
• One of the groups which converted to the new religion of Islam were the Bedouins who were desert Arabs. This new community became the first to practice the religion.
• After several years, Muhammad became both a spiritual and political leader, there was not an idea of the separation of church and state. He raised an army and conquered the city of Makkah.

The Kaaba

• After Muhammad took the city of Makkah he cleansed the Kaaba of idols and dedicated it to Allah, who he taught was the one true God.
• All Muslims are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Makkah known as the Hajj at least once in their life if they are physically and financially able.

The Kaaba

Importance of Mecca

• It was in this city that Muhammad lived and controlled the main shrine, a cube like structure, known as Kaba in which idols were placed.
• Tribes outside Mecca also considered the Kaba holy, and placed their idols in it and made annual pilgrimage to this shrine called Hajj.
• Mecca was located on the crossroad of a trade route between Yemen and Syria which added to the importance of the city.

Principles and Messages of Prophet Muhammad

• He declared himself to be a messenger of God (rasul) and commanded to preach that Allah alone should be worshipped.
• He preached that worship should involve simple rituals such as daily prayers (salat)
• His followers should follow moral principles such as; (a)Abstain from theft,(b)Distribute alms, and (c) Be bound together through common religious beliefs.
• He preached to found a single community of believers(umma). His followers were called Muslims.
• They were promised salvation on the Day of Judgment (qiyama) and a share of the resources of the community while on earth.

The Teachings of Muhammad

• Islam is Monotheistic, like Judaism and Christianity.
• Islam teaches a belief in an afterlife, those who hope to achieve this afterlife must submit to the will of Allah.
• Muslims do not believe the Muhammad was divine, they believe that he was a man.
• Islam is seen not just as a religion, but as a way of life.
• Muslims feel that in order to achieve salvation that they must obey the will of Allah, or God.
• In order to do this they must follow the five major principles of Islam known as the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Declaration of Faith

Muslims must state that there is one God-Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

2. Daily Prayer

Muslims must pray five times a day facing the Kaaba in Mecca.

3. Charity

Muslims are supposed to help others and donate part of their income to charity. (Zakat)

4. Fasting-Ramadan

Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan which celebrates the recording of the Quran.

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca: Hajj

The fifth pillar of Islam is the Hajj. Once in a lifetime, if they are physically and financially able, Muslims are to journey to Mecca (Makkah) in Saudi Arabia and perform the rituals of the Hajj.

The Caliphate and its Objectives

• After the death of Muhammad in 632 AD, no one remained there to succeed him as prophet.
• So his authority was transferred to umma with no established rule of succession.
• Then began the process of innovations which led to the formation of the institution of Caliphate in which the leader of the community (amir al-muminin) became the deputy (khalifa) of the prophet.

There were two main objectives of Caliphates

First was to retain the control over the tribes constituting umma and Second to raise resources for the state.

Creation of An Arab Empire �The First Four Caliphs

• The friend and father-in-law of Muhammad, Abu Bakr, was chosen to be the first Caliph, or successor to Muhammad.
• The second caliph was Umar. He shaped the umma's policy of expansion.
• The third caliph was Uthman. He packed his administration with his own men and this led to opposition in Iraq and Egypt.
• The fourth caliph was Ali. It was in his time that Muslims broke in to Shias and Sunnis

The Administration of the Conquered Territories by the Caliphs

• The administration of conquered territories was headed by governors (amirs) and tribal chieftains (ashraf).
• The central treasury(bait-al-mal)obtained its revenue from taxes paid by Muslims as well as its share of booty from raids.
• The caliphs soldiers,mostly Bedouins,settled in camp cities at the edge of the desert, such as Kufa and Basra.
• So that they remained within their natural habitat and at caliph's command.
• The ruling class and soldiers received shares from booty and monthly payment(ata)
• The non-muslim population retained their rights on property and religious practices on payment of taxes. Such as kharaj and jiziya.
• Jews and Christians were declared as protected subjects of the state(dammis) and were given a measure of autonomy in the conduct of their communal affairs

The Umayyads and the Changes Introduced by Umayyads in Politics or Administration

• The Umayyad Dynasty was centered in Damascus, in modern-day Syria and was wealthy. This was also a very diverse empire as many different peoples had been conquered in new territory.
• Muawiya was the first Umayyad caliph. He had made himself the caliph after the death of Ali, in 661 C.E
• Umayyads were a prosperous clan of Qurayshi tribe.
• The Umayyads implemented a series of political measures which first consolidated their leadership within umma.
• Muawiya was the first Umayyad caliph moved his capital to Damascus and adopted the court ceremonies and administrative institutions of Byzantine Empire.

Changes introduced by Umayyads

• Muawia also introduced hereditary succession and persuaded the leading Muslims to accept his son as his heir.
• Although there were Christian adviser in administration and Zoroastrian bureaucrats and scribes, it was Islam that provided legitimacy to their rule.
• In the Umayyad state the imperial power was not based directly on Islam but on statecraft. They appealed for unity and suppressed rebellions in the name of Islam

The Contribution of Abdul Malik(685-705)

• He was the 5th Umayyad ruler and it was in his time that Arab and Islamic identity was emphasized.
• Arabic was adapted as language and administration and Islamic coinage was introduced.
• Cross symbols and seals were removed from the early coins and used Arabic scripts and seals.
• He built the Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem which is an Arab-Islamic identity

The Abbasid Revolution

• The Umayyads were replaced by a movement called dawa, led by Abbasids , another family of Mecca origin in 750.The Umayyad regime was portrayed as evil by the Abbasids. They promised to restore the original Islam of prophet.

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• Their army was led by an Iranian slave, Abu Muslim, who defeated the last Umayyad caliph, Marwan, in a battle at the river Zab.

The Abbasid Rule

1. Under the Abbasid's rule the influence of Arabs declined and the importance of Iranian culture increased.
2. The Abbasids established their capital at Baghdad.
3. The army and bureaucracy were reorganized on a nontribal basis to ensure greater participation by Iraq and Khurasan.
4. The religious status and the functions of the caliphate were strengthened under their rule.
5. They patronised Islamic institutions and scholars.
6. They retained the centralized nature of state .
7. They maintained the splendid imperial architecture and elaborate court ceremonials of the Umayyads.

Harun al-Rashid

• The greatest of the caliphs of the dynasty. This is called the golden age of the Abbasid Dynasty (Caliphate)

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• He was known for his charity and was a great supporter of culture and the arts.

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• His son continued the tradition and supported the study of astronomy and began to translate classical Greek works into Arabic.

Causes for the Break-up of the Caliphate

• A number of causes were responsible for the decline of the Abbasid state.
• The Abbasid state became weaker because the control from Baghdad to distant places of the empire declined.
• A conflict between pro-Arab and pro-Iranian factions of the army and bureaucracy also led to the decline.
• In 810, a civil war broke out between the supporters of Amin and Mamun, the sons of Harun-al-Rashid which led to the creation of a new power block of Turkish slave officers.
• All these developments led to creation of number of dynasties and Abbasid power limited to central Iraq and western Iran.

• In 945 the Buyids, a Shiite clan from the Caspian region of Iran captured Baghdad. They kept the Abbasid caliph as the symbolic head of their sunni subjects.

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• Fatimids were of shiite origin and had ambition to rule the Islamic world. They claimed descendants of Fatima the daughter of Prophet Muhammad and hence rightful rulers of Islam. They had their base in North Africa and conquered Egypt and established new capital at Qahira (Cairo).

The Turks

• The Turks were nomadic tribes from the Central Asian steppes who gradually converted to Islam. They were skilled riders and warriors and entered the Abbasid, Samanid and Buyid administrations as slaves and soldiers, rising to high positions on account of their loyalty and military abilities.

The Rise of Sultanate

• The Ghaznavid sultanate was established by Alptegin (961). It was consolidated by Mahmud of Ghazni (998-1030).
• Ghaznavids were a military dynasty with a professional army of Turks and Indians.
• The Abbasid caliphs were not rivals but a source of legitimacy for Ghaznavids.
• Mahmud was eager to receive the title of Sultan from the caliph.
• The caliph was willing to support the Sunni Ghaznavid as a counterweight to Shiite power

The Seljuk Turks - 1

• As the Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt became more powerful they became the new center of the Muslim world.

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• One group which came to power in this region were the Seljuk Turks.

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• The Turks played a large role in the military and many rose through the ranks to gain a lot of political power

The Seljuk Turks - 2

• The Saljuq Turks entered the scene as soldiers. They later established themselves as a powerful group under the leadership of two brothers, Tughril and Chaghri Beg.

• After the death of Mahmud of Gazni, they conquered Khurasan and made Nishapur their Capital.

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• Then they moved to western Persia and Iraq and restored Baghdad to Sunni rule (1055)

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• The caliph, al-Qaim, conferred on Tughril Beg the title of Sultan. The two Saljuq brothers ruled together.

Crusades

• Crusades were the wars fought by Christians against Muslims to free the Holy Land of Palestine.
• In 1076 Seljuk Turks conquered Jerusalem and started torturing Christians.
• AD 1092 Seljuk Sultan Maliks died-his empire started disintegrating.
• This gave a chance to Byzantine Emperor Alexius-I to regain Asia Minor and Northern Syria and he tried to conquer this region.
• Pope Urban II joined with Alexis to release the holy land of Jerusalem.
• He advised to take arms, in the name of God.
• In between AD 1095-1291- 4 major wars and small battles, ie, Crusades.

Crusade I (1098-1099)

• Soldiers of France and Italy captured Antioch & Jerusalem.
• Massacre of Muslims and Jews.
• Formation of 4 Crusade countries in Syria-Palestine area-called Outremer.
• Other crusades for protect the Outremer.

Crusade II (1145-1149)

• Started in 1144-Edessa,one of Outremer, reconquered by Turks.
• Pope declared II war, but failed.
• German-French army tried to capture Damascus but defeated by Turks.
• Salam Aldin (Saladin) founded Egyptian-Syrian empire and declared Jihad against Christians.
• In 1187 he defeated Crusaders and reoccupied Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem came under the Turks after a century.
• Saladin converted Christian churches to Muslim Mosques and Jerusalem became a Muslim city.

Crusade III

• Started in AD1189.
• Major cause – losing of Jerusalem.
• No major success to the Crusaders- But the crusaders gained little victory in Palestine and got free access to Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims.
• The Mamluks, the rulers of Egypt, finally expelled the crusading Christians from all of Palestine in 1291.
• Europeans gradually lost their interest in Crusades.

Consequences of Crusades

1. Muslim countries began to show rigid and hostile attitude towards its Christian subjects where there were mixed populations.

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1. Increased influence of Italian mercantile communities in the trade between the East and the West even after the restoration of Muslim power.

Economy, Agriculture, Trade & Urbanization

• Agriculture was the main occupation
• Land owned by Small & Big Peasants
• Tax collected by Estate owners
• Land gave up by owners given to Nobles, especially in the family of Caliph
• Agricultural land controlled by Govt.
• Land Tax- major source of income
• 1/5 – ½, 1/10 for Muslims
• Tendency of religious conversion
• Later - equal share from all

Economy, Agriculture, Trade & Urbanization

• Officials paid from Agricultural revenue – Iqta

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• Cotton, Orange, Banana, Spinach, Sugar, Water Melon

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• Exported to Europe

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• Construction of canals and dams, digging of wells – encouraged by the govt.

Economy, Agriculture, Trade & Urbanization

• Cities: Khufa, Basra, Fustat, Cairo, Bagdad,
• Damascus, Isfahan, Samarkhand.
• Two Important Structures: Masjid al Jami &
• Central Market place
• City Population: Rulers, Scholars, Merchants
• Outer Circle: Common People, Soldiers, Church,
• Masjid, Synagogue
• Out side the city: Cemetery, Rest houses.

Economy, Agriculture, Trade & Urbanization

• Development of Trade;
• Spices, Cotton textiles, gunpowder etc. from India and china.
• Coinage: Gold, silver, copper
• Use of Sakk (Cheque) – Banking
• Sea trade monopoly for 5 centuries with
• China, India and Europe- Arab & Iranian
• Traders.

Society�

• Social divisions;

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1. Muslims of ruling class
2. Newly converted Muslims
3. Non-Muslims
4. Slaves

Learning & Culture�

• Ulamas – Interpretation of Quran
• Islamic laws – Sharia
• The sharia provided guidance on all possible legal issues within Sunni society.
• The Qasi- the judge appointed by the state in each city or locality.
• Differences in the interpretation of laws in the 8th & 9^th centuries.
• Four Schools of law(mazhab): Maliki, Hanafi, Shafi and Hanbali.

Learning & Culture

• Quran: A book in Arabic divided into 114 chapters (Suras), arranged from big to small, except 1st chapter (short prayer- Al faitha or opening)

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• According to Muslim tradition, the Quran is a collection of messages which God sent to the prophet Muhammed between AD 610 and 632, first in Mecca and then in Madina.

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• The task of compiling these revelations(messages)was completed some time in AD 650.

Learning & Culture

• Higher education Centre-Nizamiya Bagdad(Estd.1065)
• Mustansiriya Madrasa of Bagdad, founded in 1233.
• The Madrasa was a college of learning for students who had finished their schooling in Maktab.
• Madrasas were attached to mosques.
• Educational Institutions: Alexandria, Syria, Mesopotamia.
• Greek philosophy, Maths, Astronomy, Medicine
• Translation of books in to Arabic.

Learning & Culture

• Introduction of paper from China.

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• In 1896, a huge collection of medieval Jewish documents was discovered in a sealed room(Geniza) of the Ben Ezra synagogue in Fustat (Egypt) – Geniza records.

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• Thanks to the Jewish practice of not destroying any piece of writing that contained the name of God.

Learning & Culture

• Ibn Sina(AD980-1037), Avisenna in Europe
• Al-quanun fil tibb(Laws of medicine).
• Abu Nawas, Persian Poet
• Questioned the cultural domination of Arabic.

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Omer Khayam(1048-1113)

• Poet, Astronomer, Mathematician
• Author of Rubayiath.

Rudaki

• Father of modern Persian Poetry

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Firdousi

• The author of Shanama (Book of kings)
• Lived in the Court of Muhammed Gazn

Art & Architecture�

• Mecca and Madena – centre of Music, poetry and love during Umayyad Period.
• Tuva isa (AD 632-710) - Father of Arabian music.
• Religious buildings were the greatest external symbols of Islamic world.
• Mosques, shrines, palaces, tombs, caravan serais and hospitals from Spain to Central Asia showed the same basic design – arches, domes, minarets and open courtyards.
• Keerbath-al-mafjer-desrt palace-Palestine
• Qasar Amra-desert palace-Jordhan Umeyyads

Sufism

• A group Muslims sought a deeper and more personal knowledge of God through asceticism and mysticism. The word ‘sufi’ means a person who wear wool.
• A group Muslims sought a deeper and more personal knowledge of God through asceticism and mysticism.
• The word ‘sufi’ means a person who wear wool.
• Devotion and love of God-Unity with God can be achieved through an intense love for God(Ishq), which the woman-saint Rabia of Basra preached in her poems.
• Bayazid Bistami, an Iranian Sufi, was the first to teach the importance of submerging the self(fana) in God.
• Sufis used Music to preach their ideas. Followed simplicity.
• Sufism is open to all regardless of religion, status and gender. Sufism gained popularity and posed a challenge to orthodox Islam.

Timeline

• 595: Muhammad marries Khadija, a wealthy Meccan trader who later supports Islam.
• 610-12: Muhammad has first revelation; first public preaching of Islam(612).
• 621: First agreement of Aqaba with Medinan converts
• 622: Migration from Mecca at Medina. Arab tribes of Medina (ansar) shelter Meccan migrates (Muhajir).

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Timeline

• 632-61: Early caliphate; conquest of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Egypt; civil wars.
• 661-750:Umayyad rule; Damacus becomes the capital.
• 750-945:Abbasid rule; Baghdad becomes the capital.
• 945: Buyids capture Baghdad, literary, and cultural efflorescence.
• 1063-92:Rule of Nizamul mulk; the powerful Saljuq wazir who established a string of madrasas called Nizamiyya; killed by Hashishayn ( Assasins).

Timeline

• 1095-1291: Crusades; contacts between Muslims and Christians.

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• 1111: Death of Ghazali, influential Iranian scholar who opposed rationalism.

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• 1258: Mongols capture Baghdad.

Questions for Practice

• When was Prophet Muhammad forced to migrate from Mecca?

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• Who was the founder of Umayyad dynasty?

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• What were the reasons for the weaknesses of Abbasid state in 9th century? (Write any two reasons).

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• On the map mark and locate the following Islamic land as depicted or described in this chapter. (i) Fustat (ii) Nishapur (iii) Baghdad (iv) Constantinople (v) Medina

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Presented By: Arvind Mishra

PGT History

JNV Kalahandi