Dissertation_Dr Faisal Almubarak

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differentiation between the town was a crucial stimuli in the predominantly pastoral
conditions of seventh century Arabia. The Friday prayer, meant to bring the community of
several neighborhoods together, required a larger mosque, jami. The compulsory mandate
of the Friday prayer has been an impetus attracting Bedouins, hence strengthening the
town-hinterland relationships. The jami institution has since become a place for
community gathering, education, and political leadership. In short, Islam devised a
hierarchical set of worship duties firmly grounded in spiritual canon encouraging
gregariousness in the community of believers bound by a common language, religion,
cultural background and place. Thus it restructured the semi-primitive Arab pastoral life
around daily, weekly and monthly congregational rituals, that have since stimulated the
interconnectedness of the otherwise insulated and pugnacious desert communities.
On the economic side, Islamic teachings are said to have introduced legislative norms
tailored to fit the needs of an active commercial, merchant community, an activity
conducive to the growth of towns. While addressing the significance of community, Islam
sanctifies private property. The followers of the faith are equal in the sight of Allah who is
the sole owner of resources, including land. Commercial transaction is encouraged while
usury is prohibited. Such encouragement paved the way for the development of the bazaar
economy with its guild-like merchant association, a peculiar aspect of the Middle Eastern
city under Islam. Arguments over the degree of their socio-political influence aside,
Muslim guilds developed under supporting Islamic political circumstance, and pro-market
tolerance. 20 They had their influence on the economic activity in the Muslim city,
providing capital and training for their members. Guilds were also a means for social
mobilization and political solidarity, regulating and protecting crafts. Even guilds '
controlled by non-Muslims enjoyed rights to execute their commercial activities. 21
B. Actual Town Building
Following the Prophet's arrival, Madinah, located inland in the littoral western plain
of the Arabian peninsula, was transformed into a bustling workshop of building activity
and education as well as military operations. Mohammed sent messengers to the various
settlements and tribal turfs asking them to accept the new religion. Tribal leaders and
curious Arabs flocked to Madinah to meet the new rising figure in Arabia, "the long
awaited Prophet." Though preaching in the cradle of Arabia, Islam disparaged the
religiously lukewarm Bedouins' habits, an attitude some historians perceived as sine qua