Islam: History, Culture, and Key Figures
Muhammad and His Wives
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The Quran, which many Muslims believe reflects the literal words of Allah, includes speeches delivered by Muhammad to his followers. The following excerpt outlines the privileges regarding marriage that Muhammad enjoyed:
Thought, Religion and Culture | Religions and Cultures
Islam and Arab Countries
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The Arab countries are a distinct group within the Islamic world. They are part of an ancient civilization that now extends across Asia and Africa. Islamic civilization is heir to the ancient cultures that developed in the Middle East. However, it is…
Geography | Geography of Spain
Islamic Fundamentalism
Readings on Islamic Fundamentalism
“All representations of the hypostasis of the Trinity, original sin, and redemption do nothing but damage reason and conscience! And that capitalist accumulation, monopolies, usurious interest, imbued from top to bottom with greed! And that selfish individualism which prevents any spontaneous solidarity that is not bound by the laws!”
Thought, Religion and Culture | Religions and Cultures
Al-Qaeda
…Saudi royals began funding a group of cells of fighters who launch attacks against governments that opposed Islamic law or persecuted believers. Since 1990, Osama Bin Laden has carried out several attacks against American and Israeli interests…
The Alhambra
The political and administrative center of Granada was the Alhambra, which takes its name from the color of its walls, red (“qa’lat al-Hamra'” Red Castle). It is a palace that was both a fortress and a city. The Alhambra, Madinat al-Hamra, was situated on top of Red Hill and was a veritable city within a city, with its royal palaces, sumptuous residences where high officials of the Court lived, mosques, schools, shops, and markets.
Islamic Monuments in India
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The Islamic world expanded greatly, and the territories not only accepted a new religion but also experienced artistic developments, including new styles and the merging with local modes of expression. The Taj Mahal was built from 1631 to 1653. Koranic texts, designed by the calligrapher Amanta Kan, spread all over the monument. The Qutab Minar is one of the most impressive in the Islamic world. It was built around 1193 and can still be seen today in the capital of India. It is a tower 72 meters tall that served as…
Thought, Religion and Culture | Religions and Cultures
Somalia: Territorial Cards
…and camels. There are few industries: food, cement factories, and an oil refinery. In the 14th century, an Islamic state was founded, but in the 17th century, the country split again into small tribes until the 19th century. British colonization began in 1884, and… millions of Somalis to survival. Somalia is a state of the “Horn of Africa,” northeast of the continent. In the 14th century, it was Islamic, although it was later colonized by the British and Italians. Following a coup in 1969, it experienced a civil war that lasted until…
The Economy in the Islamic World
Articles on The Economy in the Islamic World
Much of the Islamic territory was formed by deserts in which nomadic tribes lived, who were engaged in herding goats, sheep, and camels or trading with caravans. In areas where the presence of water made agriculture possible, they grew…
Revolution and the Third World
Learn more about Revolution and the Third World
…who had lived in exile since the sixties: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. In the early seventies, he launched the proposal for an Islamic government, and urban students welcomed it with enthusiasm. In 1978, the brutal repression of a religious youth rally led to a campaign…
The Evolution of Medieval Islam
Articles on The Evolution of Medieval Islam
…but when the fourth caliph (Ali) was nominated, the first internal power struggles emerged. During this stage, the capital of the Islamic world was the city of Medina. As for military expansion, the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs saw the conquest of Syria, Palestine, Persia, and…