Socio- Religious conditions of Arabia at Advent of Holy prophet (P.B.U.H) by Sir Nofil SAfwan

Q: Review briefly the great change brought about by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S A W) in Pre Islamic Arab society with the new values taught by him? (1981)

Q: Write down the Salient features of the Religious, Social, and Political conditions of the Arabs, when the Prophet Muhammad PBUH proclaimed his prophet hood. (1986)

Q: Throw light on the place of woman in the Jahiliyah period and her exalted position in the City State Madinah? (1989)

Q: who was Abraha and with what expedition is he associated and what was its result?

Q: Describe the Socio-religious conditions of Arabia at the Advent of the Holy prophet (PBUH)?

Ans: Historical back ground: 

The Arabs were the descendants of the Semitic people. It is said that in ancient time there was a place named “Araba” adjacent to the province of Tayama in Hijaz. In course of time the word “Arab” is derived from that “Araba” but according to other Arab it originated from the word of “Yarab” who was the Son of Kahtan who was the predecessor of the people of south Arabia.
The Semitic race occupied special place in the history of mankind. Arabia is the birth place of Islam. Isa, Musa, and Muhammad PBUH, were the sons of this Semitic race and East was the homeland.

Geographical status:

 Arabia is a vast peninsula in the south of Asia. It is the largest peninsula in the world with dry climate. Date-palm is the queen of trees in Arabia. The Coastal regions produce fruits and vegetables in large quantity. Agriculture is also possible due to rainfall. Camel, horse, sheep, and goats are the principal domestic animals of Arabia. Of these animals, camel is the most useful animal in Arabia. The dowry of bride, the price of blood, the profit of gambling and the wealth of a Sheikh are all computed in terms of camel. 

Arabs races:

Arabia has been inhabited by various races, 1. Arab Baida, (first race) (earliest settlers or Bediouins). 2. Aarb Ariba (second race) (lived in present Yemen also known as Banu Kahtan) 3. Arab Mustariba. (Third race) (North Arabians) (Descendants of Ismail including Adnan) (Muhammad PBUH belong to this race).

Ayyami I Jajiliya:

Mostly Historians regard Ayyami I Jahiliya or age of ignorance to that period which start of the death of Hazrat Isa to extend to hundred years before the rise of Islam. During this age there is general belief that the Arabs had no culture. They were almost cut off from culture and the civilized world. But they have developed their language called Arabic, they were famous for their language. The pre Islamic Arabs had no inspired prophet, no revealed book, no clear cut religious ideology and they had no Idea of the System of government, no clear Idea of moral and descent life, “their religious and political life was on a thoroughly primitive level”, said by Wellhausen. 

Economics:

 Hence the people in general were economically depressed. They earned their livelihood by tending cattle people of a higher status like Usman and Abu Bakr , carried on inland and foreign business. 

Religious:

 With the Exception of Jews and Christians mostly Arabs were Idolaters. Each has domestically its own God’s deity, and also have few major Gods and Goddesses like al-Uzza, al-Lat, al-Manat, and al-Hubal etc. 

Social morals:

 Arabs Good Qualities outweighed by the bad ones, in the age of darkness Arabs possess great courage, dogged tenacity, wonderful memory, sense of self-respect, feeling of freedom, love and allegiance for their tribal leader, simplicity, generosity, hospitality and not the least the knack of poetry. But these good qualities were out weighted by the bad ones during this dark age.
Status of woman: the position of woman in Arabia was worse as compare to other part of that contemporary world. Arab regarded their women as chattels and looked upon with bitter contempt. When father was informed of the birth of daughter, his face would turn pale with grief and anger, sometime father buried her alive in spite of her soul harrowing and cries. Women were not entitled to have the share of the property of their deceased husband, father and other relations.

Social inequality:

 The Society of Arabs was steeped in vice (moral corruption), superstition, and barbarism.
Necessity of the advent of Hazrat Muhammad PBUH: Social in equality, persecution, drinking, gambling, plundering and other heinous vices were rampant among them. If the condition of all the countries of the world were rampant among them, if the condition of all the countries were worse, the conditions of Arabia-political, religious and social were the worst. Hence was the necessity of the advent of Hazrat Muhammad PBUH, in the peninsula of Arabia
Ameer Ali says “Never in the history of the world was the need so great, the time so ripe for the appearance do a
Deliverer”. Hazrat Muhammad PBUH appeared as a blessing of Arabia.

sources:

 written by Muhammad Nofil Safwan , from the Book of : A study of Islamic History. By K. Ali.