Running head: The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

The Islamic World and The Great Reformation:

A Closer Look at Religion, Music and architecture.

Halle L. Webster
California Baptist University: Integrated Humanities 213
December 21, 2016

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

Thesis / Intro
A closer look at the Islamic world and the Great Reformation will reveal similarities and shared
themes yet will also prove to be drastically different, both contributing to todays western culture as well
as todays Islamic culture. The contributions of both Islamic and Western writers, artists, musicians and
religious leaders had a huge impact on their world during the early civilizations in the sixth century as
well as the sixteenth century. Our current world religions, music and architecture give tribute to the
history of the past from both the Islamic World and the period of the Great Reformation.
Architectural Insights Into Islamic and Western Reformed Civilization

A mosque is a very important place in a Muslims practice as he must stop his daily
activities, get on his knees and face Mecca for his daily prayers. The Mosque is a place of
beautiful architecture that is obviously known around the world by its dome shaped top. One
very popular mosque is known as the Mosque of Kairouan. This mosque can be found in Tunisia.
It is considered to be one of the oldest surviving minarets in the world. The shape of the squares
covers the massive tower and are divided into three overlapping sections. The Pishtaq is another
well known structure from Islamic architecture. It is a formal gateway to the iwan. An iwan is
described as a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, with walls on three sides and one end
open to the mosque. The primary prayer room a vaulted hall or space, walled on three sides, with
one end entirely open. Mosques are typically decorated with calligraphy bands, glazed tile work,
and geometric designs. Most Mosques are well known for their Mihrabs, also know as the prayer
niche. These Mihrabs are typically on an inside wall that signifies the direction towards Mecca.
To the right of the Mihrab is an elevated, small platform which holds the Quran, where it may
be read Over and over in Islamic cultural architecture, we find large domes, flat roof tops in the

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

prayer halls, and countless columns used for support. A mosque in Spain is supported by 850
strong immense columns to keep the roof from coming down. The shade that is provided from
the roof, has been known to attract people for many years, so they are able to escape the
blistering sun. The favorable trend continues through history and is seen as a beautiful mark of
the Islamic culture.
Islamic architecture was strongly characterized by the dome shape as well as the
calligraphy writings that could be seen on its walls, whereas, we take a leap into western
civilization during the sixteenth century to find architecture bears few resemblances to Islamic
architecture. The two different centurys shared a common thread in domes. The pearl-shaped
domes which was found in the Islamic time period, was also incorporated in Bavarian, Czech,
Polish and Ukrainian Baroque buildings as well. Many of their differences were found in the
church architecture. Churches found in the western civilization looked more like modern
churches today. They had oval formed broad naves. A nave is known as the central part of a
church, typically extending from the narthex to the chancel and flanked by aisles. The numerous
ceiling were painted with dramatic central protection. A painted celling called Cupola
frescoes of the Ges" by Gaulliwere, contained many clouds, angels, and people circling the
center of the celling. This artwork portrayed a heavenly feel that western civilization was
commonly known for. Another piece they were known for is their beautiful windows. The
windows provided a uniform lighting, combined with the shadows that created a magnificent
shine that is very unique.

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

Islams Musical Influence in the West and the Unforgettable Musical Contributions of the
Great Reform
Arab-Islamic music had many contributions to early and later civilizations such as the development of
new instruments as well as being inventors of new techniques of rhythm and sound. Many of these
musical instruments soon came into European civilization as they were purchased or traded from scholars,
pilgrims and traders that were heading back home. Specifically, the lute, rebec, guitar and naker are all
derived from Arabic and played fundamental roles in European music. The Lute is a pear shaped wooden
base, with nine strings which the guitar and mandolin were later derived from. Brass Wind instruments,
such as the horn and trumpet which were derived from Al-Zurna, were brought to Europe. According to
Rabah Saoud, the Muslims strongly influenced Byzantium and he states, What is less well known are the
deeper connections from Western musical instruments and theory back to Islamic civilization. According
to Bassiouni, Arab-Muslims were the first to develop a technique of musical harmony paralleling
mathematical science. Their music was known for the sound of harmony as well as evocative emotional
expression. For the devout Muslim, Music could no longer be a part of their lives. It was a forbidden
pleasure reserved for sensual powers and mystics.
Music from Arab and Islamic civilizations, as early as fifth century, translated all the way into the
sixteenth century. We see the use of guitars, mandolins, horns and trumpets as we look at the music of the
great reformation.
According to John Wilsey, in The Impact of the Reformation on the Fine Arts , The art and
music of the Reformation rejected the Catholic and Renaissance forms because the movement was
theological at its root. It is said that Luthers love of music came only second to his love of theology and
Luther had a great influence on the development and progression of Protestant music, more than any other
reformer. The Reformation and Luthers influence reached one of the worlds greatest composers known

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

as, Johann Sebastian Bach. In reference to Luther and the Reformation and Bach, it is often said that you
could not have one without the other. Bach was a devout Christian and believed that powerful prose
should be accompanied by great music, as both help individuals to truly worship God and to feel the
emotions therein. The musicologist George Beulow went on to state, "Bach has been judged variously

in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as the 'fifth Evangelist,' as the greatest genius of
Western art, music, as an icon, perhaps the icon of music history." He continues to say, More
than any other Bach has held the world of scholarship and general music appreciation in awe up
to the present day."
Bach truly composed music from his personal faith. He wrote scores of music for the
church, not just for performance choirs but for the congregations to sing in worship. His
compositions influenced congregational singing as we still know today. Although there were
many musical talents from this time in history, there were non that compared to the reach that
Bachs music had then or continues to have today.
The Great Reformation and the Beginning of Islam
Reform was well on its way in Western Europe, the transition from medieval to modern times had
begun. The Roman Church had so much power and had gotten away from the Word of God and instead
gave way to the sale of indulgences as well as a strong belief that salvation was earned by performing
good works and was dependent on the grace of the Church and its priesthood. A young man named
Martin Luther came along knowing that this was wrong and changed the course of the church during the
early 1500s.
Martin Luther had a rebellious streak and exhibited stubbornness early on. He was born of a coal
miner in 1505 and was supposed to study law but quickly dropped out and became an Augustinian monk.

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

He spent a lot of time pursuing God in the quietness of those days. He continually came back to the fact
that there is nothing in scripture that states you must perform good works to actually be saved. He
strongly believed that all men were sinners and that you could not earn heaven by your good works alone
but by faith alone, according to Ephesians 2:8 (For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the free gift of God.). Luther became a doctor of theology and worked at the
University of Wittenberg, where he soon began to speak out against the teachings of the Roman church.
In 1517, Luther wrote the Ninety-Five Theses where he challenged the church with two central ideas and
that being that the Bible is the central authority of the believer, not the church, and that you must be saved
by faith alone not by works. Many reformers had risen up over the many centuries with similar notions or
thoughts but Martin Luthers stance for truth is what sparked and changed all of history.
Luther clearly stated he didnt aim to destroy Catholicism but wanted to reform it. Over and over
he challenged the Catholic Church against scripture and if he could not find the doctrines of the church in
scripture then he raised those questions to the church. As an example, he only found the sacraments of
baptism and communion to be scriptural and therefore challenged the Roman Catholic Church with the
other five sacraments. Martin Luthers biblical convictions were founded in the Word of God with no
addition or subtraction to it. The Protestant Reformation began to spread especially as he translated the
Old and New Testament into German and these readings were made available to as many people as
possible. When brought to trial after being charged with heresy, Luther would not recant as he stated, I
cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us.
On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.
As Luther continued to stand for the reformation of the Church, it brought great divide, revolt and
war. These wars around religious freedom lasted upwards of 25 years until German princes were given

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the right to choose the religion that they wanted their people to practice. Although religious wars
continued for over a century, Luthers writings changed and shaped western cultural and political history.
According to Fiero, the invention of the printing press was the single most important factor in the
success of the Protestant Reformation because it gave all literate people a chance to read for themselves
and to become aware of the complaints against the Roman church. In medieval times many people stayed
in the dark on issues as it was difficult to become educated on issues you had not been educated on or
been made aware of by any other means than gossip or word of mouth but the printing press changed
things immensely and was in large part responsible for Luthers writings to be disseminated.
Martin Luther was the greatest reformer of the sixteenth century much like Muhammed was
responsible for great historical, religious and political change in the early sixth century. Prior to the sixth
century, Arabs were a tribal people who worshipped over 300 gods or dieties. They were a polytheistic
people who practiced idolatry and were greatly divided. Mecca was their holy city and it is there that they
worshipped their many gods. There was a large area in the middle of their sactuary called a Kaaba. This
is where their idols were housed but Muhammed was monotheistic in his beliefs and warned against
practicing this kind of idolatry practiced in the Kaaba. The time would come when Muhammed would
stand for what he believed was right as a great reformer of his day.
In short overview, Muhammed was born and orphaned at the age of six, then traveled around with
his uncle in a caravan of sales people where he met his wife Khadijah who was 15 years his latter. It was
during this time of travel that he was able to meditate on God and received his revelation as the last
messenger of God. He spoke out to the Meccan people, rebuking them on their polytheistic ways but the
Meccan elites of the day did not want to listen and turned him away, putting him out of the city. He left
the holy city headed for Medina, with approximately 70 Muslim families. They made a journey, also
called a hijra to Medina where they stayed for over eight years until Medina was converted into Muslims.

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

He returned to Mecca eight years later with over 10,000 Muslim men, at which point they opened the
gates to him and received his message. He destroyed their idols and once again preached a monotheistic
religion. Islam is often described as in line with Judeo Christian and Hebraic teachings.
The Quran is equivalent for the Muslim to the Christians Bible. It was written approximately 10
years after his death but his teachings were passed down verbally and put into the Quran. There are five
pillars of Islam known as the Declaration (there is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is his Messenger),
Prayer (must recite prayers facing Mecca, five times per day), Almsgiving (charitable donation to the
Islamic community), Fasting (from dawn to sunset everyday during the holy month of Ramadan), and
lastly, the Pilgrimage or the Haji to the Mecca, which must be completed at least once in a Muslims
lifetime.

There are vast similarities in the convictions that both Luther and Muhammed held, as
they held fast with resolve to what they believed was revealed to them, however, there are vast
differences in what they held too. Luther fought for the purity of the gospel of salvation, which
came through faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that not of yourselves but it is the free gift of God
(Eph 2:8) and in Romans 3:23-24, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all
are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Whereas,
although many state that Islam was founded on principles similar to Judaism and Christianity,
Muhammed became like that of the Roman Church when he added to the gospel. He named
himself the Messenger of God and tried to take away the deity of Christ. He added works that
must be done to achieve eternal salvation. Islamic religion requires Iman, which means faith, but
it stands for faith that you will be able to keep the laws of Islam not a simple faith in the
crosswork of Christ.

The Islamic World and the Great Reformation

In conclusion, Islam swept like fire through Arabic nations, African nations and even to
the west multiplying three times faster than Christianity but this we know: Philippians 2:1011That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and
things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
Every knee will bow someday to the Lord Jesus Christ and although there have been
religious wars and uprisings all throughout history, and much to be learned with Islamic Culture
and through the Great Reformation, I am grateful that I stand on the truth of scripture, along with
Martin Luther and Bach and will someday sing, A Mighty Fortress is Our God at His feet.

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10

Bibiliography

Bassiouni, C. M. (Ed.). (2012, January 24). Islamic Civilization. Retrieved January, from
http://www.mei.edu/content/islamic-civilization
The Editors of Brittanica Corporation. (2008, April 21). Diet of Worms. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/event/Diet-of-Worms-Germany-1521
Fiero, G. K. (1992). The humanistic tradition. Dubuque, IA: WCB Brown & Benchmark.
Lindberg, C. (n.d.). Header Menu. Retrieved from http://www.moravianseminary.edu/moravianstudies/bibliographies/ancient-unity
R. S. (n.d.). Introduction to Islamic Architecture. Retrieved from
http://muslimheritage.com/article/introduction-islamic-architecture
Saboud, R., & Foundation of Science and Technology and Civilisation. (n.d.). Music in Muslim
Civilisation. Retrieved December 12, 2016, from http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/musicmuslim-civilisation
Robert Stevenson, Patterns of Protestant Church Music (Durham, NC: DukeUniversity Press,
1953),3.
Wilsey, J. D. (2006). DigitalCommons@Liberty University. Retrieved from
http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/sor_fac_pubs/175/
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.andrsib.com/dt/islammusic.htm