The origins of Islam
Islam is a product of Muh.ammad’s teachings in the seventh century on the
Arabian peninsula. It is best understood in light of the pre-Islamic landscape.
Arabia was a divided peninsula. A number of polytheistic tribes made up
much of the population. There was infighting and fragmentation. Some
360 deities were honored at the ka‘bastone in Mecca (Ar: Makkah); many
of these deities were deities of the sky (el– lifted up, lofty, high). One of the
strongest tribes was the Quraysh, of which Muh.ammad was a member.^1
Also part of the pre-Islamic landscape were two monotheistic religious
communities. Jews, especially in Yemen and along the coasts, were a largely
mercantile community. Many were members of the Quraysh tribe. Christians
were of varying sectarian traditions (Monophysite, Eastern Orthodox,
Nestorian) and were often known on the peninsula serving as mercenaries
fighting for either Byzantine or Persian rulers. Nonetheless there were
Christian (especially Monophysite) monasteries in parts of the peninsula.
Some scholars believe Muh.ammad’s ideas were influenced by these mono-
theistic communities, though orthodox Muslims are insistent that all his
teachings were revealed.
Muh.ammad was born around 570 CEin Mecca. He became a camel
herder and married his employer. The tradition maintains that he was
illiterate. By the age of twenty-five he was to have strange experiences and
“visions.” Troubled by these, he consulted with his wife and friend Zayd
(a monotheist who was disgruntled with both Jewish and Christian com-
munities). Muhammad decided he was in fact receiving revelations through
the angel Gabriel. He came to be understood as a prophet (nabı ̄) and a
messenger sent by god (rasu ̄l).
At first, however, his message was ill-received in Mecca, though a handful
of converts joined him. One of the first of these was Abu ̄ Bakr, a friend and
relative who eventually succeeded him as the first caliph (Ar: khalı ̄fa– poli-
tical leader). Vested commercial interests and doubters forced Muh.ammad
to leave Mecca in 622 CE. This became known as the h.ijra(flight) and the
start of the Islamic calendar. Muh.ammad had been invited to Medina (Ar:
al-Madinah) by pilgrims who had visited Mecca and heard him preach.
Medina was ready for a monotheistic message. Tired of Arabic infighting,
many were impressed with Muh.ammad’s message and converted. Within a
few years, he returned to Mecca, and made the ka‘baan Islamic center,
eliminating the representations of tribal deities previously honored there.
Within a decade, much of the peninsula was attracted to the message: God
(Allah or Ar: Alla ̄h – the lofty one) was presented to the Arabs in Arabic;
unity on the peninsula had become possible. A way of life that provided a
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