Class 2: Pre-Islamic Arabia and Hagiographical Sources on the Prophet

Question 1

A Culture of Eloquent Poetry:
What does ‘Mu’allaqat’ mean?

“We have not taught him poetry. It is not seemly for him…” (Q36:69)

Answer 1

Muslims sources tell us that Pre-Islamic Arabians would have poetry competitions. The winners’ poems were mu’allaqat, “the hanging odes”. If a poet from a certain tribe wins, that tribe is honored and prioritized.

[Definition from personal notes, slides didn’t provide any.]

Question 2

What is the meaning of ‘Dahr’?

Ancient arabian word

Answer 2

Dahr - the ancient Arabian concept of “Time”

Question 3

The First Revelation:
What is the meaning of ‘Al-Nabi al-Ummi’?

Answer 3

Al-Nabi al-Ummi - The “Unlettered” Prophet

Personal notes: The idea of a Prophet that cannot read adds authority of the Qur’an.
Else, he could have just read the Bible and ‘recycled’ it (same wisdom, but more developed).
Gives reason to believe that he was truthful.

Al-Nabi al-Ummi: as pure as when we came from his mother (Umm = mother)

Question 4

What is a ‘Hadith’?

Answer 4

Hadith - Prophetic sayings

Personal notes: chains of transmission, oral tradition, trustworthiness, based on the Prophet PBUH’s words

Note:

• Qur’an: relative picture of 7th century Arabia, considered reliable, historical document
• Hadith: relative picture of 9th century, but speaking about the 7th century, considered an unverifiable source by Western academics, considered relatively reliable by Islamic scholars since they take oral tradition very seriously