Spread Of Islam Essay

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a Christian. I was raised in a Christian family, with Christian values, and Christian ways. So, I didn’t actually realize that there were other religions until I became old enough to have an understanding. And even still, I truly did not realize the enormity of other belief systems, like Judaism and Islam; until learning Global Studies last year. The nation of Islam contains 1.61 billion followers (known as Muslims). This makes Islam the second largest religion Europe and in the world, following Christianity. However, as with anything else, this did not all just suddenly occur. The spread of Islam began in 652 A.D., and the religion still is growing and growing.
The religion of Islam began in the seventh-century A.D., by the prophet Muhammad. The Muslims call this time period before Islam ‘Jahiliyya’, or ‘The Age of Ignorance[1].’ This was because the people living in Arabia at the time were mostly polytheistic and seen as immoral[2]. Muhammad’s birth town of Mecca was an important place in the world at this time, as it was at the crossroads of the caravan
routes in the Middle East. The word ‘mecca’ means “A place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest", and it certainly was the case in Mecca. Mecca was a wealthy and extremely important trading site, because the area around Mecca was completely barren. What will become extremely important in the spread of Islam in Europe is that Mecca is a trading center, where everyone who comes to the region of Arabia will have to stop through.
[1] "Those who, if we establish them firmly on the earth, will establish salat and pay alms, and command what is right and forbid what is wrong. The end result of all affairs is with God.- (Qur'an 22:41)
[2] “Our Word was given before to our slaves, the Messengers, that they would certainly be helped. It is our army which will be victorious.”- (Qur'an, 37: 171-173)

Though nothing is done overnight, it seemed like the spread of Islam was done so, and in a few years, it was growing quickly in the Middle East; mostly due to its founder, Muhammad.
But, what would happen when the prophet Muhammad died? When the Prophet died in 632, Abu Bakr, who knew Muhammad personally; became Islam’s first caliph, leader of an Islamic group and successor of Muhammad. Then, Bakr was succeeded by Umar ibn al-Khattab two years. Umar ibn al-Khattab was the man who really started the spread of Islam into other regions. The first event that made Europeans aware of Islam's coming important place in their lives was al-Khattab’s capture of Jerusalem . In 637, Jerusalem was a part of the Byzantine Empire, so this was a surprising blow to the very-much Christian empire of Byzantium. And almost 400 years later, this becomes a cause of the First
Crusades. However, this time period between the capture of Jerusalem by Umar ibn al-Khattab and the First Crusades is not idle at all. Many other events happen in spreading Islam to Europe. Most notably is the takeover of southern Spain, known as al-Andalus. During the time of Muslim rule over southern Spain(up until the mid-15th century), the city of Cordoba became the most sophisticated city in all of Europe. With a population of 500,000, the city of Cordoba included 700 mosques, 60,000 palaces, and 70 libraries. Andalusia had a great cultural influence upon Europe until its demise in the late fifteenth century. With the first streetlights in Europe and over 900 public baths in the city of Cordoba, it was truly clear that the region of Andalusia was far more advanced than the rest of Europe, and that it was one of the principle factors in the development of European civilization[3]. More importantly, this promoted Muslim ideas and beliefs even more indirectly. [3] "Seven hundred years after this time, there was not so much as one public lamp in London. In Paris, centuries later, whoever stepped over his threshold on a rainy day stepped up to his ankles in mud."-Jack Goody

During this time of prosperity and growth of Islam in Europe, the Christians were becoming frustrated. Jerusalem was still in the hands of Islam, since 637, and many other regions across The Holy Land were now a part of the Islamic Empire. The Moors prospered in Andalucía, and the Ottoman-Turks flourished in the east, in modern-day Turkey. With all of this, the Christians were not happy and were on the verge of a religious war. The cause was the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnemos calling on the Pope’s help to drive the Turks out of Anatolia. Soon, many knights and peasants in Western Europe unified to drive the Muslims out of their captured territories. Lasting only from 1096 to 1099, this was only one of the many Crusades, with the last in the late 13th century. And though the goal of the Crusades was to promote Christianity and condemn all other religions, it is obvious, even today, that the efforts to cease the spread of Islam in Europe(and all around the world) have not been successful.
Andalusia finally ceased to exist in 1492 with the fall of Granada, the last Muslim kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula[4]. But now, Europeans came face to face with the Ottoman Empire, which was beginning to advance in the Balkans during the fifteenth century as a result of several victories and mass conversions among the Balkan people. This conversion was never forced or obtained by pressure. In time, the Islamic morality put in place by the Ottomans brought those who witnessed it to choose Islam freely. Ottoman civilization, built on the Qur'anic moral values of justice, equality, tolerance, and compassion, remained in the Balkans for 400 years, and its traces can still be seen there. (A large number of these remains were destroyed by Serbian troops and missiles during the war in Bosnia, but this does not change the facts of history.) This Qur'anic-based civilization made Islam an important part of Europe. Even today, quite a large number of European Muslims live in the Balkans.
[3] Rather we hurl the truth against falsehood and it cuts right through it and it vanishes clean away! Woe without end for you for what you portray! -(Qur'an 21:18)
Growing up in a Christian family, in a basically Christian United States of America, it is easy for me to forget at times that there are major religions and belief systems other than Christianity. Also, attending a Roman-Catholic school doesn’t help the situation either. I often forget how many people called Muslims follow a religion in which they must pray five times a day, fast, and give to the poor. And while Christianity is the largest religion in the world, Islam is not very far behind it. In fact, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Europe currently, and this is not the first time that has happened. Mediaeval Islam was a religion of remarkable tolerance for its time, allowing Jews and Christians to practice their inherited beliefs, and setting an example which was not, unfortunately, copied for many centuries in the West. Islam is part of our past and present, in all types of ways. In conclusion, the spread of Islam in Europe brought about many changes in the history of the world. [6]
[6] “Diplomacy, free trade, open borders, the techniques of academic research, of anthropology, etiquette, fashion, alternative medicine, hospitals, all came from this great city of cities. Mediaeval Islam was a religion of remarkable tolerance for its time, allowing Jews and Christians to practice their inherited beliefs, and setting an example which was not, unfortunately, copied for many centuries in the West. Islam is part of our past and present, in all fields of human endeavor. It has helped to create modern Europe. It is part of our own inheritance, not a thing apart.”- Prince Charles of Wales