Islamic mythology in the context of "Siyer-i Nebi"

Play Trivia Questions online!

or

Skip to study material about Islamic mythology in the context of "Siyer-i Nebi"

Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Islamic mythology

Islamic mythology is the body of myths associated with Islam and the Quran. Islam is a religion that is more concerned with social order and law than with religious rituals or myths. The primary focus of Islam is the practical and rational practice and application of the Islamic law. Despite this focus, Islamic myths do still exist. The Oxford Companion to World Mythology identifies a number of traditional narratives as "Islamic myths". These include a creation myth and a vision of afterlife, which Islam shares with the other Abrahamic religions, as well as the distinctively Islamic story of the Kaaba.

The traditional biography of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who plays a central role in Islamic teachings, is generally recognized as being largely historical in nature, and Islam depends less on mythology than Judaism and Christianity. However, the canonical narrative includes two key supernatural events: the divine revelation of the Quran and the Isra and Mi'raj — the night journey to Jerusalem followed by the ascension to the Seventh Heaven. In addition, Islamic scriptures contain a number of legendary narratives about biblical characters, which diverge from Jewish and Christian traditions in some details.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<
In this Dossier

Islamic mythology in the context of ʿĀd

ʿĀd (Arabic: عاد, ʿĀd) was an ancient tribe in pre-Islamic Arabia. 'Ad is best known for being mentioned two dozen times in the Quran, often in conjunction with Thamud. Recently, it has been shown that 'Ad was a tribe that existed two millennia ago in the Wadi Rum region of the southern Jordan.

The tribe's members, referred to as ʿĀdites, formed a prosperous nation until they were destroyed in a violent storm. According to Islamic tradition, the storm came after they had rejected the teachings of a monotheistic prophet named Hud. 'Ad is regarded as one of the original tribes of Arabia, "The Extinct Arabs".

↑ Return to Menu

Islamic mythology in the context of Isra' and Mi'raj

The Israʾ and Miʿraj (Arabic: الإسراء والمعراج, al-’Isrā’ wal-Miʿrāj) are the names given to the narrations that the Islamic prophet Muhammad ascended to the sky during a night journey, had a vision of afterlife, and returned. It is believed that expressions without a subject in verses 1-18 of Surāh an-Najm and some verses of the 17th chapter of the Quran, commonly called Surāh al-’Isrā’, allude to the story.

Ibn Sa'd summarizes the earliest version of the written stories; According to him, the angels Gabriel and Michael accompanied Muhammad to a place in the sacred precinct of the Kaaba, between the well of Zamzam and Maqam Ibrahim. There, a ladder (miʿrāj) is said to have been set up by Muhammad and Gabriel, with whose help they ascended to heaven. When he reached the top, Muhammad is said to have met the previous prophets. According to one version of the tradition, Gabriel held Muhammad's hand tightly and ascended with him to heaven. When he reached the Sidrat al-Muntaha mentioned in Sura 53, verse 14, Muhammad saw heaven and hell. So, he was required to perform the original fifty prayers, but negotiated with God to reduce the prayers to 5 and was granted the Last two verses of Al-Baqarah, known as the treasure from God's throne.

↑ Return to Menu

Islamic mythology in the context of Adnan

Adnan (Arabic: عدنان, romanizedʿAdnān) is traditionally regarded as the patriarch of the Adnanite Arabs, a major Arab lineage that historically inhabited Northern, Western, Eastern, and Central Arabia. The Adnanites are distinct from the Qahtanite Arabs of Southern Arabia, who trace their lineage to Qahtan.

Adnan is considered a direct descendant of the prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) through his son Ishmael (Ismāʿīl). His genealogy is of great significance in Arab and Islamic tradition, as the Islamic prophet Muhammad is said to descend from him. Adnan’s lineage connects him to a broad network of Arab tribes that played a crucial role in pre-Islamic and Islamic history.

↑ Return to Menu

Islamic mythology in the context of Sidrat al-Muntaha

The Sidrat al-Muntaha (Arabic: سِدْرَة ٱلْمُنْتَهَىٰ, romanizedSidrat al-Muntahā, lit.'Sidr Tree of the Farthest Boundary') in Islamic tradition is a large Cedrus or lote tree (Ziziphus spina-christi) that marks the utmost boundary in the seventh heaven, where the knowledge of the angels ends. During the Isra' and Mi'raj, when Muhammad entered Heaven alive, Muhammad is said to have travelled with the Archangel Gabriel to the tree where Gabriel stopped. Beyond the tree, God instructed Muhammad about the salah (daily prayers).

The Lote Tree of the Furthest Boundary is also used to refer to the Manifestation of God several times in Bahá’í literature.

↑ Return to Menu

Islamic mythology in the context of East Asian mythology

↑ Return to Menu

Islamic mythology in the context of Shayatin

Shayāṭīn (شَيَاطِين shayāṭīn; sg.: Arabic: شَيْطَان, romanizedshayṭān) refers to a class of evil spirits in Islam, inciting humans and jinn to sin by whispering (وَسْوَسَة waswasa) in their hearts (قَلْب qalb). According to Islamic tradition, though invisible to humans, shayāṭīn are imagined to be ugly and grotesque creatures created from the fires of hell.

The Quran speaks of various ways the shayāṭīn tempt humans into sin. They may teach sorcery, float below the heavens to steal the news of the angels, or lurk near humans without being seen. Several hadith tell of how the shayāṭīn are responsible for various calamities that affect personal life. Both the hadith literature and Arab folklore usually speak of the shayāṭīn in abstract terms, describing their evil influence only. According to hadith, during Ramadan they are said to be chained up.

↑ Return to Menu