12 replies to this topic

[TonyJ]

Whilst not strictly to do with Islam, I cannot help marvel at the fact that the lands known today as "Muslim" countries have the longest and richest human history and some of the most glorious of civilizations prior to the Islamic and Christian ages. So I was wondering to what extent Muslims today take pride in this ancient heritage and take a keen interest in their ancestors from those times. Or if they simply think that they are idolators and have no real interest in learning about that heritage.

So which of the Ancient Civilizations do you admire the most?

[dot]

Keep in mind that Arab Muslims are merely 15% or less of World Muslims. Most Muslims today are not descendants of the middle east.

[ParadiseLost]

I like learning about ancient civilizations - I don't know about all of the ones on your list but I find ancient greek history interesting they had some very good philosophers/political thinkers. Also Celtic history is interesting.

[Teckni]

I'm curios as to why you think all these "glorious" civilizations ended abruptly to the revelations of Islam and Christianity. I think there are plenty Islamic civilizations that were glorious in many aspects.

Anyways, I choose the ancient israelites.

[the sad clown]

Hmm...difficult choices. I would like to pick both the Greeks and the Chinese.

[SaracenSoldier]

I love learning about history! It'd be hard for me to pick a favorite because all of it is fascinating, especially the military tactics, the legions, phalanx formation of the greeks, etc..

If I'd have to pick a fav then it'd have to be the 'Kingdom of israel', the one lead by Moses(as) and then other Prophets like Suleiman, Dawud, etc peace be upon them all because that was the believing nation at that time. And I think they were the first nation of Jihad.

[Saracen21stC]

We can actually learn many things from all of them.

[TonyJ]

I'm curios as to why you think all these "glorious" civilizations ended abruptly to the revelations of Islam and Christianity. I think there are plenty Islamic civilizations that were glorious in many aspects.

Anyways, I choose the ancient israelites.

The Babylonians, Assyrians, and Carthaginian civilizations were destroyed long before Islam and Chrsitianity came on the scene.

Aechaeminid Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great, however the Zoroastrian faith that was quite big back then survives to this day.

The ancient Chinese evolved into the modern Chinese.

The Ancient Roman and Greek civilizations and Pharonic Egypt simply evolved into Christian / Byzantine Civilization. But their religions were eventually surpressed through force, when Christians became the majority they ransacked and burned down pagan temples and Christian Roman Emperors passed legislation that banned their continued worship and closed down the remaining temples.

The Ancient era Arabs also evolved into Islamic Arabs. But their traditional religion was also surpressed by force, Muhammad ordered that all their temples by destroyed and would not accept their surrender until they agreed to adopt Islam.

It is interesting though not that surprising that so far people here like the Ancient Isrealites the most. Seeing as the modern Isrealites tend to be not liked much by Muslims....

[Teckni]

"and some of the most glorious of civilizations prior to the Islamic and Christian ages."

Sorry brother, I interpreted this wrong. I took it as "every empire in the middle east was great until Islam". My Mistake.

Also the reason most of us choose the Ancient israelites is because in Islam the israelites were noble, god fearing believers. The modern israeli's are exact opposite. They are totally against Moses's (Musa's) teachings for the mere fact they even created the state of israel. In Judaism, the Jews were banned from Palestine by God, why did they come back? "Thou Shall Not Steal" They stole and steal. "Thou Shall Not Kill" They kill and killed. I hope you see the clear differentiation between the Ancient israelites and the modern israelis. I myself, a Palestinian, take great pride in my lands history and see the israelite's as one of the best ancient civilizations of all time.

Edited by Teckni, 30 November 2011 - 01:02 AM.

[SaracenSoldier]

It is interesting though not that surprising that so far people here like the Ancient Isrealites the most. Seeing as the modern Isrealites tend to be not liked much by Muslims....

Because the ancient ones were nothing like the modern ones. They were the believing nation. Today they are not and they are enemies of God and His religion.

[ParadiseLost]

And verily, We have sent among every ummah (community, nation) a messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah)." Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).
(Surah An-Nahl Verse #36)

And we shouldn't forget that just because the story of every nation and their messenger isn't in the quran doesn't mean that other nations didn't get a messenger as the above verse shows.

[TonyJ]

Because the ancient ones were nothing like the modern ones. They were the believing nation. Today they are not and they are enemies of God and His religion.

I disagree, whilst most of the rest of the world has changed a lot. The israelites have remained the same. The same arrogance that they are the chosen people, that they are superior to other peoples, especially their immediate neighbours, and that their religion is the only truth and all other religions are false Gods.

[skydiver2]

What do you base that opinion on, I wonder?

Ron