The Social Origins of Islam

The Social Origins of Islam

Mind, Economy, Discourse

Mohammed A. Bamyeh
Table of Contents

$24.00 paper
ISBN: 0-8166-3264-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-3264-0

$85.50 cloth
ISBN: 0-8166-3263-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-3263-3

Explores the genesis of Islam for insight into the nature of ideological transformation.

The story of the origins of Islam provides a rich and suggestive example of sweeping cultural transformation. Incorporating both innovation and continuity, Islam built upon the existing cultural patterns among the peoples of the Arabian peninsula even as it threatened to eradicate these same patterns. In this provocative interdisciplinary study, Mohammed A. Bamyeh combines perspectives from sociology, literary studies, anthropology, and economic history to examine the cultural ecology that fostered Islam.

Highlighting the pivotal connections in pre-Islamic society between the emergence of certain economic practices (such as trade and money-based exchange), worldview (as rendered in pre-Islamic literature and theology), and the reconfiguration of transtribal patterns of solidarity and settlement, Bamyeh finds in the genesis of Islam a sophisticated model for examining ideological transformation in general.

At the heart of Bamyeh's enterprise are close readings of both the Qur'an and the pre-Islamic poetry that preceded it. Bamyeh uncovers in these texts narrative and pedagogical content, poetic structure, use of metaphor, and historical references that are suggestive of societies in transition. He also explores the expressive limits of the pre-Islamic literature and its transmutation into Qur'anic speech in the wake of social transformation.

Emphasizing the organic connections between belief structures, economic formations, and modes of discourse in pre-Islamic Arabia, The Social Origins of Islam explains how various material and discursive changes made the idea of Islam possible at a particular point in history. More broadly, it persuasively demonstrates how grand cultural shifts give rise to new systems of faith.

"The writing displays a wide familiarity with secondary scholarship, and successfully weaves historical and cultural analysis. Fresh perspectives on the social character of Quran narrative and pre-Islamic poetry." —Religious Studies Review

“A thought-provoking and useful work. Definitely recommended as an addition to the literature that deals with the emergence of Islam.” —Journal of the American Oriental Society

“Mohammed A. Bamyeh presents a sophisticated interdisciplinary analysis of the rise of Islam within the Arabian context of the late sixth and early seventh century of the Common Era. Bamyeh’s book represents a refreshingly critical contribution to the field of early Islam that helps bridge the gap between Islamic studies and social theory.” —The Muslim World

“Bamyeh has given us an interesting interpretation and analysis. His perspective will provide valuable clues to modern scholars keen to understand more about ancient Arab societies and circumstances for the emergence of the Muhammad movement and Islam.” —Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies

"The Social Origins of Islam is a fascinating and highly informed discussion of the socio-historical and cultural contexts of early Islam and its precedent traditions." —Mary Layoun

Mohammed A. Bamyeh teaches social theory and comparative civilizations at the Gallatin School of New York University and is editor of Passages: Journal of Transnational and Transcultural Studies. He is the author of The Ends of Globalization (2000).

256 pages | 5 7/8 x 9 | 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Part I: The Ground

1. Ideology of the Horizons
Horizon, Vision, Settlement—Halting and Discourse—The Camel, the Path, and the Marketplace

2. Socioeconomy and the Horizon of Thought
Sedentarization—Money, Trade, and Abstract Thought—Mecca—The Nomadic Flux—Kinda

3. Social Time, Death, and the Ideal
Rendering the Experience—Idealization and the Past—Mortality and the Future—Waiting

4. Pre-Islamic Ontotheology and the Method of Knowledge
Paganism and the Idea of Ritual—Reformers, Hanifism, Pagan Monotheism—Examples and Commentary

5. The Discourse and the Path
Forms, Codes, Words—Nature, Text, Ruins—The Wandering Logic—Sources of Structural Stability

Part II: The Faith

6. Prophetic Constitution
The Land Dreams of a Prophet—Constitution of Sagehood: Knowledge, Foreknowledge—The Tear of the Poet and the Fear of the Prophet: Failures of Belonging

7. The House of Umma and the Spider Web of the Tribe
The Tribe—The Ruins of the Tribe—Fitnah, Hijra, War—The Satanic Verses and Their Background—The Boundaries of the Umma—Hudaybiyyah and the Paradigms of the Umma

8. Austerity, Power, and the Worldly Exchange
Death, Subjectivity, and Identity—Austerity, Justice, and Perishing: Moses and ‘Ubayd—God’s Contracts—War and the Code of Justice—Fate and the Legitimacy of Acquisition

9. In Lieu of a Conclusion: The Origins, the System, and the Accident

Notes
Bibliography
Index



The Social Origins of Islam *Mind, Economy, Discourse* Mohammed A. Bamyeh Table of Contents		$24.00 paper ISBN: 0-8166-3264-2 ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-3264-0 $85.50 cloth ISBN: 0-8166-3263-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-3263-3
Explores the genesis of Islam for insight into the nature of ideological transformation. The story of the origins of Islam provides a rich and suggestive example of sweeping cultural transformation. Incorporating both innovation and continuity, Islam built upon the existing cultural patterns among the peoples of the Arabian peninsula even as it threatened to eradicate these same patterns. In this provocative interdisciplinary study, Mohammed A. Bamyeh combines perspectives from sociology, literary studies, anthropology, and economic history to examine the cultural ecology that fostered Islam. Highlighting the pivotal connections in pre-Islamic society between the emergence of certain economic practices (such as trade and money-based exchange), worldview (as rendered in pre-Islamic literature and theology), and the reconfiguration of transtribal patterns of solidarity and settlement, Bamyeh finds in the genesis of Islam a sophisticated model for examining ideological transformation in general. At the heart of Bamyeh's enterprise are close readings of both the Qur'an and the pre-Islamic poetry that preceded it. Bamyeh uncovers in these texts narrative and pedagogical content, poetic structure, use of metaphor, and historical references that are suggestive of societies in transition. He also explores the expressive limits of the pre-Islamic literature and its transmutation into Qur'anic speech in the wake of social transformation. Emphasizing the organic connections between belief structures, economic formations, and modes of discourse in pre-Islamic Arabia, The Social Origins of Islam explains how various material and discursive changes made the idea of Islam possible at a particular point in history. More broadly, it persuasively demonstrates how grand cultural shifts give rise to new systems of faith. "The writing displays a wide familiarity with secondary scholarship, and successfully weaves historical and cultural analysis. Fresh perspectives on the social character of Quran narrative and pre-Islamic poetry." —Religious Studies Review “A thought-provoking and useful work. Definitely recommended as an addition to the literature that deals with the emergence of Islam.” —Journal of the American Oriental Society “Mohammed A. Bamyeh presents a sophisticated interdisciplinary analysis of the rise of Islam within the Arabian context of the late sixth and early seventh century of the Common Era. Bamyeh’s book represents a refreshingly critical contribution to the field of early Islam that helps bridge the gap between Islamic studies and social theory.” —The Muslim World “Bamyeh has given us an interesting interpretation and analysis. His perspective will provide valuable clues to modern scholars keen to understand more about ancient Arab societies and circumstances for the emergence of the Muhammad movement and Islam.” —Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies "The Social Origins of Islam is a fascinating and highly informed discussion of the socio-historical and cultural contexts of early Islam and its precedent traditions." —Mary Layoun Mohammed A. Bamyeh teaches social theory and comparative civilizations at the Gallatin School of New York University and is editor of Passages: Journal of Transnational and Transcultural Studies. He is the author of The Ends of Globalization (2000). 256 pages \| 5 7/8 x 9 \| 1999 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Part I: The Ground 1. Ideology of the Horizons Horizon, Vision, Settlement—Halting and Discourse—The Camel, the Path, and the Marketplace 2. Socioeconomy and the Horizon of Thought Sedentarization—Money, Trade, and Abstract Thought—Mecca—The Nomadic Flux—Kinda 3. Social Time, Death, and the Ideal Rendering the Experience—Idealization and the Past—Mortality and the Future—Waiting 4. Pre-Islamic Ontotheology and the Method of Knowledge Paganism and the Idea of Ritual—Reformers, Hanifism, Pagan Monotheism—Examples and Commentary 5. The Discourse and the Path Forms, Codes, Words—Nature, Text, Ruins—The Wandering Logic—Sources of Structural Stability Part II: The Faith 6. Prophetic Constitution The Land Dreams of a Prophet—Constitution of Sagehood: Knowledge, Foreknowledge—The Tear of the Poet and the Fear of the Prophet: Failures of Belonging 7. The House of Umma and the Spider Web of the Tribe The Tribe—The Ruins of the Tribe—Fitnah, Hijra, War—The Satanic Verses and Their Background—The Boundaries of the Umma—Hudaybiyyah and the Paradigms of the Umma 8. Austerity, Power, and the Worldly Exchange Death, Subjectivity, and Identity—Austerity, Justice, and Perishing: Moses and ‘Ubayd—God’s Contracts—War and the Code of Justice—Fate and the Legitimacy of Acquisition 9. In Lieu of a Conclusion: The Origins, the System, and the Accident Notes Bibliography Index