The Rebirth of Muslim - Term Paper Example

Lecturer: Islam Historians have made significant attempts of identifying the significant developments or turning points that greatly creates an impact in later history. Soon after the death of Mohammed, varied changes began to take place after the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire, which began from Medina and spread across the globe. The Muslim history is concerned with Islamic religion and its believers who are the Muslims. Muslim is an Arabic name, which refers to submission to God. The religion of Muslim has been there since the beginning of Prophet Adam and his descendants including Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael and Arabs e.g. Muhammad (Khalil Lecture 1). However, the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire has significantly contributed to varied changes including the social, political impacts and also military issues throughout history. One of the significant turning points is the birth of the Ottoman, which took place after 1800s following the death of Mohammed; thereby, contributing to emergence of new military and political powers (Khalil Lecture 2). After the death of Muhammad, Islam quickly spread over three continents including the Arab world, which became dominated by Muslim ideologies and religious practices. Mohammed is the greatest Muslim prophet and he was born in Mecca, which is declared a religious sanctuary and this is where Muslims are supposed to make pilgrims while facing this place (Khalil Lecturer 3). The Islam experienced a golden age after the rebirth of the Ottoman Empire and they preserved the Muslim faith, as well as, blended the cultures of classical Rome, Greece and India (Khalil Lecturer 6). The Ottoman Empire is one of the dominant Muslim states, which led to major development changes in the Muslim world. The empire is often regarded as a typical European multicultural empire whose only aim was viewed as promoting the interests of the Arab world. This empire led to varied changes including the evolution of Islamic law especially the Shariah and other ideas laid the foundation of the society, law and political government. Ottoman rulers saw themselves as the protector of the world; therefore, the emphasis of Islam was laid as a protection of religion under this empire something that contributed to conflicting issues with Christianity in Europe. The most crucial obligation for a Muslim leader, under the Muslim law (Shariah) was to uphold the Islamic law; the judges, who are recognized as qadis became the judges of the empire and they oversaw all the necessary laws of the Ottoman Empire, as well as, presided over criminal cases. Esposito (34) attempts to trace the emergence and developmental activities that took place due to this dynamic faith, as well as, is impact on the political and historical world (Esposito 34). Esposito attempts to offer historical perspectives to the Islam mysticism, Muslim laws and political ideologies. The great Muslim philosophers provided ideas that explains the basic interpretations of the Muslim dogmatic, as well as, varied movements including Sufism and Shiism. These movements contributed to varied development in the Muslim community for the past centuries including new movements in the political and economic world. The Islamic was laid a strong foundation during the rebirth of Islam but this has not only contributed to significant development but also contributed to varied consequences. The Muslims have struggled to define and adhere to their Islamic way of life beginning from the colonialism to the modern historical world. However, the political issues and construction of dynasties especially the Ottoman Empire led to varied developments changes in areas of law, politics and theology. Moreover, the death of Sultan Suleyman had an immense impact on the historical course of the Ottoman monarchy. The magnificent rule of Suleyman led to transformation of the Muslim world including the significant economic and political changes. For example, many structural designs were constructed including the mosques, fortresses and the splendid architectures. Suleyman had ruthless military skills but he was referred as a magnificent ruler because he made Constantinople a Mecca for Islamic culture (Esposito 78). The Ottoman territory became an authoritative force for the western world and the armed supremacy was backed with the financial control. However, increased corruption and struggle for political power during the reign of sultan Suleyman led to the decline of internal struggles among various military leaders. This also contributed to the fall of the Ottoman Empire; hence contributing also to varied changes. However, the ruling administration of the Islamic world started growing weaker in relation to Europe; hence the Ottoman monarchy began to lose gradually its lands. The western cultural and economic influence began at the same time to influence economic growth and other major developments in the Middle East. Further losses in the kingdom were realized during the European Imperialism era by the start of the First World War, whereby, many regions governed by the Ottoman Empire began to lose their vitality for varied reasons and the world trade shifted from Mediterranean to Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, the Islamic civilization which once contributed to varied cultural and scientific achievements ceased to maintain speed with varied developments including political, industrial and economic growth. Therefore, the Muslims became only concerned with one aspect and this was the issue of Muslim religion. Islam was fully formed as a system of belief but major changes about the faith of Muslim emerged after death of Mohammed and emergence of the Ottoman Empire. The core aspect of the Islamic religion was knowledge, which is also known as the ilm, meaning the knowledge of God, which is received through revelation (Khalil Lecture 9). The Muslim believed that God reveled himself to them through prophets including Abraham, the monotheistic founder of Mecca, Moses and Prophet Jesus. The Koran is regarded by Muslim as the holy book, which carries literal message or the word of God and this word is conveyed to humankind through prophets (Khalil Lecture 4). Therefore, through the Koran and Hadith, mankind can realize the principles of God through the foundation of knowledge (Khalil Lecture 7). Although the relationship between Christianity and Muslims was worse in the Ottoman kingdom, the interaction among the two religious communities became better in the beginning of the late 20th century. Although at times both three religions find themselves fighting each other; however, these wars can be traced back from historical issues. These wars can be traced from historical practices including the Muslim beliefs and faith, as well as, their practices from the earlier origin of Islam up to the current resurgence (Esposito 97). The religious believe and practices differ in some instances; thus contributing to conflicts among the two religious communities. Understanding history and the way historical aspects have been interpreted as vital because enables people to understand the Christendom and Muslim interaction process in the contemporary society (Khalil Lecture 11). The face of Islam as explained in history makes many Americans to believe that any violence cases are made by the Muslim community. One of the incident that contribute to a positive note towards the existence of the Muslims community and the impact that takes later is the attack of 9/11 which led to mass killings of many people. This recognition is what best describes Christians as witnesses and this is where the ambassadors of Christ believes that God is making reconciliation through his people. The form of faith, which is often, identifies as fundamentalist Islam can be traced form the rebirth of Islam, and faith is exercised by Muslims through prayers especially the five pillars (Esposito 89). To live as an Islam, one has to exercise or declare faith by testifying that there is no god but God, and that Mohamed is his messenger (Khalil Lecture 5). Many historical critics on Islamic philosophy take the conflict between the revelation and the reasons the central problem (Khalil Lecture 8). The rebirth of Muslims is a great controversy to many historians; hence many of them have failed to understand Islamic philosophy which began and is still a challenge in the Islamic world. According to the notes provide on lecture ten, the rebirth of Islamic also led to major development in Sufi history including the establishment of Sufi orders (Khalil Lecture 10). The Muslim hopes to become near and close to God; thus Sufism attempts to address the issue of spiritual heart, the spirit and the soul. One is able to realize that Lord exists and God is present but human being cannot see God with naked eyes. This is because of the curtains of ignorance which veils the eyes of humankinds and rust cover the heart of human being; thus the average humankind is also ego-centered. There are number of answers in the Qur’an and it does not only speak about the Muslims but also to everyone. The Islam argues that Mohamed is the last prophet; therefore, no herald can claim the divine authority but to rely on the Qur’an for answers. In conclusion, the rebirth of Muslim has significantly contributed to varied social, political impacts and also military issues throughout history. One of the significant turning points is the rebirth of the empire and this led to emergence of new empires such as the Ottoman Empire with the evolvement of new economic changes, military and political powers. The powerful militants during struggle for power led to emergence of varied dynasty and new empires were formed. The face of Islam as explained in history makes many Americans to believe that any violence cases; thus the revelation and reason for Islamic issues have also become the central problem for Islamic philosophy. Works Cited Esposito, John L. Islam: The Straight Path. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. Print. Khalil. Lecture 1“The Background”:? Introduction to the Course, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 2“Prophet of Mecca”:The Birth of Islam, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 3“Prophet of Arabia”:The Birth of an Empire, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 4“The Message”:The Qur’an, n.d, Print Khalil.Lecture 5 “Living Islam”: Pillars & Rituals, n.d, Print Khalil.,Lecture 6 “After Muhammad”: From Abu Bakr to the Abbasids, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 7 “Classical Synthesis”: The Growth of Islamic Law & Hadith Sciences, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 8: “Reason’ vs. ‘Revelation”: Islamic Theology & Philosophy, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 9 “Looking to the Family of the Prophet”: Shi’ism , n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 10 “Between Self-Perfection and Mysticism”: Sufism, n.d, Print Khalil. Lecture 11“Between Cross & Crescent”: Christendom & Islam”: Sufism, n.d, Print Read More