I need some one to do the Topic Assignment in History-Islamic class I need it in muslim point of view.

· Abbasid empire is a Muslim empire – not Arab

· Persia has a big impact on Islam

· Persia advantage – culture, tradition, academics, trade routes

· Controling Persia was critical to the Abbasids

· One reason why the Abbasids moved their headquarters to Baghdad

· Abbasids established a “Prime Minister”

· Caliph thought more about politics (economic aspects especially)

· Spiritual leaders (Imam) were of the opinion the caliph should think more about the religion

· Imam’s opinion very important because they directly communicate with the people

· Caliph gave the political aspect to the politics advisor

· Hence the advisor gets more powerful

· Imam’s opinion is the caliph should have the overall power, not advisor

· Qu’anic – castrated male who keeps an eye on women

· Volunteers to be castrated to move up in the social ranks

· Mosques – influenced by Persian and Greek architecture

· Women not driving, staying at home, and covering themselves is a sign of wealth in some regions

· Why does it persist in Islam? (General question during this class)

The Abbasid Empire

· Umayyad caliphate was thinking more about politics instead religion - making them unpopular

· Umayyads ran into Shia leaders claiming they are Mahdis

· Mahdis claim they are religious leaders

· Shi’is view a Mahdi as an Imam

· Mahdis are associated with the idea of second coming

· Conquered groups convert to Islam

· They are not Arab

· Umayyads don’t view them as Muslims because they are not Arab

· Abbsids start a rebellion against Umayyad caliphate

· Umayyad leaders die shortly after one another which weakens the dynasty

· As-Saffah: “The Blood Shedder” – is going to kill Umayyads, hence the nickname

· End of the Umayyad Dynasty

· Devine Incarnation – God on earth (Jesus)

· Zidis are in Yemen

· Civil war in Yemen – Shi’is against Sunnis

· Iran supports the Shi’is

· Saudi Arabia supports the Sunnis

Shi’is – Shiism

· Followers of Ali and his son Husayn

· Spokesman for God (Imam) – scholar and spiritual leader

· Imam designated by the previous Imam

· Imams were scholars in their background

· Shi’is movement will splinter because Ja’far (Imam) died and there was no next Imam

· Shi’is diversity: Twelver and Twelve-Sevener

· Dark age, not much writing came out of this age

· More and more sects come along

· Hidden Imam

· He has disappeared, he is hidden from us, he is still here and will reveal himself in proper time as a Mahdi

· Scholars became intermediaries to the Hidden Imam – direct communication to Hidden Imam and God

· Shiism – direct link to God

· Twelver practice – the twelfth Imam will return

· Twelve-Sevener Shi’is believe in an inner and otter meaning of the Koran

· Movement is in Iran and Iraqu

· Moved around a lot to avoid conflict

Sunni

· Scholarship will involve the Koran

· Five Pillars of Islam will emerge

· Sunni idea – anybody can understand the Koran

· No inner meaning, Koran is for all people

· Greek philosophers impacted the Sunnis (Questioning)

· A=B

B=C

A=C

(Has to be true because it is logic)

Islam is faced with Greek Philosophy

· Islam is questioned

· Finding reasoning

· Study Greek Philosophy

· Engage the central question

· Deal with Greek Philosophy (logic)

· Explaining things logically

Abbasid

· Strongly influenced by Persia

· Persia is a cosmopolitan empire

· Abbasids will tap into that, which will change their empire

· Abbasids caliphs are going to be more like the Persian Kings (King of Kings)

· People have to go through ceremonies to get to see the caliph

· Ultimately the Abbasids caliphs are going to get less powerful

· The Abbasid system will allow the culture to flourish

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