OS

Islamic Pillars, Caliphates, and Medieval Scholarship Review

Five Pillars of Islam

The core beliefs and practices of Islam include:

  1. Shahada: Belief in one God and Muhammad as His messenger.

  2. Salat: Five daily prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha).

  3. Zakat: Giving to the needy and charity (linked to social conduct, including polygamy as support).

  4. Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

  5. Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are able.

Sharia, Sunnah, and Hadith

  • Sharia: A legal and ethical code derived from the Quran, guiding prohibitions like pork and alcohol.

  • Sunnah: The sayings and actions of Muhammad, providing guidance on how to follow the Quran.

  • Hadith: Collections of Muhammad's sayings and actions that help Muslims understand and apply Quranic guidance.

The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs (Rashidun)

After Muhammad's death, strong leadership led to four caliphs:

  • Abu Bakr: First caliph, maintained Muslim unity.

  • Umar: Second caliph, known for military expansions.

  • Uthman: Third caliph, compiled the Quran.

  • Ali: Fourth caliph, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, leadership marked by internal conflict.

Sunni–Shia Differences

  • Origin: Disagreement over Muhammad's rightful successor.

  • Sunni: Believe leadership (caliphate) should be chosen by community consensus.

  • Shia: Believe leadership should remain within the Prophet's family (hereditary succession).

The Umayyad Dynasty and Expansion

  • Founded by Muawiya I, who established a centralized caliphate.

  • Shifted to hereditary succession.

  • Expanded the empire into Asia, Africa, and Spain by the early 700s.

Islam in Spain and Major Medieval Jewish Thinkers

  • Cordoba (Spain): A major center of Islamic civilization.

  • Ibn Rushd (Averroes): One of Islam’s greatest philosophers; born in Cordoba; wrote commentaries on Aristotle; argued fate and reason complement each other.

  • Solomon Ben Cabirot (Solomon ben Gabirol): Jewish philosopher and poet; ideas on universal holomorphism influenced Christian philosophers.

  • Moses Maimonides (Rambam): Jewish scholar and royal physician in Egypt; authored Guide for the Perplexed (faith and reason) and Mishneh Torah (Jewish law).

Cultural and Intellectual Impact

Jewish scholars in medieval Spain significantly influenced Islamic culture and later Christian European intellectual history, fostering cross-cultural exchange. These interactions shaped philosophical and theological developments across civilizations.

Exam Takeaways

Prioritize understanding the Five Pillars, Sharia, Sunnah, Hadith, Rashidun Caliphs, Sunni–Shia differences, the Umayyad dynasty, and the key medieval Spanish Jewish thinkers.