Developments in Dar al-Islam from c. 1200 to c. 1450

A large sandstone building with many windows and parapets — This is the Great Mosque of Jenne, which is also spelled Djenné. The mosque is located in modern day Mali, which is in West Africa and was built around the 13th century CE.

In this lesson, the learner will understand the formation of new Islamic caliphates in the period 1200-1450 and will be able to explain the effect of the Dar al-Islam on the preservation and dissemination of advanced learning and technologies.

Spelling Words from Arabic

Before we begin our lesson on Dar al-Islam, let's talk briefly about spelling words that come from Arabic. Arabic is a language that uses a different writing system from English, and so it is possible to transliterate (rewrite words in one language into the writing system of another language) certain Arabic words into different English spellings. A basic example is the word for a follower of Islam, مُسْلِم, which is written in the following ways:

Muslim
Moslem
Moslim

All of these spelling variations are a result of trying to provide readers of English with a close approximation of the pronunciation of Arabic terms. Because of this, there is often no correct spelling, so pay attention to possible variations when you read about Islam and the Arabic-speaking world. We strive to use consistent spelling within the lessons of this course, but you can expect to see variations in external resources.

Islam: A World Religion

Islam is the second most popular religion in the world, with nearly 1.8 billion followers. Although its practices - like all faiths - are extremely diverse around the world, its fundamental core beliefs are straightforward. Islam holds to the unity of a single creator, God, whose final and authoritative prophet is Muhammad.

Islam: Origin and Spread

Islam emerged in Arabia in the 7^th century. A unified civilization seemed an unlikely prospect for the area in which it was born. The nomads of the Arabian Peninsula (Bedouins) were polytheistic and organized by powerful tribal identities. Conversion to the monotheistic teachings of Muhammad meant that these issues were less likely to hinder cooperation between tribes. One’s ancestral bloodline - once the unifying bond within a tribe - gave way to a new loyalty based on a common faith in one God that brought individuals together regardless of their tribe. As a result, Islam facilitated the rise of empires in areas once characterized by bands of feuding nomadic tribes.

Islam: Early Organization and Divisions

Soon after the death of Mohammad, a dispute erupted over who should be the rightful leader of this new religion. Since the idea of another prophet was inconceivable, a "deputy," or Caliph, was chosen to lead the Muslim community.

Disagreement over the qualifications of the Caliph led to the split of Muslims into Shia and Sunni factions. Nevertheless, the Caliph - a leader who presides over the political, religious, and military affairs of the Dar al-Islam - became a central feature of Islamic civilization for most Muslims. By bringing these separate components of civilization under a single leader, the Caliphate (the office of the Caliph) had a unifying effect on Islamic civilization.

Video Lesson: Dar al-Islam

Please watch the following videos. Take careful notes.

Practice Activity: Islamic Facts Review

Based on the content from this lesson and the video, select the best answer for each question. You will be presented with a word or phrase - associate that word or phrase with the answer that best relates.

[CC BY-NC-SA 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION - INTENDED ONLY FOR USE WITHIN LESSON.