Islam, Quran, Hadith
1. How will you connect the rise of Muslims as a religious community and a political power?
It is important to understand the context within which Islamic political thought has developed. Divisions among Muslims occurred immediately after the death of the Prophet over the issue of who should become his political successor. Those who had peace treaties with the Prophet were no longer willing to continue their relations with muslim authority. To crush the rebellion and to bring more areas under religious and Islamic authority, political influence was to be developed under strong leadership.
Muslim as a community started conquests and expansions more due to the necessity of economic factors than for the religious motives. It is said that Islamization of the conquered territory was the by-product and not the actual cause of the expansion. We now know why expansion was needed, for that political power had to be strong and decisive; but conquerors never left their roots. As a religious community, Islam and Muslims influenced far-off regions and at the same time valued religious freedom of the other communities; this however is presented in distorted manner in present day’s textbooks that natives of conquered regions were forcefully converted to Islam.
The connection between religious and political aspirations of Muslims lies in the fact that the community acquired area for political benefits and influenced the people living there in religious terms. Monotheism and clear demarcations of spiritual values in Islam were the prime aspects that attracted open-minded strata of the new societies.
The later caliphates that came had to constantly consolidate their territorial expansion to establish themselves as a strong leader. After, the house of caliphate got disturbed when Ali was assassinated it took its most active and furious form. Especially when Ummayad, Kharijis were standing against each other and caliphate, the path they used to show their prominence over the
It is important to understand the context within which Islamic political thought has developed. Divisions among Muslims occurred immediately after the death of the Prophet over the issue of who should become his political successor. Those who had peace treaties with the Prophet were no longer willing to continue their relations with muslim authority. To crush the rebellion and to bring more areas under religious and Islamic authority, political influence was to be developed under strong leadership.
Muslim as a community started conquests and expansions more due to the necessity of economic factors than for the religious motives. It is said that Islamization of the conquered territory was the by-product and not the actual cause of the expansion. We now know why expansion was needed, for that political power had to be strong and decisive; but conquerors never left their roots. As a religious community, Islam and Muslims influenced far-off regions and at the same time valued religious freedom of the other communities; this however is presented in distorted manner in present day’s textbooks that natives of conquered regions were forcefully converted to Islam.
The connection between religious and political aspirations of Muslims lies in the fact that the community acquired area for political benefits and influenced the people living there in religious terms. Monotheism and clear demarcations of spiritual values in Islam were the prime aspects that attracted open-minded strata of the new societies.
The later caliphates that came had to constantly consolidate their territorial expansion to establish themselves as a strong leader. After, the house of caliphate got disturbed when Ali was assassinated it took its most active and furious form. Especially when Ummayad, Kharijis were standing against each other and caliphate, the path they used to show their prominence over the