Category Archives: Islam History A: the Prophet

Letters of Foreign Policy

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Ruth

Medina under Muhammad had become a nascent Islamic city-state, with growing outside territories and alliances around coastal and central Arabia. But Muhammad felt that he had been given a vision of an even larger Islamic state that included Egypt, Syria, … Continue reading →

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Peace Treaty with Mecca

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Ruth

In 628, a year after the Battle of the Trench, Muhammad dreamed that he entered the Ka’abah with a pilgrim’s shaved head. Based on this dream, he and a group of companions decided to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, although … Continue reading →

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A’isha on Trial

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Ruth

Pagan Mecca and Muslim Medina continued to put on shows of strength and seek out alliances that would hurt the other. One of the most significant events in Muhammad’s family happened when he had led a contingent to the coast … Continue reading →

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The Third Jewish Tribe of Medina

Posted on January 17, 2021 by Ruth

The first order of business when it was clear that the besieging army had left was to confront the large Jewish tribe, the Banu Qurayzah, whose leader had torn up their treaty with Muhammad. I came to this story with … Continue reading →

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Mecca Attacks: Battle of the Trench

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Ruth

In 627, the eighteenth year since Muhammad’s move to Medina, the Quraysh of Mecca gathered allies to make a full assault on the city of Medina. The first ally to volunteer was the banished Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir. They … Continue reading →

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Four Wives and Three Grandchildren

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Ruth

We focus a lot on the most sensational aspects of Muhammad’s marriages: A’isha’s age and the sheer number (8 or 9) of the widows he left at his death. He spent most of his life as an ordinary man with … Continue reading →

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The Jewish Tribes of Medina

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Ruth

The Jews of Medina are an important topic because they’re one of the footballs that get kicked around in the current ideological wars. Since anti-Semitism is a problem in many modern Muslim countries, we wonder if it has always been … Continue reading →

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When blood flows…

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Ruth

I want to write briefly about some of the very minor incidents that happened in the Medina Muslims vs. Mecca war. They’re important because they set up a context for understanding decisions that were made. In a war, emotions don’t … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Uhud at Medina

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Ruth

After the Battle of Badr, the Muslims at Medina continued to attack Meccan shipping. When a caravan took a northeastern route to Iraq, Muhammad’s adopted son Zayd led 100 men to stop it and bring its trade goods back to … Continue reading →

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After the Battle of Badr: Muhammad’s Social Revolution

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Ruth

The aftermath of the first Battle of Badr has many details and incidents that show just how revolutionary Muhammad’s new way was. His message was one of radical individualism pitted against the old systems of clan solidarity and social class. … Continue reading →

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