Muhammad and the faith of Islam - Essay Example

Muhammad and the faith of Islam Muhammad differed from Christ in that the Muslim prophet was perceived not as a starter of new religion, but a reformer of a religion which was called Islam. Qur’an, the sacred book of Islam, did not contain stories Muhammad’s life until the legends about him were written down about a hundred years after his death. Muhammad was not educated but he was literate. As a child, he was attacked by seizures which continued to his adult years. The seizures became more frequent and have given Muhammad some visions about his mission to preach Islam. After his death, his visions were written down into book chapters that were soon published. Islam, unlike Christianity which believes in the Holy Trinity (three persons in one God), held the belief in only one God. They criticized Christians as blasphemous and heretics because of their belief in the Holy Trinity. Islam, however, also teaches salvation, judgment, and heaven. Salvation according to Islam decided upon the hands of their god. Judgment, although cannot be predicted, is absolute to happen. Heaven, for Muslims, is place of joy which Christians criticize to be sensual. Like any other religion, Islam has its own restrictions that uphold morality and peace. The expansion of Islam The successful expansion of the Arabs to Southern Europe, Spain, and the rest of the Western world proved how powerful their faith in Allah has become. Their first conquests were laid in Syria, Egypt, and North Africa. They easily disrupted the powerful Byzantine Empire and eventually conquered their kingdoms. The Arabs continued their successful conquests in Spain and parts of Asia. Christian kingdoms, meanwhile, moved southward in search of larger lands on which to place their growing population. The greatest contribution of Arabs to their conquered lands was the innovation in agriculture. Like Greeks, Arabs also promoted advances in science, mathematics, and medicine. The advances in learning were promoted in the Arab cities. The Arabs were the first to use the word algebra is a mathematical sense. They also introduced the use of the number zero (0) which made calculations simpler. In the area of medicine, Arab physicians translated numerous medical books of Greek origin and used them in medical practice. The Arab translations eventually became the model for Latin translations of Greek knowledge. The Latin knowledge that proliferated in Europe was, thus, made possible by the Arabs. Muslim-Christian relations Muslim-Christian relations during this period began as cordial affairs and then led to hostility. In Spain, Jews, Christians, and Muslims coexisted peacefully. They were always in harmony until the assimilated Christians (Mozarabs) began to face criticisms from both Muslims and Christians. They were considered by Muslims as threat to Islamic faith while Christians considered them lacking necessary knowledge about Christian doctrines. Bitterness and assaults soon erupted between Christians and Muslims. Their irreconcilable difference was rooted in their theological perception of the state. Christians believed that the state helped them achieve peace. Muslims, on the other hand, also believed in peace but they are willing to participate in holy wars just to achieve that peace. The growing difference between the two sealed their long-standing struggle. The conversion of Clovis The conversion of Clovis was a burden to his queen. The queen, being a believer of God, dismissed the Greek gods as mere idols. For her, the powers attributed to Jupiter or Saturn, for instance, were ridiculous. At the birth of her son, she wanted them to be baptized in the name of God. Fortunately, Clovis agreed to the demands of his wife and so their first son was baptized. Not long after the baptism though their son died. The death of their son resulted to a more doubting Clovis. The queen, however, was still persistent and requested their second child to be again baptized as Christian. Like any miracle that comes unexpected, Clovis was converted. In one of his important battles, Clovis raised his face to the sky and announced his belief in Jesus Christ. His prayers were answered in the form of a victorious battle. After witnessing the miraculous intervention of Christ in his battle, Clovis immediately agreed to be baptized. The last obstacle to his complete conversion was his people. As if struck by another miraculous intervention, Clovis’s people without any trace of hesitation agreed to be baptized. The conversion of Clovis is completed. Motives and course of the Crusades The crusades were pushed by varying interests and motives. First, the crusades were primarily a religious movement which called for the recovery of the Holy Land from Muslim rule. Numerous crusades took place which, most of the time, were not successful. Second, crusades were also launched on people that who were perceived as heretical or pagan. This interest soon backfired upon the credibility of the papacy who promised unity instead of ‘holy wars’. Finally, crusades became a lucrative venture especially for kings, nobles, and the middle-class. Although often unsuccessful in their primary purpose, the crusades resulted to different consequences. First, it brought out the prejudice of Christians against the Jews. On some occasions, members of the crusades had to borrow funds from Jews which, in the end, led to bitter relations. Second, it solidified the divide between the Greek and Latin churches because of internal conflicts between the two groups. Third, religious orders were established in support of the religious mission of the crusades. Military orders, on the other hand, unified the rest of Christians in Europe. Finally, the crusades recognized the role played by women in a society dominated by men. The women either served to attain victory for the crusades or served to the men as prostitutes. Cultural consequences The crusades led to different cultural consequences which had both positive and negative effects upon the people. First, the crusades resulted to the struggle between Muslim and Christian religion that is still felt in the present times. Although crusades were perceived as beneficial to Christians, they were, in contrast, viewed as oppressive by Muslims. Second, despite the ill effects of crusades to religious relations between Christians and Muslims, their business relationship (especially in commerce) flourished and continues to grow until now. Third, the crusades stood as a testament to first colonizing movement of the West. The Western people are more popularly known for their overseas conquest but the crusades, although veiled by religious motives, were no less different. Fourth, the crusades changed how Arabs and Christians look at each other. Christians viewed Arabs as ‘filth’ while Arabs considered Christians to be infidels and barbarians even. Fifth, aside from worsening the conflict between Arabs and Christians, the crusades also worsened the relationship between Jews and Christians. European perception about Jews being less than humans was prolonged. Finally, despite the relegated position of Jews in European society, their culture relentlessly flourished. This period was considered a golden age for the Jews who excelled in science, philosophy, music, and medicine. The expansion of Latin Christendom The expansion of Latin Christendom was faced by many resistances but ultimately triumphed in the end. After establishing papal authority in the crusades, the Western Christendom began to traverse a new path and opened new contacts in the outlying regions. From France and Germany, people migrated to nearby regions and converged with the people of Celtic, Scandinavian, Baltic, Slavic, and Iberian origin. Form these large migrations ideas and knowledge also poured out to other Europeans. Wars were fought to firmly establish Christian bishoprics in the migrated areas. This trend established profound cultural influences on what was to become the Europeanized frontiers. The crusades played an important role in the forming of Europe and the eventual expansion of Latin Christendom in Palestine, Syria, northwestern and Eastern Europe. Northern Europe The expansion of Christendom to northern Europe brought dioceses and feudalism. The first region to be conquered in the north was Ireland. Although a Christian region already, the conquerors changed the landscape of Irish church and began to install dioceses. Knights soon headed down to Scotland and established feudal relations in the society. Dioceses played the most important role in the achievement of Christian expansion in northern Europe. These dioceses stood as foundations for the easy transmission of Christianity. The bishops of the dioceses, on the other hand, became the credible proponents of Christianity in these regions. Considered as judges, the bishops led the development of Christian ideals and vision. Following the religious tones of the crusades, the migrations soon led to the eventual conversion of the Baltic and Scandinavian regions. Other regions such as the Scandinavian and Danish kingdoms, however, proved to be difficult to penetrate because of their immense power. In the end, the northern European expansion was successful. Eastern Europe The expansion in Eastern Europe can be considered as the Germanization of the entire region. More dioceses and bishops were installed on the frontier regions which were faced with revolts and resistances. Albert the Bear was one of the key persons who managed a victory over the tightly governed regions. He was able to crush a revolt which spontaneously ended other resistances and began German supremacy. German knights together with Roman ecclesiastical influences, then, began to penetrate parts of Eastern Europe and establish bishoprics. The successful new dioceses were installed in Poland, Hungary, Danube, and Transylvania. Other German settlers continued to inhabit the remaining parts of Eastern Europe which strengthened the grip of Christianity. To supplement dioceses, cathedrals and churches were erected to accommodate the arrival of churchmen, monks, and nuns. The continuous influx of people led to increased demand in goods and services. Craftsmen and merchants soon began their own business ventures in the German-dominated regions of Eastern Europe. These societies embodied the descent, language, and laws of the German. Al-Andalus, or Moorish Spain The success of reconquista can be attributed to the pluralistic society of Spain. Although Spain was ruled by Muslims, the region was not given much attention unlike other Muslim-ruled territories. In addition, Muslims in Spain cohabited with Jews and Christians. The tolerance among the three groups of people led to the distinction of Spain as the only truly pluralistic society of that period. This somewhat loose sense of belongingness among the citizens of Spain, and the subsequent civil wars that erupted made the Christian conquest (reconquista) of the region relatively easier. Soon the center of Muslim rule in Andalusia was converted to Christianity. Mosques became cathedrals and monasteries were constructed to further strengthen the foundation of Christianity in Spain. Muslim people were then drove out of the region and were replaced by yet another huge group of people migrating from the peninsula into the newly converted reconquista cities. The urbanization of Spain even before the dawn of Christianity can be attributed to Arab excellence in business, language, science. In fact, the city of Cordoba in Spain was touted as the ornament of the world because of its highly urbanized setting which included mosques, gardens, mansions, libraries, and schools. Arab language, on the other hand, paved the way to the dramatic transmission of knowledge to the rest of the Western world. Arabs began to translate Greek philosophy and science into their language which, in turn, became the model for the Latin translations of these areas of knowledge. The most memorable innovation of the Arabs was the paper. They improved paper which led to the easier transmission of written knowledge to the rest of Europe. Christians, therefore, found a gem on the Islamic Spain. An Arab view of the Crusades The crusades were perceived as religious movements or holy wars. However, in an account of one witness, the crusades were viewed as Frankish wars. Franks were prominent because of their victorious battles and conquest in Islamic Toledo and other parts of Andalusia. Their ultimate goal then was to conquer Antioch. Negotiations were made between the rulers of these two groups which somehow blurred each other’s interests. In the end, the Franks were able to enter Antioch because of the conflict among the Muslims in that country. Read More