Islamic Civilization in Thirty Lives: The First 1000 Years

The early Muslim world's religious thinkers, political leaders, law-makers, writers, and philosophers shaped the development of Islam over 1,400 years. Chase F. Robinson's book "The Lives of the Early Muslims" explores their lives and influences, from the Prophet Muhammad to Tamerlane, and the rise and fall of Islamic states. It also features less well-known figures such as Shajar al-Durr and Ibn Fadlan.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 03 May 2018
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

The religious thinkers, political leaders, law-makers, writers, and philosophers of the early Muslim world played a crucial role in shaping the 1,400-year-long development of the second-largest world religion. However, who were these individuals, and what do we know about their lives and the ways in which they influenced their societies? In his book, "The Lives of the Early Muslims," Chase F. Robinson delves into the rich tradition of Muslim scholarship by commemorating the biographies of notable figures. Robinson weaves these ambitious lives together to create a comprehensive narrative of early Islamic civilization, spanning from the Prophet Muhammad to the fearsome Tamerlane.

The book begins in the heartland of Islam, Mecca, and follows the journey of Islam across North Africa, as far as Spain in the West, and eastwards through Central and East Asia. The reader witnesses the rise and fall of Islamic states through the political and military leaders who sought to secure peace or expand their power. Within this political climate, Islamic law, scientific thought, and literature flourished through the words of the scholars who dedicated themselves to these pursuits.

Alongside the famous characters who shaped this landscape, such as Muhammads controversial cousin, Ali; the first Sultan of Egypt, Saladin; and the poet Rumi, the reader will also meet less well-known figures, such as Shajar al-Durr, a slave-turned-Sultana of Egypt, and Ibn Fadlan, whose travels in Eurasia brought firsthand accounts of the Volka Vikings to the Abbasid Caliph.

"The Lives of the Early Muslims" offers a valuable insight into the lives and contributions of these remarkable individuals, shedding light on the complex and fascinating history of the early Muslim world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the origins of Islam and its impact on the world.

Weight: 294g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500293782