Islam
... the community. Their notion of social hierarchy and the classes of people was adopted from the Persian societal infrastructure. There was the class of men of the pen, the sword, merchants and of religion. They formed the circle of justice in that the king had to please the peasantry in order to receive money to pay the army in order to maintain strength. The arts had an impact on the leadership of the Islamic community. The imperial courts were highly decorative and mirrored the royal way of life for the Umayyad caliphs. Portraits of previous caliphs depicted them as mighty and powerful over the entire world. The mosques became symbols for the union of political and spiritual power for the Caliph. Women played the an integral role in the Islamic community. Islam gave women equal rights and greater opportunity then they ever had before. The Quran addresses both men and women in regards to their role and status in society. In the Quran, an entire verse is dedicated to women. Dowry, divorce, and hijab are all addressed in the Quran. Women were depicted in paintings in the mosques praying with their veils, which shows tha...