Latest Articles
Recent insights and analysis based on the Quran alone
How Did the Traditional Story of Pagan Arabia Arise?
Part of the Series: The Quran, Idolatry, and the Emergence of Sectarian Religion Introduction Many Muslims grow up with a familiar picture of Pagan Arabia
The Kaaba Before Muhammad: What Does the Quran Actually Say?
Part of the Series: The Quran, Idolatry, and the Emergence of Sectarian Religion Introduction Ask a Muslim what the Kaaba was like before Muhammad, and
From Believers to Sectarian Religion
How does a community devoted to one God gradually become divided into sects? The Quran describes a recurring process of religious corruption in which human
Did the Quran Confront Pagans or Corrupted Monotheists?
Part of the Series: The Quran, Idolatry, and the Emergence of Sectarian Religion Introduction A common understanding of early Islamic history is that Muhammad confronted
The Forgotten Meaning of Idolatry
Part of the Series: The Quran, Idolatry, and the Emergence of Sectarian Religion Introduction When people hear the word “idolatry,” they often think of statues,
Who Were the Mushrikeen in the Quran?
Who were the Mushrikeen described in the Quran? Were they simply idol worshippers, or does the Quran present a different picture? This study examines the