Islam and Arab

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.

The Relation between Islam and Arab Nationalism(asabiyyat) from Quraysh(Prophet) to the Rise of Daesh (ISIS)

 

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Political Islam has become one of the most important issues of today's world and it is the main 

actor in the Middle East. According to some analysts, political Islam by the negation of human 

values and democracy has deprived region of stability and democracy. In order to analysis 

political Islam in general and ISIS, in particular, we may focus on two factors. One is how a 

political order is shaped throughout history in the Islamic world and second observe and trace 

Arab nationalism from beginning of Islam to this day. Some scholars find the root of political 

Islam in Islam itself and believe that violence is embedded within the political interpretation of 

Islam. Others, who among many are Muslim scholars believe that a deviation from orthodox 

Islam has caused these challenges. Thereafter some conclude that political Islam is born out of 

the existence of fundamentalism in orthodox Islam and some see it as a response to modernism 

and postcolonial collective suppression. Therefore question raised how a connection is made 

between Islam as a divine belief and Arab nationalism as an earthly concept. Is Islam a 

universal and above-race religion as it claims or its being is used to establish the superiority of 

Arab tribalism or what Ibn Khaldun refer to as social cohesion. Was the Islam a project for Arab 

domination and hegemony or a project dedicated to the salvation of humanity? 

Should we look at the root of Islam in Arab tribalism (social cohesion) and cultural Arabia 

cultural components or should we look into divine mission within the Message? 

Is Islam a mean to achieve divine salvation? Or is a metaphysical context of Islam a tool in 

service of Arabic domination and hegemony?1

The purpose of this paper is to offer new and challenging answers to this dilemma and the 

possible connection between modern Arab nationalism and ancient Arabic Social 

Cohesion/tribalism tradition. This version is the short version of full 32 pages paper in Farsi. 

 

Introduction 

Islam is a universal religion and Muhammad is its divine messenger. But in order to fulfill divine 

promises of God, it lands in Arabia land and Quraysh geography.The fate of Islam as a religion 

is sealed to Arabic identity and it is connected to today's events, Islamic fundamentalism was 

born out of Arab nationalism of Baath party. We will address this later. 

Arab social cohesion and Arab nationalism are the cornerstone of strategic hegemony and 

domination, from Quraysh tribe [of Muhammad] to Baath party. It was like that from its beginning 

up to the foundation of ISIS of today. 

Arab/Quraysh, socio-economic livelihood duality along with holy/divine revelation [the Book], 

paved the way for the institution of divine/holy Islamic Caliphate. Without them, it would have 

been impossible. 

Hence, Islamic Caliphate/State receives the divine legitimacy taken from the Book [Quran] to 

defend Shariah and expand the Islam. Nonetheless, Quraysh social cohesion along with Arabic 

socio-economic domination gene (as the main engine of the movement) coupled with 

Muhammad leadership and holy/divine revelation constructed the political Islam mindset and 

manifest (rationality). 

Tribal Arab mindset includes bravery/valiance, robbery/rape, patriarchy/male domination, 

Quraysh social cohesion and finally aristocracy. Prophet by using Quranic concepts of tax 

(Zakat)/booty, Jihad, slave/polygamy, whitewashed what Arab tribes had already. He replaced 

 the Quraysh aristocracy of blood with a religious aristocracy of disciples (Sahabah). He 

substitutes the Quranic verses with ancient Arabic poetry and Islamic nation (Ummah) with the 

dispersion of Arab tribes. By granting the killings of infidels (Jihad), confiscation of their 

belonging (Anfal) and sovereignty of Islam over infidel land (Caliphate), he formulated the 

Islamic political manifesto along with divine revelations (commandment). The productive and 

economic engine of this political Islam is booty and taxes, which can be achieved only through 

the conquest of infidel lands. Quran/Islam and Caliphate/State are the two arms of hegemonic 

domination in the form of military force and civil services/administration format. 

 

Islam: Arab strategy for earthy domination or an invitation for eternal salvation 

Many researchers who claim that it was the conditions which forced upon Islamic state to do 

what it did (acceptance of slavery, just Wars, etc), but in contrary from the beginning it was clear 

that prophet had a political project of reaching the treasures of two empires of Iran and Rome 

through dissolution of those two empires. Historians name an individual, resident of Mecca, who 

was a merchant in times of pilgrimage (Hajj). 

His name was Afif Kendy. Afif Kendy says: "I was a businessman and while engage by business 

I arrived in Mecca during Hajj (pilgrimage) season. I saw Abbas. Then I witnessed a man 

coming to Ka'ba and offering prayers near it. I asked Abbas, "What is this religion?" 

Abbas replied: "This man is Muhammad bin Abdullah, my nephew, he claims that God has sent 

him and doors of treasures of Kisra (Persian palace) and Kaiser (Caesar) will be opened to 

him."[1] (Tabari; Ibn Athir, vol 2. P.872; Jaberi, 1387 (2008), p.87). 

In other place, prophet whom Quraysh leaders took complained, had told to Abu Talib (his 

uncle) go tell them "tell me a phrase la ilaha illa'llah (there is no god but God), to give them Arab 

kingdom over non-Arabs and make them bow to you "(Ibn Athir, ibid. 882. Tabari, ibid: 54). 

Translators have interpreted the verse 3/26 (Imran verse from Quran) as when prophet 

conquered the Mecca, promised the Umma (nation) the kingdom of Persia and Rome (Al 

Zamakhshari, 421, quoting from Jabir 87-89). Therefore, from the beginning Islam had a political 

project, its objective was an appropriation of Caesar and Kisra treasures and the rule of 

Quraysh over Arab and rule of Arab over non-Arabs. 

In order to conquer Kisra and Rome palace which were under the control of Persian and Roman 

Empire, Islam needed to become an empire to defeat an empire. Arabian Peninsula was of the 

lack of such power. Forming an empire requires a universal message, appealing one, divine 

belief in it and solid religion. Hence, all of the prophet efforts was focused on the concentration 

of power through the unification of tribes and mobilize Arab warfare power and heroism into a 

holy war against the other. The other obviously was non-Arabs. 

The first step was to receive Quraysh agreement. Have them in the circle. Quraysh had the 

class, prestige and financial might in the peninsula. 

 

To do so, the first prophet unified all Quraysh gods (idols) into one God, the God (Al lah). Lah 

means god (in general form) and Al-Lah means the God. But tribalism (nervousness) and social 

cohesion were not dependent on gods. Those idols were tools for tools to business gains 

(promotion of tourism and trade) and maintaining the status of being aristocracy in the 

Peninsula. Prophet had to use the incentives and logic of tribe, i.e. booty, war, looting in order to

move them. The promise of receiving booty, woman, taxes (Zakat) and slavery. Quraysh used 

to trade slaves. They were in the crossroad of Asia, Africa and partially on the silkroad pathway. 

The promise of nobility and privilege over the rest was given to them. An unwritten agreement 

was shaped between prophet and others based on Quraysh bloodline or taking the pride of 

being disciples (Sahabah). Sahabah (disciples) has a distinct privilege of meeting the prophet in 

person. Later anecdotes narrated by them are most valid and verifiable in the Sunni Islam. Shia 

has a different way of verification and validation of prophet anecdotes which is not the subject of 

this writing. 

The acceptance of Islam and leadership of Muhammad by Quraysh and from another side 

endorsement of Quraysh aristocracy, nobleness over other tribes in peninsula and continuum of 

economic benefits in new Islamic civilization by prophet were articles of this unwritten 

agreement. Arab used social cohesion (the word coined by Ibn Khaldun) and tribal nervousness 

as a fuel to spread Islam. Political Islam tenet was formed based on incentives of 

booty/rulership coupled with the military arm of Arab tribes. The foundation was shaped by 

tribalism, Quraysh aspiration of hegemony and prophet divine power via revelations. 

Therefore, domination over others was the base for moral revolution (what many scholars claim) 

throughout peninsula since the appearance of Islam. It reorganized itself in a form of moral and 

ethical revolution. 

Second, the treasure of Persia and Rome was a necessity and motive to build an Arabic empire. 

An empire which Islamic thought was its hegemonic and mental tool and caliphate its military 

base. In contrast with what Max Weber believes; tribal force was not a tool in service of Islam 

but it was Islamic thinking which was utilized/employed to serve for hegemony and domination 

of Quraysh and Arab tribalism. 

Islam propagated the traditional Arabic tribes' custom. Custom like looting, polygamy, slavery, 

holy war. They were revived and developed into other forms. Sexual ambition was an important 

factor in shaping the family education and marriage discourse (Weber, ibid p.59)."In fact, Islam 

take the majority of tribal morality and ethics and give them a new religious content"(Izutsu in 

Turner, ibid: 61). Islamic Revelation retained much general structures of tribal elements" 

(Feirahi, 1378(1999), p.135). Prophet of Islam united the tribes, instead of letting them rape, loot 

and fight each other, it leads them to externalize the custom. Loot, war, and booty was directed 

toward outside and non-Arabs. "As soon as internal security and non-aggression were banned, 

a fledging community of new-Muslims must direct pressure toward outside… the effectiveness 

of the system depends on a mighty military force and devoted believers who were mobile and 

moving" (Turner, 1379(2000): p.144). 

Islamic caliphate became the true landlord and Arab elite became the beneficiary of taxes, 

profits and the rest of nations under their control served as their servants (Turner, 1379: 149). 

Prophet invitation was not only invited to a new religion but to participate/engage in the state 

(Jabir, the same: 195). Zakat as a tax was a ransom which defeated tribe pays to the winner. 

(Jabir, the same: 205) 

 

Connection between Islam and Modern Nationalis

 

The defeat of the Ottoman Empire and collapse of Islamic Caliphate led to humiliation feeling, 

crisis and mental/intellectual vacuum among Arab nations. Self-consciousness toward self-

identity and by the grace of nationalism, every once in a while one of the western ideologies 

were raised by the Arab world to regain previous nobility and distinct position of Arabic 

aristocracy. These ideologies were applied under the name of modernization and transition from 

tradition to modernity. 

 

The self-awareness of being behind the west technologically led to efforts to become free from 

Turks/Ottoman and colonialism rule. Arabs used nationalism. Arab nationalism intention was 

meant to revive Arab Greatness. 

Liberalism, socialism, communism all were tried by Arab leaders and intellectuals but the core of 

idea still is Arabic self-conscious and patriotism. Due to frequent failure of western ideologies to 

revive Arab Greatness and continuous crisis in the Islamic and Arabic world, mainly Israeli/Arab 

war, Arabic nations resorted into Islam. They resorted not for a spiritual and sacred reason. 

Return to Islam is for the revival of past greatness and as a political force to restore historical 

position. 

As Thomas Buttco said, contemporary political Islam is used by Arab elite as a hegemonic tool 

to seize power. Arabic nationalism of Rashid Reza, Sati' al-Husri, Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi 

and Michel Aflaq ... is not a secular nationalism as the standard version of nationalism does. It is 

pro-Islam and allied with Islam. 

In their view, Islam is not an outsider (occupier ideology to them) which conquered their land (As 

Christianity did to Romans) or how Christianity was to Germans and French, (suppressing their 

nationality), on the contrary, Islam was the ingredient of dominance and superiority of Arabs 

over others. 

No wonder that Baath party chauvinism was blessing land and blood from its establishment, and 

defend the bond between Islam and nationalism. It promoted the revival of Islam as a promotion 

of Islam is the resurrection of Arab Greatness. 

If we look more closely into ISIS slogan (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), it was first promoted by 

Aflaq (1952) and his Baath party's manifesto. He pushed to resolve the gap between Kufa and 

Damascus (as political capital of Shiaa Islam and Sunni Islam, Mecca is spiritual capital of 

Islam), and establish a Unified States of Arabs inclusive of Iraq and the Levant (Syria) with the 

leadership of the Baath Party (Mojan, 1391(2012): 25). ). 

The mission of Islam in its core ideology is not the salvation of all mankind, quite opposite, it 

became either a tool to Arab dominant over the world or a tool to unite/mobilize masses against 

colonialism. (Doost Mohammadi 1387(1999), p.77). 

The outcome of the Aflaq/Baath Party Plan was the denial of non-Arab rulership and the 

unification of Syria and Iraq. This is what today ISIS is trying to revive by former Saddam Baath 

officers in collaboration with fanatic Islamists. This is a recurrence of the trinity of Quraysh 

tribalism coupled with Prophet Call for Jihad and Baath nationalism and ISIS call. 

 

Contemporary political thought whether in a form of Muslim brotherhood or in a form of 

Salafists/ISIS, is rooted in Arabic nervousness to revive the past glory and dominion over 

others. Even the "Muslim Brotherhood" promoted Arabian ideology in beginning to compete with 

Nasser's secular-nationalism message. However once Nasser movement and Suez Canal

receive recognition, Muslim brotherhood dominant strategy shifted its strategy toward a focus on 

Islamic ideology/identity to confront the Nasser hegemony over non-Arab countries. 

"Brotherhood before 1952 crisis and the rise of Nasser, portrayed itself as a savior of the Arab 

nation and intention to restore the glory of the Arab nation" (Qader, 2000, 9). And played an 

important contribution towards the Palestinian cause from Arabs support in 1939 (Einayat, 

1360(1981): 154). But the defeat of Nasser was the defeat of socialism and nationalism all 

together, Muslim Brotherhood transformed/changed the battle to a conflict between Islam and 

Judaism. (ibid: 157). Before this change, Brotherhood was in close contact with Free Officers 

Movement. Brotherhood educate them on religious subjects and they train Muslim Brotherhood 

members' military training. (ibid: 156). 

Arabism is the foundation of Islamism. Al-Bazzaz says: "Islam does not conflict with Arab 

nationalism, but their political end may vary sometimes, they are inconceivable" (al-Bazzaz, 

without date, 199). Also writes: "Although Islam is a universal religion but, in essence, is 

designed for Arabs. Quran is in their language and Prophet is among them (Einayat, 

1362(1983): 201). After World War II, "Al-Azhar" a symbol of Islamic clergy and religious / 

spiritual symbol, become the cornerstone of Arab nationalism, after 1952 coup of Free Officers, 

they became Omar and Amr ibn al-Aas, first Islamic knights "(Einayat, 1362(1983): 210). Since 

1956, Al-Azhar scholars were mainly secular such as Bazzaz and Aflaq. They support Islam and 

nationalism. Al-Azhar Imam in an article titled "Is giant(Ghoul) risen,", he referred ghoul to 

Arabs.He correlates fate of Arabs and Islam the same way Wahhabis correlate Muslim 

decadence with degeneration of the Arabic system of governance. He believes Arab giant 

(Ghoul) fall asleep when its mind was replaced with mysticism, Iranian/Greek philosophy and at 

the same time were dominated by Turks, Mongols, and Colonialism. He sees Nasser's 

nationalist revolution as an Arabism (Ghoul) who is awakening and see it as Islamic 

renaissance (Einayat, ibid: 21). Khatib editor of Al-Azhar praised Arab nationalistic movement of 

Nasser's coup in 1952 as God blessing upon humanity. He calls Arabism and Islam's two sides 

of the same coin (Ahmadi, 1383(2004): 62). Thus, both old and modern Islam played as a 

dominant tool to revive Arab hegemony over non-Arabs. 

 

Conclusion 

As Quraysh tribalism was the foundation of Islamic Caliphate, Arabic nationalism of Baath 

ideology is the foundation of ISIS. Islam from the Quraysh to ISIS has been the hegemonic tool 

to a domination of Arab over non-Arab. Baathist Arabism is the continuation of the same 

movement which tried to unify Iraq and Levant (Syria) against non-Arab Baath and colonialism. 

 

This paper is shortened version of full paper in farsi. The full version is available at 

http://www.xakk.net/wiki/. 

[1] Tabari, Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Jarir Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, popularly known 

Tarikh al-Tabari, vol.3, p. 75 - Farsi , available at