Thought experiment: Muhammad and the Jews

Last updated on: January 17, 2016 at 5:09 pm by Jane the Actuary

Thought experiment: Muhammad and the Jews 2016-01-17T17:09:06-06:00 Jane the Actuary

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Did you know that the historical hatred of Muslims toward Jews did not have its origin in the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, or in the creation of Israel in the lands formerly a part of the Ottoman Empire, or in conflicts over the Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount, but in the very origin of Islam itself? Yeah, I’m reading about that right now, and will type up a summary later, but it’s worth contemplating the fact that at the time Muhammad began preaching, there were established Jewish and Christian communities, and, in particular, there were Jewish “tribes” in Medina who Muhammad hoped to convert to his new religion.

This is something I’d like to find out more about — I am aware that in late antiquity and even the early middle ages, Judaism was not simply a weak religion of a small, scattered number of believers huddled into their synagogues, but rather attracted non-Jews because of its monotheism and ethical teachings. And presumably (though the book I’m reading doesn’t say) these “tribes” of Jews were actually Arab converts to Judaism, rather than ethnically Jewish diaspora groups.

Now let’s imagine that Muhammad, seeker after truth, who retreated to caves to seek enlightenment, had, perhaps not a revelation from God, but a flash of insight that seemed to him to be a communication from an angel. After all, isn’t it accepted that mystics in Eastern religions can have these sorts of mystical experiences? But in making sense of it, he was convinced that he needed to found a new religion, rather than convert to Judaism. And things went downhill from there, as he found that being a leader of a community had plenty of perks, and that he could get his way much more easily if he “received a revelation” on a topic than if he just gave his own opinion.

But why not? Was it a conviction that he needed an Arab religion for Arabs? Was it wounded pride? Did he just not get along with the Jews, and tribalism was more important?

If you think about it, the “moderate Islam” that I’ve been reading about is pretty dang similar to reform Judaism, except with a different set of practices for historical reasons.

All of which is to say, it would be an interesting sort of alternative history to imagine an answer to the question: “what if Muhammad had become a Jewish convert?”

ED: Yes, I know that there are strains of both intolerance and tolerance in Islamic history with respect to Jews and Christians, both. It’s a long history. I’m just saying that the roots of the intolerant element are deep, much deeper than present-day Israel.

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