EP.3--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment II (Christianity, Zoroastrianism)

FromThe World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics

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EP.3--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment II (Christianity, Zoroastrianism)

FromThe World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics

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21 minutes

Released:

Sep 10, 2011

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Podcast episode

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This episode of the World of Islam continues looking into the world in which the religion of Islam would eventually develop. We will take a brief look at Christianity and Zoroastrianism in the Near East of late antiquity.

Released:

Sep 10, 2011

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (56)

Historical surveys and current discussions surrounding religion, culture, and politics in Muslim settings

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EP.6--Religion: Sira I "Muhammad in Mecca": This episode of the podcast presents a summary of what the traditional sira tells us about Muhammad's life in Mecca, including his early life, the start of his mission as a prophet, and the difficulties he encounters in this environment. Twitter: F... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
26 min listen
EP.2--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment I (Late Antique Near East, Empires, Judaism): This episode of the World of Islam starts a historical survey of Islamic thought by looking into the world in which the religion of Islam would eventually develop. We will briefly discuss the Near East in late antiquity in general as well as introduce Ju... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
20 min listen
EP.1--Introduction: This is my introduction to the World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics podcast. Why a podcast on this subject? Why now? by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
7 min listen
EP.13--Culture: Other Influences on Rai Music: We continue our journey through the history of Rai Music. After considering the streams of music from which modern Rai music emerges in a previous episode, we take a brief look at less direct, yet significant musical influences on modern Rai like Andalus... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
19 min listen
EP.5--Religion: Approaching Muhammad (Challenges; Sources: Qur'an, Hadith, Sira): In this episode of the World of Islam, we continue our survey of the history of Islamic thought, by looking at some of the difficulties inherent in approaching the life and career of Muhammad. We consider what Muslim sources tell a modern historian abo... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
29 min listen
EP.17--Culture: Rai Music in Morocco and France: This episode takes a look at the history of Rai music outside Oran and its region. We pay particular attention to the Moroccan and French Rai musical scenes. The episode contains musical excerpts from Chebba Maria, Cheb Akil, Mohamed Lamine, Cheb Hassen,... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
55 min listen
EP.11--Religion: Prophets and Prophecy in the Qur'an: This episode briefly introduces the concept of prophecy, its history in the Near East (including the well-developed tradition of Biblical prophets), and the way the Qur'an positions itself vis-à-vis this history. We also discuss the terms nabi and rasul ... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
19 min listen
EP.7--Religion: Sira II "Muhammad in Medina": Episode 7 of the podcast considers what the traditional sira literature says about Muhammad's life and career after the hijra from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Among the topics discussed are the military conflicts between Muhammad's followers and their Mec... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
26 min listen
EP.14--Culture: Rai Music in Post-independence Algeria: We continue discussing the story of Rai Music. Among the topics of this episode are the influence of Algerian independence on the development of Rai, the rise of Pop-Rai in Wahrane in the 1970's, and the clash between the Islamist vision and the Rai scen... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
46 min listen
EP.3--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment II (Christianity, Zoroastrianism): This episode of the World of Islam continues looking into the world in which the religion of Islam would eventually develop. We will take a brief look at Christianity and Zoroastrianism in the Near East of late antiquity. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
21 min listen
EP.12--Culture: Precursors of Rai Music: This is the first episode in a multiple-episode series on a musical style from North Africa that came to be a strong player on the World Music scene in the last two decades. It is called Rai. This series will consider the development of Rai music within ... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
26 min listen
EP.31--Religion: Leadership, Faith, and Free Will: This episode elaborates on three early theological debates in early Islam, namely the leadership of the religious community, the relation of sinful actions to faith, and free will vs. determinism. Among other things, we encounter the Murji'a, the Jabriyy... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
18 min listen
EP.15--Culture: Cheb Khaled and the Transformation of Rai Music: We continue looking at Rai Music. This episode presents the career of Khaled Hadj Brahim as emblematic in the way Pop-Rai develops from the 1970's to today. Cheb Khaled is arguably the best Rai singer of his generation. His impact on the direction and th... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
40 min listen
EP.4--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment III (Arabia): This episode of the World of Islam provides a short introduction to Arabia on the eve of the movement of Muhammad. Among other things, we discuss the problem of sources for the modern historian, the characteristics of Arab life, the religious perspective... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
21 min listen
EP.9--Religion: What is the Qur'an?: This episode of the podcast is the first part of a short introduction to the scripture of Islam known as the Qur'an (Koran). Where does the term Qur'an come from? What is a Mus-haf? How is the Qur'an organized? What are the contents of the Qur'an? So... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
17 min listen
EP.10--Religion: Muslims and the Qur'an/God in the Qur'an: We continue talking about the Qur'an. We take a look at how Professor Mohammed Arkoun defined the Qur'an, at the way that most Muslims have related to the Qur'an, and at what the attributes of God in the Qur'an can tell us about its message. Sources a... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
19 min listen
EP.8--Religion: Controversial Elements in the Sira of Muhammad: Episode 8 of the World of Islam Podcast takes a look at some seemingly controversial elements contained in the Sira literature. The elements that are briefly discussed include the so-called Satanic Verses, the marriages of Muhammad to Aisha and Zaynab, t... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
27 min listen
EP.27--History: Husayn, Ibn al-Zubayr, and the Second Civil War: This episode highlights another round of internal strife within the early community (680-692). Umayyad rule is challenged from many corners. The grandson of Muhammad, Husayn and a number of his followers are massacred at Karbala, the Kharijites dominate ... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
8 min listen
EP.22--History: Abu Bakr, Umar, and the Arab Conquests: After Muhammad's death in 632 CE, the question of the leadership of the community will prove to be a serious challenge for Muhammad's followers. Nevertheless, within a few decades, the Arab armies will be in control of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt, North Afr... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
21 min listen
EP.19--Religion: The Qur'an from Oral Discourse to Closed Codex: Today's podcast briefly discusses the transition of the Qur'an from an oral message into a closed codex through political decisions of the community leaders after Muhammad's death. The episode also quickly highlights the difficulties that face mo... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
12 min listen
EP.36--Religion: The Partisans of Reason and the Partisans of Prophetic Reports: This episode discusses the rise of legal study circles in early Islam. We encounter Ahl al-Ra'y (Partisans of reason), Ahl al-Hadith (Partisans of prophetic reports), Abu Hanifa (d.767) and Malik (d.795). by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
9 min listen
EP.28--History: The Dome of the Rock and the Solidification of Muslim Identity in the Near East: The period in which Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ruled the early Arab empire (685-705) was an important moment in the cementing of a unique Muslim identity. Among the many significant actions taken at this time was the establishment of the Dome... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
9 min listen
EP.23--History: The Turbulent Times of the Third Caliph Uthman: This episode discusses the rule of Uthman ibn Affan (644-656). While continuing to be successful on the external front, Uthman faced dissent and rebellion on the internal side. Sources and Further Reading: The History of al-TabariThe Venture of Islam ... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
8 min listen
EP.18--Mohammed Arkoun: Rethinking Islam: Today's podcast provides an English translation of part of a conversation with the late professor Mohammed Arkoun (d. 2010) on Belgian TV*. For most of his prestigious academic career, Mohammed Arkoun was professor of the history... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
45 min listen
EP.16--Culture: Cheb Hasni and the Birth and Death of Love Rai: This episode presents some of the major Rai singers of the 1990's. We encounter Cheb Mami, Cheb Sahraoui, Chebba Fadela, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Nasro, and Cheb Bilal. We pay particular attention to Cheb Hasni who was considered the King of Love Rai and w... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
44 min listen
EP.24--History: Ali and the First Civil War: This episode discusses the rule of Ali ibn Abi Talib (656-661), which is also the time of the First Civil War, a traumatic event in the life of the early Muslim community. Sources and Further Reading:The History of al-TabariThe Venture of Islam b... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
11 min listen
EP.30--Religion: Early Theological Debates in Islam: This episode starts introducing some early theological debates within Islam. What can these debates tell us about early Islam? And how should we look at the relation between "orthodox" views and "heretical" ones? by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
16 min listen
EP.34--Religion: Introduction to Islamic Law: What is Sharia? What is Fiqh? Is there a relation between law and theology? by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
11 min listen
EP.25--In Memory of Professor Mohammed Arkoun: This week marks the anniversary of the passing of Mohammed Arkoun (1928-2010) who was a professor of the history of Islamic thought at the Sorbonne in Paris. This is a tribute to this unique thinker and scholar. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
19 min listen
EP.21--Religion: The Construction of Islam: After introducing the Qur'an, its contents, and its formation in previous episodes, the podcast discusses the transition from Qur'anic discourse to various Islamic discourses, a process that can be termed, "the construction of Islam." by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
15 min listen

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EP.56--History: From the Umayyads to the Abbasids: This episode discusses some elements related to the transition from the first dynasty of the world of Islam, the Banu Umayya, to the highly influential ruling dynasty of the Banu al-Abbas, bringing Muhammad's clan of Banu Hashim back to a leadership role... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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EP.55-The Non-Muslims of the Early Islamic Period (Part II): This episode continues discussing the non-Muslim communities of the early Islamic period. The focus shifts to Christian communities after the Arab conquests. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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EP.54-The Non-Muslims of the Early Islamic Period (Part I): This episode of the World of Islam briefly discusses the non-Muslim communities of the early Islamic period, particularly after the Arab conquests of the Near East and the establishment of an Islamic empire. The focus of this first part is on Judaism and... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
9 min listen
Ep.53-Religion: Popular Islam: This episode seeks to correct a major misconception concerning Islam and Muslim life. The Islam of the masses is not simply a reflection of the intellectual discourses that we have covered so far in the podcast. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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Ep.52-The Brethren of Purity: This episode of the World of Islam introduces the so-called Ikhwan al-Safa (The Brethren of Purity), a group of mysterious thinkers that produced a major encyclopedic philosophical work. We touch on Ismailism and the attempt to unify various forms of kno... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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Ep.51-Al-Farabi and his Philosophy: Al-Farabi (d.950) was one of the most important philosophers of the world of early Islam. This episode briefly introduces part of his contribution to metaphysics and political philosophy. Sources and further readings:A History of Islamic Philosophy ... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
10 min listen
EP.50-Philosophy and Religion between al-Kindi and al-Razi: This episode highlights two perspectives in early philosophy within Muslim contexts. Al-Kindi (d. 860s) viewed philosophy and religion as compatible and important whereas al-Razi (d.925) was skeptical of revelation and prophets. Sources and further readi... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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EP.49-Philosophy in Early Islamic Contexts: This episode discusses the interaction with Greek philosophy in the early Islamic period. We encounter Plotinus, Neoplatonism, and the important Christian translators of Greek knowledge to Arabic which opened the door to the rise of major Muslim philosop... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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EP.48--Religion: The Sufi Worldview: Today's episode seeks to present a general picture of the Sufi worldview. Some of the questions we briefly deal with include: How do Sufis interpret revelation? And what is the Sufi "Way" or "Path" (tariqa)? We also encounter the terms kashf, haqiqa, maq... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
13 min listen
EP.47--Religion: From Asceticism to Mysticism: This episode discusses a further step in the later rise of full-fledged Sufi orientations within the world of Islam. We encounter the concepts of ma`rifa (intuitive knowledge), fana' (annihilation in God), and baqa' (subsistence), as well as the importan... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
9 min listen
EP.46--Religion: Early Sufism and Asceticism: This episode introduces the tradition of Sufism that some also call Islamic mysticism. We are concerned today with the early period and the practice of zuhd (asceticism). by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
8 min listen
EP.45--History: Jihad in the Modern World: This episode discusses the struggles of modern Muslims to make sense of the concept of Jihad. We consider the impact of European colonialism and attempt to map a number of ways in which Muslims in the modern world have perceived Jihad up to the present. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
17 min listen
EP.44--History: The Jihad Movements: This episode briefly discusses the worldview of the Jihad movements that appeared on the Muslim scene around the 17th and 18th centuries AD. Can we view these movements as, in some ways, precursors to contemporary Jihad movements? The episode particularl... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
13 min listen
EP.43--Religion: Jihad, War, and Peace: What exactly is Jihad? This episode discusses the traditional doctrine of Jihad that Muslim Jurists developed and takes a brief look at related issues of conflict, peace, and pluralism in the Qur'an and some premodern Muslim legal discourses. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
23 min listen
EP.42--Religion: Ijma' (Consensus) between the Legal and the Political in Islamic Discourses: What does Ijmāʿ (consensus) mean? How does it function within traditional Islamic Law? In what way do the Sunni concept of “ijmāʿ” and the Shīʿī concept of “imām” parallel each other? What are the political dynamics of ijmāʿ? by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
10 min listen
EP.41--Religion: Ijtihad and the Intellectual Struggle to Find God's Law in Islam: The episode discusses the concept of ijtihad that has been used by Muslim jurists to derive legal rulings. We particularly focus on what is known as qiyas and that came to be the most dominant interpretative tool that a mujtahid utilizes in this process... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
10 min listen
EP.40--Religion: Hadith Collections: The episode introduces some of the different types of Hadith collections that arose in the world of Islam over the centuries. We discuss the role of Hadith in the transition from Qur'anic discourse to Islamic discourses and learn about sahifas, musannafs... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
13 min listen
EP.39--Religion: Hadith and Sunna: Hadith reports attributing sayings and actions to Muhammad came to play a major role in the shaping of the religion of Islam. This episode will discuss some of the classifications of Hadith that Muslim scholars came to adopt after the success of what can... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
12 min listen
EP.38--Religion: The Solidification of Sunni Legal Schools: This episode deals with the institutionalization of the legal field in Sunni Islam and the rise of the four "orthodox" legal schools or madhabs (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiʿi, and Hanbali). by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
15 min listen
EP.37--Religion: The Compromise of al-Shafiʿi and the Slow Birth of Usul al-Fiqh: This episode further discusses the debate between the Ahl al-Ra'y and Ahl al-Hadith as well as the compromise initiated by al-Shafiʿi, who will make the case for hadith as vehicle for Sunna and will establish a rudimentary base of Usul al-Fiqh (Sources/P... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
14 min listen
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9 min listen
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EP.33--Religion: Rationalist Theology between the Mu`tazilites and the Ash`arites: Today, we highlight the tenets of Mu`tazilism and the Ash`arite response to it. Ash`arism would grow to become the dominant theological school in Sunni Islam. by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
14 min listen
EP.32--Religion: The Created Qur'an: Today, we take a brief look at the important theological debate in early Islam over whether the Qur'an was created in history or rather eternal and uncreated. In our presentation, we discuss important contextual elements and encounter the early Abbasid C... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
17 min listen
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18 min listen
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EP.29--History: Early Forms of Shi`ism: Today, we briefly highlight the fall of the Umayyad dynasty and rise of the Abbasids in 750 CE. The focus of the episode will be on the development of early Shi`ism. We introduce the Imamis (Twelvers), the Isma`ilis (Seveners), and the Zaydis (Fivers). W... by The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics
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8 min listen

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EP.3--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment II (Christianity, Zoroastrianism)

EP.3--Religion: The Pre-Islamic Environment II (Christianity, Zoroastrianism)

Description

Titles in the series (56)

More Episodes from The World of Islam: Culture, Religion, and Politics

Related podcast episodes