Outlines of Islamic Culture - Volume I: Historical and Cultural Aspects Paperback - 2007

From the publisher

OUTLINES OF ISLAMIC CULTURE VOLUME I HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ASPECTS BY A. M. A. SHUSHTEBY Professor of Iranian Language and Literature The University of Mysore WITH A FOREWORD BY SIK ABDUL QADIE, KT. Member, His Majestys Council of India PRINTED AT THE BANGALORE PRESS, BANGALORE CITY 1938 All Rights Reserved TO His HIGHNESS SRI KRISHNARAJENDRA WADIYAR BAHADUR, G. C. S. I., G. B. E. MAHARAJA OF MYSORK THIS WORK IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED WITH HIS HIGHNESS 1 GRACIOUS PERMISSION BY HIS MOST LOYAL AND DUTIFUL SUBJECT THE AUTHOR IN ADMIRATION OF HIS HIGHNESS ABIDING INTEREST IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF CULTURAL STUDIES JN INDIA PREFACE I AM indebted to my friend Professor B. M. Srikantiah, M. A., B. I, ., formerly Registrar of the University of Mysore, for the idea that I should write a work of the kind covered by these two volumes. His proposal was that I should prepare a short outline of Islamic Culture suited for easy translation into intelligible Kannada for the use of those studying in the Intermediate Colleges of the Mysore Univer sity. 1 had some misgivings as to my competence for undertaking such a work, and it was only after considerable hesitation that I decided to accept my friends suggestion. But when I began to write I found that it was extremely difficult to compress a work of the kind I had in view within the limits prescribed by him. I had divided it into twenty chapters and each chapter required adequate space if it was to be comprehensive. Despite considerable abbreviation, the result has been the present work in two volumes running to about 800 pages. I hope it will be found useful as much by University students as by the general reader, Muslim or non-Muslim, to whom itincidentally opens the whole panorama of Islamic Culture. The point of view I have adopted throughout this work is to place before my readers accurate information, so far I could gather, as to what Islam has taught and what Muslims have contributed for the benefit of mankind. All that I have said has been elaborated in greater detail by more competent and able writers than myself. I have only endeavoured to summarise their views and to impartially exhi bit both the favourable as well as the unfavourable aspects. How far I have succeeded in my object, it is for my readers iS judge. I have explained briefly the similar and dis similar features of Islam in relation to other religions and cultures. In particular, I have stressed the points which Vlll are common to Islamic and other cultures, which, if correctly appreciated, would, I feel confident, help to remove much of the current misunderstanding and promote fraternal feelings and good will between Muslims and non-Muslims. Discord is a form of ignorance. Knowledge generates love and love inspires human beings to become friendly and devoted to one another. This century will take its place as a great landmark in the cultural history of Muslims. Their past culture, based on the orthodox teaching of Islam and the old traditions of Iran and Central Asia, is assuming a new phase and spirit, as it has to adjust itself to new conditions. Cosmopolitanism, international harmony and the old type of absolute monarchy are yielding place to nationalism and democracy. East, once the teacher, if not the conqueror, of the West, has now assumed the role of a humble and obedient pupil. Turkey, once the seat of the Khilafat, and the Turks, ardent supportersof Muslim orthodox law, have wholeheartedly accepted European ideals and adopted modern Western codes of law and morality. A great revo lution has been effected by the Great War of 1914. To-day, Turks, Iranians, Arabs and Afghans are no longer obstinate in their views, nor think of rivalry with European powers, but wish to follow them in all aspects of life. What the outcome of such intellectual, social and cultural imitation will be may, perhaps, become clear to historians of the next century...