The United States and Conflict in the Middle East Instructor: Preston Hughes Class Schedule: January 9 & 25 February 8 & 22 March 8 & 22 April 5 & 12 Please silence cell phones before class begins.
The US and Conflict in the Middle East Setting the Stage
HIT ITTITE EMPIRE cir circa 16 1600 BC – 11 1178 78 BC Shown in Blue is Hittite Empire circa 1300 BC
The first written international treaty known to humankind, Kadesh, was made between Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II and Hittite King Hattushili, in 1269 BCE. The tablet is now displayed at the Istanbul Archeological Museum, where you can also find the oldest love poem, written by the Sumerian queen to the Sumerian king in 2037-2039 BCE. The museum also houses the Alexander Sarcophagus.
Assyrian Empire circa 7 th century BCE (greatest extent)
Babylonia
Tomb of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire (the first Persian Empire) in the 6th century BCE
The Persian Empire circa 500 BCE
Empire of Alexander the Great 4 th century BCE
Post Alexander
Arm rmenian Empire Armenia its greatest extent under Tigranes the Great, 69 BC (including vassals)
Kurds
Roman Empire At its greatest extent (vassals in pink)
Roman Empire
Sassanid Empire The Sasanian Empire at its greatest extent c. 620 CE, under Khosrow II . Greatest temporary extent during Byzantine – Sasanian War of 602-628 shown in stripes.
Next Slide: Islamic Empire For Byzantine Slide discuss who lives in Byzantine Empire, Christian heretics, conditions under which they live just prior to birth of Muhammad
The Qur’an on the Qur’an We sent to you [Muhammad] the Scripture with the truth, confirming the Scriptures that came before it , and with final authority over them: so judge between them according to what God has sent down. Do not follow their whims, which deviate from the truth that has come to you. 5: 48 Truly, this Qur’an has been sent down by the Lord of the Worlds; the Trustworthy Spirit [generally understood to mean the Angel Gabriel] brought it down to your heart [Prophet], so you could bring warning in a clear Arabic tongue. This was foretold in the scriptures of earlier religions. Is it not proof enough for them that the learned men of the Children of Israel have recognized it? 26: 192-197 By the Scripture that makes [things] clear, We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic so that you [people] may understand . In the Source of Scripture kept with Us, it is truly exalted and authoritative. We have made this Qur’an easy to understand— in your own language [Prophet] — so that they may take heed. 44: 58 Yet the scripture of Moses was revealed before it [this Qur’an] as a guide and a mercy, and this is a scripture confirming it in the Arabic language to warn those who do evil and bring good news for those who do good. 46: 12
The Qur’an on the Children of Israel and the Prophets Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. He was upright and devoted to God, never an idolater, and the people who are closest to him are those who truly follow his ways, the Prophet and [true believers — God is close to [true] believers]. 3: 67-68 God chose Adam, Noah, Abraham’s family and the family of Imran [Mary’s father, according to the Qur’an] over all other people, in one line of descent — God hears and knows all. 3: 33-34 [God said to Abraham] ‘Take the spot where Abraham stood as your place of prayer’. We commanded Abraham and Ishmael: ‘Purify My House for those who walk round it, those who bow and prostrate themselves in worship’. . . . As Abraham and Ishmael built up the foundations of the House, [they prayed] ‘Our Lord, accept [this] from us. . . . Who but a fool would forsake the religion of Abraham? 2: 125-130 [Abraham said] ‘Praise be to God, who has granted me Ishmael and Isaac in my old age: my Lord hears all requests.’ 14: 39 We gave [Abraham] Isaac and Jacob, each of whom We guided, as We had guided Noah before, and among his descendants were David, Solomon, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron — in this way We reward those who do good — Zachariah, John, Jesus and Elijah — everyone of them was righteous — Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. We favored each one of them over other people, and also some of their forefathers, their offspring, and their brothers. We chose them and guided them on a straight path .
The Qur’an on the Israelites/the Torah and Gospel of Jesus God: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Step by step, He has sent the Scripture down to you [Prophet] with the Truth, confirming what went before: He sent down the Torah and the Gospel earlier as a guide for people and He has sent down the distinction [between right and wrong]. Those who deny God’s revelations will suffer severe torment: 3: 2-4 This is an account of things beyond your knowledge that We reveal to you [Muhammad]: . . . The angels said [to Mary] “Mary, God gives you news of a Word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, who will be held in honour in this world and the next, who will be one of those brought near to God”. [In response to Mary’s question about how she can have a son “when no man has touched me”] This is how God creates what He will: when He has ordained something He only says, “Be”, and it is. We will teach him [Jesus] the Scripture and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel, He will send him as a messenger to the Children of Israel : . . . [he will say to the Children of Israel] “I have come to confirm the truth of the Torah which preceded me , and to make some things lawful to you which used to be forbidden”. . . . [Then God said] “Jesus, I will take you back and raise you up to Me: I will purify you of the disbelievers. I will make the disbelievers suffer severely in this world and the next; no one will help them”. As for those who believe and do good deeds God will pay them their reward in full, but God does not love evildoers. 3: 44-45, 47-57 [After the earlier prophets] We sent other messengers to follow in their footsteps. After those We sent Jesus , son of Mary: We gave him the Gospel and put compassion and mercy into the hearts of his followers. 57: 27 {Describing earlier messengers} . . . And you {Muhammad} truly are one of the messengers. We favored some of these messengers above others. God spoke to some ; others He raised in rank; We gave Jesus, son of Mary, Our clear signs and strengthened him with the holy spirit . 2: 253
The Qur’an on Jesus’ Divinity People of the Book, do not go to excess in your religion, and do not say anything about God except the truth: the Messiah, Jesus , son of Mary, was nothing more than a messenger of God , His word directed to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and do not speak of a ‘Trinity’— stop [this], that is better for you — God is only one God, He is far above having a son, everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him and He is the best one to trust. 4: 171 In God’s eyes Jesus is just like Adam : He created him from dust, said to him, ‘Be’, and he was. . . . This is the truth of the matter: there is no god but God; God is the Exalted, the Decider’ [judge]. If they turn away, [know that] God is well aware of anyone who causes corruption [in beliefs]. Say ‘People of the Book, let us arrive at a statement that is common to us all: we worship God alone, we ascribe no partner to Him , and none of us takes others beside God as lords’. 3: 58 -64 The Jews said ‘Ezra is the son of God’, and the Christians said, ‘The Messiah is the son of God’: they said this with their own mouths, repeating what earlier disbelievers had said. May God thwart them! How far astray they have been led! They take their rabbis and their monks as lords beside God, as well as Christ, the son of Mary. But they were commanded to serve only one God: there is no god but Him; he is far above whatever they set up as His partners! 9: 30-31 ‘We [Muslims] believe in God and in what has been sent down to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes. We believe in what has been given to Moses, Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make a distinction between any of them. It is to Him that we devote ourselves.’ 3: 84
The Qur’an on the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) [Believers], argue only in the best way with the People of the Book, except with those of them who act unjustly. Say, ‘ We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you ; our God and your God is one [and the same] ; we are devoted to Him’. 29: 46 Some of the People of the Book would dearly love to lead you [believers] astray, but they only lead themselves astray, though they do not realize it. People of the Book, why do you deny God’s revelations when you can see they are true? People of the Book, why do you mix truth with falsehood? 3: 69-71 Fight those of the People of the Book who do not [truly] believe in God and the Last Day, who do not forbid what God and His Messenger have forbidden, who do not obey the rule of justice, until they pay the tax promptly and agree to submit.
Recommend
More recommend
