Sardar - What Do Muslims Believe?: the Roots and Realities of Modern Islam

Ziauddin Sardar is a writer, broadcaster and critical commentator on Islam, culture and science. Born in Pakistan and raised and educated in Britain, he is regarded as one of the world's leading public intellectuals. He is the editor of Futures, the monthly journal of policy, planning and futures studies, as well as co-editor of Third Text, the critical journal of the visual arts and culture. He is the author of over forty books on Islam, science policy, futures studies, post colonial and cultural studies, travel and autobiography. His books include the classic studies The Future of Muslim Civilization and Islamic Futures: TheShape of Ideas to Come, as well as explorations of contemporary US politics, Why Do People Hate America? and American Dream,Global Nightmare. His recent autobiography, Desperately SeekingParadise, offers an intellectual journey into what modernity means for Muslims. A columnist on the New Statesman, he is also widely known for his radio and television appearances.

Also available

What Do Jews Believe? Edward Kessler

What Do

MUSLIMS

Believe?

The Roots and Realities

of Modern Islam

Ziauddin Sardar

Copyright 2007 by Ziauddin Sadar

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Walker & Company, 104 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011.

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eISBN: 978-0-802-71891-4

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First published in the United Kingdom by Granta Books in 2006

First U.S. Edition 2007

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Typeset by M Rules

Printed in the United States of America by Quebecor World Fairfield

For my late father,

Salahuddin Khan Sardar:

he understood

Contents

632-49 Death of the Prophet Muhammad (632)

Abu Bakr becomes First Caliph (632)

Umar becomes Second Caliph (634)

Expansion to Syria, Iraq and Persia

Capture of Jerusalem (638)

Introduction of the Hijra calendar

Conquest of Egypt

Othman becomes Third Caliph (644)

Expansion into the Maghrib

Creation of the Arab Navy

Capture of Cyprus

650-700

Compilation of the Qur'an (650-52)

Defeat of the Byzantines

Ali becomes Fourth Caliph (656)

Proclamation of Muawiya as Caliph in defiance of Ali (660)

Assassination of Caliph Ali (661)

Umayyad dynasty established in Damascus

Muawiya I becomes Caliph (661)

Indian numerals appear in Syria

Introduction of Arabic coinage

Yazid becomes Caliph (679)

The battle of Karbala and massacre of Hussain and his party (689)

701-50

Invasion of Spain (711)

Expansion of Muslims into the Indus valley

Crossing of Muslims into France (718)

Battle of Tours (732)

Umayyad dynasty ends (749)

751-800

Introduction of the paper industry to the Arab world

The publishing industry established as a sophisticated enterprise

The great compilers of hadith publish their works: al-Bukhari,

Muslim, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, ibn Maja and al-Nasai

Abbasid dynasty founded

Al-Saffar becomes Caliph

Spanish Umayyads established in Crdoba (756)

Beginning of the Mutazilite philosophy (757)

Foundation of Baghdad (762)

Ibn Ishaq publishes the famous biography of the Prophet Muhammad

Death of Imam Hanifa

Charlemagne's invasion of Spain; death of Roland (778)

Great Mosque of Cordoba founded; Harun al-Rashid becomes Caliph (786)

Idrisids are established in Morocco (788)

Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) codified with four 'Schools of Thought' established

801-50

Ibn Hisham publishes his biography of the Prophet Muhammad Philosopher al-Kindi established as the first Muslim philosopher The first public hospital established in Baghdad (809)

Jabir ibn Hayan establishes chemistry as an experimental science Imam Shafi'i dies (820)

Sicily conquered (827)

Al-Khwarizmi publishes Algebra

Bait al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom), public library, is founded in Baghdad (832)

The translations of the works of Greece, Babylonia, Syria, Persia, India and Egypt reach their peak

The Mutazilite (Rational) School of Philosophy founded

Thousand and One Nights makes an early appearance

851-900

Al-Jahiz, the goggle-eyed', publishes The Book of Animals

Philosopher al-Farabi publishes The Perfect State

Hunyan ibn Ishaq, the renowned translator, publishes

translation of Greek philosophy and other works

Mosque of ibn Tulun built in Cairo (878)

The Ulama established as a major force against the state

Philosopher al-Razi declares that functions of the human body are based on complex chemical interactions

Musa Brothers publish their book of mechanical devices

Al-Battani publishes On the Science of Stars

Al-Fargani publishes his Elements of Astronomy

901-50

Death of Thabit ibn Qurrah, mathematician, philosopher Historian al-Tabari, poet al-Mutanabbi born (915)

Death of Al-Hallaj (922)

Al-Razi publishes first book on smallpox and measles

Poet Firdawsi born (934)

Mathematician Abu al-Wafa born (940)

951-1000

Al-Haytham publishes Optics, containing the basic formulae of reflection and refraction

Fatimid dynasty established in Egypt (966)

Al-Azhar mosque built in Cairo (970)

Al-Baruni publishes India and The Determination of theCoordinates of the Cities

Poet al-Maarri born (973)

Ghaznavid dynasty established in Afghanistan and northern India (977)

Philosopher and physician ibn Sina publishes Canons ofMedicine, the standard text for the next eight hundred years; and many philosophic works

The publication of Fihirst al-Nadim, the catalogue of books contained in the bookshop of al-Nadim (987)

Al-Azhar University, the first in the world, established in Cairo (988)

The Ghurids succeed the Ghaznavids in Afghanistan and northern India

Humanist al-Masudi lays the foundation of human geography

1001-1100

Statesman, educator Nizam al-Mulk born

Poet Umar Khayyam solves equations of three degrees

Theologian, thinker al-Ghazzali publishes The Revival of