Islam Literature Notecards by Charles Quinn CTQ

Achievements World History P 276 House of Wisdom = library + academy + observatory + translation center Scholars included researchers, editors, linguists, and technical advisers Translated texts from Greece, India, Persia, and elsewhere into Arabic Helped preserve multiple ancient texts from elsewhere CTQ

Achievements The Muslim Almanac P 336 Caliph Al-Mamun set up The House of Wisdom Members translated many works from Greece and Syria Preserved Arabic and many other pieces of literature Libraries contributed to advances in mathematics and sciences CTQ

The Quran World Literature and Its Times P Divided into sections called surahs Each surah is divided into ayahs 114 surahs ordered by length Shorter = earlier portions of revelations of Allah, earlier in time (chronologically ordered) The Opener (first surah) expresses basic beliefs and almost introduces religion CTQ

The Quran World History and Its Times P 421 Second surah = model for structure of religion Contains info on Muhammad’s message and on the journey to Medina Addresses Jews because of Jewish tribes in Medina that helped Muhammad Tribes in Medina = first People of the Book Second half of Quran = rules for fasting, pilgrimage, etc. (more of rulebook than set of stories) CTQ

The Quran World History and Its Times P 421 Surahs contain incidents from stories of Jewish and Christian prophets Prove God’s mercy to those who believe in him and are grateful for his bounties (Muslims) Illustrates how the faithful must contend with oppositions Encourages Islam, while almost discouraging other religions CTQ

PoetryThe Muslim Almanac Q 335 “Poetry, in general, was regarded as being capable of being a subversive verbal art that idealized pre-Islamic ways” CTQ

Poetry The Muslim Almanac P 335 Poetry was unacceptable to the spirit of the new religion, Islam Was at first used for pre-Islamic beliefs (polytheism) Worked as a guide for the obscure meanings of Quranic phrases, made them easier to understand CTQ

Poetry The Muslim Almanac P 335 Many forms of pre-Islamic poetry survived into the early Islam era Poetry was used to express of tell nostalgia, bravery, skill in hunting and war, and love Used to preserve and remember history Held tribe together, gave them a sense of pride in individual tribe CTQ

Poetry The Muslim Almanac P 335 Bedouin tribes began pre-Islamic poetry Helped preserve history Told stories of bravery in battles Poets = very important in tribes Poets = treated well, heavily respected, thought of as most important members of tribe CTQ

Poetry The Muslim Almanac P 335 Types of Poetry: Ascetic poetry: poetry on love, story telling, and other basic forms Panegyric poetry: poetry in praise of Prophet, borrowed much of its diction and imagery from pre-Islamic poets CTQ

Poetry The Muslim Almanac P 335 Poetry during the Umayyad time period: Polemical poetry: extolled virtues of tribesmen and satirized opponents Love poetry: some in the pure and Virgil type, expressed love and grief CTQ

Poetry Arab World Notebook P 335 Arabs inherited rich legacy from poetry Forms and themes of chivalry influenced early Spanish and French works Islamic poetry = basis for much early poetry CTQ

Poetry World History P 276 Former Bedouin themes in poetry were later used in Islamic poetry after the rise of Islam Poetry during the Abbasid caliphate: Multiple new forms Nature Pleasure of life Pleasure of love CTQ

Poetry World History Q 276 “Literature had been a strong tradition in Arabia even before Islam. Bedouin poets, reflecting the spirit of desert life, composed poems celebrating ideals such as bravery, love, generosity, and hospitality” CTQ

Poetry World History Q 276 “Early Muslim poets sang the praise of the Prophet and of Islam and, later, of the caliphs and other patrons who supported them” CTQ