One small space rock misses the Arabian Peninsula

What would have happened if the meteorite that became revered as the Ka'aba never fell to earth? Would Islam be appreciably different? From what I recall, the meteorite was an important religious object even before Mohammed.
 
I think that it was probably more of an object of semi-convenience rather than totally a catalyst on its own. I mean that there probably would have been a different object which would be the focus in that area of Mecca/Medina. What it is and if that changes the nature of anything are different stories.
 
No rise of Islam and no combat free zone around Mecca which means more infighting among the Arabian tribes. Mecca is a less powerful center of trade and therefore some other city may or may not take its place. I would say overall that Christianity would be much more rampant and Arabia would be much much weaker.
 
As Islam spreads (assuming it's founded to begin with), maybe Damascus or Alexandria would be the center of the religion. Or Jerusalem. Existing cities with their own temples and churches would be conveinent (that word I can't seem to spell right). Or a new city, like Baghdad or Cairo could serve as well.
 
Mecca originally had many, many idols. The lack of the ka'aba will not reduce Mecca's role in the area. The Prophet Mohammed destroyed most of the local idols, but choose to keep the ka'aba in order to reconcile the existing elites of the city (who depended upon the pilgrimage trade of the city) to himself and his new religion.

Without the ka'aba, Mohammed simply picks some other idol to keep to reconcile the city to his new faith. Presumably he can come up with some sort of rationale to justify the new idol. If not and no other idols can be used by him, then he still probably promotes Mecca as a pilgrimage spot and comes up with some other way to soothe relations with the Meccan elite.

I really don't see this as being a real turning point of any kind.
 
Mecca originally had many, many idols. The lack of the ka'aba will not reduce Mecca's role in the area. The Prophet Mohammed destroyed most of the local idols, but choose to keep the ka'aba in order to reconcile the existing elites of the city (who depended upon the pilgrimage trade of the city) to himself and his new religion.

Without the ka'aba, Mohammed simply picks some other idol to keep to reconcile the city to his new faith. Presumably he can come up with some sort of rationale to justify the new idol. If not and no other idols can be used by him, then he still probably promotes Mecca as a pilgrimage spot and comes up with some other way to soothe relations with the Meccan elite.

I really don't see this as being a real turning point of any kind.

I forgot about the other idols, somehow :rolleyes:. Probably the way it would go, which is boring.

I also really like the idea that Islam also claims Jerusalem as its center. That would make things even messier than IOTL me thinks.
 
Butterflies would elimate Islam as we know it certainly.
But assuming a net in place I don't see the big deal, its hardly central to the faith afterall (well....except literally), agreed with another idol gets picked.
 
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