The Persian compared with the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem: Its Messianic nature and the role of the Jewish Exilarch

The Persian compared with the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem: Its Messianic nature and the role of the Jewish Exilarch

Rabbi Ben Abrahamon’s The Persian Compared with the Islamic Conquest of Jerusalem: Its Messianic Nature and the Role of the Jewish Exilarch presents a history of early Jewish-Muslim relations , focusing on Jewish participation in the Persian conquest of Jerusalem (614 CE) and the early Islamic conquests (622–638 CE). Through a meticulous analysis of Jewish, Islamic, and Christian sources , Abrahamon challenges the traditional view of inherent Jewish-Muslim antagonism, instead highlighting periods of cooperation, political engagement, and shared aspirations for Jerusalem . The book traces Jewish messianic movements, from Nehemiah ben Hushiel to Shabbatai Zvi , arguing that Jewish leaders actively sought alliances with both the Persians and early Muslims in pursuit of political autonomy . He examines the role of Jewish figures in Muhammad’s (pbuh) circle , such as Shallum (Salman al-Farsi), Jewish-Qurayshi intermarriages, and the Rabbinic shift from political messianism to mystical Kabbalah . One of Abrahamon’s key contributions is his critique of 19th-century German biblical criticism , which dismissed Jewish and Islamic narratives as political fabrications. Instead, he cross-references Rabbinic texts, Islamic chronicles, and Christian polemical sources , revealing a more integrated historical reality . His argument that Islam initially aligned with Rabbinic Judaism before later shifts under the Umayyads is particularly compelling . The book also challenges the neglect of Jewish involvement in the early Caliphate , documenting how Jewish scribes, administrators, and scholars influenced Islamic governance . The analysis of the Exilarchs’ role in early Islamic diplomacy and Jewish participation in military campaigns sheds light on a largely forgotten history of Jewish agency in Islamic rule . Abrahamon’s rigorous methodology and interdisciplinary approach make this book essential reading for scholars of Jewish and Islamic history . His work encourages a reevaluation of Jewish-Muslim relations , offering a historically grounded framework for interfaith dialogue . This book is a valuable contribution to the study of Jewish political history and the formation of early Islam . AlSadiqin Press is delighted to make available The Persian compared with the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem to our students as part of our history trilogy series that reconstructs the long term, historical context of the rise of Islam and the identities of the participants: 1) The Quraysh as Descendants of Onias IV (350 BCE) 2) Yosef Dhu Nuwas: A Sadducean King with Sidelocks (500 CE) 3) The Persian compared with the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem (614 and 638 CE)