The Caliphate of the Umayyads and Abbasids
After the death of Muhammad, the Muslim state was headed by his closest associates, who were called Khalifs – the “successors” of the prophet.
The first caliphs, coming from the rich and influential Meccan family of the Umayyads, understood that in order to strengthen their power and Islam, victorious wars that would rally the Arabs dispersed in different countries are needed. They, above all high and stately Omar, attacked the Byzantine and Persian empire, hoping for the support of those Arabs who served in the Byzantine and Persian troops. The Caliphs did not lose their fortune, so by the beginning of the Ush. Arabs already hosted in Iran, Syria, Egypt, North Africa, Central Asia – right up to the Chinese borders. At the beginning of the VIII century. they invaded Western Europe – conquered the Visigothic Spain. Such a gigantic empire, as the Arab caliphate, did not know the whole previous history. Arabs were sent to Gaul, but there they were defeated
The Umayyads made their capital the Syrian city of Damascus. The governors of the caliph – emirs led the conquered territories.
“Holy War”, as the caliphs expected, really rallied all the Arabs who made money on military campaigns. She dramatically changed their way of life. Bedouin nomads became a sedentary population, used to live in cities.
To non-Muslims, the Arabs were treated scornfully, as required by their religion. Between Muslims and “infidels” a clear boundary was established. “Illegal” aliens were forbidden to lead the way of life of “faithful” Arabs, Arabs – live the way “infidels” lived.
In the VII century. all preaching and utterances of Muhammad recorded. So the Quran appeared. His attitudes and rules became Shariah – an indisputable law for “the faithful.”
Medieval author on the situation of the non-Muslim population in the Arab Caliphate
Here, only occasionally you can meet… a Muslim who could write…
The Arabs got along badly not only with the “infidels”, but also with each other. The political situation in the Caliphate was tense. Almost all caliphs of the Umayyad family died a violent death. In the end, in the middle of the VIII century. the power of the Caliphs passed to the Abbasids – the descendants of Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. Abbasids made a city on the river. Tiger, later called Baghdad.
Unlike the Umayyads, the Abbasids fought not under the white, but under the black flag.
Caliphate – immense, but fragile – immediately began to fall apart. From it broke away Spain, North Africa and Egypt. In 1258 it was defeated by the Mongols.
In the middle of the VII century. caliph became Ali – a relative of Muhammad. But not all the “orthodox” recognized his authority. Supporters of Ali were called Shiites, their opponents – Sunites. This split in the Muslim community has not been overcome so far.
The Caliph – in a number of Muslim countries – the monarch and at the same time the head of the Muslims there.
The Koran is a sacred book of Muslims.
Shari’ah is the attitudes and rules by which Muslims live.
Sunits are Muslims who consider not only the Koran to be the source of their faith, but also the addition to it, Sunu.
Shiites are Muslims who recognize Muhammad’s heirs as only his relative Ali and his heirs.
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