Islamic Borrowings and the Arabic People

Article three in this series.

The previous article outlined some religions influencing Islam. This article begins with some of the ideas Islam borrowed from them. Then covers some relevant cultural aspects.

Islam’s Religious Borrowings

The list below is not complete, but shows how extensive these borrowings were. The noted twentieth century academic, Ignaz Goldziher, wrote “The dogmatic development of Islam took place under the sign of Hellenistic thought; in its legal system the influence of Roman law is unmistakable; the organization of the Islamic state as it took shape during the ‘Abbasid caliphate shows the adaptation of Persian political ideas; Islamic mysticism made use of Neoplatonic and Hindu habits of thought. In each of these areas Islam demonstrates its ability to absorb and assimilate foreign elements so thoroughly that their foreign character can be detected only by the exact analysis of critical research.

‘With this receptive character Islam was stamped at its birth. Its founder, Muhammad, did not proclaim new ideas. He did not enrich earlier conceptions of man’s relation to the transcendental and infinite … The Arab Prophet’s message was an eclectic composite of religious ideas and regulations. The ideas were suggested to him by contacts, which had stirred him deeply, with Jewish, Christian, and other elements, and they seemed to him suited to awaken an earnest religious mood among his fellow Arabs. The regulations too were derived by foreign sources; he recognized them as needed to institute life according to the will of God.”[1]

Zoroastrianism –

Earning merit by reciting verses from the Avasta (holy text) thereby relieving demerits earned in life.
The Mizan – a balance weighing man’s actions, determining whether he goes to Paradise or Hell.
The recitation of daily prayers. Islam initially had two sets of daily prayers, then went to three (based on the Jewish schedule), and then to five (based upon the Zoroastrian schedule).
Muhammad’s ascent from Jerusalem is very similar to the Pahlavi Artay, written sometime in the fourth century.
Zoroastrianism is the official religion of Persia, and prevalent among the aristocrats and military. A Caliph is the head of this religion. The church and state are one.
The concept of the Road or Path (Sirat); the right way of religion. This is also used to refer to the razor thin bridge between heaven and hell that the unrighteous cannot pass on the final day of accounting.
The descriptions of what Paradise is like, which is full of physical pleasures.
The Qur’an contains some Persian words as there were no Arab equivalents. Research puts between 107 and 275 foreign words within the Qur’an coming from Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Ethiopic, Greek and Persian sources.

Judaism –

Concept of monotheism.
Muhammad claimed to be the final fulfillment of the line of prophets from the Old Testament that began with Moses.
Facing the Holy City for prayers (initially Jerusalem and later Mecca).
Rabbinical words contained within the Qur’an where no Arabic equivalents existed.
The rabbinical writings from the Talmud (written about 200 AD) form the basis of many of the stories contained within the Qur’an such as:
- A raven sent to Cain after his killing Abel in Genesis.
- The murder of an individual being equivalent to killing a whole race.
Religious doctrines.
- The unity of God, although as we’ll see later the Islamic concept of Allah was heavily influenced by the Neoplatonist writings of Greek philosophers such as Plotinus.
- Written revelation.
- Six days for creation, although the Qur’an is inconsistent in the number of days taken for creation.
- The existence of seven heavens and seven hells (this also appears within Zoroastrianism).
Mount Caf being the highest point on the Earth—a misunderstanding of the translation of the word ‘thohu’ from the Hagagah.
One of the stories of the creation of Adam comes from the Midrash Rabbah.
The angels being ordered to worship Adam.
The story of Cain and Abel.
Gog and Magog.
Noah’s character and conversation within Surah 7 comes from the rabbinical writings in Sanhedrin 108.
In Surahs 11 and 33, the boiling water used in the Flood as punishment comes from Rosh Hashanah 16.2 and Sanhedrin 108.
Solomon commanding demons and tricking them into building the Temple in Jerusalem in Surah 34 appears in Gittin 68. I could cite more examples, but these suffice.

Nestorian –

Jesus was only a man inspired by God.

Gnosticism –

From the Coptic History of Mary and Protoevangelium of James the Less, that Jesus was born under a palm tree and asked the tree to provide its fruit to Mary.
The making of clay birds and breathing life into them and speaking at birth to defend Mary’s honor from the Gospel of Thomas.
Christ was only a prophet.
The Trinity consists of God, Christ, and Mary.
From the Basilidians, Jesus was not crucified. God would not let a prophet die such a humiliating death. Instead God substituted someone who looked like Jesus, and took Jesus directly up into heaven. Jesus even stood by and laughed while the wrong man suffered in his place.
The Qur’an contains the story of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus from James of Sarug (Syrian bishop).

Paganism –

Pagan practices kept by Islam include slavery, polygamy, easy divorce (for the man), demonic pollution, and ritual cleansing.
Existence of Jinns.
The folk tales of Ad and Thamud.
The Hajj is almost entirely taken from pre-Islamic pagan rituals that were familiar to Arabs and centered on the Kaaba in Mecca. These include:
- The pilgrimage occurring during the sacred month of Ramadan.
- The kissing of the Black Stone, Arab pagan gods often resided in stones.
- Circumambulating the Kaaba seven times, three times fast and four times slow, representing the seven known planets. Each time kissing another stone in the Yamani corner of the Kaaba (this is the side of the Kaaba facing Yemen.)
- Running from the Kaaba to the top of the hill As Safa and then to and from Al-Marwah (another hill) seven times. This run’s purpose in pagan times was to kiss the stones Isaf and Naila located on the top of each hill.
- Casting of seven stones at each of three pillars in the village of Mina, just east of Mecca.

Christianity –

All people will experience death and an intermediate state.
The return of Jesus.
A resurrection prior to the final day of judgment.
A final day of judgment for all people.
A significant part of the Qur’an is either poetry or has no direct Arab connection. These writing’s source are hymns, lectionaries, and homilies about Jesus. More about this item in a later article.

The Arabic Peoples

At the beginning of the sixth century, two groups populated the Arabian Peninsula. The Saracens in the north and Hijaz, and the Sabeans in the south. I’ll briefly look at each.

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Saracens

Saracens consisted of two sub-groups. The first were Bedouins, who were both nomadic and semi-nomadic. Bedouins generally raised animals such as goats, sheep, or camels. They migrated based upon the availability of grazing land, and followed annual routes as their ancestors had done. Bedouins also relied on trade with the settled communities (the second sub-group) for food and metal items such as weapons, and they excelled in fighting.

Bedouins supplemented their own wealth with raids on settlements and caravans, extorting protection fees from some communities. Fighting was considered a form of entertainment; a game reducing the monotony of dessert life. Nomadic groups were usually family, and not more than two dozen people or so. Clans and tribes rarely gathered together in large groups, and then not for very long.

The second group lived in settlements and often farmed, growing mostly figs and dates. Farming required irrigation in all parts of Arabian Peninsula, except the southwest in what is now Yemen. Most settled communities in the Hijaz and north located themselves around oases. They traded with the Bedouins and the outside world through caravans, obtaining what they couldn’t produce for themselves. The caravans contributed to the settlement’s wealth through trade, hiring individuals as caravan drivers and workers, supplying the caravans, and selling safe passage. Jewish tribes also had land holdings in many of the most prosperous settlement locations, such as Khaybar, Mecca, Yathrib (Medina), Taima, and Fadak. Jewish and Arab tribes lived together in these communities.

Conflict

The Saracen sub-groups were often in conflict. Settlement tribes paid protection to a particular Bedouin clan to keep them safe from other tribes. These alliances changed, shifting based upon each tribe’s current needs. Life was difficult as not enough goods could be created to maintain living conditions. Society organized itself around the tribe, and the tribes were the ruling authority. Although the ties of tribal blood held society together, this was slowly changing; being replaced by common self-interest through trading with merchants and agriculture.

Muruwa

The quality known as muruwa (virility) was paramount within Arab society. It reflected honor, courage, endurance, loyalty to one’s group (tribe and/or clan) and social obligations. Muruwa increased by creating alliances beneficial to one’s tribe or performing heroic acts. Infringing on this moral code rendered an individual liable to insults and loss of honor. Blood feuds were frequent and required if one’s muruwa was impugned. Killing someone outside of one’s clan wasn’t necessarily bad. It depended upon whether the results were judged to achieve a good end for one’s tribe. Relations between tribes had generally been held together by blood and mutual self-interest.

Two Cultural Examples

Here are two quick examples highlighting some cultural differences between the Arab people and the West. The first is making a vow. In the West, this is normally a solemn promise, often one made to God. The person’s intent is to keep vow, no matter what happens. Within Arabic culture, we have the following sentiment from a 13^th century poet, “What good is a vow if there is no way out.” This isn’t good or bad in itself, but simply a reflection of their environment. One where needs abruptly changed, so commitments needed to be flexible. A clan’s survival could depend on it.

The second relates to one’s actions if they got into an argument with an associate, then later realized they were wrong. In the West, the person in the wrong normally apologizes. The following adage from Eastern culture reflects a different norm. “To have a fault is one fault, to admit a fault is two faults.” Again, a different cultural standard, neither right nor wrong. Simply different and shaped by life in a harsh environment.

Sabeans

The Sabeans possessed a well-developed culture with their own architecture, written language, and legal system. They had significant seaports, trading with India and eastern Africa. Sabeans also grew crops, raised cattle, and farmed trees producing perfumes and spices. They were primarily pagan but the area around Najran was a Jewish kingdom that by the early sixth century was primarily Christian. In comparison to most Saracens, they lived fairly wealthy and peaceful lives.

Summary

The following are this article’s main points. First, Islam borrowed heavily within its religious sphere. We’ll see this same degree of borrowing also occurred within other areas of Islamic society, such as law and governance. Second, conflict was prevalent within Arabic culture, often driven by both the scarcity of goods and speed at which wealth could disappear. Alliances shifted to survive. Both these ideas influenced other cultural aspects significant to understanding Islam. Third, the ties of kinship were paramount in early in sixth century Arabic society. However, this was changing; being replaced by economic ties and mutual self-interest by the end of the century—at the time when tradition has it that Muhammad was born.

The third article looks at Arabic ancestry, language, and some common practices. After that we’ll pick up with Muhammad’s life and teachings, before looking at Islam’s history.