Yemen in Early Islam an Examination of Non-Tribal Traditions

Abstract

It is unanimously agreed upon by scholars that the concepts > (yamdniyya) have figured centrally in the history of early Islam down to the Abbasid Period. But, so far, attention has been overwhelmingly limited to studying the elements of genealogical-tribal affiliations and political loyalties revealed by Muslim traditional sources on these concepts'. At the same time, no serious attempt was made at examining the clear religious connotations of yamaniyya or even the question of delimitingyaman in early Islam. The present paper strives primarily to contribute to the study of this latter issue. In order to do so, not only geographic and lexical sources will be consulted but commentaries on some traditional and Quranic occurrences with relevant bearings will also be scrutinized; a task which hopefully will help to illuminate some religious aspects of these concepts as well.