But the core creed was much more loaded than it may have looked at first blush. “No god but God”—that phrase alone has engendered countless thousands of volumes of commentary, and no one has yet come to the end of what it means. And on top of that: “Mohammed is his messenger!” Sign on to that one, and you’ve accepted everything Mohammed prescribed as Messenger. You’ve committed yourself to five daily prayers; to avoidance of pork; to the Ramadan fast; to sobriety; and to much, much more. 6 The Abbasid Age 120-350 AH
