Modern historians, Muslims as well as Non Muslims, estimate that between the period 2000 B.C. and 4000 B.C. there lived a man known to Muslims as Ibraheem and to Christians and Jews as Abraham. He is the first man in the history of the mankind who introduced the concept of one Supreme Being, the almighty God or Allah. Although, Muslims believe that all prophets before and after Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) preached the same religion, Islam, and they taught man to believe in one God, Allah. Therefore, to Muslims Ibraheem/Abraham was a Prophet like many others. To Christians and Jews he was the Patriarch from whom the two religions took their present forms gradually over the centuries.
Ibraheem was born at a place called Urr in Iraq and later moved to, and lived in, what is known to day as Syria. He had two wives Sarah and Hajar (Hega), but no children until he was quite old. Then it was revealed to him by Allah that he will have a child from his second wife Hajar, who by that time, had passed the normal child bearing age. When they had a son who was named Isma’eel, by Allah's command Ibraheem moved Hajar and the infant to what is known to day as Makkah in Arabia. He stayed with them for a while in Arabia. When his son reached puberty and he was strong enough to run around with him doing chores about the house. One night Ibraheem dreamt that he was slaughtering his son with his own hands.
According to Qur'an, Ibraheem had this dream more than once and was then convinced that it was Allah's command to him. He discussed this with his son who replied that Ibraheem should follow the Creator's command and that he will find Ismaceel among the sabireen or those who patiently persevere. At this, Ibraheem prepared to sacrifice his son as seen in his dream. But at the last moment when he had the knife at Isma’eel's throat a sheep was put where Isma’eel lay, by Almighty Allah's command and Isma’eel was saved from the slaughter. Allah accepted Ibraheem's sacrifice and praised him in the following words:
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Then when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he (Ibraheem) had flung him (Ismaceel) down upon his face, We called unto him: O Ibraheem! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do we reward the good. Lo! that verily was a clear test. Then we ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice (Zibhin Azeem).
Qur'an, Chapter 37, 103:107
It is in commemoration of Ibraheem's sacrifice that Muslims all over the world sacrifice animals every year on the 10th day of Zilhijja, the day after the completion of Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah. Qur'an has further elaborated this:
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And remember when his Lord tried Ibraheem with His commands, and he fulfilled them. He (Allah) said: Lo! I have appointed thee a leader for mankind. (Ibraheem) said: and of my offspring (will there be leaders)? He (Allah) said: My covenant includeth not wrong doers.
Qur'an, Chapter 2, 124
Ibraheem and Isma’eel were then commanded by Allah to erect K’abah, the cubical structure in the valley, towards which all Muslims turn their faces in prayer. This is recorded in the following verse from the same chapter. This in fact is the true beginning of Islam. When Prophet Muhammad started preaching in Makkah he repeatedly said that he had not brought a new religion but it was the same religion preached and practised by Adam, Nooh, Ibraheem, Moosa and ‘Eesa. Qur'an too, says that Ibraheem was no more and no less than a true Muslim.
Ibraheem then returned to his other wife Sarah who also now gave birth to a son who was named Is haq (Isaac). Is haq had a son named Y’aqoob (Jacob) who had twelve sons, each of them is known to be the father of one of the twelve tribes of Jews. Y’aqoob is also known as Israel and that is why Jews are also known as the Banu Israel or the children of Israel. In this line are Yusuf (Joseph), Dawood (David), Sulayman (Soloman), Moosa (Moses), Haroon (Aron), ‘Eesa (Jesus) and Yahya (John the Baptist), all Prophets, equally revered by Muslims, Jews and Christians.
Hajar and her son Isma’eel stayed in Arabia. Isma’eel seemed to have married in the local tribes and in his progeny were Hashim and ‘Abdush Shams. Hashim was the great grandfather of Muhammad the Prophet of Islam; that is why the Prophet is known as Hashimi.
The custodianship of the temple established by Ibraheem and Isma’eel stayed in the hands of the local tribe in Makkah wherein Isma’eel married, until 4th/5th century A.D. Until that time, Makkah was a collection of scattered huts and tents. About this time, a man named Qusaiyy appeared who was a descendant of Ma’ad the son of ‘Adnan, who was in the progeny of Isma’eel. Qusaiyy rebuilt the K’abah, set up rules for proper government, made a council chamber for discussions and initiated the rules for providing facilities to the pilgrims during Hajj by raising taxes. When Qusaiyy passed away, the responsibilities were passed on to his eldest son ‘Abd ud Dar. After ‘Abd ud Dar's death, a dispute broke out between his grandsons and the sons of his brother ‘Abd Munaf. The matter was settled by the division of authority between the two groups. The administration of water supply and the raising of taxes were entrusted to ‘Abd ush Shams, a son of ‘Abd Munaf, and the keys to K’abah and to the Council Chamber as well as the responsibility of the military standard were given to the grandsons of ‘Abd ud Dar.
‘Abd ush Shams used to travel a lot. He therefore, transferred his responsibilities to his brother Hashim, during his lifetime.
Quraysh, as the people of Makkah were collectively called, were divided in various clans. The clan which originated from Hashim was known as Banu Hashim and those from his brother ‘Abdush Shams were known as Banu ‘Abdush Shams. Later, that branch of Banu ‘Abdush Shams who were in the progeny of Umayya came to be known as Banu Umayya.
Hashim had earned a reputation of being compassionate, magnanimous and one who would go out of his way to help those who were in distress. After ‘Abdush Shams passed away his son Umayyad expected that he would inherit the responsibilities his father originally held. However, Umayya until then had not shown any great promise as a responsible tribal leader. Therefore, the elders of the tribe decided that Hashim would continue to hold the responsibility for Ka'aba and the pilgrims. This infuriated Umayya to such an extent that he started being disrespectful to his uncle Hashim and talking behind his back against him. On the other side, ‘Abd ud Dar's grandsons were growing rich and becoming jealous of Hashim's popularity. Umayya joined forces with them against his own uncle. This obviously upset Hashim, who put the whole matter in the hands of the elders of the tribe for judgment. A hearing was held and Umayya was banished by the elders to Syria.
This was the beginning of the hatred and enmity between the two people which resulted in much more serious conflicts between the houses of Hashim and Umayya in later years and finally culminated in the tragedy of Karbala.
It is however interesting to note that while the fire of this enmity and hatred was kept burning by the Banu Umayya, it was never reciprocated by Banu Hashim towards Banu Umayya.
Part 2 - The Advent of Islam
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