A Level Islamic Studies CAIE

This subject is broken down into 40 topics in 4 modules:

  1. The Origins of Islam and the Development of the Islamic Community (circa 560-680 CE) 10 topics
  2. The Historical Development of the Islamic Legal System 10 topics
  3. Islamic Theology and Philosophy 10 topics
  4. The Development of Islamic Art and Architecture 10 topics
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  • 4
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  • 40
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  • 15,258
    words of revision content
  • 1+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Islamic Studies

The Origins of Islam and the Development of the Islamic Community (circa 560-680 CE)

Pre-Islamic Arabia

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Pre-Islamic Arabia

Pre-Islamic Arabian Society

  • Pre-Islamic Arabia, often referred to as Jahiliyyah (Era of Ignorance), was a period before the advent of Islam.
  • The Arabian Peninsula was largely nomadic with sparse concentration of settlements in Mecca, Medina and Yemen.
  • Tribal connections and alliances formed the backbone of Arabian social structure.
  • There was no centralised authority or government; tribal chiefs or Shaykhs exercised social, political, and military control.

Religion

  • Polytheism, the worship of many gods, was prevalent across the Arabian Peninsula.
  • The Kaaba in Mecca was a holy sanctuary hosting 360 idols worshipped by different tribes.
  • Judaism and Christianity were also practised among certain tribes and communities.
  • Bedouin tribes often worshipped natural phenomena such as stars, sun and moon.

Economy

  • Economy revolved primarily around trade, involving goods like spices, textiles, and precious stones.
  • Caravan trade flourished due to the strategic location of the Arabian Peninsula, linking the Mediterranean to Eastern Asia.
  • Agriculture was limited due to the harsh desert environment, still, areas with more favourable conditions produced date palms, grapes, and olives.

Literary and Cultural Traditions

  • Though largely an oral culture, Pre-Islamic Arabia had rich poetry and storytelling traditions.
  • Many tales and folklore, such as Antarah ibn Shaddad and the epic Ayyam al-Arab (Days of Arabs), were later inscribed and preserved.
  • Poetry competitions were an integral part of fairs and festivals, the most famous being the Ukaz Market festival.

Women's Rights

  • In Pre-Islamic Arabian society, women's rights were extremely limited; their status was complex and often sub-dominant.
  • It was a patrilineal society where lineage and inheritance were passed through the male line.
  • The horrifying practice of female infanticide was common in certain tribes due to socio-economic reasons.

The significance of understanding Pre-Islamic Arabia is to appreciate the deep social, cultural, and spiritual changes brought by the advent of Islam.

Course material for Islamic Studies, module The Origins of Islam and the Development of the Islamic Community (circa 560-680 CE), topic Pre-Islamic Arabia

Islamic Studies

Islamic Theology and Philosophy

The emergence and development of Islamic theology (Kalam)

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The emergence and development of Islamic theology (Kalam)

Emergence of Islamic Theology (Kalam)

  • Kalam, meaning 'speech' or 'discussion' in Arabic, arose as a discipline of Islamic theology amidst theological debates and political instability in the 8th to 10th centuries CE.
  • It was a response to ideological challenges against Islamic beliefs, such as from Greek philosophy, other religions, and dissension within Islam itself.
  • Kalam sought to reconcile faith and reason; it utilised rational arguments to defend and explain Islamic doctrines.
  • The rise of the Mutazilites, considered the first theological school of thought in Islam, marked a crucial point in the birth of Kalam. They called for a rational approach to understanding the Quran and Hadith.

Key Schools of Theology in Kalam

Mutazilites

  • They had a strong emphasis on the oneness of God (tawhid) and the idea of divine justice.
  • They rejected any anthropomorphic attributes to God, and believed in free will, arguing that humans bear full responsibility for their actions.

Asharites

  • Founded by al-Ashari, a former Mutazilite, to counter Mutazilism and help realign the faith with orthodox beliefs.
  • Asharism affirmed the unity of God and divine justice, but also asserted that any spoken word of God is uncreated and eternal.
  • It introduced the concept of "acquired or delegated creation" (kasb), suggesting a middle ground between predestination and free will.

Maturidites

  • Originated in Central Asia, Maturidism incorporated local Islamic traditions; it is seen as blending the rationalist focus of the Mutazilites and the more traditionalist tendencies of the Asharites.
  • They believed that humans have a form of free will that is limited by God's foreknowledge and omnipotence.

Expansion and Influence of Kalam

  • By the 12th century, Kalam spread from its initial centres (Irak and Iran) to Africa, Spain, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
  • It shaped Islamic philosophy, jurisprudence and Sufism, while also influencing institutions, including the educational and legal systems.
  • The need to defend Islam against foreign influences, particularly during the Crusades, bolstered the growth and prestige of Kalam.
  • The Golden Age of Kalam (10th – 12th centuries CE) saw extensive debates, cross-cultural interchanges and invaluable treatises being written, including works by eminent scholars like Al-Ghazali.
  • Kalam persisted despite some objections from conservative scholars who viewed its philosophical tendencies with suspicion.

Decline and Revival of Kalam

  • Following the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate, Kalam lost its centrality, largely due to the rise of other disciplines and the decline of rationalism.
  • However, Kalam saw a revival in the modern era, paralleling the resurgence of interest in Islamic mysticism (Sufism) and a quest for an authentic Islamic identity. It continues to be referenced in various contexts, from education to dialogues about modern Muslim identity.

Revising these points on the emergence and development of Islamic theology (Kalam), its key schools, its expansion, impact, decline and revival will provide a comprehensive overview of this essential part of Islamic history.

Course material for Islamic Studies, module Islamic Theology and Philosophy, topic The emergence and development of Islamic theology (Kalam)

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