Meccan Trade Prior to the Rise of Islam
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Durham E-Theses Meccan trade prior to the rise of Islam. Aladieh, Salamah Salih Sylayman How to cite: Aladieh, Salamah Salih Sylayman (1991) Meccan trade prior to the rise of Islam., Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1184/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. MeccahTrade Prior to the Rise of Islam by Salamah Sallh Sulayman Aladieh A Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Oriental Studies The University of Durham 1991 CSUý,,, ' ýlýr J 10FEB 1992 Abstract The thesis consists of nine chapters and an introduction. The in- troduction contains, among other matters, a review of the primary and secondary sources used. Chapter one offers a geographical perspective of the Arabian Peninsula and chapter two deals with the political situation in Arabia in the sixth century A. D. Chapter three offers an historical background of Mecca since the time of Qusayy to whom, perhaps, is to be attributed the distinction between Quraysh al-Bitch and Quraysh al-Zawahir. Chapter four discusses the Rdf and its impact on Meccan trade and stresses the role of the sons of `Abd Manäf in transforming Meccan trade from being purely local in character to an activity which encompassed, directly or indirectly, most of the nations of the civilized world of the time. Chapter five confines itself to a discussion of the strength of Quraysh and the latter's relations with the Arabian tribes and external relations. Chapter six deals with pre-Islamic markets with Chap- emphasis on those held in the Hijäz, in particular that of `Ukäz. ter seven is concerned with the Ka'bah and the sacred months and the effect of both on Meccan trade. Chapter eight deals with the inland trade routes of Arabia with special reference to the caravans. In the final chapter commercial practices peculiar to Mecca are discussed in some detail, including monopolization, debt, partnership, usury, and coinage. The thesis ends with a conclusion, maps, a geneaological tree, tables showing details of the pre-Islamic markets as portrayed in the sources and a comprehensive bibliography. 111 Dedication In memory of my beloved father who died when I was one year old. IVz, Copyright © 1991 by Salamah Salih Sulayman Aladieh The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without Salamah Salih Sulayman Aladieh's prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowl- edged. v, Contents Acknowledgements ............................. xi List illustrations of ............................ xiv List of abbreviations ........................... xv Transliteration ............................... xvii Introduction ................................ xviii The Sources ................................. xxv 0.1 Classical sources ......... ............... xxvi 0.2 Islamic sources ............ ............... xxix 0.3 Secondary sources .......................... xliv 1 The Geography of the Arabian Peninsula ............ xlix 1.1 The division the Arab land (Arabia) 4 of .............. 1.1.1 Arabia Deserta 4 ............................. 1.1.2 Arabia Petreae 5 ............................. Arabs 6 1.2 The Division of the Arabian Peninsula by the ..... 1.2.1 Hijaz 6 ................................... 1.2.2 Tihämah 7 ................................ 1.2.3 The Yemen 8 ............................... 1.2.4 Al-`Arüd 8 ................................ 1.2.5 Najd 9 ................................... in Arabia in the A. D. 10 2 The political situation sixth century . Historical Background 24 3 Mecca, the .................. vi 3.1 Qusayy b. Kiläb 31 ............................ 3.2 Quraysh 34 .................... .... ......... 3.3 Divisions Quraysh 35 of ......................... 3.3.1 Quraysh 35 al-Bitäh ..... ...... ...... ..... ... 3.3.2 Quraysh 36 al-Zawähir .......................... 3.4 37 al-Ahäbish ............................... The internal Mecca 39 3.5 politics of ................... Religious in Mecca 41 3.6 offices ...................... 3.7 Tribal disputes Quraysh its 44 of and allies ............. Abd Manäf Family the iläf Agreement 49 4 The ` and ........ Häshim b. Manäf 49 4.0.1 `Abd ....................... 4.0.2 b. `Abd Manäf 55 al-Muttalib ..................... 4.0.3 `Abd b. HSshim 57 al-Muttalib .................... 4.1 The iläf and its Meccan trade 65 effect on .............. 5 Mecca's Relation with the Arabian Tribes and External Relations 88 .................................... 88 5.1 The strength of Quraysh and relations with Arabian tribes . 5.2 Mecca's Foreign Relations 93 ...................... Mecca's Yemen 96 5.2.1 Relationship with the .............. 98 5.2.2 Mecca's Relationship with Abyssinia ............... 100 5.2.3 Mecca's Relationship with the North .............. 103 5.2.4 Mecca's Relationship with Persia and al-Hirah ........ Raid 110 5.2.5 of al-Qaradah ......................... Markets 112 6 Pre-Islamic Arab ....................... Introduction 112 6.1 ............................. Dümat 113 6.1.1 al-Jandal .......................... vii 6.1.2 Al-Mushaqqar Market 115 ....................... 6.1.3 Hajar Market 115 ............................. 6.1.4 Markets Oman 116 of .......................... 6.1.5 Hubäshah Market 117 .......................... 6.1.6 Market 117 al-Shihr ........................... 6.1.7 Aden Market 118 ............................. 6.1.8 San'd' Market ............................ 119 6.1.9 Hadramawt Market ......................... 120 6.1.10 Market `Ukaz ............................ 120 6.1.11 Majannah market .......................... 125 6.1.12 Dhn 'l-Majäz Market ........................ 126 6.1.13 Natät Khaybar Market ....................... 127 6.1.14 Adhru `at Market .......................... 128 6.1.15 Al-HYrah Market ........................... 129 6.1.16 Conclusion .............................. 132 6.2 Methods of trade in Arabia 135 pre-Islamic ............. 7 The Kabah the in Meccan and sacred months - their effects trade 140 ...................................... 7.1 The Ka'bah 140 ............................. 144 7.1.1 The Social and economic effects of the pilgrimage ...... importance 147 7.2 The Sacred months and their ........... 7.3 Muhillün, Hums 150 Muhrimün and ................. 8 The Trade Caravans 159 Routes and ................... 8.1 Trade Routes 159 ............................. 8.1.1 Introduction 159 ............................. 8.1.2 Al-Hirah Mecca - route ...................... 160 Viii 8.1.3 The to the Yemen 166 route ...................... 8.1.4 The between the Yemen Mecca 167 coastal route and ...... 8.2 The Caravans 170 ................ .... ........ 8.2.1 Guarding the Caravans 173 .......... ........... 9 Meccan trade 176 and commercial practices ............. 9.1 Commercial Practices 176 ......... .............. 9.1.1 Monopolisation 176 ........................... 9.1.2 Debt 177 .................................. 9.1.3 Partnership 177 .............................. 9.1.4 Types Partnerships 179 of ....................... 9.1.5 Proxy 180 ................................. 9.1.6 Brokerage (samsarah) 181 ....... ..... .......... 9.1.7 Usury (ribä) 182 ............. ................ 9.1.8 Commercial commodities 185 ..................... 9.2 Manifestation Meccan Trade 188 of .................. 9.2.1 Investment 188 of wealth ........................ 9.2.2 Capitalists 189 .............................. 9.2.3 The Mecca 192 wealthy of ....................... 9.3 Currency Arabia 196 of pre-Islamic .................. 9.4 Taxes 205 ................................. Conclusion 208 .................................. Bibliography 228 ................................. ix Acknowledgements I would like to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor Professor G. R. Smith whose consistent patience and encouragement, valuable advice, constructive comments and suggestions for improvement have all been of inestimable value in preparation of this work in its present form. I am grateful to Professor R. Serjeant for sending me his review of P. Crone's book, and for his valuable comments during several meetings of the Arabian Sem- inar. My special thanks go to my friend `Abd al-Malik Rossley Eagle for his proof- helpful reading and comments. I should also like to thank my friends `Ali `Umrän Dr and `Isam al-Rawas for their considerable encouragement and for the numerous four profitable discussions we have had together about this study during the past years. fine friends I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to a number of and colleagues whose support has helped me immeasurably throughout my years