An opportunity to deep-dive into Islam and Muslim civilisations, history and spirituality through the ages, accompanied by some of the best experts and academics in their field. Join us as we discover how Muslim societies and individuals have lived, thought about, and expressed their faith in their own ways as a pathway to the divine. We explore the far-flung lands that Muslims have lived in, the traditions – scientific, artistic, religious and cultural – they’ve contributed to, and the revelation itself, the Qur’an. Our guests have devoted their professional lives to producing robust scholarship about the rich heritage of Islam. Our mission is to bring that knowledge to our listeners – Muslim and non-Muslim alike – so as to better understand the world and address some of the biggest questions about life and meaning. This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about Islam and its contributions to the world. Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/muslimfootprints/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/muslim-footprints https://x.com/MFootprintsPod https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557285590197 http://www.youtube.com/@MuslimFootprints https://www.threads.net/@muslimfootprints
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Muslims governed Sicily for about 200 years starting around 830 CE. A thousand years later, the influence of Muslim civilization remains. You can find it in the language, in local place names, and even in its cakes and sweets!
If you visit Sicily you also still see Muslim influence in its built environment – churches with domes and Arabic inscriptions, irrigation systems still in operation. And of course, Palermo itself, which recalls the urban design of North Africa’s historic cities.
The influence of Islam may extend beyond these tangible items - to culture as we understand it today. In this episode we hear from Bill Granara, research professor of Arabic at Harvard University, who talks about the Sicilian poet Ibn Hamdis, among the island’s most famous Muslims. We are also joined by Nicola Carpentieri, Professor of Arabic at the University of Padua, who researches Muslim Sicily - including the link between its Arabic poetry and European culture at large.
Listen now to this episode, and subscribe to Muslim Footprints.