Posted 01 December 2012 - 12:43 AM
I find it ridiculous that some people have such a general stereo type and cliched view of Muslims and their society, views propagated and perpetuated by the media!
Iraq and baghdad at that time were shining beacons of civilisation, intergrated society of Jews, Christians, Muslims, mainly and a melting pot of different people from all over the Islamic empire etc. They were in somewhat a bohemian state, as they neglected their state and religious duties, became lavish etc. Hence why the tartar invasion destroyed them with ease, totally unprepared defensively, focused more on lavish living, science, art etc. Unfortunately in that invasion the Baghdad library was destroyed which contained hundreds and thousands if books on science, history, maths, philosophy, art, etc etc etc Greek works, persain, Indian as well other literature.
So surely they had a laugh too and it's no surprise they wrote jokes and poetry etc.