Lim 9:1 Sozomen Ecclesiastical History
How does Sozomen account for the origin of the Arab people? How does he account for their divergence in customs and religion from Jewish practices? Finally, what impression do you get of the religious life of pre-Islamic Arabia?
Lim 9:2 Ibn Ishaq Biography of Muhammad
What according to the author is Muhammad’s role in relation to the revelations of Islam? How does he receive the revelations? What are the various groups he encounters, and how do they react?
Lim 9:3 selections from the Qur’an
What distinctions do these passages make between “people of the book” and idolaters? How did Muslims regard their own religious beliefs in relation to other religions around them?
Lim 9:4 The Pact of ‘Umar
What sorts of privileges did the pact allow the people of Jerusalem? What can we tell from this document about the relationship between Islam and non-Muslims during this time?
Lim 9:5
Al Shafi’I Kitab al-Umm
What were the mutual obligations between Muslims and Christians during the time this document originated? Would you consider the Muslims to be intolerant? What limitations are placed on non-Muslims?