The Context of Pre-Islamic Arabia: A Historical Examination

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of Pre-Islamic Arabia, exploring the Arabian peninsula prior to the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE. It examines the geographical context, including the diverse regions and the importance of trade routes. The essay delves into the religious landscape, highlighting the indigenous polytheistic beliefs, as well as the presence of Judaism and Christianity. It discusses the cultural significance of the nomadic Bedouin people, their tribal structures, and their societal values. The essay further analyzes the rise of important cities such as Mecca and Medina and the impact of trade on the region. It also contrasts the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods, detailing the transformations in social, cultural, and political life that occurred with the emergence of Islam. Finally, it summarizes the impact of these changes, including the spread of Islam, the decline of tribal communities, and the rise of the Caliphate, along with the benefits and conflicts associated with these transformations.

Examine the context of the
Arabian peninsula in the pre-
Islamic period
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
Pre-Islamic Arabia refers the Arabian peninsula prior to the emergence of Islamic. It is the
peninsula prior to the rise of Islam in the 630s CE. It is situated in North-east of America on the
Arabian plate (Potts, 2017). It is called the largest peninsula in the world because it spread in
approximate of 3,237,500 Km2 and consists on several countries such as: Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain
etc. This study is going to show the difference of situations and religion of Arabia before coming
of Islamic and after coming of Islamic. In the context of Pre-Islamic religion in Arabia, it will
show beliefs of indigenous polytheistic, Judaism and Christianity. It was established by Arab
traders by St. Thomas and Paul's ministry. It will also show some important cultures before the
rise of Islamic which was of the Nomadic Bedouin people. It will also show 4 regions on which
it was divided before modern era include: central plateau, Indian ocean coast, Red sea coast and
Persian gulf coast.
MAIN BODY
Islam is the oldest religion which is been followed and practiced by many people. It was
originated from Mecca and Medina in Arab at start of 7th century. But before the start of Islamic
period there was pre Islamic period that begin from 6th century (Dost, 2017). Pre Islamic Arabia
was the time between 300 – 600 CE. In that there were few communities outside of Arab.
Islamic scholars recorded evidence of communities. Thamud civilization arose during 3000
BCE. However, in pre Islamic period in Arab religion followed indigenous polytheistic beliefs.
There were many religions such as Christianity, Judaism ad Zoroastrianism. The practices were
based on deities and spirits. However, the Arab traders established those religion when they
heard gossip from Peter at Jerusalem and Paul ministry in Arabia. In south Arabia Christianity
was highly followed. Najran was centre of it and in eastern part of Arabia Nestorian was the
place.
It is been evaluated that nomadic Bedouin people exists in Arab before rise of Islam. They
share common ethics and beliefs. Furthermore, Bedouin tribe were nomadic pastoralists. They
were those people who depend on earnings through goat, milk, sheep, etc. Moreover, those who
were not member of this tribe were considered as enemy. The origin of Jews and other tribes in
Arabia rise in 2nd century when first temple was constructed. Till 6 and 7th century Jews
population rise in Hejaz and in Medina. The leader Abu Karib Asad and Dhu Nuwas prosecuted
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Christians in their kingdom. In pre Islamic period basically there were only three Jewish tribes in
Medina that are banu nadir, banu qainuqa and Arab. (Feener, 2017).
During that period many cities of Arab became important like Mecca, Medina, Karbala, etc.
hence, this led to bring change in things related to how
In earlier times, Yemen was occupied by four major people. They were categorised on into
four that is Minaens, Sabaeans, Qatabanians and Hadramites. Sabaeans called themselves as
Saba. They lived through 7 and 8th century BCE. The Minaens kingdom began from 4 to 2nd
century BCE. This tribe was engaged in far flung trading activities. It was between Egypt and
Syria. The communities were leading groups and tribe. But it was divided into small size of
groups that vary according to their importance. Among them Kabir was head of community in
National federation. The Qatabanians people was known as Wadi bayha. They lasted till 2nd
century BCE. At last the Hadramites was wealthiest among all. Himyar were community that
lived in south of Arabia. (History of Arabia, 2016)
In 4th century a polytheistic religion was replaced with worship of Lord heaven and Earth. In
central and north Arabia many monuments came into existence. Along with it, several tribal
kingdoms aroused. Kindah was Bedouin tribal kingdom that rules over tribes. Its influence was
in central Arabia. Another was Al Hirah that was similar to Kindah. Ghassan kingdom ruled over
lakhmids in west Arabia. They were Christians and was involved in conflicts of church. Qurash
integrated tribes of Bedouin in Mecca (Bateson, 2019). The role was initiated after Minaeans and
Nabataeans. The entire control was in west side and trade done in coastal areas with Yemen and
Syria.
It is stated that many changes occurred during Islamic period in Arabia. They were both
social and cultural. During 6th century Quraysh was controlling Mecca. He did various
agreements withy tribes and allowed them to trade freely. He and his people started calling as
protected neighbours of Allah. Along with it, the tribes who came to visit Mecca were known as
guest of Allah. After some time, there occurred clashes between Quraysh and the tribes. Prophet
Muhammad was born in 570 CE. He started affiliating with other tribes in Mecca but was not
successful. Then, he approached to Medina to negotiate with tribal chief. Prophet became head
of Medinan tribal confederation. The tribe joined and started supporting him. He moves to
Medina in 622 CE. When Prophet Muhammad returned to Mecca many Quraysh tribes accepted
Islam and worshiping Allah. In Persia and Byzantium tribes united temporarily. They left
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peninsula and it highly affected the Arab. The Persian was converted into Arabian Islam in
Yemen. Two cities Mecca and Medina became holy worship place for people. In this way Islam
began to spread by shaping its characteristics outside city of Arabia. The Shariah was promoted
and implemented by descendants of Prophet Muhammad.
So, the benefit of change in Arabian was tribes cultural and social life improved. There was
no rule of king and the Caliph showed them way to worship only one God. Beside this, there was
no dominance of political power on people (Fabian, 2018). With rise in Islam in Arab different
tribes and communities diminished. The Prophet Muhammad and his descendants promoted
Islam in different cities. It enabled them to know the importance of Islam. However, people pay
tax to protect Mecca and serve tribes who visit to worship. There were certain principles which
were followed by people. So, it led to finishing of King rule and spreading of Islam in Arab.
Besides that, Caliph rule started in which leader promoted Islamic principles and practices
among people. The leader showed and guided community towards worshiping Allah. So, it was
easy for people to recognise their leader and follow. Since, then concept of One God influenced
people mind in positive way. They started accepting Islam and following its practices and
principles.
The pros are that people were allowed to use land for agricultural purpose and it offered
them trade opportunities to trade with Yemen and Syria. Due to trade, cities like Mecca and
Medina benefited from it. People visited them and gained knowledge about social ethics and
cultural followed. The goods such as fishery, dairy products, etc. became important in trade. So,
it enabled people to fulfil their needs. The theories and practices emerged.
But on contrary, cons were that many conflicts occurred between Arab and Prophet
Muhammad. Also, it led to wars between them (Webb, 2016). Due to it, many people died and it
impacted on lives of Arab. Apart from it, other Arab cities did not adopt Arab customs. So, there
was many modifications done in principles to deal with conflict. Thus, Prophet have to serve as
potential source so that in future conflicts do not occur. Due to Caliph rule, Islam was divided
into two groups that are Shia and Sunni. Here, some people believed that Hazrat Ali was
appointed as Caliph whereas some followed Abu Bakr.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that history of Arabia and Arabian peninsula
played a vital role in the rise of the Islam. It was inhabited by innumerable tribal units and it was
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the cradle of Islam and the faith is the main strength of it which influenced almost every Muslim
people. It has also shown the difference between the situation and culture of Arabia before and
after the rise of Islamic and Arabia peninsula. Further it has also shown the main source of food
in that time on which Pastoralists depend on includes: small herds of camels, sheep and other
animals from which they get milk, cheese and meat. It has also shown some evidence and
sources which shows many civilization in pre-Islamic Arabia and especially in South Arabia. It
has long been accepted as the original Urheimat of the Semitic languages.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bateson, M.C., 2019. Structural continuity in Poetry: a linguistic study of five pre-Islamic
Arabic odes. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Dost, S., 2017. An Arabian Qur’ān: Towards a Theory of Peninsular Origins.
Fabian, L., 2018. Prismatic perspectives on the pre-Islamic empires of Persia. antiquity, 92(364),
pp.1118-1120.
Feener, R.M., 2017. Muslim Cultures and Pre-Islamic Pasts: Changing Perceptions of
“Heritage”. In The Making of Islamic Heritage (pp. 23-45). Palgrave Macmillan,
Singapore.
Potts, D.T., 2017. Trans-Arabian routes of the pre-Islamic period. The Arabs and Arabia on the
Eve of Islam. p.45.
Webb, P., 2016. Imagining the Arabs: Arab identity and the rise of Islam. Edinburgh.
Online
History of Arabia, 2016. [Online] Available through : <
https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Arabia/The-Umayyad-and-Abbasid-
periods >
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