The Quranic Text Approach: A Review of Watt and Crone’s Theses on the Emergence of Islam

Abstract

Montgomery Watt and Patricia Crone are two figures who are concerned to examine the emergence of Islam in Mecca, whether the trigger is socio-economic, trade, or socio-political, power. Watt states that Mecca from the beginning, which was already a center of pilgrimage, in the next process became an important trading center, giving birth to master traders. In the process, these conditions gave rise to Islam there. Crone, on the other hand, says it was Arab nationalism that determined the development of Islam in Mecca and the Arabian peninsula.This research will re-examine the two theses by trying to reveal through the approach of the Qur'anic texts, because according to the author, the revelation of the Qur'anic text cannot be separated from the situation that occurred at that time. This means that the Qur'an is a response to the situation and conditions according to what happened in Mecca.In searching for existing texts, the author found evidence that Mecca, which developed international trade, had changed the attitudes and behavior of its citizens. In Mecca, the attitude of capitalistic materialism was widespread, so the verse that was revealed gave another warning to the citizens of Mecca to return to the true religion, by conducting relationships with God and building harmony with others in accordance with ethical morality. So Watt's thesis is closer to the truth that it was the trade factor that triggered the emergence of Islam. Unlike Watt, Crone's opinion, according to the author, is not in accordance with the text of the Qur'an. In Mecca there is no text that talks about political power, because Islam is still weak with few followers. Texts related to power only appeared after the hijrah, where it was needed to protect and defend the state of Medina from outside attacks, or even to expand power because of welfare needs, where financial resources were not found in Medina. However, the two opinions can be synergized and one synthesis, that the Mecca factor is indeed very strong as a trigger for the emergence of Islam, of course through trade and through the hands of Mecca residents who were honorable from the beginning and had relations with nations outside the peninsula