ebooks The Sectarian Milieu: Content and Composition of Islamic Salvation History by John Wansbrough in History

Review

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Not for your average readerBy A Skeptical ReaderThis is an important book in the field of Islamic studies; but it's definitely not for the average reader. Unless you're really up on your Islamic history; don't bother. I've read several books on the topic of Islamic origins by Crone and Ibn Warraq; and had no problem keeping up; but with this one; I felt as though I had walked in on a lecture half way through without having read the reading assignment the night before.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Difficult Read on an Interesting SubjectBy S. SmithThe Arabs made extensive conquests in the Middle East in the 7th century; but written sources for their religious beliefs date from much later. The traditional view is that much in these sources comes from faithful contemporary records transmitted orally for over a century. Wansbrough’s main theme is that they originated when written; long after what they claim to record; and reflect the religious and political situation of a later time. In outline his argument is that the Arab political domination and introduction of Arabic as the language the ruling elite in the first century and a half of the Muslim era does not imply that Islam was created; much less that it took on its mature form; in Arabia during or shortly after Muhammad’s lifetime. He argues that a specifically Muslim identity and literature originated in Iraq late in the second Muslim century (the 8th century AD); formed by a clerical elite that was influenced by a variety of monotheistic sects there.This is a review of the 2006 Prometheus reprint of John Wansbrough’s “The Sectarian Milieu”; including a Foreword; Translations and Notes by Gerald Hawthing. The original 1978 Oxford edition had words and quotations in their original languages; often Arabic; without explanation. Hawthing’s translations make these more understandable and his Foreword includes a summary of Wansbrough’s arguments: without these; “The Sectarian Milieu” would be an even more difficult book. It remains difficult because it makes few concessions to those without some background in Islamic studies. It is written in a highly technical language and frequently refers to the author’s earlier “Quranic studies”; so its meaning is often unclear; Despite all this; it is an original enquiry into the origins of Islam and the early Islamic state and the study of its history.After a short preface; Wansbrough sets out his argument in four chapters. The first two analyse the main sources for the life and teaching of the prophet Muhammad; from which he concludes that many events recorded were not historical; but had the aim of creating a distinct Muslim identity even though they often used Judaeo-Christian themes to do so. The next argues that these sources were not largely composed orally in 7th century Arabia; but developed over a long period; mainly in the sectarian environment of Iraq. In the final chapter; Wansbrough discusses the problems of the history of Islam. He concludes that; as the sources are not records but literary creations that provide a story of the origins of the Muslim community adapted to late 8th century circumstances; no historical reconstruction of these origins is possible.Wansbrough makes a reasonable case for Islam developing over a period; partly outside Arabia; and being subject to Jewish and Christian influences; but he probably goes too far in arguing that it did not exist as a separate religion until the late 8th century. It has generated a good deal of debate in a highly specialised field but has persuaded only a few scholars. This and the obscurity of the writing detract from the remarkable originality of this book.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An Interesting Idea; but a Difficult ReadBy S. SmithThe Arabs made extensive conquests in the Middle East in the 7th century; but written sources for their religious beliefs date from much later. The traditional view is that much in these sources comes from faithful contemporary records transmitted orally for over a century. Wansbrough’s main theme is that they originated when written; long after what they claim to record; and reflect the religious and political situation of a later time. In outline his argument is that the Arab political domination and introduction of Arabic as the language the ruling elite in the first century and a half of the Muslim era does not imply that Islam was created; much less that it took on its mature form; in Arabia during or shortly after Muhammad’s lifetime. He argues that a specifically Muslim identity and literature originated in Iraq late in the second Muslim century (the 8th century AD); formed by a clerical elite that was influenced by a variety of monotheistic sects there.This is a review of the 2006 Prometheus reprint of John Wansbrough’s “The Sectarian Milieu”; including a Foreword; Translations and Notes by Gerald Hawthing. The original 1978 Oxford edition had words and quotations in their original languages; often Arabic; without explanation. Hawthing’s translations make these more understandable and his Foreword includes a summary of Wansbrough’s arguments: without these; “The Sectarian Milieu” would be an even more difficult book. It remains difficult because it makes few concessions to those without some background in Islamic studies. It is written in a highly technical language and frequently refers to the author’s earlier “Quranic studies”; so its meaning is often unclear; Despite all this; it is an original enquiry into the origins of Islam and the early Islamic state and the study of its history.After a short preface; Wansbrough sets out his argument in four chapters. The first two analyse the main sources for the life and teaching of the prophet Muhammad; from which he concludes that many events recorded were not historical; but had the aim of creating a distinct Muslim identity even though they often used Judaeo-Christian themes to do so. The next argues that these sources were not largely composed orally in7th century Arabia; but developed over a long period; mainly in the sectarian environment of Iraq. In the final chapter; Wansbrough discusses the problems of the history of Islam. He concludes that; as the sources are not records but literary creations that provide a story of the origins of the Muslim community adapted to late 8th century circumstances; no historical reconstruction of these origins is possible.Wansbrough makes a reasonable case for Islam developing over a period; partly outside Arabia; and being subject to Jewish and Christian influences; but he probably goes too far in arguing that it did not exist as a separate religion until the late 8th century. It has generated a good deal of debate in a highly specialised field but has persuaded only a few scholars. This and the obscurity of the writing detract from the remarkable originality of this book.