Lecture Notes: Dar al-Islam and Its Historical Context

Introduction to Dar al-Islam

• Meaning: "House of Islam"; regions where Islam was the majority religion around 1200.
• Interacting Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Overview of Major Monotheistic Religions

Judaism

• Origin: Middle East.
• Core Belief: Monotheistic (worship of one God).
• Significance: Foundation for Christianity and Islam.

Christianity

• Founder: Jesus Christ, a Jewish Prophet.
• Core Message: Salvation by grace.
• Impact: Adoption by the Roman Empire, leading to organized states in Europe and Africa.

Islam

• Founder: Prophet Muhammad in the 7th Century on the Arabian Peninsula.
• Core Beliefs: Righteous actions (almsgiving, prayer, fasting) lead to salvation.
• Spread: Rapid expansion after Muhammad's death in 632.

Dar al-Islam

• Significance: Trade connections and prosperity, largely due to Muhammad's background as a merchant.
• Comparison to Christianity: Islamic states became more prosperous due to positive views on trade.

Rise and Fall of Islamic Empires

Abbasid Caliphate

• Origin: 8th Century; ethnically Arab.
• Golden Age: Advancements in science, math, literature, and technology.
• Decline: Began fragmenting by 1200; replaced by Turkic Empires.

Emergence of Turkic Empires

• Seljuk Empire: Established in the 11th Century by pastoral people from Central Asia.
• Mamluk Sultanate: Turkic warriors in Egypt seized power from the Ayyubid Sultanate.
• Delhi Sultanate: Established in South Asia by invading Turks.

Expansion of Islam

• Methods of Spread:
  1. Military expansion (e.g., Delhi Sultanate).
  2. Merchant activity (e.g., North Africa and Mali).
  3. Muslim missionaries, particularly Sufis.

Contributions to Science and Culture

• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi: Invented trigonometry to understand planetary movements.
• House of Wisdom in Baghdad:
  • A library and center for religious and natural sciences.
  • Preserved Greek philosophy, facilitating the later European Renaissance.

Conclusion

• The rise of new Muslim states with Turkic origins marked a significant shift in Dar al-Islam.
• Continued influence on trade, culture, and intellectual advancements.