Acknowledgements List of Figures A Note on Style 1 Introduction 1 Prolegomena and Methodological Considerations 2 Ethnic, Linguistic, and Tribal Situation in Arabia before Islam2 Judaism 1 Judaism in Late Antiquity 2 The Arabian Context 3 Conclusions3 Christianity 1 Christianity in Late Antiquity 2 The Arabian Context 3 Conclusions4 Gentiles 1 Introduction 2 Idolatry and Polytheism in Arabia 3 Gentile Monotheism in Arabia 4 The Idea of Abrahamic Descent in Arabia before Islam 5 An Excursus to Later Arabic Historiography: Abd al-Mualib's Dream 6 Conclusions5 The Rise of the Gentile Prophet in Mecca 1 Introduction and Methodological Considerations 2 Mecca 3 Excursus: Arabic Historiography on the Meccan Period 4 Conclusions on the Meccan Period6 The Founding and Consolidating of the Community in Medina 1 The Constitution of Medina 2 The Believers in the Medinan Quran 3 The People of the Book in the Medinan Period 4 The Jews in the Quran 5 The Christians in the Quran 6 Inna al-din inda Allah al-islam 7 Gentile Purity and Dietary Regulations 8 The Eschaton Postponed? 9 Excursus: Arabic Historiography and the Medinan Era 10 Conclusions on the Medinan Era7 Near-Contemporary Non-Arabic Views on the Prophet and His Community 1 Near-Contemporary Non-Arabic Views on the Prophet's Community8 Concluding toward Early Islamic Times 1 No Two Religions 2 Conclusions Bibliography Index.