• By now we know that the Qur'an is the foundational text of Islam. Three key ideas in the Qur'an (among many others) are the inherent unity of God (God's oneness), the individual Muslim's responsibility toward others (especially the less fortunate) and the notion that Muhammad's message is a renewal of God's original pledge to Abraham. First, find and present at least one example of each of these three ideas in the Qur'an in the form of a direct quote. Next briefly consider how these ideas relate to the context of Islam's rise and dynamic spread in 7th century Arabia and beyond. 1 page.• What factors shaped the transformation of the original faith in Muhammad's message into a world religion and distinct form of civilization? In other words, how did the religious doctrine of Islam develop from what was primary a movement of believers centered on a charismatic prophet into the complex structures of an imperial religion within a diverse empire? What were some key institutions (refer to specific concepts like the caliph, ulama, and different religious sects)? How did social and political developments contribute to the emergence of a fully formed religion? What administrative factors were important? What roles did art and literature play in the development of Islam (think about the Umayyad, Abbasid and Cordoba caliphates as presented by Masudi, Wiet and Menocal)? 1 page• In lecture on Islam in the Era of Abbasid Decline, It is about a paradoxical historical development. In the same era as political fragmentation tore the dar al-­Islam apart and the political influence of Islamic states declined, the Muslim population expanded tremendously and the reach of Islam widened in all directions. We see this phenomenon demonstrated beautifully in Ross E. Dunn's book, The Adventures of Ibn Battuta. What were some of the major factors in the spread of the Islamic faith among diverse populations in the period between the end of the Abbasid Caliphate and the era of Ibn Battuta? What role, for example, did Sunni institutions play in this dissemination of Islam? How did Sufism contribute to the spread of Islam? 1 page.• What impacts did the Crusades and the Mongol conquests have on Islamic civilizations? 1 page.• Throughout we have seen an interesting relationship develop between the core of the Muslim world in Arabia and the Middle East (including Mesopotamia and Persia) and what I call the "broader Middle East," which includes the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia, North Africa and Islamic Spain, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Select one of these peripheral areas and discuss how Islamic culture developed there and in what ways it was similar to and different from the dominant form of Islamic culture. 1 page • Creative writing! Islam(s) in the Era Abbasid Decline, most conversions to Islam were peaceful and voluntary. Consider yourself a non-Muslim person living in one part of the Abbasid Empire at some point between during the 750 and 945 C.E. You are faced with the decision of whether or not to convert to Islam. What reasons would you have for converting? What hesitations might you feel? What reasons would there be for rejecting the faith? How would you make your decision? Who would you consult? Are you a Christian in Syria? Are you perhaps a Jew in Egypt or Spain? Are you a polytheistic Arabian nomad? Are you a member of the former Persian military elite? Are you a Turkish tribal leader? When exactly are you living? Are you male or female – and do issues of sex play a role in your outlook? Do you have impressions about science, medicine, or Greek philosophy? Would you choose one particular branch of Islam over another? Why? Compose as detailed a portrait as you can of your decision-making process. 3 pages.