Arabs and Others In Early Islam

This work investigates available early Arabic ḥadīth and exegetical literature in order to determine the great complexity of how Arabs, Muslims and Arab-Muslims viewed themselves and members of other communities.

In particular, it focuses on the relation between definitions of “Arabness” and “otherness” with Islamic ascriptions of believers and nonbelievers and endeavors to trace the changing of these views over time. Moreover, this is an in-depth analysis of a series of ḥadīths and isnāds that discusses when, where, why, and by whom traditions were circulated during the 8th and 9th centuries.

I. Bedouins and Non-Arabs
II. The Impact of the Arab Polity in Retrospect
III. The Great Fusion
IV. Ambivalent Attitudes
V. Apocalyptic Insecurities
VI. Summary Discussion and Concluding Notes