9781422281130

O N S ELECTING H EROES

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returned to his position and wrote the hugely influential book The Revival of the Religious Sciences as well as the famous The Incoherence of the Philosophers . Later in his life al-Ghazali turned to Sufism as a spiritual method and discipline. His influential teachings helped Sufism become accepted into Islamic theology. Other prominent Muslim philosopher-scholars include al-Kindi (ca. 800–873); al-Farabi (870?–950); Avicenna, known also as Ibn Sina (980–1037); Averroës, known also as Ibn Rushd (1126–1198); Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328); and Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406?). In addition to Muhammad and Ali, there are many other fig- ures from the early years of Islam whose stories are important and whom many Muslims consider heroes. The lives of Muhammad’s companions, especially the first three caliphs, are fascinating. Many other leaders are also remembered fondly. For example, Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Aziz, caliph from 717 to 720, was so famed for his justice and compassion that some consider him the fifth “right- ly guided” caliph. The point is that throughout the history of Islam there have been many rulers, scientists, artists, and scholars who are widely remembered, respected, and honored for their spectacular achieve- ments. The stories selected for this book provide some basic infor- mation about important Muslim figures and are intended as a starting point for more in-depth research into the world of Islam. Text-Dependent Questions 1. Who are some contemporary Americans that Muslims may consider to be heroes? 2. What Medieval Muslim played a significant role in the growth and development of Islamic law? Research Project Choose one of the people who are mentioned in this chapter as Muslim heroes, yet are not profiled in chapters two through seven of this book. Using your school library or the Internet, find out more about this person’s life and accomplishments. Write a two-page report that presents these accomplishments to the class, and explains why Muslims might consider this person to be a hero.