this does not happen only to one who sees the church for the first time, but the same experi­ence comes to him on each successive occasion, as though the sight were new each time. Of this spectacle no one has ever had a surfeit, but when present in the church men rejoice in what they see, and when they leave it they take proud de­light in conversing about it. Furthermore, con­cerning the treasures of this church-the vessels of gold and silver and the works in precious stones, which the Emperor Justinian has dedi­cated here-it is impossible to give a precise ac­count of them all. But I shall allow my readers to form a judgment by a single example. That

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why did Theophylact value reason? History?

Chapter 7 The Early Middle Ages 201

part of the shrine which is especially sacred, where only priests may enter, which they call the Inner Sanctuary, is embellished with forty thousand pounds' weight of silver.

So the church of Constantinople (which men are accustomed to call the Great Church), speaking concisely and merely running over the details with the finger-tips, as it were, and men­tioning with a fleeting word only the most no­table features, was constructed in such a manner by the Emperor Justinian. But it was not with money alone that the Emperor built it, but also with labour of the mind and with the other powers of the soul.

2. ~rom Procopius's description, list some distinguishing features of Saint Sophia.

2 Islam

The vital new religion of Islam emerged in the seventh century among the Arabs of Arabia. Its founder was Muhammad (c. 5 70-632), a prosperous mer­chant in Mecca, a trading city near the Red Sea. When Muhammad was about forty, he believed that he was visited by the angel Gabriel, who ordered him to "recite in the name of the Lord!" Transformed by this vision, Muhammad was convinced that he had been chosen to serve as a prophet.

Although most desert Arabs worshiped tribal gods, in the towns and trading centers many Arabs were familiar with Judaism and Christianity, and some had accepted the idea of one God. Rejecting the many deities of the tribal religions, Muhammad offered the Arabs a new monotheistic faith, Islam, which means "surrender to Allah" (God).

Muhammad THE KORAN

Islamic standards of morality and rules governing daily life are set by the Ko­ran, the book that Muslims believe contains the words of Allah as revealed to Muhammad. Muslims see their religion as the completion and perfection of Ju­daism and Christianity. They regard the ancient Hebrew prophets as sent from God and value their messag!'s about compassion and the oneness of humanity. Muslims also regard Jesus as a great prophet but do not consider him divine.

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They see Muhammad as the last and greatest of the prophets and believe that he was entirely human, not divine. Muslims worship only Allah, the creator and ruler of heaven and earth, a single, all-powerful God who is merciful, compas­sionate, and just. Following are excerpts from the Koran:

GOD

God: there is no god but Him, the Living, the Eternal One. Neither slumber nor sleep over­takes Him. His is what the heavens and the earth contain. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before and behind men. They can grasp only that part of His knowledge which He wills. His throne is as vast as the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not weary Him. He is the Exalted, the Immense One. (2:255-257)

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the

Merciful

It is the Merciful who has taught the Koran. He created man and taught him articulate

speech. The sun and the moon pursue their or­dered course . The plants and the trees bow down in adoration.

He raised the heaven on high and set the bal­ance of all things, that you might not transgress that balance. Give just weight and full measure.

He laid the earth for His creatures, with all its fruits and blossom-bearing palm, chaff­covered grain and scented herbs. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?

He created m~tn from potter's clay, and the jinn {spirits} from smokeless fire . Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny? (55:1-18)

All that is in the heavens and the earth gives glory to God. He is the Mighty, the Wise One.

It is He that has sovereignty over the heav­ens and the earth. He ordains life and death, and has power over all things.

He is the First and the Last, the Visible and the Unseen. He has knowledge of all things.

I t was He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then mounted the throne. He knows all that goes into the earth and all that emerges from it, all that comes down from heaven and all that ascends to it. He is with you wherever you are. God is cog­nizant of all your actions.

He has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. To God shall all things return. He causes the night to pass into the day, and causes the day to pass into the night. He has knowledge of the inmost thoughts of men. (57: 1-7)

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY

Righteousness does not consist in whether you face towards the East or the West. The righteous man is he who believes in God and the Last Day," in the angels and the Book and the prophets; who, though he loves it dearly, gives away his wealth to kinsfolk, to orphans, to the destitute, to the traveller in need and to beggars, and for the redemption of captives; who attends to his prayers and renders the alms levy; who is true to his promises and steadfast in trial and adversity and in times of war. Such are the true believers; such are the God-fearing. (2:176-178)

Serve God and associate none with Him. Show kindness to parents and kindred, to or­phans and to the destitute, to near and distant neighbours, to those that keep company with you, to the traveller in need, and to the slaves you own. God does not love arrogant and boast­ful men, who are themselves niggardly and en­join othe~s to be niggardly; who conceal the riches which God of His bounty has bestowed upon them (We have prepared a shameful pun­ishment for the unbelievers); and who spend their wealth for the sake of ostentation, believ­ing neither in God nor in the Last Day. He that

chooses Satan for his friend, an evil friend has he . (4:36-39)

CHRISJIANITY

And remember the angels' words to Mary. They said:* 'God has chosen you. He has made you pure and exalted you above womankind. Mary, be obedient to your Lord; bow down and worship with the worshippers.'

This is an account of a divine secret . We re­veal it to you.t You were not present when they cast lots to see which of them should have charge of Mary; nor were you present when they argued about her.

The angels said to Mary: 'God bids you re­joice in a word from Him. His name is the Mes­siah, Jesus the son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world and in the hereafter, and shall be one of those who are favoured. He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of man­hood, and shall lead a righteous life.'

'Lord,' she said, 'how can I bear a child when no man has touched me?'

He replied: 'Even thus. God creates whom He will. When He decrees a thing He need only say: "Be," and it is. He will instruct him in the Scriptures and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the Gospel, and send him forth as an apostle to the Israelites. He will say: "I bring you a sign from your Lord. From clay I will make for you the likeness of a bird. I shall breathe into it and, by God's leave, it shall be­come a living bird. By God's leave I shall heal the blind man and the leper, and raise the dead to life. I shall tell you what to eat and what to store up in your houses. Surely that will be a sign for you, if you are true believers . I come to

confirm the Torah which preceded me and to make lawful to you some of the things you are forbidden. I bring you a sign from your Lord: ther#ore fear God and obey me. God is my Lord and your Lord: therefore serve Him. That is a straight path. (3:42-51)

*Cf. Luke i, 26- 38. tMul;lamrilad.

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People of the Book,+ do not transgress the bounds of your religion. Speak nothing but the truth about God. The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was no more than God's apostle and His Word which He cast to Mary: a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His apostles and do not say: 'Three.' Forbear, and it shall be bet­ter for you. God is but one God. God forbid that He should have a son! His is all that the heavens and the earth contain. God is the all­sufficient protector. The Messiah does not dis­dain to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nearest to Him. Those who through arrogance disdain His service shall all be brought before Him. (4:171-172)

HEAVEN AND HELL

THAT WHICH IS COMING

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

When that which is coming comes- and no soul shall then deny its coming- some shall be apased and others exalted.

When the earth shakes and quivers, and the mountains crumble away and scatter abroad into fine dust, you shall be divided into three multitudes: those on the right (blessed shall be those on the right); those on the left (damned shall be those on the left); and those to the fore (foremost shall be those). Such are they that shall be brought near to their Lord in the gar­dens of delight: a whole multitude from the men of old, but only a few from the latter gen­erations.

They shall recline on jewelled couches face to face, and there shall wait on them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine (that will neither pain their heads nor take away their reason); with fruits of their own choice and flesh of fowls that they relish. And theirs shall be the dark-eyed houris

~Christians.

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[beautiful virgins}, chaste as hidden pearls: a guerdon {reward} for their deeds.

There they shall hear no idle talk, no sinful speech, but only the greeting, 'Peace! Peace!'

Those on the right hand - happy shall be those on the right hand! They shall recline on couches raised on high in the shade of thorn­less sidrs and clusters of talh;§ amidst gushing waters and abundant fruits, unforbidden, nev­erending.

We created the houris and made them vir­gins, loving companions for those on the right hand: a multitude from the men of old, and a multitude from the latter generations.

As for those on the left hand (wretched shall be those on the left hand!) they shall dwell amidst scorching winds and seething water: in the shade of pitch-black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing. For they have lived in comfort and persisted in the heinous sin, ll saying: 'When we are once dead and turned to dust and bones , shall we be raised to life? And our forefathers, too? '

§Probably the banana fruit. IIIdolatry.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Say: 'Those of old, and those of the present age, shall be brought together on an appointed day. As for you sinners who deny the truth, you shall eat the fruit of the Zaqqfun tree and fill your bellies with it . You shall drink scalding water: yet you shall drink it as the thirsty camel drinks.'

Such shall be their fare on the Day of Reckon~ ing. (56:1- 56)

WOMEN

Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient . They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobe­dience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme.

If you fear a breach between a man and his wife, appoint an arbiter from his people and another from hers. If they wish to be reconciled God will bring them together again. Surely God is all-knowing and wise. (4:34-35)

1. Compare and contrast the views of God and morality described in the Koran with those found in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.

2. What advice does the Koran give to Christians? .

3 Islam and Greek Learning ._,...,.._

In the eighth and ninth centuries, Muslim civilization, which creatively inte­grated Arabic, Byzantine, Persian, and Indian cultural traditions, entered its golden age. Muslim science, philosophy, and mathematics, based largely on the achievements of the ancient Greeks, made brilliant contributions to the sum of knowledge at a time when Latin Christendom had lost much of.Greco-Roman thought and culture. The Muslims had acquired Greek learning from the older Persian and Byzantine civilizations, which had kept alive the Greek inheri­tance. By translating Greek works into Arabic and commenting on them, Mus­lim scholars performed the great historical task of preserving the philosophical