Muḥammad and His Followers in Context

Ilkka Lindstedt, Ph.D. (2014), is Lecturer in Islamic theology at the University of Helsinki. He deals with pre-Islamic Arabia, early Islam, Arabic historiography, and Arabic epigraphy. Recent publications include: Ilkka Lindstedt, Nina Nikki, and Riikka Tuori (eds.), Religious Identities in Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages: Walking Together & Parting Ways, Brill 2022.

Acknowledgements

List of Figures

A Note on Style



1 Introduction

 1 Prolegomena and Methodological Considerations

 2 Ethnic, Linguistic, and Tribal Situation in Arabia before Islam



2 Judaism

 1 Judaism in Late Antiquity

 2 The Arabian Context

 3 Conclusions



3 Christianity

 1 Christianity in Late Antiquity

 2 The Arabian Context

 3 Conclusions



4 Gentiles

 1 Introduction

 2 Idolatry and Polytheism in Arabia

 3 Gentile Monotheism in Arabia

 4 The Idea of Abrahamic Descent in Arabia before Islam

 5 An Excursus to Later Arabic Historiography: ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib’s Dream

 6 Conclusions



5 The Rise of the Gentile Prophet in Mecca

 1 Introduction and Methodological Considerations

 2 Mecca

 3 Excursus: Arabic Historiography on the Meccan Period

 4 Conclusions on the Meccan Period



6 The Founding and Consolidating of the Community in Medina

 1 The “Constitution” of Medina

 2 The Believers in the Medinan Qurʾān

 3 The People of the Book in the Medinan Period

 4 The Jews in the Qurʾān

 5 The Christians in the Qurʾān

 6 Inna al-dīn ʿinda Allāh al-islām

 7 Gentile Purity and Dietary Regulations

 8 The Eschaton Postponed?

 9 Excursus: Arabic Historiography and the Medinan Era

 10 Conclusions on the Medinan Era



7 Near-Contemporary Non-Arabic Views on the Prophet and His Community

 1 Near-Contemporary Non-Arabic Views on the Prophet’s Community



8 Concluding toward Early Islamic Times

 1 “No Two Religions”

 2 Conclusions



Bibliography

Index