Essays on Muslim World

Religion and sports have a long history that has lasted through millenniums. Sometimes the two old acquaintances have worked together, and sometimes they have been in conflict, but they have retained some form of connection. Wherever one of the two exists, there are at least small vestiges of the other. Even in the highest forms and levels of sports there lurks religion, just as the competition of sorts always appears even in the highest levels of the church. Given the long history that the two have shared, it is only natural to conclude that religion continues to shape the ...

There is a wide accepted concept that after centuries of development, the Muslim world began to decline in the 15th century. Did it really decline? In this work I would like to illustrate the main trends of developments of the Muslim world in early 15 – early 20 century. We know that in part of the second millennium, and for five centuries later there were many Asian invasions in other regions of the world, wide expansion (Seljuk, Arab, Turkish). But then the stagnation began. Since the "golden age" of the Abbasid Empire, it has not changed territorially. And large areas ...

Islam is a religion, which started in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula, precisely in Mecca. Its believers trust in the existence of Mohammad. It is believed to have originated from Prophet Mohammad, who was visited by Angel Gabriel for about 23 years. In this period, he received revelations with which the Quran is composed. In general, the Islam religion is revealed to mean ‘the one who submits to Allah' (“What Is Islam? - Political Islam”). Most importantly, they believe in the five pillars of faith, prayer, giving, fasting and pilgrimage. It is also a monotheistic religion, but ...

The term representation is used to refer to the construction of meaning through various symbols and images (Sisler, 2008). Cultures, races, and religions are represented in different forms of media around the world, but in most scenarios these representations are filled with stereotypes making western cultural ideologies and beliefs as better or ideal compared to other forms of cultural ideologies. The portrayal of Arab- Muslim Americans or Muslims in general, within the media of the United States focuses on the idea of agenda setting and the dominant ideology which frames the perceptions of mainstream America (Gerhauser, 2014). The United ...

The Muslim movements after the Caliphate

After the abolition of the Ottoman Empire, and later the Caliphate in 1924, in the modern Muslim world began "non-Caliphate" period. This process was historically logical, because the theocratic form of government suffered a crisis in the Muslim world, where national movement and bourgeois relations were growing. Nominal power of the Sultan still existed, but only in name. In this situation, the Sultan resorted to Pan-Islamism policy, however corrupt administrative apparatus, a weak army and a weak economy, led this policy to the failure. By the early twentieth century in the country were rapidly spreading European ideas and values, ...

American nationalism is the kind that is concerned with asserting America on the international scene as a nation as well as promoting its culture and unity of purpose. This would imply the direct actions of the American government aimed at advancing the position and role of America on the international scene. It also entails the actions of multinationals whose mother country is America, movements, and non-profit organizations advancing their ideals, and the elements of American culture that inform their charters and terms of services on the international scene. Orientalism is an outlook that emphasizes, projects, imagines, misrepresents and exaggerates ...

“If we Americans are to learn from our mistakes, from the flailing, ineffective way we, as a nation conducted the war on terror after the attacks of 9/11, and from the way we have failed to make our case to the great moderate mass of peace-loving people at the heart of the Muslim world, we need to listen to Greg Mortenson.” (David Oliver Relin, “Three Cups of Tea,” p.5) Do we? Why/why not? To what extent can individuals make a difference in international relations? When Greg Mortenson partook a flight to an unknown destination in the heart of the ...

Dress is regarded as marker of identity. Dress in which veil is given importance is common is Middle Eastern clothing style. However, majority of women when talk about dress, they consider fashion, modesty, and convenience with reference to their religion and values as their reasons and logic for veiling. But, it is also a fact that every style related to clothing has its own aesthetic, and is an indication of control, social discipline, and pleasure (Ingham & Lindisfarne-Tapper, 2014). Dress is used for creation and confirmation or contesting collective and personal identities. This is because of the fact that every ...

The period between the 9th century and 14th century marked a period in the history of the Islamic world where a scientific, economic and cultural flourishing was witnessed. This is a period where scholars from various parts of the Islamic world were tasked with the responsibilities of gathering and translating all the of the world’s classical knowledge into Arabic. At this time also, the Muslim world became a major intellectual Centre for science, medicine, and education. But of great impact was the introduction of paper as the learning system which saw a revolution as now individuals could make ...

There has been a growing need to establish an understanding of the cultural divides between western nations and Islam. This has arisen due to the conflicts that seem to be ongoing between these differing perspectives. In looking at the views of two authors, an understanding of the variety of perspectives that are at work in the Muslim world can be achieved. This can help to provide insight into the basic conflicts and why they arise. The work of these two authors, in comparison, help to frame this struggle in perspective. In doing so, a more accurate judgment regarding the ...