Origin and Early Expansion of Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Origin and Early Expansion of Islam - Essay ExampleThis change was mainly brought about by the new religion of Islam. Islam exploded upon the world with the sudden force of a desert whirlwind.1(Hyslop 1991,18) Islam unified the tribal groups of Arabia and its sphere of influence increased with more and more tribe being drawn to the new religion. By the beginning of the eighth century, Islam had spread from India in the east to Spain in the west, making the other ancient empires research puny by contrast. This spectacular expansion of Islam was made possible by the social, political and economic conditions of the people prevailing during the time and the simplicity of the religion..It is indubitable that Islam brought many different peoples unitedly because of its emphasis on benignity. Arabia was populate by the nomadic Bedouin tribes as well as the traders and merchants who lived a settled life. The Bedouins were poor and had a demanding life, while the traders and merchants l ived a settled life of comfort. Trade routes from many countries crossed in South Arabia. sumptuosity goods like silk, spices and precious stones were brought from India and chinaware by the arab dhows, which then were transported by land, in caravans to the empires of the Mediterranean and Europe. The Arab traders who controlled the trade from India and China to the Mediterranean and European countries became very rich. Greed of the rich was increasing while the poor people suffered much(prenominal) hardships. In 613 A.D, when Mohammad first started preaching his new religion, with its emphasis on charity to the poor, it appealed to the rich and poor alike. many an(prenominal) people converted to the new religion. Another reason for the rapid rise of Islam was that religion was not elucidate from politics in Islam. According to Goldschmidt, Religion was a corporate experience, a community of believers bound together by adherence to a common set of laws and beliefs, rather than a private and personal race between each person and his maker. Religion and politics were inextricably intertwined.2 (Goldschmidt 2005, 106) At the time, the Byzantine pudding stone with its capital at Constantinople , and the Sassanian Empire ,had both become impoverished by constant wars. The weakened conditions of the terrible empires made it easy for the Islamic warriors to conquer new lands. The fierce efficiency of the desert warriors and their fervor at a lower place Islam contributed to the explosive campaign of conquest.3 (Hyslop 1991, 40) The appeal of the new religion was very great- it attracted people from all walks of life. The canonic rules required to be followed by the followers of Islam, who were called Muslims, were besides five, and they were very simple. The first rule was, acknowledging that there is only one god who is called Allah, and that Mohammad was his prophet. The second rule was to pray five times a day confront Mecca. The third rule was to fas t during the month of Ramzan. The fourth rule was to pay zakat , a kind of charity , and the fifth rule was to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a Muslims lifetime. The rewards for observing these simple rules were quite taking for the Arabs. They would share the loot, as well as receive attractive rewards in the