1- University of Tehran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran ,majidzohouri@ut.ac.ir
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran ,
Abstract: (232 Views)
The absence of the name "Muhammad" and the term "Islam" on cultural artifacts from the first decades of the early Islamic has long raised questions among historians and archaeologists. Some have taken an extreme position, denying the very existence of a historical Muhammad or a religious movement called Islam—a view that, of course, finds no place in this study. Others have offered more nuanced interpretations, though not entirely convincing, which have nevertheless inspired the writing of this paper. This latter group attributes the absence of Muhammad’s name and Islam to the lack of a centralized and cohesive political authority during this period. According to their view, before the rise of ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān, the Islamic polity resembled more of a loose tribal confederation than a structured state. Thus, they argue that it was only under ʿAbd al-Malik’s rule that early Islamic society became organized and a distinct Islamic identity took shape. However, directly linking these two absences—the lack of references to Muhammad and Islam on one hand, and the absence of a centralized state on the other—does not seem entirely justified. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the omission of Muhammad and Islam in early Islamic-era artifacts in relation to broader ambiguities in religious boundaries and the evolution of conceptual frameworks. To achieve this, topics such as shared sacred spaces, the Qur’anic concepts of "dīn" and "islām," and the development of the Shahādah will be examined. Ultimately, it can be argued that the process of Islamization was gradual. Moreover, many commonly held assumptions must be approached with caution. What is today accepted as historical fact about this period is often the product of layered narratives shaped over time under various influences. These narrative constructions have sometimes been deliberate, serving specific interests, and at other times unconscious, arising from the limitations of historical understanding.
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