ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books History of Islam The Commercial Position Located in a rough and dry territory, the city of Mecca lacked agricultural or other productive means of life. In order to survive, its people had to engage in trades, yet extremely limited.[^190] Non-Arab merchants used to carry their merchandise to either buy or sell inside the city or in the seasonal markets of the Arabian Peninsula.

This continued until the reign of Hashim, the Holy Prophet's great grandfather, who entered into a treaty with the Roman Empire, according to which the Meccan traders could freely enter this country.[^191] He had a contract with the tribes on the way to Damascus to protect the Meccan merchants on their journey.[^192] In return, he had to carry their merchandise to Damascus free of charge.[^193] His brothers, `Abd Shams, Nawfal, and al-Muttalib, had similar contracts with the governor of Ethiopia and the kings of Iran[^194] and Yemen.[^195] Upon achieving the security of routes, Hashim established the trade route between Yemen and Damascus[^196] passing through Mecca which was between these two trade-centers.[^197] In this way, the trade of Quraysh outside the country was established.[^198] Since then, Meccan merchants, besides partaking in seasonal markets, such as `Ukaz, Dhu’l-Majaz, and al-Majannah, made their journey to Yemen and Ethiopia in winter and to Damascus and Gaza in summer.

In this way, they could buy silky cloths, hides and other merchandise which had come from India or China into Yemen and take them to Mecca through the Arabian lands parallel to the Red Sea[^199] to take them again to Gaza, Jerusalem, Damascus and the ports on the Mediterranean. They could then buy wheat, oil, olives, wood and other produce from Damascus. They could also enter Ethiopia, through the Red Sea and Jeddah Port, which is located eight hundred kilometers away from Mecca.

In this way, they could take their local merchandise from one place to another.[^200] The establishment of such a merchant route changed the city of Mecca into a lucrative center for trade and had a tremendous effect on the life of its people.

God mentions this route as a means for prosperity for the people of Quraysh: For the protection of the Quraysh—their protection during their trading caravans in the winter and the summer; so, let them serve the Lord to this house, Who feeds them against hunger and gives them security against fear.