Birth of The Islam in Hijaz

How the birth of  Islam changed the look of The Mediterranean

We now turn to Mecca, the center, which was destined in the VII century to become in the largest religious capital, birth of the Islam , one way or another changed the look of the Mediterranean.

The Wadi of Mecca, one of the many gorges cutting into the mountain range of Hijaz, which during the rains carried by the turbulent flow, blowing at a time of almost annual rate of precipitation, the nature gave these places, produces a bleak impression half a kilometer wide valley with steep, rocky shores.

Even in those remote times when savanna vegetation was richer, this place was hard to admit
attractive for permanent settlement, especially around him at Wadi Marr AZ- Zahran and in the East above the mountains there were a lot of places better provided with water and richer vegetation.

But here, halfway from Palestine to Aden, was long religious relic of the Arab tribes from the time when big black the meteorite fell in the eyes of the amazed witnesses, and became the object of worship. What gave times you should look at the beginning of this cult — it is hardly possible to establish without excavation on the place of the sanctuary.

Birth , recorded by Muslim tradition

This shows that when in the middle of V century the tribe of Quraish under the leadership of

Kusayya drove out the tribe and house, there already existed a primitive temple of the Ka BA

a high square stone wall, in which was imbedded two sacred stone, and a few other objects of worship - the settlement around it is not mentioned.

Kurashimskiy tradition, naturally attribute the honor of the founding of the city around the temple Cusillu, who became a Trustee of the Church and administrator of religious ceremonies. Around Mecca, with its temple and nearby other places of worship, which we say below, at 15-18 km to the West and East, and 8-10 km to the South and the North extended "sacred area" (Haram) (not to be confused with Haram "forbidden"), where all the living was under the patronage of deities, could not shed blood, and even hunting was forbidden (this is not related to sacrifices and slaughtering cattle for the inhabitants Jarama).

The boundaries of the Haram was designated a special boundary stones.

Corixidae tradition attributed the establishment of the boundaries of Haram of Mecca also Cusillu, but certainly in some form it existed before the arrival of the Quraish.

Characteristic for the nomads of the high social importance of genealogy, aggravated special attention to Muhammad and his tribe, have preserved for us the names and many details the relationship of several hundred Meccans, who lived for at least a century to 20-ieth of VII century, and it allows you to vividly imagine the life this unique centre and to make a family tree to help you understand in the relationship of numerous genera of the Quraish .