I think that it probably wasn't easy. Abu Bakr had to fight for control, Uthman was killed and Ali had a power struggle and was also killed. This in no way points to easy power of the Caliphs.
Good point Tiernan! I'm not saying it was easy for them to stay in power, but rather for them to put their ideas into act. Even though Uthman was eventually killed, he was able to elect his family members into governing positions for a while. If you are saying it wasn't easy or possible, then how was he able to do this, and why did no one stop him before he did? For any of the other Caliphs - was it easy for them to implement some of their ideas? If not, why?
Like priests in Christianity, Caliphs had a lot of control because they were considered to be the people who "received message from God". Therefore everyone tended to listen to them.
Nice job Michael! I like how you bridged the connection from the religious leaders in Christianity to those in Islam. Can you expand on this idea of 'caliphs receiving messages from God' and give an example of a caliph who did this?
I don't think that any of the caliphs received the word of god. They couldn't. Muhammad taught that he was the last prophet of Allah. This would have made it impossible for them to talk to god because if they did, it would not happen under Islam's laws and they would be going against Muhammed and other Muslims. But I do tink that they held power because they were trusted by Muhammed and therefor trusted by Muslims and that they were good at what they did, in other words, they were natural leaders.
I think that it probably wasn't easy. Abu Bakr had to fight for control, Uthman was killed and Ali had a power struggle and was also killed. This in no way points to easy power of the Caliphs.
ReplyDeleteGood point Tiernan! I'm not saying it was easy for them to stay in power, but rather for them to put their ideas into act. Even though Uthman was eventually killed, he was able to elect his family members into governing positions for a while. If you are saying it wasn't easy or possible, then how was he able to do this, and why did no one stop him before he did? For any of the other Caliphs - was it easy for them to implement some of their ideas? If not, why?
ReplyDeleteLike priests in Christianity, Caliphs had a lot of control because they were considered to be the people who "received message from God". Therefore everyone tended to listen to them.
ReplyDeleteNice job Michael! I like how you bridged the connection from the religious leaders in Christianity to those in Islam. Can you expand on this idea of 'caliphs receiving messages from God' and give an example of a caliph who did this?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that any of the caliphs received the word of god. They couldn't. Muhammad taught that he was the last prophet of Allah. This would have made it impossible for them to talk to god because if they did, it would not happen under Islam's laws and they would be going against Muhammed and other Muslims.
ReplyDeleteBut I do tink that they held power because they were trusted by Muhammed and therefor trusted by Muslims and that they were good at what they did, in other words, they were natural leaders.