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Uploaded: 23 May 2023 (3 years ago) · Shared: 06 May 2026
Duration: 45:30
Uploaded: 23 May 2023 (3 years ago) · Shared: 06 May 2026
Duration: 45:30
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As part of the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies' Spring 2011 Lecture Series, Fred Donner dives deep into the history of Islam'sformative years to offer a look at the foundation and evolution of political principles in the earliest Muslim societies.
Fred M. Donner received his PhD in Near Eastern Studies (1975) from Princeton University, with study of Arabic in Lebanon (1966-67) and of Oriental Philology at the University of Erlangen, Germany (1970-71). He has taught at Yale University (1975-1982) and the University of Chicago (since 1982). An early interest in the relationship between pastoral nomads and the Islamic state resulted in his first book, The Early Islamic Conquests (1981). Work on the early Islamic period for his first book raised questions about the sources for that history, and led him to investigate more deeply the early development of Islamic historical writing, resulting in his second book, Narratives of Islamic Origins (1997). This in turn caused him to ask how early Islam actually coalesced as a religion, explored in his most recent book, Muhammad and the Believers: At the Origins of Islam (2010). He has translated a volume of the medieval Arabic chronicle of al-Tabari (1993), written over forty scholarly articles, numerous encyclopedia entries, and scores of reviews, and has received research fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. He is currently President-Elect of the Middle East Studies Association of North America, and in 2008 received MESA's Jere L. Bacharach Award for Service to the Profession of Middle Eastern Studies.
This event was organized by the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies on February 22, 2011
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What is Early Islam?Early Islam or the history of Islam is believed, by most historians to have originated with Muhammad's mission in Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century CE. Although Muslims regard this time as a return to the original faith passed down by the Abrahamic prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus, with the submission (Islam) to the will of God. According to the traditional account, the Islamic prophet Muhammad began receiving what Muslims consider to be divine revelations in 610 CE, calling for submission to the one God, preparation for the imminent Last Judgement, and charity for the poor and needy.
Who is Fred Donner?Fred McGraw Donner (born 1945) is a scholar of Islam and Professor of Near Eastern History at the University of Chicago. He has published several books about early Islamic history. Donner received his PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton in 1975. He taught Middle Eastern history in the History Department at Yale University from 1975-1982 before taking his position at the University of Chicago in 1982. Donner's main argument is that what came to be called Islam began as a monotheistic "Believers' movement" inaugurated by Muhammad which included righteous Christians and Jews as well as those monotheists who followed the teachings of the Quran.
What is The Quran?Quran, literally meaning "the recitation" is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God (Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. The Quran is divided into chapters (surah in Arabic), which are then divided into verses (ayah). Muslims believe that the Quran was verbally revealed by God to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril), gradually over a period of approximately 23 years, beginning on 22 December 609 CE, when Muhammad was 40, and concluding in 632, the year of his death. Muslims regard the Quran as the most important miracle of Muhammad, a proof of his prophethood, and the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with the messages revealed to Adam and ended with Muhammad.
What is Islam?One of the major religions of the world, Islam literally translates to "submission," as a follower of Islam (Muslims) devotes their life to that of their God. The religion began with the teachings of Muhammad in the 7th century. The theology of Islam is based on the Qur'an, which was given to Muhammad by God. Some of the major fundamental principles of Islam include the Five Pillars, which hope to unite all Muslims into a community. Two different factions of Muslims exist - the majority are known as Sunni, with a small percentage known as Shi'a - both predominantly reside throughout the Middle East. Muhammad died in 632 AD and the religion of Islam formally started after his death. The Quran was formally compiled and finalised in 650 AD, prior to which it was 'memorised' and written across many parchments.
Who is GOD?In monotheism and henotheism, God is conceived as the Supreme Being and principal object of faith. The concept of God as described by theologians commonly includes the attributes of omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence. In theism, God is the creator and sustainer of the universe In deism, God is the creator, but not the sustainer, of the universe Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one God or in the oneness of God In pantheism, God is the universe itself In atheism, God is purported not to exist, while deemed unknown or unknowable within the context of agnosticism.
