C&C of Cultural and Intellectual Tradition of The M.E. (600-1450 CE)
Arisen from the influences of Christian and Jewish traditions, the nomadic peoples of the Arabian Peninsula joined forces to form the Dar-ar-Islam. Used to unite the Middle Eastern Empire, Islam – founded by the prophet Muhammad in 610 CE – created a stable civilization based on Islamic views and teachings for its individuals. In the Middle East during the time of 600 CE to 1450 CE, the religion of Islam stayed unchanged, while the influences of different cultures altered the traditions of the society as well as the women’s rights and status in the civilization.
As the Middle East developed over the years, the prominence and teachings of Islam sustained. Numerous aspects in the Middle Eastern Empire altered, but a key element in the religion Islam that prevailed through the centuries was the Five Pillars of Islam, which were Shahada (declaration of faith to only Allah), Salat (prayer), Zakat (alms-giving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Hajj was an essential aspect in the religion of Islam and as the years progressed the importance of this pillar became more eminent in Islamic society. Each Muslim was expected to take a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime and as the years progressed important Islamic figures began to promote this pillar even more by setting inns, mosques and Islamic institutes on the roads to Mecca. The teachings of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, also maintained the laws and daily lives of the Islamic individuals in every day society. The Qur’an taught Muslims how to live the days of their lives accordingly, what laws to obey, and what rights men and women had.
Despite the fact that the teachings of Islam promoted a sufficient amount of freedom for women during the earlier times, the rights and status of women in society gradually worsened as time passed and the Middle East expanded their empire. Towards the beginning ages of the Islamic Empire, though still secondary to men, women were able to hold a
As the Middle East developed over the years, the prominence and teachings of Islam sustained. Numerous aspects in the Middle Eastern Empire altered, but a key element in the religion Islam that prevailed through the centuries was the Five Pillars of Islam, which were Shahada (declaration of faith to only Allah), Salat (prayer), Zakat (alms-giving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Hajj was an essential aspect in the religion of Islam and as the years progressed the importance of this pillar became more eminent in Islamic society. Each Muslim was expected to take a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime and as the years progressed important Islamic figures began to promote this pillar even more by setting inns, mosques and Islamic institutes on the roads to Mecca. The teachings of the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, also maintained the laws and daily lives of the Islamic individuals in every day society. The Qur’an taught Muslims how to live the days of their lives accordingly, what laws to obey, and what rights men and women had.
Despite the fact that the teachings of Islam promoted a sufficient amount of freedom for women during the earlier times, the rights and status of women in society gradually worsened as time passed and the Middle East expanded their empire. Towards the beginning ages of the Islamic Empire, though still secondary to men, women were able to hold a