Moshe Sharon, "The Birth of Islam in the Holy Land," in Sharon (ed.), Pillars of Smoke and Fire. The Holy Land in History and Thought, 225-35.
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Moshe Sharon, "The Birth of Islam in the Holy Land," in Sharon (ed.), Pillars of Smoke and Fire. The Holy Land in History and Thought, 225-35.
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The focus of Sharon's article is to provide an alternative interpretation of the birth of Islam. He presents the theory and leaves detailed proofs to subsequent publications. He details the standard paradigm, offers opposing ideas to a unified beginning and provides theories on the evolution of Islam. The rise of the Umayyads is addressed as well as the Dome of the Rock church in Jerusalem as playing a key role in the birth of Islam by serving as a key sanctuary and a symbol of religious superiority.(229) In addition the rededication of the Ka'aba in Mecca is addressed as reinforcing the unification of this religion by placing the focus on Mecca versus Jerusalem. This article marginalizes the role of Mecca in the role of Islam.