Islam And The West – We Are Culturally Closer Than We Accept

After reading an article from the archives of Salon.com entitled “Why Americans can’t find Islam on the Map” by Salon senior writer Eric Boehlert, I was particularly incensed not because Americans can’t find Islam. It was the date of the article September 21/01 that incensed me. Almost five years has gone by and yet Western civilization remains unfamiliar with the Arab regions.

In Boehlert’s article, he cites Charles Kimball, chairman of the department of religion at Wake Forest University, and an Islamic scholar. “Most people have a detailed ignorance of the Middle East. They have all these images and details in their head but little coherence or understanding.”

I find that is as true to today as it was five years ago. Put simply, we have been misguided. The media paints a grim picture based on propaganda and hardcore documentation and leaves us confused, fearful of the unknown. The truth is that we are culturally closer than we accept.

The shaping of our mathematics can be attributed to Al-Khwarizmi (c.780-c.850), the chief librarian of the observatory, research center and library called the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. His treatise, “Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala” (“Calculation by Restoration and Reduction), which covers linear and quadratic equations, solved trade imbalances, inheritance questions and problems arising from land surveyance and allocation. In passing, he also introduced into common usage our present numerical system, which replaced the old, cumbersome Roman one.

Without Arabian improvements upon the compass, the astrolabe, nautical maps and seaworthy lanterns, Magellan, Cabot, Vasco da Gama, Columbus, et al., might have had trouble pulling anchor and leaving port. The Arabs also pioneered the usage of hydraulic presses and water clocks, which tracked the passage of time and phases of the moon.

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayym is certainly one the most famous works of Arabic translation in the English language. In his seminal “Algebra”, Khayym attempted a fusion of algebraic and geometric methods, discussing the solution of cubic equations by geometric means, anticipating analytical geometry. Khayym also dabbled in astronomy, his lunar calculations leading him to reform the calendar in 1079.

The first madrassas in Spain, in Malaga, Zaragoza and Cordoba, which later evolved into universities, started in the 11th century. The foundation of DamascusUniversity dates back to the 8th century.

Our modern-day idioms have roots steeped in the Arabic language. Dragoman, a wonderfully resonant word, meaning an interpreter or guide in Eastern countries, derives from the Arabic verb tarjama, to translate. It is one among thousands of lexical items in English that derive from an Arabic translation. Others include admiral, alfalfa, algebra, banana, carafe, giraffe, mohair, sofa, sugar and zero.

An agricultural crop such as the watermelon is one of the many crops the Arabs introduced to the West. Others include artichokes, rice, cotton, asparagus, oranges (from “naranj”), lemons, limes, figs, dates, spinach and eggplants.

“The written record of the Qur’an was an amazingly important event in the history of the Middle East, because it required an enormous amount of research on language and genealogy, and the development of critical methods for assessing the accuracy of reports. All that went into the formulation of Islamic law and theology. With the revelation of the Qur’an in 622 A.D., and the founding of Islam, Arabia underwent radical changes. Previously nomadic communities were unified into courts run by caliphs, the civil and religious heads of the Muslim state. Systems of trade and taxation were established, a confederated army replaced the tribal one, and a centralized empire was formed. By the late ninth century, Islam had become the principal faith of a dominion that extended from the western Mediterranean into Central Asia. The written record of the Qur’an, meaning “recitation” or “recitations,” led to a shift from the oral tradition to a written one, which had a dramatic impact on the culture from literary composition to law to philology.

Islam was the first major religion, certainly the first monotheistic one, to practice religious tolerance. As rulers they were lenient, even generous (unlike the Germanic tribes that ravaged the late Roman Empire). Besides, Jews and Christians were “People of the Book” – Islam borrowed much from its elders; Abraham, Moses and Christ are recognized prophets in the Koran. As long as they paid their tithe to the Caliph and kept out of trouble, Jews were free to do as they wished. “Holy Toledo,” the meeting point of the three great religions, became a model of religious tolerance and harmony – an idyll that ended when the Christian kings of the north recaptured it in 1085. (Until the rise of Holland in the 17th century, if you were Jewish it was generally better for your overall health and well-being to live in Muslim lands such as North Africa, the Levant or Turkey, than almost anywhere in Christendom, particularly those places where Catholicism prevailed. French missionaries are to blame for introducing the virus of anti-Semitism to the Middle East in the 19th century.) Of the three great thinkers who flourished under Islamic rule, one was non-Muslim, Maimonides of Cordoba (1135-1204), author of “The Guide for the Perplexed,” who was Jewish. Like Avicenna and his fellow Cordoban, Averroes, Maimonides attempted to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy with religious belief.

With such a rich historical path, how is that we have forgotten this once grand empire. The answer may lie in the cyclical nature of history. If this is so, we should take heed now. We are culturally closer than we accept!

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He is the third caliph who ruled from 644 (age 69-70 years) to 656 (for 11-12 years). Also a friend of the prophet who has a very shy nature.

Utsman bin Affan was the companion of the Prophet and also the third caliph in first four caliphs. He was known as a wealthy merchant and economist reliable but very generous. Many of the economic assistance given to Muslims at the beginning of the message of Islam. He earned the nickname which means that Dzunnurain has two lights. The nickname was acquired because Uthman had married the daughter of the second and third of the Rasullah Saw Ruqayah and Ummi Kulthum.
Utsman bin Affan was born in 574 AD by the Umayyah. He mother’s name was Arwa bint Rabiah ibn Kuriz. He converted to Islam on the invitation of Abu Bakr and belonged Assabiqunal Awwalun (the ones who first embraced Islam). Prophet himself describes as Utsman bin Affan the most honest person and humility among the Muslims. Narrated by Imam Muslim that Aisha asked the Prophet, “Abu Bakar entered, but you always have and do not give special attention, and then Umar went too casual you and not give special attention. But when you entered Utsman continued to sit and fix the clothes, why? “Rasullullah replied,” Did I not ashamed of those who have embarrassed him an angel? ”

At first the calls migrate to Rasullullah Saw Habbasyiah due to the increased pressure of the Quraysh against the Muslims, Uthman, with his wife and other Muslims call the meeting and move to Habbasyiah until the pressure subsided from the Quraysh. Not long lived in Mecca, Utsman followed the Prophet Muhammad to migrate to Medina. In the event Hudaibiyah, Utsman sent by Rasullullah to meet Abu Sufyan of Mecca. Utsman ordered the Prophet to assert that the group of Medina will serve only in the Kaaba, and then immediately returned to Medina, not to fight the people of Mecca.

At Dzatirriqa War and the War raged Ghatfahan, which led the war Rasullullah Saw, Utsman believed Medina mayor. Tabuk War, Utsman 1000 donated camels and 70 horses, plus private donations in 1000 dirhams for war Tabuk, it is equal to one-third the cost of the war. Uthman ibn Affan also show generosity when buying a spring called house of a tribal man Ghifar for 35,000 dirhams. He springs to wakafkan common people’s interests. In the reign of Abu Bakar, Utsman also gave wheat transported by camel in 1000 to help the poor who suffer in the dry season.

After the death of Umar bin Khattab as the second caliph, Get the celebration to pick the next caliph. There were six candidates proposed by the Caliph Ali bin Abi Talib, Utsman ibn Affan, Abdurrahman bin Auf, Saad bin Abi Waqas, Al-Zubair and Talha bin bin Awwam Ubaidillah. Next Abdurrahman bin Auff, Sa’ad bin Abi Waqas, Al-Zubair bin Awwam, and Talha bin Ubaidillah resigned to just Utsman and Ali was left. Voice of the moment tend to choose the third Caliph Utsman. So Utsman was appointed 70-year-old became the third caliph, and the oldest, and the first selected from several candidates. This happened in the month of Muharram 24 AH Utsman became caliph in Islam when the government has actually established and structured.

He is the first caliphs who expanded the mosque of al-Haram (Mecca) and the Nabawi Mosque (Medina) because of increasingly crowded Muslims who perform the five pillars of Islam (pilgrimage). He sparked the idea of security police for his people; create a special building for the court and prosecuting cases previously done in the mosque; agricultural building, conquered Syria, North Africa, Persia, Khorasan, Palestine, Cyprus, Rodhes, and also forms a strong navy. The greatest merit is the time issued a policy to collect the Qur’an in one Mushaf.

During his tenure, the governor replaced Uthman many areas that do not fit or less competent and menggantikaannya with people who are more credible. But this makes a lot of heartache officials revealed that they conspired to kill the Caliph. Caliph Utsman then besieged by the rebels for 40 days starting from the month of Ramadan until Dzulhijah. Although Utsman has the power to remove the rebels, but he was principled to not shed the blood of Muslims. Utsman eventually died as a martyr in 35 H Dzulhijah when the rebels managed to enter his house and killed Uthman when he was reading the Qur’an. Just like what the Rasullullah Mustafa Utsman about the martyr’s death later. He was buried in Baqi cemetery in Medina.

Birth

Abu Bakar’s wife Aisha’s father from the Prophet Muhammad. His name actually is Abdul Kaaba (meaning ‘servant of the Kaaba’), which later changed by the Prophet to be Abdullah (meaning ‘servant of God’. Prophet Muhammad also gave him the title of Ash-Siddiq (meaning ‘who is telling the truth’), so he is better known as Abu Bakar al-Siddiq.
Embrace to Islam

Abu Bakar was born in Mecca of the descendants of Bani Tamim (Attamimi), Quraish tribe. Based on the few Islamic historians, he was a merchant, a judge with a high position, an educated and believed to be the person who can interpret dreams.

Become Caliph

During Prophet Muhammad’s illness when on his deathbed, said that Abu Bakar was named to the prayer place, many who consider this as an indication that Abu Bakar would take his place. Immediately after his death (632), conducted consultation among the leaders of the Ansar and immigrants in Medina, which eventually led to the appointment of Abu Bakar as the new leader of the Muslims or the Islamic caliphate.

What happens when the meeting became a source of debate. The appointment of Abu Bakar as the Caliph is a very controversial subject and a source of the first division in Islam, where Muslims split into Sunnis and Shiites. On one side of the Shiites believe that it should be Ali ibn Abi Talib (Muhammad’s daughter) is a leader and believe this is the decision of the Prophet Muhammad himself as the Sunni argued that the Prophet Muhammad refused to appoint his successor. The Sunni argued that the Messenger of discussion put forward for appointment of temporary leader of Shi’ites Muslims argue that the Messenger of God in the smallest things like before and after eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., never left his people without the guidance and leadership issues guidance especially last people . and also many hadiths in Sunni and Shi’ite caliph after the death of whom the Messenger of Allah, and the number of Islamic leaders of twelve. Regardless of the controversy and the truth of each of them, Ali himself formally declaring his loyalty (pledge allegiance) to Abu Bakar and the two caliphs after (Umar ibn al-Khattab and Uthman ibn Affan). The Sunni describes this statement as a statement that Ali became enthusiastic and loyal supporters of Abu Bakar and Umar. While the Shi’ites do illustrate that the Ali baiat the pro forma, since he baiat after after the death of his wife Fatimah months and months and after that he showed a protest by closing themselves from public life.

Ridda War

Immediately after the succession of Abu Bakar, a number of problems that threaten the unity and stability of the community and Islamic countries when it comes. Several Arab tribes originating from the Hijaz and insubordination to the Deputy Nejed new and existing systems. Some of them refused to pay zakat while not reject the religion of Islam as a whole. Some other re-embrace religion and old traditions of idolatry. The tribes claim that only a commitment to the Prophet Muhammad and his commitment to his death no longer valid. Based on this, Abu Bakar declared war against those known by the name Ridda war. In the war’s biggest battle is Ridda fight “Ibn Habib al-Hanafi” better known by the name Musailamah Al-Kazab (Musailamah the liar), who claimed himself as a new prophet to replace the Prophet Muhammad. Musailamah then defeated in battle Akraba by Khalid bin Walid.

Expedition to the north

After stabilizing the internal situation and in full control of the Arab, Abu Bakar ordered the generals of Islam against the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire. Khalid bin Walid conquered Iraq with ease while the expedition to Syria was also successful.

Qur’an

Abu Bakar also play a role in the preservation of the written texts of the Qur’an. It is said that after a very difficult victory against Musailamah in Ridda war, many Qur’an penghafal participating killed in battle. Abu Bakar then Umar ibn al-Khattab asked to gather a collection of the Qur’an. Once complete this collection, gathered from penghafal the Qur’an and the writings contained in the written media such as bone, skin, etc., by a team headed by Zaid ibn Thabit Companions, then kept by Hafsa, daughter of Umar and also the wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Then in the reign of Uthman ibn Affan became the basis of this collection of writing text to the Qur’an, known until today.

Background

He has the full name of ibn Umar bin Abdul Nafiel Uzza, born in Mecca, the Banu Adi, one of the Quraysh tribe family. His parents named Nufail bin Al Khattab Mahzumi Al Quraisyi and Hantamah binti Hashim. Omar has a nickname that is given by Muhammad al-Faruq, meaning people who can separate the haq and false.
Umar’s family belong to a middle class family, he could read and write that in those days is something rare. Umar was also known for his strong physique, where he became a champion wrestler in Mecca.

Before Islam, as is the tradition of pagan Mecca time, Omar buried her daughter alive. As he said himself, “I cried when digging the grave for my daughter. He developed and then combed beard”.

Drinking is also common among the Quraysh. Some records say that in the pre-Islam, Umar liked to drink wine. After becoming Muslim, she did not touch alcohol at all. However, after conversion to Islam, not derived ban drinking alcohol (intoxicating) explicitly. So there is a story, In the evening, Umar bermabuk-mabukkan until dawn. When the time dawn arrived, he went to the mosque and was appointed as a priest. When reading the letter al-Kafirun, because paragraph 3 and 5 sounds the same, after reading the verse 5, he again repeated to paragraph 4 continuously. Finally, Allah revealed drinking ban on the firm.

Convert to Islam

When the invitation to embrace Islam was declared by the Prophet Muhammad, Umar took positions to defend the traditional religion of the Quraysh (idolatry). At that time Omar was one of the very hard in the fight against the message of Islam and often torture believers.

It is said that at one point, Umar resolved to assassinate Muhammad. When looking for him, he ran into a Muslim (Na’em bin Abdullah) who then told me that his sister had also embraced Islam. Umar was shocked to notice it and went home.

At home find that his brother Umar was reciting verses from the Holy Qur’an (Thoha letter), he became upset of it and hit his brother. When he saw his brother’s bloody by his swing he was sorry, and then requested that reading can be he saw. He then became very upset by the contents of the Qur’an and then immediately embraced Islam on the same day.

Become a Caliph

During the reign of Umar, the Islamic power grew rapidly. Islam took over Mesopotamia and Persia from the hands of some of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia (which ends the Sassanid Empire) and took over Egypt, Palestine, Syria, North Africa and Armenia from the Roman Empire (Byzantium).

History records many great battles that became the beginning of this conquest. At the Battle of Yarmuk, which happened near Damascus in the year 636, 20 thousand Muslim troops defeated the Roman armies that reached 70 thousand and the end of Roman rule in southern Asia Minor. Other Islamic forces in a small amount to get the victory over the Persians in a larger number of battle Qadisiyyah (636 th), near the river Euphrates. In the battle, the Muslim army generals Sa `ad ibn Abi Waqqas defeated the Sassanid army and killed the famous Persian general, Rustam Farrukhzad.

In the year 637, after a long siege of Jerusalem, the Muslims finally take over the city. Umar was given the key to enter the city by the priest Sophronius and invited to pray in the church (Church of the Holy Sepulchre). Umar chose another place to pray so as not to jeopardize the church. 55 years later, Omar Mosque was established place he prayed.

Omar did a lot of administrative reform and control of the public policy, including building administrative systems to new areas conquered. He also ordered the census to be held throughout the Islamic territories. 638 years old, he was ordered to expand and renovate the Grand Mosque in Mecca and Masjid Nabawi in Medina. He also began the process of codification of Islamic law.

Umar was known from a simple lifestyle, rather than adopt the lifestyle and appearance of the rulers in those days, he remained alive as when the Muslims were poor and persecuted.

In the year to 17 Hijri, in the four leadership, Umar decreed that the Islamic calendar should be calculated when the incident began to migrate.

Ibn Sina’s full name Abū ‘Alī al-Husayn ibn’ Abdallah ibn Sina (Persian ابوعلى سينا Abu Ali Sina or in writing arabic: أبو علي الحسين بن عبد الله بن سينا). Ibn Sina was born in 980 in the area Afsyahnah near Bukhara, Uzbekistan is now the region (then Persia), and died in June 1037 in Hamadan, Persia (Iran).
He is the author of 450 books on the subject of several large. Many of them are focused on philosophy and medicine. He is regarded by many as the “father of modern medicine.” George Sarton called Ibn Sina “the most famous scientist of Islam and one of the most famous in all areas, places, and time.” The most famous work is The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine, also known as the Qanun (full title: Al-Qanun fi Tibb At).

EARLY LIFE

His life is known through the sources of power. An autobiography discusses the first thirty years of his life, and the rest are documented by his student al-Juzajani, who is also secretary and friend.

Ibn Sina was born in the year 370 (H) / 980 (M) at his mother’s house Afshana, a small town is now territory of Uzbekistan (part of Persia). His father, a distinguished scholar Ismaili, came from Balkh, Khorasan, and at the time of the birth of his son he was governor of a region in one of Nuh ibn Mansur neighborhood, now Afghan territory (and Persian). She wanted her son’s well educated in Bukhara.

Although traditionally influenced by the Ismaili branch of Islam, Ibn Sina’s independent thinking by having intelligence and extraordinary memory, which allow the teacher followed by the age of 14 years.

Ibn Sina was educated under the responsibility of a teacher, and his ability soon made him the admiration of his neighbors, he displays an attitude of intellectual and exclusion of a child prodigy / Child prodigy who had memorized the Koran at age 5 years and also an expert in poetry Persian. From a vegetable pedagan he learned arithmetic, and he began to learn the other from a scholar who earn a living from caring for the sick and teaching young children.

Although major problems on the problem – the problem of metaphysics and in some works of Aristotle. Thus, for the next year and a half, he also studied philosophy, where he faces many obstacles. in several investigations of confusion, he will leave the book – his book, taking water for ablution, then go to the mosque, and continued praying until the guidance resolve difficulties – difficulties. In the late-night he would continue his studies, stimulating feelings with occasional glass of goat’s milk, and even in his dreams problems would follow and provide a solution. Forty times, it is said, he read the Metaphysics of Aristotle, till the word – he says his memory, but that is not known, until one day they found illumination, from the brief description by Farabi, which he bought at a bookstall for three dirhams. What is amazing is the joy of discovery, made with the assistance he expected only mystery, that accelerates to thank Almighty God, and give alms for the poor.

He studied medicine at the age of 16, and not only learned medical theory, but through service to the sick, through the calculations myself, discovered a method – a new method of treatment. These young people get labeled as a physicist at the age of 18 years and found that “Medical science is not a difficult or annoying, like mathematics and metaphysics, so I quickly make progress; I became an excellent doctor and began treating patients, using drugs — appropriate drug. ” The young physicist fame spread quickly, and he treated many patients without asking for payment.

His first job to be a physicist for the emir, who diobatinya of a dangerous disease. Avicenna employer gave him a gift of it by giving it access to the royal library Samanids, supporting education and science. When the library was destroyed by fire shortly thereafter, the enemy – the enemy of Ibn Sina accused of burning oa din, in order to hide the source of knowledge. Meanwhile, Ibn Sina, helping his father in his work, but still took the time to write some of the most original works.

When Ibn Sina’s 22-year-old, his father meninggal.Samanid dynasty to collapse in December 1004. Ibn Sina resisted Mahmud of Ghazni, and headed towards the West to Urgench in the modern Uzbekistan, where the vizier, regarded as seperguruan friend, gave him a small monthly salary. But a small salary, so Ibn Sina wandered from one place to another through the districts of Nishapur and Merv to the borders of Khorasan, seeking an opening for talent – talent. Shams al-Ma’äli Qäbtis, the benevolent regulator Dailam, a poet and scholar, Ibn Sina, which expects to find a shelter, where about the year (1052) died were killed by the rebel troops. Ibn Sina himself at that time the disease is severe. Finally, in Gorgan, near the Sea Kaspi, Ibn Sina visiting with a friend, who bought a home near ruman Avicenna idmana learn logic and astronomy. Several of Ibn Sina’s guidebook written for these people, and the beginning of the book Canon of Medicine was also done when he lived in Hyrcania.

Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Rushd was born in Cordoba (Spain) in the year 520 Hijri (1128 AD). Father and grandfather Ibn Rushd is renowned judges at the time. Little Averroes was a child who has many interests and talents. He deepens many sciences, such as medicine, law, mathematics, and philosophy. Explore the philosophy of Ibn Rushd, Abu Ja’far ibn Harun and Steel.
Ibn Rushd was a genius who came from Andalusia with encyclopaedic knowledge. Most of his life was given to serve as a “Kadi” (judge) and physicist. In the western world, known as Ibn Rushd Averroes and the greatest commentator on Aristotle’s philosophy of Christian philosophy influence in the Middle Ages, including such thinkers St. Thomas Aquinas. Many people came to Ibn Rushd to consult medical problems and legal issues.

The works of Ibn Rushd include philosophy, medicine and jurisprudence in the form of essays, reviews, essays and resumes. Almost all the works of Ibn Rushd was translated into Latin and Hebrew (Jewish), so chances are the original works were gone.

Ibn Rushd’s philosophy there are two, namely the philosophy of Ibn Rushd as understood by the Europeans in the Middle Ages; and Ibn Rushd’s philosophy of belief and attitude of his religion.

Early life

Saladin was born in Tikrit, Iraq. His family was of Kurdish background and ancestry, and had originated from the city of Dvin, in medieval Armenia. His father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub, was banished from Tikrit and in 1139, he and his brother Asad al-Din Shirkuh, moved to Mosul. He later joined the service of Imad ad-Din Zengi who made him commander of his fortress in Baalbek. After the death of Zengi in 1146, his son, Nur ad-Din, became the regent of Aleppo and the leader of the Zengids.

Saladin, who now lived in Damascus, was reported to have a particular fondness of the city, but information on his early childhood is scarce. About education, Saladin wrote “children are brought up in the way in which their elders were brought up.” According to one of his biographers, al-Wahrani, Saladin was able to answer questions on Euclid, the Almagest, arithmetic, and law, but this was an academic ideal and it was study of the Qur’an and the “sciences of religion” that linked him to his contemporaries. Several sources claim that during his studies he was more interested in religion than joining the military. Another factor which may have affected his interest in religion was that during the First Crusade, Jerusalem was taken in a surprise attack by the Christians. In addition to Islam, Saladin had a knowledge of the genealogies, biographies, and histories of the Arabs, as well as the bloodlines of Arabian horses. More significantly, he knew the Hamasah of Abu Tammam by heart.

Early expeditions

Saladin’s military career began when his uncle Asad al-Din Shirkuh, an important military commander under Nur ad-Din, started training him. In 1163, the vizier to the Fatimid caliph al-Adid, Shawar, had been driven out of Egypt by rival Dirgham, a member of the powerful Banu Ruzzaik tribe. He asked for military backing from Nur ad-Din, who complied and in 1164, sent Shirkuh to aid Shawar in his expedition against Dirgham. Saladin, at age 26, went along with them. After Shawar was successfully reinstated as vizier, he demanded that Shirkuh withdraw his army from Egypt for a sum of 30,000 dinars, but he refused insisting it was Nur ad-Din’s will that he remain. Saladin’s role in this expedition was minor, and it is known that he was ordered by Shirkuh to collect stores from Bilbais prior to its siege by a combined force of Crusaders and Shawar’s troops.

After the sacking of Bilbais, the Crusader-Egyptian force and Shirkuh’s army were to engage in a battle on the desert border of the Nile River, just west of Giza. Saladin played a major role, commanding the right wing of the Zengid army, while a force of Kurds commanded the left, and Shirkuh stationed in the center. Muslim sources at the time, however, put Saladin in the “baggage of the center” with orders to lure the enemy into a trap by staging a false retreat. The Crusader force enjoyed early success against Shirkuh’s troops, but the terrain was too steep and sandy for their horses, and commander Hugh of Caesarea was captured while attacking Saladin’s unit. After scattered fighting in little valleys to the south of the main position, the Zengid central force returned to the offensive; Saladin joined in from the rear.

The battle ended in a Zengid victory, and Saladin is credited to have helped Shirkuh in one of the “most remarkable victories in recorded history,” according to Ibn al-Athir, although more of Shirkuh’s men were killed and the battle is considered by most sources as not a total victory. Saladin and Shirkuh moved towards Alexandria where they were welcomed, given money, arms, and provided a base. Faced by a superior Crusader-Egyptian force who attempted to besiege the city, Shirkuh split his army. He and the bulk of his force withdrew from Alexandria, while Saladin was left with the task of guarding the city.

The History of Islam begins with Muhammad (c. April 20, 570 – June 8, 632 AD)[1] who was an Arabian religious and political leader who Muslims believe to be the last prophet of Allah (God). He is a descendent of Ishmael, a son of Abraham, he is considered the most important person in the religion of Islam.

Muhammad was born about April 20 570 AD in Mecca.When he was about forty years old, he received a revelation from the God and was then commanded to preach to the people the error of their pagan like ways. The religion that Muhammad preached was based on the Abrahamic concept of one God and was strictly monotheistic in nature. It accepted older biblical prophets and kings as prophets as well. To escape the persecutions of the Meccans Muhammad migrated to the nearby city of Medina in 622. From there through skilful diplomacy he subdued almost the entire Arab nation before his death in 632.

After Muhammad died, the Muslim leadership was assumed by Abu Bakr. He was followed by Umar, Uthman ibn Affan and then Ali. These four are called the Rashidun caliphs which means The Righteous Caliphs. The word caliph means religious and spiritual leader. Under these caliphs Islam became one of the most important religions of the middle East. Administrative offices of the Muslim nation were established. Under Umar more then two thirds of the Eastern Roman Empire was conquered by the Muslims. Umar also started the Muslim calender.

The first civil war in Islam, also known as the First Fitna broke out in Islam during the rule of the fourth caliph Ali and lasted throughout his caliphate. The third caliph Uthman ibn Affan had been murdered by rebel Muslim groups who had political motives. After Ali took over, the most important problem he faced was that of punishing those responsible for murder. However many people felt that before accepting the position of the caliph, Ali should have focussed his attention on finding and punishing the murderers. A group of people led by Muhammad’s wife Aisha, her brothers in law Talhah and Zubair ibn al-Awam refused to recognize Ali’s caliphate. They instead raised an army which met Ali’s army at Basra in Iraq, originally for the purposes of negotiations. In the night, some fighting broke out, probably out of confusion or due to rebel groups who were involved in the infamous murder. This led to the Battle of Bassorah (also known as Battle of the Camel) in which Ali’s party emerged victorious. Aisha was escorted back to Medina honorably after the battle by Ali.

This battle however did not entirely finish the tension in the Muslim empire. Ali was soon challenged by Muawiyah, the governor of the Muslim provinces of Syria. He too raised the issue of punishing Uthman’s murderers and refused to acknowledge Ali as caliph until the issue had been solved. Muawiyah was a kinsman of Uthman and his army pledged to bring to justice the murderers and those who sheltered them. People who are sheltering the murderers was a reference to Ali and his followers. Accordingly, the two groups met and fought a battle, called the Battle of Siffin. This battle ended in a draw and so both groups decided on arbitration which also didn’t lead to any concrete decision. Another group of Muslims, The Kharijites who had previously been with Ali, meanwhile rejected him because they felt that he was not following true Islam and conducting business over the caliphate as if it were his own property.

In the following years Ali’s governors could not prevent his losing provinces to Muawiyah who increased his strength by further expanding his army. Ali had shifted the capital of the caliphate from Medina to Kufa in 656. He was killed by a Kharijite assassin in 661.

Source : Wikipedia.org