Arabia Before Islam – JSS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Arabia before Islam refers to the Arabian Peninsula before the early 7th century CE, a period known as “Jahiliyyah” or the “Age of Ignorance”. Arabs lived mainly in tribes, most worshipped idols, trade was the backbone of Arabia’s economy, and poetry was highly valued. Learning about this period helps us appreciate the changes Islam brought to the region and the world.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Describe the location, landscape, climate and regions of Arabia before Islam.
2. Name the major tribes and explain how Arab society was organised.
3. State the main religious beliefs and practices of the pre-Islamic Arabs.
4. Describe the marriage customs, the status of women and the tribal values of the time.
5. Explain why Makkah was important before Islam.
6. List the social problems and other conditions that prepared Arabia for Islam.

Geography of Arabia

Location and landscape

The Arabian Peninsula is located in Southwest Asia. It is surrounded by:

• The Red Sea on the west
• The Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf) on the east
• The Indian Ocean on the south
• The lands of Syria and Iraq on the north

Arabia’s landscape includes:

• Deserts: Large parts of Arabia are covered by deserts, including the Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter), one of the largest sand deserts in the world
• Mountains: Mountain ranges along the western and southern edges
• Coastal plains: Narrow strips of fertile land along the coasts
• Oases: Scattered spots with water and vegetation in the desert areas

Climate

• Very hot and dry in summer
• Mild winters
• Very little rainfall
• Frequent sandstorms
• Water was scarce and precious

Regions of Arabia

Arabia was divided into three main regions:

1. Hijaz: The western region along the Red Sea, including the cities of Makkah, Madinah and Ta’if
2. Najd: The central plateau region
3. Yemen: The southwestern region, more fertile with higher rainfall

The people of Arabia

Major tribes

Arabs lived mainly in tribes, which were groups of related families. Major tribal groups included:

• Quraysh: The powerful tribe that controlled Makkah and the Kaaba
• Aws and Khazraj: The main tribes of Yathrib (later called Madinah)
• Thaqif: The tribe that controlled Ta’if
• Banu Hanifah: A powerful tribe in central Arabia
• Banu Tamim: A large tribe in eastern Arabia

Ethnic groups

The Arabs were divided into two main ethnic groups:

1. Adnanites (Northern Arabs): Claimed descent from Ishmael (son of Prophet Abraham)
2. Qahtanites (Southern Arabs): Originally from Yemen

Settlement patterns

The Arab population lived in different ways:

• Bedouins: Nomadic people who moved from place to place with their animals in search of water and pasture
• Town dwellers: People who lived in settlements and cities, especially in Hijaz and Yemen
• Farmers: Mainly in the more fertile areas of Yemen and oases

Social structure

Each tribe had its own social hierarchy:

• Sheikh: The tribal chief, usually an older man chosen for his wisdom, courage and lineage
• Free tribesmen: Full members of the tribe with rights and duties
• Clients (Mawali): People under the protection of the tribe but not full members
• Slaves: People owned by others, usually prisoners of war or those purchased from slave markets

Religion and beliefs

Polytheism

Most Arabs before Islam were polytheists (people who believed in many gods):

• They worshipped numerous idols and gods
• The Kaaba in Makkah housed about 360 idols
• Major idols included:
  1. Al-Lat: A female deity
  2. Al-Uzza: The mighty goddess
  3. Manat: The goddess of fate
  4. Hubal: One of the main idols in the Kaaba

Other religions

Not all Arabs were idol worshippers. Other faiths present in Arabia included:

• Judaism: Jewish communities existed in Yathrib (Madinah), Khaybar and Yemen
• Christianity: Found mainly in northern areas near Syria and in Yemen
• Hanifs: People who rejected idol worship and followed a pure monotheism, trying to follow the religion of Abraham

Religious practices

• Pilgrimage: Arabs would make pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Makkah
• Animal sacrifice: Offered to idols on special occasions
• Divination: Seeking knowledge of the future through arrows, birds or soothsayers
• Worship of natural objects: Some tribes worshipped trees, stones, stars or the moon

Superstitions

Many superstitious beliefs existed:

• Belief in good and bad omens
• Fear of jinns (spirits)
• Consulting fortune-tellers
• Belief that owls represented bad luck

Social life and customs

Family structure

• Patriarchal system: Men had authority over the family
• Extended family: Several generations lived together
• Tribe: The most important social unit, providing protection and identity

Marriage customs

Several forms of marriage existed:

• Regular marriage: With a dowry paid to the bride’s family
• Temporary marriage: For a fixed period
• Polyandry: In some areas, a woman could have multiple husbands
• Polygamy: Men could have multiple wives
• Divorce was easy for men but difficult for women

Status of women

The status of women varied across Arabia:

• In many tribes, women had few rights
• Female infanticide (killing baby girls) was practised by some tribes
• Women could not inherit property in most cases
• In some areas, especially in cities, women had better status and some even owned businesses

Tribal values

Arabs took great pride in certain values:

• Muruwah (manliness): Courage, patience and endurance
• Hospitality: Even enemies could expect three days of protection as guests
• Generosity: Being generous to guests and the poor brought honour
• Loyalty to the tribe: Defending tribe members was essential
• Honour: Family and tribal honour was defended at all costs

Blood feuds

• If a person was killed, their tribe sought revenge
• Blood feuds could last for generations
• Blood money could sometimes be accepted instead of revenge

Economy and livelihood

Trade

Trade was the backbone of Arabia’s economy:

• Caravan trade: Goods were transported by camels across desert routes
• Trade routes: Connected Yemen to Syria, passing through Makkah
• Goods traded: Spices, perfumes, leather, dates, gold, ivory and silk
• Markets: Regular markets were held in different places, including the famous Ukaz market near Ta’if

Agriculture

Farming was practised in:

• Oases: Date palms, vegetables and some grains
• Yemen: More extensive farming due to better rainfall and dams
• Ta’if: Known for its grapes and other fruits

Animal husbandry

Many Arabs, especially Bedouins, depended on animals:

• Camels: Provided transportation, milk, meat and hair for tents
• Sheep and goats: Sources of milk, meat and wool
• Horses: Prized possessions used in warfare and racing

Crafts

Various crafts existed in towns:

• Blacksmithing
• Leather working
• Pottery making
• Weaving
• Jewellery making

Political systems

Tribal governance

Most of Arabia was governed through a tribal system:

• Tribal council (Majlis): A group of elders who made decisions
• Sheikh: The tribal leader, who had limited authority and ruled by consensus
• No central government: Each tribe was independent
• Tribal alliances: Sometimes formed for mutual protection or warfare

City-states

Some cities had more organised governance:

• Makkah: Ruled by the Quraysh tribe, with power shared among different clans
• Yathrib (Madinah): Different tribes governed their own areas
• Yemen: Had more structured kingdoms throughout history

Foreign influence

The great empires of the time tried to control parts of Arabia:

• Persian Empire: Influenced eastern Arabia
• Byzantine Empire: Had allies in northern Arabia
• Abyssinian Kingdom (Ethiopia): Temporarily controlled Yemen

Cultural achievements

Poetry

Poetry was highly valued in pre-Islamic Arabia:

• Poets had great status and influence
• Poetry competitions were held at markets like Ukaz
• The best poems were written in gold and hung on the Kaaba (Mu’allaqat)
• Poetry preserved tribal history and values
• Famous poets included Imru’ al-Qais and Antarah ibn Shaddad

Language

• Classical Arabic developed as a rich literary language
• Different dialects existed across regions
• Oral tradition was strong, with emphasis on memorisation

Knowledge and skills

• Astronomy for navigation
• Traditional medicine using herbs and natural remedies
• Knowledge of genealogy (family trees)
• Weather prediction
• Water finding

The city of Makkah

Why was Makkah important?

Makkah was the most important city in Arabia before Islam:

• Religious centre: Home of the Kaaba, a place of pilgrimage
• Trade hub: Located at the crossroads of major trade routes
• Tribal headquarters: Centre of the powerful Quraysh tribe

The Kaaba

The Kaaba was a cube-shaped building in Makkah:

• Built originally by Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael
• Later filled with idols
• The sacred area around it was called the Haram
• Pilgrimage to the Kaaba was an ancient tradition

Governance of Makkah

Makkah had a simple political system:

• Dar al-Nadwa: A council house where Quraysh elders met
• Shared responsibilities: Different clans had specific duties:
  1. Banu Hashim: Providing water for pilgrims
  2. Banu Abd al-Dar: Keeping the keys to the Kaaba
  3. Other clans: Handling flags, council meetings and other duties

Conditions that prepared Arabia for Islam

Social problems

Pre-Islamic Arabia faced many problems:

• Endless tribal wars and blood feuds
• Mistreatment of women, orphans and the weak
• Slavery and exploitation
• Economic inequality
• Lack of central authority and law

Spiritual searching

Some signs showed people were seeking spiritual guidance:

• Hanifs searching for the true religion
• Interest in Judaism and Christianity
• Dissatisfaction with idol worship among some educated people

Strategic location

Arabia’s location made it suitable for a new message to spread:

• Between Africa, Asia and Europe
• Relatively independent from the big empires
• Connected to trade routes that could carry ideas

Legacy of pre-Islamic Arabia

Although Islam brought many changes, some aspects of pre-Islamic Arabia remained important:

• The Arabic language became the language of the Quran
• Some good tribal values like generosity and hospitality were encouraged by Islam
• Poetry and oral tradition helped preserve and spread Islamic teachings
• Trade networks later helped spread Islam to other regions
• The Kaaba was cleansed of idols but remained the centre of Islamic worship

Evaluation

1. Describe the geography of the Arabian Peninsula before Islam.
2. What were the main religious beliefs of pre-Islamic Arabs?
3. Explain the tribal system and its importance in pre-Islamic Arabia.
4. What was the status of women in pre-Islamic Arabian society?
5. Why was Makkah an important city in pre-Islamic Arabia?
6. What social problems existed in Arabia before Islam?

Assignment

1. Name the three main regions of Arabia and say what each was known for.
2. List four values that the Arabs took pride in.
3. Describe the role of poetry in pre-Islamic Arabia.
4. State three things from pre-Islamic Arabia that remained important after the coming of Islam.