The Golden Age of Islam: The Abbasid Caliphate Patronage and the House of Wisdom
Carmen Lícia PALAZZO
Original title: A Idade de Ouro do Islã: o mecenato do Califado Abássida e a Casa da Sabedoria
Published in Idea and image of royal power of the monarchies in Ancient and Medieval World
Keywords: Abbasid Caliphate, Baghdad, Golden Age, Islam.
This article analyses some aspects of the so-called Golden age os Islam by following the works of the Abbasid Caliphate, concentrating on the period ranging from the establishment of the capital at Baghdad up to 833, year of Al-Mamun’s death. The House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma) is the most potent image among manifold activities, the memory of which lives on the present day. It bears witness to a period in the History of Islam during Which caliphal power acted as a patron to sciences, philosophy, arts, and literature.
The process of islamization in Western Africa under the rulership of the Empire of Mālī
Ahmed-Salem Ould Mohamed BABA; Vicente CASTRO MARTÍNEZ
Original title: El proceso de islamización de África occidental bajo el Imperio de Mālī
Published in Mirabilia Journal 34
Keywords: Animism, Black Africa, Haŷŷ, Islam, Saadies, Trade.
In this article, it is analyzed the role that had the best-known sub-Saharan empire, Mālī, in the acceleration of the process of islamization which took place in the southern part of the Sahara Desert between the XIIIth and XVIth centuries. However, it proves to be useful for the mentioning of the fact that the adoption of the Muslim religion by the Western Africa peoples do not cause the abandonment of their traditional beliefs, but a syncretism between them, despite the intentions of their rulers. On the other hand, apart from religious aspects, it will be very important the investigation of the commercial exchanges as one of the essential elements in the development of the penetration of Islamic values along this region of the African continent, in conjunction with the importance of the art as an indicator of this process advancement. To do that, it will be paid close attention to the development of the peculiar Sudanese art that was implemented in the main cities of the empire, around which is related this investigation, Timbuktu.
The ğihād and his substitute, the ribāṭ, in the traditional Islam: Evolution from a militaristic and collective spirit towards an inner and individual spirituality
Francisco FRANCO-SÁNCHEZ
Original title: El ğihād y su sustituto el ribāṭ en el Islam tradicional: Evolución desde un espíritu militarista y colectivo hacia una espiritualidad interior e individual
Published in The Middle Ages and the Crusades
Keywords: Holy-War, Islam, Ribāṭ, Spirituality, Ğihād.
At the beginning Ğihād was in Islam a militaristic spirit that articulates a defence of the religion, or what is the same, of the Muslim State, by means of arms. When in the first century of the Hegira it becomes impossible to continue the expansion of the Islamic State, the Ribāṭ was articulated as a substitute for Ğihād. It involved the internalization of the same spirituality, now understood not as a collective and official precept, but as individual command and internal fight. We revise the data from Arab sources about the Ribāṭ and its performance in the building known as rābiṭa. The function of these buildings, historiography, juridical frame, religious life and the economy related to the rābiṭa-s are explained. Toponymic traces and material vestiges of the rābiṭa-s at the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, especially those found in Guardamar del Segura are explained as well.
Translating religious enemy’s animus: Problems translating Tirant lo Blanc into Arabic
Hany El ERIAN EL BASSAL
Original title: Traduciendo la animadversión religiosa del enemigo: Problemas para la traducción al árabe del Tirant lo Blanc
Published in
Keywords: Islam, Joan Martorell, Moors, Tirant lo Blanc, Translation into Arabic.
First of all, this article is about the novel and its authorship. We are dealing with the translating difficulties with regard to these two heterogeneous cultures. We are presenting how difficult Tirant’s translation is referred to Islam, as well as the words ‘Moor’ when having to translate them into Arabic, taking as a reference Don Quixote of La Mancha translations into Arabic.
What things Llull accepts from Muslims
Josep PUIG MONTADA
Original title: Llull, i quines coses accepta dels musulmans
Published in Ramon Llull. Seventh centenary
Keywords: Conversion into Christianity, Islam, Raimundus Lullus.
Raimundus Lullus claims to have written some of his works first in Arabic but no evidence is available. No doubt he knew Islamic philosophy and theology and the article tries to answer which elements did he integrate into his doctrine; it looks as if most of them were of formal nature.
