Breaking free from Islam Between Halal and Haram: Chapter 14

by Khaled Hammad

A Journey Through Hell Fire

Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here. Part 3 is here. Part 4 is here. Part 5 is here. Part 6 is here. Part 7 is here. Part 8 is here. Part 9 is here. Part 10 is here.

Part 11 is here. Part 12 is here. 

 There is also a poem by Khaled.

Part 13 is here.

Chapter 14: “Mecca before Islam”

In the previous chapter, I discussed the Prophet’s ancestors and their significance. However, one in particular, Hashim bin Abd Manaf, was influential in the history of Mecca and the Prophet’s tribe, the Quraish. As we learnt, Hashim engaged in a rivalry with family members over his father’s inheritance, the consequences of which we still suffer from today. Hashim ended up earning a very honourable status within Quraish. He was known for his generosity and ambitions. But the role he played went beyond random personality traits. He was a trade pioneer who turned Mecca into a city similar to Dubai or Singapore today.

Hashim established two very important trade caravans, from Mecca to Yamen in winter, and to the Levant in summer. These two caravans activated the trade movement between India and the Middle East. The Quran mentions the two caravans (Quraish 106/ 1-4). Hashim was said to have met the Roman emperor, who ruled the Levant and Egypt through the Byzantine State, and was granted a tax exclusion for the trade routes that passed Mecca. He did the same thing with the ruler of Yemen. Mecca became an iconic village, but two critical principles needed to be established for Hashim’s objectives to be achieved.

The first principle was freedom of religion. This might seem to be a staggering fact to the reader. It was for me as well. Mecca enjoyed freedom of religion to a surprising degree. Idols around the Kaaba (the honourable Cube) represented gods from all different religions. Quraish could not afford to dictate to traders who or what to worship during their stay in Mecca. Everyone was free to worship their own god if they did not harm others. Even pilgrims visiting Mecca from various places spoke their own version of Arabic, and each worshipped their own god.

The second principle was trade route security. This was essential for the growth of a  new, flourishing trading industry. But that was not an easy objective to achieve. Arabia was vast and full of tribes who made their living from Banditry. No agriculture, no industry, no trade, apart from slavery. This could work better if the whole of Arabia became unified under one ruler, one king, and one leader from Quraish, Perhaps a Prophet. This was how the title of the book, The Hashimite Party, summarised the idea of the necessity of a cult leader.

Let’s explore other topics contained in the other three books that have changed my views about Islam

To be continued…