The Stated Motivations for the Early Islamic Expansion (622-641); A Critical Revision of Muslims' Traditional Portrayal of the Arab Raids and Conquests

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What motivated the early Islamic conquests? Did the Arabs fight for Allah, or for wealth and dominance? Were the conquerors principally Arabs, or specifically Muslims? Were the Muslim believers motivated by religious zeal to proclaim Islam to the non-Muslims? Consequently, was Islam spread by the sword? This is a question that has crucial implications today. The Stated Motivations for the Early Islamic Expansion (622-641) extensively analyzes the earliest Arabic Muslim sources to answer these and other questions. It relies on over 400 works, including primary sources written by more than 90 medieval Muslim authors, Sunni, Shiite, Sufi, and Mu'tazilite. It explores how medieval Muslim writers represented the early Arab leaders, and how much we can trust their reports. It concludes with an examination of the Qur'ān's commands regarding fighting and armed jihad, and questions what later commentators suggest about fighting the non-Muslims, specifically how radical Muslim interpretations match or violate Islam's sacred scripture. This is the first scholarly analysis to focus on the stated motivations for the early Islamic expansion in the first two decades of Islam. It is a valuable resource for courses on Muslim history, introduction to Islam, Islamic origins and texts, classical and modern Islamic thought, Muhammad's biography, Islamic Caliphates, Muslim-Christian relations, Jews in the Muslim world, Middle Eastern history, and world history. In the age of ISIS, Qaeda, and Boko Haram, this book reflects on how historiographical accounts can inform today's multi-cultural and multi-religious societies on complex relations, mutual respect, and religious coexistence. Cover Contents System of Transliteration Notes on the Text Definitions of Terms Primary Source Authors in Chronological Order Modern and Contemporary Muslim Authors That Appear in the Study Acknowledgments Chapter One: Introduction Traditional Muslim Approach to Maghāzī and Futūḥ: Essential Background Research Rationale The Research Problem Central Phrase of the Research: Religious Motivation Demarcations of the Research Research Plan, Structure, and Outline Sources and Source Problems: The Crisis of Islamic Studies Research Methodology The Qur’ān The Historical Accounts Notes Works Cited Primary Islamic Sources Arabic Secondary Studies Secondary Studies: Muslim and Non-Muslim Online Resources Chapter Two: Review of Precedent Literature Muslim and Non-Muslim Approaches to the Muslim Sources The Qur’ān Historical Writings: Rise and Development Among the Muslims Source Problems in the Historical Writings: The Crisis of Islamic Studies Arabic Primary Sources Used in This Study: A Survey Muhammad’s Life and Raids: Sīra and Maghāzī Early Muslim Conquests: Futūḥ Literature Early Muslim Histories: Ta’rīkh Literature More Early Muslim Sources Motivations for the Conquests in the Secondary Literature Conclusion Notes Works Cited Primary Islamic Sources Arabic Secondary Studies Secondary Studies: Muslim and Non-Muslim Online Resources Chapter Three: Muhammad’s Maghāzī and Their Stated Motivations: A Critical Revision of Sīrat Rasūl Allāh Traditional Muslim Approach to Muhammad’s Maghāzī Muhammad’s Raids After the Hijra and Before Badr The Battle of Badr The Battle of Uḥud The Conquest of Mecca Political Situation Between Uḥud and fatḥ Mecca Banū al-Naḍīr The Battle of the Trench Banū Qurayẓa The Raid to Khaybar and Fadak Conclusion Notes Works Cited Primary Islamic Sources Arabic Secondary Studies Secondary Studies: Muslim and Non-Muslim Chapter Four: The Stated Motivations for the Early Futūḥ: From Maghāzī to Futūḥ Through the Ridda Wars: A Critical Revision Precursors of the Early Arab Conquests The Appointment of Abū Bakr at the Saqīfa of Banū Sācida The Ridda Wars Usāma’s Expedition to Syria Khālid’s Expedition to Iraq The Conquest of Syria Al-Azdī al-Baṣrī (d. ca. 165/781) Al-Wāqidī (d. ca. 207/823) Al-Balādhurī (d. ca. 279/892) Al-Yaᶜqūbī (d. 248/897) and al-Ṭabarī (d. 310/923) Critical Observations on the Motivations for The Stated Motivation of Abū Bakr The Possible Violation of the Qur’ān The Reported Deeds of Some Commanders The Three Options Given to the Conquered People The Apparent Conspiracy Behind Abū Bakr’s Death and Burial The Conquest of Egypt Ibn ᶜAbd al-Ḥakam (d. 257/871) Al-Balādhurī (d. ca. 279/892) Al-Yaᶜqūbī (d. 248/897) Al-Ṭabarī (d. 310/923) Critical Observations on the Motivations for Fatḥ Miṣr Conclusion Notes Works Cited Primary Islamic Sources Non-Islamic Sources Arabic Secondary Studies Secondary Studies: Muslim and Non-Muslim Online Resources Chapter Five: Jihad and Qitāl as the Qur’ān Sees Them: Exegeting Islam’s Scripture Exegeting Islam’s Scripture: Jihad and Qitāl in the Qur’ān The Qur’ān on Confrontation with Non-Muslims Jihad and Qitāl in the Qur’ān Kāfirūn and Kuffār Ahl al-kitāb Alladhīn ūtū al-kitāb Fī sabīl Allāh Exegeting the Qur’ān: How Does It All Fit Together? Muslim Mufassirūn on Jihad and Qitāl in the Qur’ān: An Analysis Six Muslim Mufassirūn Fight in Self-Defense and Do Not Attack: Is the Qur’ān Sufficient? No Compulsion in Religion: Yes, but When and How? Fight Them Until There Is No Opposition Fight the People of the Book No Fighting: You Have Your Religion, and I Have Mine Conclusion: The Conflict Between the Qur’ān and Its Commentators Notes Works Cited Primary Islamic Sources Arabic Secondary Studies Secondary Studies: Muslim and Non-Muslim Online Resources Chapter Six: Conclusion