civilization which stretched from one end of the globe to the other.
Already during the early Muslim caliphates, first the Arabs,then the
Persians and later the Turks set about to create classicalIslamic
civilization. Later, in the 13th century, both Africa and India became
great centers of Islamic civilization and soon thereafter Muslim
kingdoms were established in the Malay-Indonesian world while Chinese
Muslims flourished throughout China.
Global religion
Islam is a religion for all people from whatever race or background
they might be. That is why Islamic civilization is based on a unity
which stands completely against any racial or ethnic discrimination.
Such majorracial and ethnic groups as the Arabs, Persians, Turks,
Africans, Indians, Chinese and Malays in addition to numerous smaller
units embraced Islam and contributed to the building of Islamic
civilization. Moreover, Islam was not opposed to learning from the
earlier civilizations and incorporating their science, learning, and
culture into its own world view, as long as they did not oppose the
principles of Islam. Each ethnic and racial group which embraced Islam
made its contribution to the one Islamic civilization to which
everyone belonged. The sense of brotherhood and sisterhood wasso much
emphasized that it overcame all local attachments to a particular
tribe, race, or language--all of which became subservient to the
universal brotherhood and sisterhood of Islam. The global civilization
thus created by Islam permitted people of diverse ethnic backgrounds
to work together incultivating various arts and sciences. Although the
civilizationwas profoundly Islamic, even non-Muslim "people of the
book" participated in the intellectual activity whose fruits belonged
to everyone. The scientific climate was reminiscent of the present
situation in America where scientists and men and women of learning
from all over the world are active in the advancement of knowledge
which belongs to everyone. The global civilization created by Islam
also succeeded in activating the mind and thought of the people who
entered its fold. As a result of Islam, the nomadic Arabs became
torch-bearers of science and learning. The Persians who had created a
great civilization before the rise of Islam nevertheless produced much
more science and learning in the Islamic period than before.The same
can be said of the Turks and other peoples who embraced Islam. The
religion of Islam was itself responsible not only for the creation of
a world civilization in which people of many different ethnic
backgrounds participated, but it played a central role in developing
intellectual and cultural life on a scale not seen before. For some
eight hundred years Arabic remained the major intellectual and
scientific language of the world. During the centuries following the
rise of Islam, Muslim dynasties ruling in various parts of the Islamic
world bore witness to the flowering of Islamic culture and thought. In
fact this tradition of intellectual activity was eclipsed only at the
beginning of modern times as a result of the weakening of faith among
Muslims combined with external domination. And today this activity has
begun anew in many parts of the Islamic world now that the Muslims
have regained their political independence.
A Brief History of Islam, The Rightly Guided Caliphs
Upon the death of the Prophet, Abu Bakr, the friend of the Prophet and
the first adult male to embrace Islam, became caliph. Abu Bakr ruled
for two years to be succeeded by 'Umar who wascaliph for a decade and
during whose rule Islam spread extensively east and west conquering
the Persian empire, Syria and Egypt. It was 'Umar who marched on foot
at the end of the Muslim army into Jerusalem and ordered the
protection of Christian sites. 'Umar also established the first public
treasury and a sophisticated financial administration. He established
many of the basic practices of Islamic government. 'Umar was succeeded
by 'Uthman who ruledfor some twelve years during which time the
Islamic expansioncontinued. He is also known as the caliph who had the
definitive text of the Noble Quran copied and sent to the four corners
of the Islamic world. He was in turn succeeded by 'Ali who is known to
this day for his eloquent sermons and letters, and also for his
bravery. With his death the rule of the "rightly guided" caliphs, who
hold a special place of respect in the hearts of Muslims, came to an
end.
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