It’s the old read estate mantra: location, location, location. (Tim Carter)
Thinking about the musings from DAY 40: Are We Done Yet?…
I would submit to you that after covering the 7 major belief systems from 8,000 BCE – 600 CE, perhaps you have already come to a conclusion regarding which of these 7 makes the most sense to you and your circumstances. However, there is just one potential issue if you have already selected one of those 7 belief systems.
Islam.
As our second unit of study commences around the 4th week of the school year, (Post-Classical, 600 CE – 1450 CE), one of the first topics that I cover first in this unit is Islam.
In the early 7th century CE, on the Arabian Peninsula, a man named Muhammad founded Islam. A current map of the percentage of those who follow Islam by country is below:
Prior to Islam, the Arabian Peninsula contained two main trade towns, Mecca and Medina, (known as Yathrib prior to Islam). The location of these cities were vital in connecting people, goods and services throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia. An ancient trade map is below:
Due to their location on the Arabian Peninsula, both Mecca and Medina, (Yathrib), were ideally located for camel caravans to pass through, on their way to untold riches in the lands beyond.
Mecca however, had a slight advantage over Medina, (Yathrib).
In the first century BCE in his book, the Bibliotheca Historica, Diodorus Siculus states:
“A very sacred temple has been established there which is highly revered by all the Arabs.”
Located in Mecca, that ‘very sacred temple’, known as the Kaaba, was a black, granite structure, measuring approximately 40 feet tall, by 36 feet wide and 40 feet in length. Here is a picture to give you an idea of what the Kaaba looks like:
This ‘very sacred temple’ that was ‘highly revered by all the Arabs’ was probably due to the fact that originally, it contained shrines to over 360 gods, goddesses and spirits.
So in theory, prior to the advent of Islam, you as a worshipper of polytheism/animism, (Day 18: The Basics Of Polytheism/Animism. and Day 19: The Validity Of Polytheism/Animism.), could visit the Kaaba and visit/worship/pray, to a different god/goddess, almost every day…
For an entire year.
This makes sense because after all, there were humans on the Arabian Peninsula before the advent of Islam. Polytheism dominated the region.
On the outside of this polytheistic temple, on one of its cornerstones lies the ‘Black Stone’, which according to Islamic legend, was the remaining portion of the Kaaba’s original structure that was built there by a father and son team. Their names were Ibrahim and Ismail.
Perhaps you may recognize these two names if I change the spelling:
Abraham and Ishmael.
If you are unsure as to who these two individuals are, please consider the following from the Holy Bible and the Book of Genesis:
1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. (Genesis 16:1-4 KJV) and,
11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? 14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. (Genesis 6:11-16 KJV).
In other words, Abraham, who is the common patriarch, (father), of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, had a son, Ishmael, and the both of them, according to Islam, laid the foundations for the Kaaba in the Arabian Peninsula.
These claims regarding who built the Kaaba, seem to be backed up in the Islamic holy book, the Quran, 3:96, 22:26 and 2:127:
“Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah (Mecca) – blessed and a guidance for the worlds.” (Quran, 3:96)
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], “Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.” (Quran 22:26)
“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], “Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Quran 2:127).
Below is a map according to Islamic belief as to the travels of Abraham and his older son Ishmael:
Why should any of this matter regarding the Kaaba, allegedly built by Abraham and Ishmael, in the city of Mecca?
Why is any of this important?
Because, according to Jews and Christians, Mecca and the Kaaba and the journeys of Abraham, are not mentioned in the Old or New Testaments.
In fact, Mecca and the Kaaba are not in the Holy Bible at all.
So basically, about 2.5 billion people, Jews and Christians, do not acknowledge the fact that Abraham built the Kaaba in Mecca.
About 1.8 billion people, Muslims, do.
Location. Location. Location.
The story of Islam continues after some rest….
Do not feel discouraged if you all of your questions are not immediately answered regarding, now, 8 belief systems. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to figure out how Islam fits into the other 7 discussed in earlier readings. Instead, embrace the idea that another 1 billion people, Muslims, believe in knowing that Someone Upstairs Runs The Show.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21 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 41: Location…Location…Location.
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: