I lead no party I follow no leader. I have given the best part of my life to careful study of Islam, its law and polity, its culture, its history and its literature. (Muhammad Iqbal)
Thinking about the musings from DAY 43: Ready. Set. Go!…
I would submit to you that the introduction of Islam by Muhammad on the Arabian Peninsula over 1,400 years ago was the beginning of something big. It is also important to note that historically, it did not start off well as Muhammad’s own family rejected his teachings. Where will this all end up? That will be covered now.
Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was at first rejected by just about everyone in Mecca, where he first introduced this belief system.
I would submit to you that it would have been bad for business, if his family, and other like-minded business owners in and around Mecca, would have accepted Muhammad and the Islamic belief system. The acceptance to Islam would have meant a rejection of polytheism, the mainstay of economic activity in and around Mecca, revolving from the polytheistic worship center, the Kaaba.
Why would they accept Allah at the expense of losing all that business from the polytheistic worshippers visiting the Kaaba, Mecca, and their businesses?
They didn’t.
Rejected, Muhammad left Mecca and traveled to the northern city of Yathrib, a competing city for the camel caravans traveling throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
Yathrib was ranked number 2 in the region due to the simple fact that it was lacking the Kaaba.
If you were a business owner in Yathrib and Muhammad came to your door sharing Allah, and the revelations given to him by the angel Gabriel…
How would you react?
You would convert to Islam.
What would you have to lose by converting when you are already in second place to Mecca as a believer in polytheism/animism? (For a quick refresher, please feel free to go to these prior posts: Day 18: The Basics Of Polytheism/Animism and Day 19: The Validity Of Polytheism/Animism.
On the surface, it would appear to be a sound, financial decision, considering the circumstances.
And so, although rejected in Mecca, Islam began to grow in influence in the second city on the Arabian Peninsula, Yathrib.
Eventually, the city got a name change, from Yathrib to Medina, known now as the ‘City of the Prophet’….
Now, Islam was ready to spread beyond its walls.
In March of 624 CE, Muhammad learned that a large, Quraysh caravan with a large sum of money and trade goods, was returning to Mecca. His Muslim followers, approximately 300 in number, chose to meet up with this Quraysh caravan.
And engaged them militarily. According to many believers, Muhammad lead the raiding party.
Outnumbered approximately three to one, Muhammad and his followers were none-the-less victorious at the Battle of Badr.
Consider the following from the Koran 3:122-127:
“122When two parties among you were about to lose courage, but Allah was their ally; and upon Allah the believers should rely. 123And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah ; perhaps you will be grateful. 124[Remember] when you said to the believers, “Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down? 125Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction]. 126And Allah made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise – 127That He might cut down a section of the disbelievers or suppress them so that they turn back disappointed.”
The Battle of Badr produced three outcomes:
1) Despite the three to one military disadvantage, Allah granted them victory against their pagan rivals;
2) The loss was a psychologically destructive event for the Quraysh tribe and;
3) It encouraged the Muslims to continue spreading Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
These were the outcomes going forward after the underdog won.
Consider the following from the Koran 3:13:
“Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met – one fighting in the cause of Allah and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.”
And 8:65:
“O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.”
Despite these results from the Battle of Badr, economically, militarily and psychologically, the Quraysh were still overall convinced that one defeat in battle does not decide the entire war that has just erupted between Muhammad and his new family of Muslim followers and his family related by bloodlines, the Quraysh.
Muhammad and the victorious Muslims, were more than willing to prove them wrong a second time.
One year later, in March of 625, the Battle of Uhud ensued.
The numbers of combatants numerically were similar as the Battle of Badr regarding infantry. Although the Muslims had grown to approximately 700-1000, the Quraysh still had at least a three to one advantage, numbering 3,000.
Regarding cavalry, the numbers were much more one sided: The Quraysh numbered 200. The Muslims, single digits.
Again, despite the overwhelming numerical disadvantages, the Muslims won again, in large part due to Muhammad himself. Not only was he at the battle, Muhammad was an active participant.
Consider the following from the Tabari IX, the documentation itself coming from Ibn Jareer al-Tabari, arguably Islam’s most renowned scholar of the day:
“Muhammad took three swords from the armor of the Banu Qaynuqa, which were called Qalai, Battar [‘very sharp’] and al-Hatf [‘death’]. Muhammad took three lances and three bows from the weapons of the Banu Qaynuqa. Muhammad took two coats of mail from the weapons of the Banu Qaynuqa. Muhammad had a shield with a sculptured image of a ram’s head which he disliked, and one morning when he woke up, Allah caused that image to disappear.”
So, what would you do if you were rejected by almost everyone around you, yet those who do believe in you are able to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, with your leader leading you to victory, twice, within two years?
You would most likely do what Muhammad and the Muslims did.
You travel to Mecca, where it all began.
Do not feel discouraged if the facts and history surrounding Islam still do not make sense. Do not feel discouraged if Islam should be your belief system to follow. Instead, embrace the idea that this continual accumulation of facts and figures and history regarding not only Islam, but the 7 prior belief systems covered in previous writings, is making you a more well-rounded individual.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?
Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 44: Islam Is Now 2-0.
If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.
Please feel free to go back to where all of this began: