Islam and World Politics

Dr Ejaz Hussain

Assignment No 1
By
Ahmad Khalil (IDS) 121341
Muhammad Amir (IDS) 121202

Expansion of Islam from 610 to 750

The religion of Islam originated from holy city of Mecca in AD 610. It was revealed to
Prophet Muhammad PBUH from AD 610 to AD 632. During the century followed by
Muhammads death Islam expanded out from Arabian Peninsula to World Empire
stretching from Spain to present day Pakistan.
To understand this very rapid expansion and development of Islamic civilization we will
analyse the role of foreign policy of Islamic state established in AD 622 in Medina. We
will analyse this policy in three phases. First, from 620 to 632 Islam in Arabian
Peninsula, second phase from 632 to 661, Islam during Caliphate and third phase from
661 to 750, Islam from Caliphate to Monarchy, the Rule of Umayyads.
Islam in Arabian Peninsula (622 -632)
Foreign Policy is the states relationship with other states. The very basis of foreign
policy of Islamic state was propagation of Islam and the conveyance of the message of
Islam to every nation and every society. Islam is a universal religion and Muhammad
PBUH was sent to the whole of Mankind. Allah says in chapter Al Anbiya,
And we have not sent you but as a mercy for the whole world. [Al-Anbiya, 21:107]
Allah further says in chapter At-Tuba
It is He Who has sent his messenger with guidance and the Deen of truth (Islam) to make it
superior over all religions even though the mushrikun hate it. [At-Tuba, 9:33]
During the 10 years period of Prophet Muhammad in medina there was mix of defensive
and offensive strategy to implement this foreign policy. Muhammad PBUH signed
treaties with the Jews in order to concentrate on extending the message in Peninsula.
He signed treaty of Hudaybiyah with Quraysh in order to spread the message in Arabian
Peninsula. He considered the scope of foreign policy to cover any part of peninsula
which was not under his rule. In 628 he finally sent envoys to the countries outside the
Peninsula with the aim to establishing relations based on the spreading of Islam, by
inviting them to embrace it. The envoys simultaneously set off, they delivered their
messages and some of those leaders whom message was sent replied somewhat
favourably, while some replied in the negative and very rudely.
As a result of these messages, the Arabs began accepting the message of Islam in
multitudes.
On the other hand Prophet PBUH initiated Jihad in order to remove material obstacles
that stood in the way of spreading of Islamic message. Prophet PBUH fought battles with
Qurrayshs and Jews to remove these material obstacles. This was the offensive part of
strategy.

The Messenger of Allah conveyed the message to mankind and when he died Islam
continued to be carried by the Muslims. He said in his farewell speech
Would the present tell the absent, for the absent may be more conscious than the listener
This is why the conveyance of Islamic call has become the basis of Islamic states
relationship with other states during the lifetime of Muhammad and in the days of his
Khulafah after him.
Islam and Caliphate 632-661
Abu bakar (632-34) was the successor of Muhammad PBUH after his death in 632. The
term caliph was used after Muhammad to designate the religious and political leader of
Islamic community, the office became known as the caliphate. Abu bakar and his three
successors, Umar (634-644), Usman (644-656), and Ali (656-661), are known in Islamic
history as the Rashidun (rightly guided) caliphs in recognition of their personal
closeness to Prophet Muhammad and their presumed adherence to Quranic regulations.
These four companions of Prophet launched the movement that expanded the Islam out
of the Peninsula and into the world history.
The sole purpose of Islamic state during this caliphate period was spread of Islamic
message. So there was no shift in foreign policy and strategy to spread the message. The
four caliphs followed the precedence set by Prophet Muhammad.
In 637 the Arab forces defeated the Persian army at the battle of Qadisiyya. In 635 they
captured Damascus and in 641 they occupied parts of rich agricultural province of
Egypt.
Rule of law, Justice, religious tolerance, equality, accountability, interfaith harmony and
consultation were the characteristics of this caliphate rule. Due to these charismatic
characteristics Arab forces conquered not only lands but hearts of people.
Caliphate to Monarchy, Umayyad Dynasty (661-750)
The death of Ali marked the end of first phase of development of Islamic state and set
foundations of new period of imperial expansion and consolidation. Muawiyah became
the founder of the Umayyad dynasty. His Principal concerns were expansion of his rule,
management of the states resources, and consolidation of his dynasty instead of
expansion of message of Islam. So this was the major shift in foreign policy of Islamic
state. During his rule, the political center of empire was transferred from Mecca to the
ancient city of Damascus with all its Byzantine associations. Muawiyah adopted certain
Byzantine administrative practices and employed former Byzantine officials, initiating
the transformation of the Arab empire into a Byzantine successor state and surrounding
the caliphate with the trappings of monarchy.
Expansion of Islam was continued in the form of conquests during the Umayyads rule
but Islamic empire was troubled by internal conflicts. The reason behind conflicts was
the policy of Arab exclusivism adopted by the Umayyad ruling elite.

In this period of Umayyad Dynasty there was a shift in foreign policy and states
administrative system. Spread of Islam was the core principal of foreign policy set by
Prophet Muhammad and followed by his four companions during caliphate. But in
Umayyads rule foreign policy base was to strengthen and expansion of their own rule
instead of Islam. The collection of wealth was anther objective of these expansions in
umayyads dynasty.
During the rule of Umayyads rulers distanced themselves from population, took pleasure from the
wealth that flowed into the states treasury at Damascus. They became less consultative and more
authoritative. So they, Umayyads deviated from the model of simplicity established by Muhammad
and followed by Rashidun, the era of four caliphs.