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The Islamic and Byzantine City

Relation Of Islam To The Idea Of The City

This brief history is sufficient to establish several principles of Islamic expansion and its urban and social roots.

First, cities and commerce were central to the new religion, and many of the developments in Islamic law and jurisprudence dealt with densely settled urban places.
Islam was initially tolerant of other religions but welcoming to converts, extending to them equality in the umma (community of believers).
Property laws differed substantially from Roman law.
The religion stressed rules to police business practices and ensure trust and credit in trade.
Laws reformed social relations, regularizing and liberalizing relations between masters and slaves, husbands and wives, albeit while increasing gender separation.
Religious duties were encumbent on all members of the community of believers, including declaring belief in one God (Allah), accepting the prophetic message of Muhammad, praying five times daily, tithing to charity and sharing wealth with the poor, observing the dawn to dusk fast during the month of Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to Mecca.