Introduction
The advent of Islam took place in Mecca, Arab in an era when world had two super powers, Roman (Byzantine) Empire and Persian (Sassanian) Empire. The Persian Empire stretched from banks of Indus and Oxus rivers in the East to Euphrates in the west. In the West, Roman Empire stretched from modern day Turkey to the banks of Mediterranean. Rome and Persia were arch rivals in political and military arenas. They both had been fighting endlessly for many centuries to gain territories and stretch their empires. Arab, the most backward area in the world, was not ruled by any empire. Arab was thought of as unproductive and isolated land. The people were thought of, by the outsiders, as the illiterate, barbarians and uncivilized.
The Arabian culture was marked by tribes and clans. Each tribe had a leader, who held final authority in affairs. Tribes and clans used to fight among each other. War and ferocity was in the culture and education of Arabs. They had strong sense of revenge and family honor. To restore the honor and avenge the death of one clan member, the whole clan would go to war against the other clan. The Arabian culture had many inhuman aspects that propelled its uncivilized projection. The loyalties of clan leaders were bought by the two empires that gave them military support in wars. Islam completely transformed the political culture and introduced a value-system that revived the culture and personal values. The ferocious clans became brothers and transitioned into a single force that took over the super powers. Later, the conquest of Byzantine and Persian Empires gave Muslims a great political upheaval. The value system was so strong and provocative that within 50 years after Muhammad received first revelation, Muslim forces had conquered much of Persia and were knocking the doors of Roman Empire.
The History and Culture
Before Islam, Arabian society had three religions; Judaism, Christianity and Idol Worship. Most of the tribes were bound together by the value system and culture of Idol-Worship. Their prominent business was trading silk and cotton across Arabian deserts. Most of the tribes were Bedouin people, the Nomads. They had cattle on which they depended for food and clothing. Throughout the year they migrated from place to place in search of water. This natural hardship added to their stiff and rigid nature.
Jews were strong in the city of Medina, a green and populated oasis amid desert. They owned lands, gardens and wells. They were rich and influential in the politics in Medina. Christians were few and poor, mostly slaves. The most respected city in Arab was Mecca, the stronghold of Idol-worshippers, and most importantly, the Quraysh tribe. Every year hundreds of tribes from around the Arabian Peninsula paid a visit to the Ka’bah, the holy house of God in Mecca. This made Quraysh, the family that owned the keys of Kaaba, the most respected and influential tribe in whole of Arab. The whole of Mecca, otherwise a barren land unlike Medina, was well off due to the regular visitors who stayed in Mecca and paid homage. The leaders of Quraysh were the most influential people in whole of Arab. They controlled the politics and riches of Mecca. No visiting clan was allowed to fight inside Mecca. The Meccan economy and its political influence depended on its status owing to Ka’bah.
Advent of Islam
When Muhammad started to preach the Oneness of God, the fierce opposition came from Quraysh who regarded Islam as threat to their status in Mecca. Muhammad denounced the Idols in Ka’bah and called for believing in one God. This drew stern opposition from all clans of Quraysh. Muhammad himself was from the Hashemite family, one of the clans of Quraysh. His family status and support of his uncle Abu’Talib, an influential leader in Mecca, prevented Quraysh leaders from inflicting any physical harm on Muhammad. But the early followers were subjected to extreme torture and hardships. 10 years after Muhammad started preaching Islam, in 620, he migrated to the city of Medina with his followers where the two major tribes had embraced Islam. Medina became the stronghold of Islam for the following years. Their Muhammad formed the model state based on Islamic values. The tribes who had fought brutally for centuries became brothers in a society that highly valued learning, piety, caring for poor, orphan and destitute. Muslims fought three major and many minor wars against Quraysh before finally capturing Mecca in 629.
The Early Conquests
After the death of Muhammad, his close companion Abu-Bakr became the caliph. His biggest achievement early on was to channel the energy of various tribes to the conquest of Persia, who otherwise would fight among themselves for power. During caliphate of his successor, Umer, Muslim forces would conquer whole of Persia, and most of Roman territories. Within a century, Muslim forces were stationed from North Africa and Spain to India in the east.
The conquest of Rome and Persia set a great zeal for political and cultural evolution of Muslim Empire. Among the Muslim armies who fought against Romans and Persians there were many Christian tribes who had been wronged by the Romans or Persians. This created a value system among armies that tolerated a mix of religious and cultural diversity. Also, the capture of Persian territories brought financial support that was needed for managing such huge Empire. The Arab soldiers settled in North Africa, Spain, and Western India who formed a basis for a new dynamic culture.
Bibliography
Goldshmidt, Arthur. A concise History of Middle East. Colorado: West view Press, 1979.
Armstrong, Karen. Islam: A short History. Modern Library. 2002.