The Islamic Influence on Western Civilization Encounters and interaction with Islamic culture had a major effect on Western Civilization. Islam emerged as a powerful religious and political part of the late antique period. The Muslim forces that defeated Byzantium created a thriving civilization that transformed the Western world, and left a lasting mark. In Spain, they had a significant impact on the region’s culture and history. Through conquest and expansion, Muslims created a powerful Islamic Empire which greatly contributed to and deeply impacted the development of Western Civilization.
World peace is obviously on a larger, global scale. Umma, people of the Islamic community, see themselves as one community no matter where in the world. They believe that there can be no world peace (or the Lesser Jihad) without the Greater Jihad. Inner peace is very important and there is always a great need for it. Inner peace is what makes people strong and without it they lose courage to face difficulties.
Because Holy Cities were destinations of pilgrimages made by Muslims, these cities served great roles in Islam as being popular religious sites for Muslims all over the Muslim world to come for veneration, which strengthened Islam as well. Also, Muslim cities then were the center of religious powers of Islam and the core of Muslim science and literature. Iberian Muslim of Arab origin historian Andalusian’s (Doc #2) writings about the situation and roles played by the city of Cordoba after Muslim conquest mentions that Cordoba was “the copula of Islam, and home of the inam (religious leader)” and the residence of learned nobility, great writers, scientists and researchers.
In fact, Durkheim’s theory states; “religion served to integrate society, to create a sense of unity out of the enormously diverse collection of individuals.” Durkheim also believed that no matter what religion it is, religion is what holds a society together which makes a common destiny and makes the group have common values. (Michael Kimmel 489) With this belief comes more understanding of what Emile Durkheim was talking about with his theory of social cohesion and control. So just how does this theory relate to the Islamic religion. The word Islam means “peace”, “purity”, “submission” or “obedience.” These are all the major practices within the Islamic religion. (Pennington) When comparing Durkheim’s theory to the Islamic religion, there are very few differences in the teachings of Durkheim’s theory and the practice of the Islamic faith.
This allowed the new faith to benefit from the power of selective older rituals and gave them remarkable strength and power. Islam also spread through syncretism in the adaption of the Sharia, or Islamic law, to the people of the Sudanic States in Africa. Several of these societies were matrilineal, contrary to the normally patrilineal customs of Islam, and women enjoyed a greater freedom through this. This accommodated the fusion of both the Islamic and traditional elements of the culture. Both Christianity and Islam benefited from the use of syncretism in the spread of their respective religions.
A famous example of this was Martin Luther Kings ‘I have a dream’ speech, his use of religion in his passionate speech for equality helped to motivate people in society to push for social change, and ultimately changed America’s legislation and outlook on integration and equality between the black and white community in America. This shows that religion is a force for social change. Furthermore the church acts as a an ‘honest broker’ between two groups, in this case the church was the middle ground between the government and the African American community, this once again means that religion is a clear force in social change, this is because the church was capable of bringing the two communities together through religion. The church did this by spreading messages such as ‘love thy neighbour’ which promoted more equality in society, this means that the influence the church
The extreme importance of achieving Ma’at, developing a strong Ba, and living in accordance with Egyptians’ religious beliefs is clearly evident throughout the Egyptian instructional text, “The Teaching for King Merikare.” Comparing “The Teaching for King Merikare” to the renowned Western instructional text, “The Prince,” by Machiavelli, it is further evident that the ancient Egyptians valued religion and spirituality over the Western teachings to strive for worldly, materialistic achievements. In both “The Teaching for King Merikare” and “The Prince,” how the prince earns and secures his position to the throne determined how a successful prince conducts himself. In “The Prince,” Machiavelli advises the prince to lie, commit immoral actions, and do whatever he can to keep his power and land. Machiavelli states, “And I know that everyone will confess that it would be most praiseworthy in a prince to exhibit all the qualities that are considered good; but because they can neither be entirely possessed nor observed, for human conditions do not permit it, it is necessary for him to be sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which would lose him his state; and also to keep himself, if it be
It was also a crucial event that launched Egypt into one of the most powerful ancient empires. The meshing of the cultures of Upper and Lower Egypt in regards to pottery, craft specialization, and expansion all were factors that helped lead to their unification. One of the ways that this meshing occurred was through trade. Ancient Egyptians were known for their complicated trade routes and relationships. This crucial aspect of ancient Egyptian culture is something that aided Predynastic Egypt’s unification and was also beneficial to Egypt in later cultural periods.
The teaching of Islam appeals to many individuals because it places high emphasis on honesty, generosity, and social justice. Sharing common ancestors, a belief in divinely given written scriptures, common rituals and practices, such as regular prayer and charity; valuing pilgrimage and sharing common holy places;
Once established, the people that became followers of the religion, also known as Muslims, would soon experience the influence that Islam would have on their lives and their culture. This includes Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah, and his contribution to the establishment of Islam, the Qur’an, laws that followed based on the readings of the Qur’an, and the rights and roles of the women of Islam. Muhammad was the pioneer of a new era. Growing up, he was a direct contrast of the Arabs around him. The future Prophet held strong, independent beliefs and ethics that differed from the men that he lived amongst.