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

Arabia before Islam was the Arabian Peninsula before the early 7th century CE, a period Muslims call Jahiliyyah, the “Age of Ignorance”.

• Tribes: Arabs lived mainly in tribes, which were groups of related families.
• Religion: most Arabs worshipped idols.
• Trade: trade was the backbone of the economy.
• Poetry: poetry was highly valued.
• Why we study it: it helps us see 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.

What was the geography of Arabia before Islam?

Arabia is a large peninsula in Southwest Asia, made up mostly of desert, with a hot and dry climate.

Where is the Arabian Peninsula?

The peninsula is surrounded by water on three sides and land on the north:

• West: the Red Sea.
• East: the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf).
• South: the Indian Ocean.
• North: the lands of Syria and Iraq.

What is the landscape of Arabia?

• Deserts: large parts are desert, including the Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter), one of the largest sand deserts in the world.
• Mountains: mountain ranges lie along the western and southern edges.
• Coastal plains: narrow strips of fertile land run along the coasts.
• Oases: an oasis is a spot with water and plants in the desert.

What was the climate of Arabia?

• Summer: very hot and dry.
• Winter: mild.
• Rainfall: very little.
• Sandstorms: frequent.
• Water: scarce and precious.

What were the main regions of Arabia?

Arabia was divided into three main regions: Hijaz, Najd and Yemen.

Who were the people of Arabia before Islam?

The people of Arabia were Arabs who lived in tribes, grouped into two ethnic groups and several ways of life.

What were the major tribes?

• 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.

What were the two ethnic groups?

How did the Arabs live?

• Bedouins: nomads who moved with their animals in search of water and pasture.
• Town dwellers: people who lived in settlements and cities, especially in Hijaz and Yemen.
• Farmers: people who lived mainly in the fertile areas of Yemen and in oases.

What was the social structure of a tribe?

Each tribe had its own ranks, from the chief down to slaves.

What were the religious beliefs of pre-Islamic Arabs?

Most pre-Islamic Arabs were polytheists, meaning they believed in many gods, but other faiths also existed.

What was polytheism in Arabia?

• Idols: Arabs worshipped numerous idols and gods.
• The Kaaba: it housed about 360 idols.
• Al-Lat: a female deity.
• Al-Uzza: the mighty goddess.
• Manat: the goddess of fate.
• Hubal: one of the main idols in the Kaaba.

What other religions existed in Arabia?

Not all Arabs were idol worshippers.

• Judaism: Jewish communities lived in Yathrib (Madinah), Khaybar and Yemen.
• Christianity: found mainly in the north near Syria, and in Yemen.
• Hanifs: people who rejected idol worship and followed pure monotheism, trying to follow the religion of Abraham.

What were the religious practices?

• Pilgrimage: Arabs travelled to the Kaaba in Makkah.
• Animal sacrifice: animals were offered to idols on special occasions.
• Divination: people tried to learn the future through arrows, birds or soothsayers.
• Worship of natural objects: some tribes worshipped trees, stones, stars or the moon.

What superstitions did the Arabs hold?

• Omens: belief in good and bad signs.
• Jinns: fear of spirits.
• Fortune-tellers: people consulted them for advice.
• Owls: they were believed to bring bad luck.

What were the social life and customs of pre-Islamic Arabia?

Social life was built on the family and the tribe, with strong customs on marriage, honour and revenge.

What was the family structure?

• Patriarchal system: men had authority over the family.
• Extended family: several generations lived together.
• Tribe: the most important social unit, giving protection and identity.

What were the marriage customs?

Several forms of marriage existed. Polyandry means a woman having more than one husband. Polygamy means a man having more than one wife.

• Regular marriage: a dowry was paid to the bride’s family.
• Temporary marriage: a marriage for a fixed period.
• Polyandry: practised in some areas.
• Polygamy: men could have multiple wives.
• Divorce: easy for men but difficult for women.

What was the status of women?

The status of women varied across Arabia.

• Rights: in many tribes, women had few rights.
• Female infanticide: some tribes killed baby girls.
• Inheritance: women could not inherit property in most cases.
• City women: in some areas, especially cities, women had better status and some owned businesses.

What tribal values did the Arabs hold?

• Muruwah (manliness): courage, patience and endurance.
• Hospitality: guests were welcomed and protected.
• Generosity: giving 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.

What were blood feuds?

A blood feud was a long revenge conflict between tribes after a killing.

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

What was the economy of pre-Islamic Arabia?

The economy of Arabia depended on trade, farming, animal rearing and crafts, with trade as the backbone.

How important was trade?

• Caravan trade: camels carried goods across desert routes.
• Trade routes: they connected Yemen to Syria and passed 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.

Where was farming done?

• Oases: date palms, vegetables and some grains.
• Yemen: more extensive farming because of better rainfall and dams.
• Ta’if: known for grapes and other fruits.

Which animals did the Arabs keep?

Animal husbandry means rearing animals, and Bedouins depended on it most.

• Camels: transport, milk, meat and hair for tents.
• Sheep and goats: milk, meat and wool.
• Horses: prized animals used in warfare and racing.

Which crafts existed?

• Blacksmithing: making and mending iron tools.
• Leather working: making items from animal skins.
• Pottery making: shaping clay vessels.
• Weaving: making cloth and tent materials.
• Jewellery making: crafting ornaments.

How was Arabia governed before Islam?

Most of Arabia had no central government and was ruled through independent tribes.

How did tribal governance work?

• 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: tribes sometimes joined for protection or warfare.

How were the city-states governed?

• Makkah: ruled by the Quraysh, with power shared among clans.
• Yathrib (Madinah): different tribes governed their own areas.
• Yemen: had more structured kingdoms through history.

Which foreign powers influenced Arabia?

• Persian Empire: influenced eastern Arabia.
• Byzantine Empire: had allies in northern Arabia.
• Abyssinian Kingdom (Ethiopia): controlled Yemen for a time.

What were the cultural achievements of pre-Islamic Arabs?

The Arabs were known for poetry, a rich language and practical knowledge.

What was the role of poetry?

• Status: poets had great influence.
• Competitions: poetry contests were held at markets such as Ukaz.
• Mu’allaqat: by tradition, the best poems were written in gold and hung on the Kaaba.
• History and values: poetry preserved tribal history and values.
• Famous poets: Imru’ al-Qais and Antarah ibn Shaddad.

What was the Arabic language like?

• Classical Arabic: developed as a rich literary language.
• Dialects: they differed from region to region.
• Oral tradition: memorisation was strongly emphasised.

What knowledge and skills did the Arabs have?

• Astronomy: used for navigation.
• Traditional medicine: herbs and natural remedies.
• Genealogy: knowledge of family trees.
• Weather prediction: reading signs in the sky and land.
• Water finding: locating wells and springs.

Why was Makkah important before Islam?

Makkah was the most important city in Arabia before Islam because it was a religious centre, a trade hub and the home of the Quraysh.

• Religious centre: home of the Kaaba, a place of pilgrimage.
• Trade hub: it lay at the crossroads of major trade routes.
• Tribal headquarters: it was the centre of the powerful Quraysh tribe.

What was the Kaaba?

The Kaaba was a cube-shaped building in Makkah.

• Origin: built originally by Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael.
• Later use: it was filled with idols.
• Haram: the sacred area around it.
• Pilgrimage: visiting the Kaaba was an ancient tradition.

How was Makkah governed?

Makkah had a simple system in which Quraysh clans shared duties.

• Dar al-Nadwa: a council house where Quraysh elders met.
• Banu Hashim: provided water for pilgrims.
• Banu Abd al-Dar: kept the keys to the Kaaba.
• Other clans: handled flags, council meetings and other duties.

What conditions prepared Arabia for Islam?

Social problems, a search for spiritual guidance and a useful location prepared Arabia for the message of Islam.

What social problems existed?

• Wars: endless tribal wars and blood feuds.
• Mistreatment: women, orphans and the weak were badly treated.
• Slavery: slaves were exploited.
• Inequality: wealth was unequally shared.
• No central law: there was no central authority to enforce justice.

What showed a search for spiritual guidance?

• Hanifs: they searched for the true religion.
• Other faiths: some people showed interest in Judaism and Christianity.
• Doubt: some educated people were dissatisfied with idol worship.

Why was Arabia’s location suitable?

• Position: it lies between Africa, Asia and Europe.
• Independence: it was relatively free from the big empires.
• Trade routes: they could carry ideas to other lands.

What from pre-Islamic Arabia remained important after Islam?

Several parts of pre-Islamic Arabia remained important after Islam came.

• Language: Arabic became the language of the Quran.
• Good values: Islam encouraged generosity and hospitality.
• Poetry and oral tradition: they helped preserve and spread Islamic teachings.
• Trade networks: they later helped spread Islam to other regions.
• The Kaaba: it was cleansed of idols and became the centre of Islamic worship.

Evaluation

1. Describe the geography of the Arabian Peninsula before Islam and name its three main regions.
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?

Assignment

1. List four social problems that existed in Arabia before Islam, and explain in one sentence each why they made people ready for a new message.