Introduction
IslamdomasaUnit
Muslim
peoples
in
premodern
times
shared
many
customsand
attitudes
which hadno
apparent
connection
toIslam. Islam
began
as a
religion,
developed
a
legalsystem,
and
eventually
includedelements
affectingall
aspects
ofhuman
existence.For
example,minimalrelationsbetweenthe
sexes,severe
problems
of
politicalsuccession,andacultural
emphasisonmemorization
characterized
premodernIslamicate lifein
nearlyall
places
and
times.TheseIslamicate
patternsby
nomeanseliminated
local
variations,but
they
didexerta
constantand
nearly
uniform
pull
onnations
convertedtoIslamorruledover
byMuslims.Islamic
precepts
andideals
influenceddiverseculturesina
similardi-
rection.This
studyanalyzesinwhat
ways
Islamaffected
Muslims
andto
whatextent
they
constituteda
unitofcivilization.
Asa
religious
group,
Muslims
clearlymade
up
ausefuland
sensible
unit;
2
however
widethevariationintheir
beliefsand
practices,
intheir
tone,style
and
temperament,they
shared
basic
commonelements
(especiallybeliefin
Mu.hammad
asthelast
prophet)
which
distinguished
themfromthe
adherentsofother
religions.
Similarly,
inthe
legal
domain,theShariCa
(Islamic
sa-
cred
law)
extended
beyondregionaland
temporaldifferences;
no
matterhow
great
the
scope
of
customary
or
governmentregula-
1.
Neologisms,special
usages,
and
commonlyusedArabicwordsareallex-
plained
inthe
Glossary.
2.The
past
tenseused
hereandthroughoutthebookindicatesthatthese
con-
siderationsdonot
necessarilyapplytomoderntimes.
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