Portal: Traditional Islamic Scholars: Difference between revisions

Portal Overview

1. Classical Scholars
2. Modern scholars
3. Popular Preachers
4. Shi'i Scholars

Islam has been defined by its scholars since the 8th century (the second Islamic century). The Arabic word عالم 'aalim means simply "one who knows" and it is also used in Arabic to refer to scientists and specialists in many fields of knowledge. In Islamic discourse the word usually refers to scholars of fiqh or Islamic law, although the word is also used to refer to the early scholars who gathered the stories of maghazi (raids) and hadith of the prophet. In classical times ulemaa such as Tabari were also knowledgeable in other fields such as philosophy, medicine, and world history, but as with most other fields modernity has forced the concentration of efforts, and modern Islamic scholars tend not to be polymaths. Included in this portal are modern scholars working inside the Islamic tradition, such as Yasir Qadhi, but also modern scholar-preachers such as Zakir Naik. The scholars of the Shi'i tradition, although fulfilling many of the same roles as their Sunni counterparts, also have a more systematized, organized role in the context of the Shi'ite religious hierarchy, particularly in Iran where the state is currently fused to the Shi'ite clerical establishment.

Aisha

Aisha was the youngest wife of the prophet, and also his favorite. The prophet, according to the tradition, passed away in her lap. After the expansion of Islam, she was key figure in the criticism of the early caliphate and also a key player in the first fitna, which saw her face off against Ali at the battle of the camel, where she was defeated and Ali took the throne of the caliphate for himself. As she was the prophet's favorite, the tradition goes to great lengths to emphasize her virginity, youth, and purity, even to the point of emphasizing that she was 6 years old when she was married to the prophet and 9 when the marriage was consummated.

Aisha bint Abi Bakr

Aisha was Muhammad's third and favorite wife, who was married to Muhammad at the age of six, and the daughter of Abu Bakr Abdullah b. Uthman, Muhammad's best friend. Aisha's status as the favorite wife of Muhammad gave her a preeminent position both in the early caliphate and in the Islamic tradition itself.

Aisha's Age

Aisha was only 6 when the prophet married her and 9 when the marriage was consummated, according to the sources which the Islamic tradition itself deems most trustworthy. This is confirmed in multiple hadith, indicating that the tradition is going to some

Muhammad's Other Wives and Consorts

Depending on the sources, Muhammad had around 19 wives and concubines, the concubines being slaves of his. Many of the marriages were conducted for political reasons, but the tradition is also quite frank that Muhammad was very fond of women and had a voracious sexual appetite; he is even imputed with the sexual powers of 30 men.

Safiyah

Safiyah was the beautiful wife of the Jewish leader Kinana, whom the prophet killed after conquering his people at Khaybar. Muhammad took her as his wife after killing her husband, though she never converted to Islam.

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

Khadijah was the prophet's first wife. She was considerably older than him and he benefited from her thriving trade business. She was one of the first converts to Islam.

Muhammad's Marriages

The prophet married many women, though some of them died while he was alive so he was not married to them all at the same time.

Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage

Muhammad married different women at different stages of their lives.

Muhammads Marriages of Political Necessity

Although the tradtion is quite explicit that Muhammad was fond of women, many of his marriages also had a political dimension to them, solidifying alliances within the early Islamic community.

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