This article talks about the origins of Islam. What was the Arab world like before the revelations? Who was Mohammed and what role did he play in the spread of Islam. You will get the answers to these questions by reading this article. More articles about Islam will follow soon!
The Arabian Peninsula before the revelations of Islam.
In the early 7th century, the Byzantine Empire¹ and the Persian Empire controlled the central region of the Old World. The Byzantine Empire stretched from Constantinople to the Atlantic Ocean. Christianity was the official religion here and paganism was a thing of the past. In the Persian Empire the religion was a form of the Zoroastrian teachings. This is an ancient and complex religious system that had a major influence on Judaism and early Christianity. Persia and Byzantium were sworn enemies.
The Arabian Peninsula was the last region where pagan beliefs had survived. The interior was unknown territory for the Old World. Nomads lived there who traveled through the desert with camels. In 570, Christians from Ethiopia invaded Yemen and then attacked Mecca. The Arabs also received influences from Judaism and Christianity in the north. Jewish tribes lived in Yathrib, later Medina.
At this time, Mecca was a pagan religious center to which tribes from the area traveled during certain months. The Quraysh tribe then guaranteed the truce. The pilgrimage went to the Kaaba. According to the Quran, the Kaaba was built by Abraham (Ibrahim) in honor of God. This is the place where he wanted to sacrifice his son when he was instructed to do so by God. However, polytheism became stronger and the Kaaba became full of idols.
Mohammed
It is believed that Muhammad was born in 570. He belonged to a clan of the Quraysh, the Hashim. Muhammad lost both of his parents before he was 7 years old. He was then raised first by his grandfather, the head of the clan, and later by his uncle Abu Talib. Mohammed married the wealthy widow Khadija when he was 25.
The first revelation of the Quran took place in 610 when Muhammad was 40 years old. This happened on the slope of Mount Hira near the city of Mecca. The Archangel Gabriel (Jibrail) appeared to Muhammad with a scroll in his hand and said: ,Iqra, (read). Mohammed replied that he could not read, he was illiterate. Gabriel repeated his command and Muhammad spoke the words after him. The words he spoke are the first five verses of what is now Chapter 96 of the Quran.
Muhammad returned to his wife Khadija in shock and told her what had happened. Khadija believed that life was created by God and believed the story of Muhammad. The revelations that followed emphasized the one God and demanded that man renounce polytheism. After three years, Muhammad openly attacked polytheism. More and more people converted to Islam. This to the annoyance of the Quraysh, who were afraid of losing their income in the center of faith (the Kaaba). Until the death of Abu Talib, Muhammad did not have to worry about the Quraysh, but after his death he lost the protection of his clan. Mohammed decided to move to Taif, in the mountains near Mecca, but was driven out by pagans. On July 16, 622, Muhammad left Mecca for Yathrib with his friend Abu Bakr. This exodus is known as the Hijrah, which means migration. The Muslims recognized that the Hijra was an important moment in their history and made the year 622 the first year of their lunar calendar.
The first Islamic political document is the agreement with Medina (which used to be Yathrib). This agreement regulated the relationship between the Muslims and the inhabitants of the oasis of Medina. The people who were hospitable and helped the refugees from Mecca are called the ansar, or helpers. The Jewish tribes were part of the community (Ummah) and had to fight against enemies just like the Muslims. Being loyal to your tribe gave way to being loyal to the ummah. However, relations with the Jewish tribes soon deteriorated.
In 629, the Muslims, even though they numbered only 1,500, took the city of Mecca. The ingestion took place without any blood being shed. The city surrendered. Muhammad died on June 8, 632 after a short illness. Abu Bakr was chosen as his successor.
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Women in Islam
¹ The Byzantine Empire was the Christian successor to the Roman Empire.