Basic differences between muslims of Moorish era and Modern Muslims?

Question

I was thinkin' about what little I know about muslims, and it seems in the past (like when they ruled Spain etc) they must have had a different philosophy. They had all sorts of mathematicians, tolerated people of the book, etc.

Does anyone actually know the differences between ancient and medieval muslims or have any sources for me to read? THANKS! :)

Answer 1

You're on the right track with all of that.

The Moorish muslims were remarkably tolerant of other religions, especially Jews. The Q'ran specifically tells them to be both tolerant of the People of the Book and in other sections it implies that non-Muslims are not to be treated as equals. It's the one glaring contradiction.

While most muslims today aren't intolerent of Christians, it is rare to meet a large group of muslims who are supportive of Jews now that they have Israel.

Unlike their counterparts in the east, they weren't so intent on spreading their empire over the Pyrenees after Charlemagne's grandfather put them in their place during the Battle of Tours.

Also, don't be so quick to assume that today's Muslims are illiterate or not capable of having great mathematicians. Iran, for example, has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Sure, the poorer countries dominated by Muslims don't have much learning happening, but neither do lots of poor Christian countries around the world.

Answer 2

The Muslims of the Moorish era where at the height of their civilization, whereas Europe was going through a rough patch. This sort-of mentality affacting the Muslim outlook on life because things were goin well for them, there was a lot of intellectual openness. With regards to dhimmis (People of the Book) because things were going so well, they more or less shared in the benefits of civilization as opposed to being excluded from them. However, nowadays Muslim civilization is definitely not at its zenith and Western civilization has become dominant, and this downturn has served to make Islamic civilization more close-minded and dogmatic.

Answer 3

The first link is an article from CNN that talks about Muslim scholars in the medieval era. Two more very good links follow.
From what little I understand, Muslim beliefs today are not much farther form what they believed in the era you are talking about. There have always been different sects of Muslims...for instance, during the crusades, in the time of Sallah-al-Din (or Saladin as westerners called him) there was a sect of the Muslim world who sought to assassinate him. The sect was the Shi'i....closely elated to modern Shiite's. I've given you a l9ink to the Shi'i..the la fourth one.
Muslims in the medieval era were more tolerant of secular scholarship, art, and religious differences than they are now. You have to remember, the religious differences are as important to them as they are to Christians, but, they are also an older society More given to war-like ways of settling differences.
I applaud your willingness to want to learn about the Muslim world. And no, I am Christian...LOL...its just that I believe that learning is very important, no matter what it is you want to learn about. I will caution you (this truly has happened to me) be careful when you search on your own. Use links that come through American educational sources...I accidentally clicked a link to a radical Muslim site...ACCIDENTALLY...and my computer suddenly blue screened and shut down. My son, who was in the Army and in Afghanistan at the time, was questioned a week later about me...it took a month for my computer to be able to access the net again.

Answer 4

Moorish era believed they were creating a better future. Many modern muslims are peaceful, yet the more militant ones yearn for an imagined ideal past which never existed. That paired with technology, I would site as the major differences. In summation, outlook and technology.

Answer 5

What i comprehend is that a Muslim is somebody who believes in Islam and practices it. A hypocrite is somebody who does not have confidence in Islam yet fakes it. A sinner Muslim is somebody who believes in Islam yet breaks its regulations. A non-Muslim is somebody who denies a minimum of between the common concepts of Islam that are suggested interior the Quran and extremely genuine Hadith (mutawatir). Thank God that the regulations of Islam are a similar so if every person claims that they "replaced" or in basic terms practices some and abandons others, then they're the two: sinner Muslims, hypocrites, or non-Muslim. The term "modern Muslim" is subsequently not needed because of the fact it falls under between the 4 above-suggested categories. Peace/salaam.