Intellectual traditions in Islam - Second Essay

Second essay in the book was presented by Hugh Kennedy, with the title "Intellectual life in the first four centuries of Islam". He covered the first four centuries of Islam and challenges it faced. After the departure of Prophet Muhammad S.A.S. question of leadership arose. There was a disagreement on the instruction of succession of leader after the Prophet. This opened up a political discussion among Muslims and still has impact and traces in the concept of leadership and limitations and authorities of leader.

The other major issue was conversion of non-Arabs to Islam, which brought diversity of culture and language with it. Kennedy vivdly presented how it was handled and what impact it had on intellectual traditions in Islam; and how simple recording of history of early days of Islam shaped into immensly rich and complex intellectual traditions.