A very old, but classic writing which helps to explain the Islamic concept of entitlement and morality. Gibbon is positively brilliant and little seems to have changed in the over two centuries since he penned the above lines . . . only the means of conquest.

Notice the map shows oil rich modern eastern Saudi Arabia was not part of Mohammed's original empire.

Do you think most Muslims have read Gibbon?

the posterity of the outlaw Ismael may recover, by fraud or force, the portion of inheritance of which he had been unjustly deprived.

Ismael, son of Abraham by the handmaiden, Hagar, was cast out of Abraham's house by Sarah. Ismael's descendants, the Arabs, have been mad ever since.

Arabs view themselves as a people who look back to Abraham as their father. According to the rules of the day Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn legal heir. It was Sarah who jealously wanted him to be disinherited (Genesis 20:9-11).

But it is interesting that although the final compiler of Genesis must have been a Jew, he wants us to know that the progeny of Ishmael still has a great destiny. "As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation" (Genesis 17:20).

This ancient Jewish writer is also careful to list the twelve Ishmaelite tribes, and he noted their territorial area: "They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria." Some of their settlement or tribal names such as Kedar, Tema, Dumah, and Nebaioth (the Nabateans) were known in historical records for two thousand years (Genesis 25:12-18).

There were Ammonites and Moabites from Abraham's nephew Lot (Genesis 19:37-38). Other tribes such as the Midianites (Kenites) originated from Abraham's second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-6; Exodus 3:1; Numbers 10:29; Judges 1:16; 6:1), and the Edomite tribes were traced back to Esau (36:1-43). The Bible records constant contacts and skirmishes between the children of Israel and these Ishmaelites, Midianites, Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites, Amalekites and other tribes from the east (Exodus 17:8-14; Deuteronomy 2:5; Judges 3:12-13; 6:1, 3; 11:4,12-18; 1 Samuel 15:5, 6; Jeremiah 25:23, 24; Joel 3:8).

Evidently the original children of Ishmael made tribal alliances and intermarried with other close relatives connected with Abraham. And in time other tribes also became known as Ishmaelites (See for example Genesis 37:27 and 36; Judges 6:12 and 24; Psalm 83:7). We might compare European immigrants calling themselves Americans.

Though the Bible does not use the term "Arab" for these Abrahamic tribes, it seems that they all became related by marriage and all spoke the Arabic language which slowly developed from the language that Abraham spoke in Canaan. As a result modern Arabs can reasonably claim descent from Abraham through his firstborn son Ishmael.

"...and that the posterity of the outlaw Ismael may recover, by fraud or force, the portion of inheritance of which he had been unjustly deprived..."

'Ismael'?

Would that be an alias of Ishmael, who was the illegitimate son of Hagar, who was the hired help of Abraham, who was the father of the legitimate son Isaac, who was the one whose line are called the chosen people?

Jeez...

Even with all the oil money in the world that embarrasing blank line next to the word 'Father' on their racial birth certificate sure enough appears to sting a mite, don't it?

But Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud brought Al Hasa into the alliance between 1906 and 1908 when he drove out the remaining Turks.

Gibbon sure had 'em pegged right, didn't he? Without the generosity of western nations and their oil royalties, they'd still be scratching a living as desert herdsmen.

I can't help but see a parallel in our modern liberal classes-- "We're entitled to rule because we got the true religion and were done wrong anciently."

Do you think most Muslims have read Gibbon?

I doubt that most westerners have read Gibbon, have you? I've plowed through a few of the eight volumes. For being dead 200 years, the guy is amazingly astute. Some of his observations on the Balkan races could've been written yesterday. His writing style does, at times, put you to sleep--but it is not so different in style from other scolarly works of his era.

I understand the guy was brilliant-- studied French, Latin, Greek, Arabic and traveled widely in the ancient world. But when you think of what he did in 12 years in the days of quill pens, parchment and sailing vessels, it absolutely boggles the mind.

No, LOLOL..I haven't read Gibbon. Needless to say I admire your persistence.

FYI re: Al Hasa... the Eastern Province...The Dilmun culture, along the Arabian Gulf, was contemporaneous with Sumer and ancient Egypt, (about 5,000 years) and most of the empires of the ancient world traded with the states of the Arabian Peninsula.

Thanks for adding the historical notes. There was a thread here yesterday on "All Suicide Bombers are Not Alike" which explained the attitude differences between the Pallies, Arabs, etc. Also fascinating. Wish I had bookmarked it. Did you see it?

Sorry. I missed that one. I don't think I would get it anyway. I have never been aware that Arabs had a sense of entitlement to pillage. Hasn't been my experience in living 30 years in the Arab world nor that of any of my fellow expats.

Thanks for the extensive biblical quotes. They are sometimes helpful in understanding historical facts.

Don't forget B'reshith(Genesis)16:11-12 - And the angel of YHVH said to her. See, you are conceiving and bearing a son, and shall call his name Yishmael, because YHVH has heard your affliction. And he is to be a wild man, his hand against every one and every one's hand against him, and dwell over against all his brothers. Also it is prophecied that Yishmael will cease to exist prior to the millenium.

Yeah, after finishing the works of Toynbee, Voegelin, Spengler, Burke, Richard Weaver, Robert Nisbet, Vilfredo Pareto,Christopher Dawson, Vico, Fukuyama, Paul Kennedy, Blackstone, Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, T.S. Eliot, Addison, Steele, Swift, and Woody Allen, jihad cell leaders like Mohammed Atta flip through abridged paperback selections from Tocqueville, Gibbon, Hallam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, and David Hume in between bomb-training sessions and instructions on how to shave all the hair off their bodies. Although Atta and Mullah Omar personally favored the works of Susan Sontag and Philip K. Dick.

You're welcome. I'm not a scholar, but I sort of like ancient history re the Arabian Penisula in particular. There's a book called "History Begins at Sumer" that is absolutely fascinating. Its available in paperback.

Al Hasa has a 5,000 year old saltmine which is still in operation near Abqaiq. There is also a ruined customs house at Uqair, once an important Portuguese port and caravan terminus.

The angel of God then appeared before Hagar and told her to return to Sarah and submit herself to her will and that "the Lord has heard thy affliction" and would reward her with a son called "Ishmael" and would multiply her seed exceedingly. Hagar willingly bowed to the command of her Lord and returned and submitted herself to Sarah

I am told that only six people were 'named' by God. I am far from being an expert in anything biblical but could this be true?

Most Muslims can not read at all. Otherwise, come and get it.

Also: Concepts of Manichaean dualism and radically dualistic distinctions between assumed good and evil have deep roots in Middle Eastern mythology, customs, and social psychology.

Come and get what?

"only six people were 'named' by God."

That's curious. I don't know either.