لطفا منتظر باشید ...
Preface
The well known writer and analyst of historical
developments, the late Martyr of Islam, Ayatullah S. M. H. Beheshti,
better known as Shaheed Beheshti to his innumerable admirers, both in Iran
and abroad, narrates in an interesting free style the historical
conditions attending upon the birth of Islam. In his book of the same
title, "Background of the Birth of Islam" he sets forth the sociological,
political and religious conditions in the wide area surrounding Arabia.
Probing deeply into the ancient history of the neighbouring peoples and
states and the two great imperial powers of the day, namely Persia and
Eastern Roman Empire, as well as the Yemen, Egypt, Abyssinia, Jordan and
Syria, Shaheed Bcheshti carries the reader on a wide ranging journey
around those ancient lands. Narrating skill fully the captivating tales of
the fire-worshipping Zoarastrians and Mani and Mazdak religions of ancient
Persia, the influence of Christian church in Egypt and Abyssinia and the
pagan tribes of the interior of the Arabian peninsula, the writer brings
out the essentials of the socio-political factors which lead the more
pronounced effects of the early days of what was to become the universal
faith of Islam.
The book comprises a series of lectures delivered by
Shaheed Beheshti during the years 1966-7 in the Hamburg Islamic Centre.
Addressing predominantly a group of Iranian students in Germany every
Saturday he attracted a general audience of international students and
others interested in Islam. The last of those lectures was delivered on 28
October 1967. In the opening chapters of his book, Shaheed Beheshti has
delved at some length on the characteristics of an appropriate research
methodology to deal with religious subjects which he then follows in
setting out his geographically distributed chapters concluding each
chapter with brief question answer discussion and conclusion.
Undoubtedly this brief work will be a valuable addition
to his other numerous writings and prove an inspiration for all while
reflecting his devotion to research study and deep insight. May his soul
ever rest in peace.
