the socio-religious situation in the Arabian Peninsula before the emergence of Islam.
0.1 INTRODUCTION
Man, as a rational being do not act
in an oblivious state. Almost all human acts are been triggered by some
circumstances which may be economical, political or religious because, all this
principles affects human beings in their mode of reasoning and relationship
with others. Most prominent revolutionaries or reformers in the world all acted
in reaction or in response to the degenerating socio-cultural, political or
religious activities in the country or locality they found themselves. Some of
them are charismatic leaders whose aim may either be to reform or to dissolve
and put in place a new socio-religious system that may benefit the people.
Muhammad, the great prophet and
founder of Islamic religion who lived in Arabian peninsula in the 7th
century, was a charismatic revolutionary who, through his prophetic mission,
brought about a reform in the socio-religious activities in that region which
later extended to other regions, for at that time of the history, the aforementioned
situation in the Arabian Peninsula was a one filled with economic tussle and
religious instability. As Rev. Fr. Kenny posited in his book; West Africa and Islam: what every Catholic
should know, That for Catholics to proclaim the Gospel to the Muslims there
is the need to understand their (Muslims) minds and feelings, which can only be
known through studying and inundating their beliefs and history.
So
the main purpose of this paper is to analyze the socio-religious situation in
the Arabian Peninsula before the emergence of Islam. As a way of methodology,
it will begin by giving a brief history of the people and cities in the Middle
Eastern part of the globe in which Arabian Peninsula falls into. Secondly, the
evaluation of the socio-religious atmosphere in the Arabian Peninsula will be
carried out under three aspects; political, economic and religious situation.
The general conclusion of the paper is also vital.
1.0
THE
MIDDLE EAST BEFORE THE EMERGENCE OF ISLAM
The description of the people and
civilizations in the Middle East, will begin with the Byzantine Empire. The
Byzantine or the Eastern part of the Roman Empire was simply known to the Arabs
as Rum.[1] It
is good to note that the Roman Empire and the Persians are the two world powers
as at that time that is between 60 B.C to 1500 A.D. Byzantine Empire has
Constantinople as its capital. This city was built by Emperor Constantine under
the rubbles of an ancient city; Byzantium. The Empire has its national base at
Greece and it governed Egypt, Palestine and Syria up to the Persian border near
the Tigris River.[2]
They have Greek as their commercial language with Orthodox Christianity as
their State Religion.
Secondly,
the Egyptian civilization was among the prominent civilizations in the Middle
East. Egypt was known to the Arabs as Misr
( misyram), a word meaning “ fortified city” which the Egyptians used in naming
the capital city; Cairo.[3] As
a nation, Egypt has been ruled by lots of empires starting from the Persians to
the Byzantine. Their language is Copt which was also the name of the Locals
while Greek was the commercial language. Christianity was the majority in terms
of religion while Judaism and some pagan practices were the minors.
The third people in the Middle East are the
Syrian, Palestine and Iraq. History has it that these areas were known to the
Arabs as Sham (from “shem”; compare “Semite”), and it has been a Greek cultural
zone from the time of Alexander the Great.[4]
They have Syriac which was the same thing as Aramean as their indigenous
language, Arabic for the desert Nomads while Greek is for commerce. In aspect
of religion, the region was mostly constituted by Christianity and Judaism.
There are also Judeo-Christians whose influence or contact with Muhammad played
a great role in the development of the Muslim Holy Quran.
Another famous empire in the Middle
East was the Persian Empire. The Persians has Zoroastrianism which was founded
by Zarathustra around 600 B.C. as their main religion. They also have Christianity and Manichaeism
as states religion, though, the Christian there were normally persecuted due to
the economic and political war between Persia and the Byzantine Empire.[5]
1.2 THE PEOPLE OF THE
ARABIAN PENINSULA
The inhabitants of the
Arabian Peninsula are descendants of desert dwellers (the Bedouin). They the
ancient clans of Ishmael, the Medianites and Amalekites. The name “Arab” may be
said to be applied to the uncivilized much divided people who recognize their
national unity only with difficulty.[6] The Arabian Peninsula is enclosed in the west
by the Red Sea and Mount Sinai, in the east by the Arabian Gulf, in the south
by the Arabian Sea which is an extension of the Indian Ocean and was bothered
in the north by chain of territories known as the Fertile Crescent in
Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine and their desert borderlines. Arabian Peninsula
is made up of Saudi Arabia, The Yamen Republic, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt
Iraq, Hasmite Kingdom of Jordan and so on.[7]
The Arabs has been divided according
to linage into three groups. First, Perishing Arabs regarded as the ancient
Arabs whose history is scarcely known and of whom were Al Thamud, Tasam, Elaq
and others. Secondly, the pure Arabs who originated from the progeny of Ya’rub
bin Yashub bin Qahtaan, they were also called Qahtaanian Arabs. Thirdly, the
Arabized Arabs, who originated from the progeny of Ishmaa’eel. They were also
called Adnanian Arabs.[8]
The Arabs were further divided regionally into the Badw (Bedouin nomads) in the
north who are mainly agriculturalist, business men and nomads and the Hadar
whom were referred to as those who live in the cities. With the above brief
history of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, there is the need to look
into the socio-religious activities of the people in the region before the
coming of Prophet Muhammad with his reformative religion; Islam.
1.3 POLITICAL SITUATION
IN THE ARABAIN PENINSULA BEFORE ISLAM
Before the emergence of Islam, there
was no centralized government or state in the Arabian Peninsula.[9] Apart
from the Nomads (the Bedouin), who divides and govern themselves by clan or
extended family structure which was held together externally by the need for
self defense and internally by blood tie decency, there exist crowned kings who
were in fact not independent but subservient to the Persians or Roman Empire.[10]
The crowned kings were only those of Yamen, Heerah and Ghassan. The tribes
dwelling near Heerah were subordinate to the Arabian king of Heerah while those
in the Syrian semi-desert were under the domain of the Arabian Ghassanide.
However, those living in the hinder desert enjoys full freedom while some
places like Mecca, had a council of leading men for the general supervision of
the town.[11]
In the areas were crowned kings do not
exist, there were chiefs (shaikh), who were of equal right with the citizens so
much so that the chiefs of the tribes
constitutes a personate mere theoretical authority whose functions was simply
to preserve the unity within his tribe.
The Shaikh, who was normally nominated by a group of
old people known as Al-al-ikh-Tiyar, was limited by the council of notables.
Even though he was the first among equal, he follows rather than to lead the
opinion of the people, for he has no right to impose or to inflict punishment.
Heads of the tribes and masters had
special claim to spoils of war such as a quarter of spoils of war, whatever he
chose for himself, that which he founds on his way back or even the remaining
undivided spoils.[12] It
is necessary to note here that the long contact of the Arabian traders with
their neighbors eventually led to their civilization and semi-organized
political system. Thus, four civilized kingdoms later emerged from that region;
the kingdom of Ma’in (Minean), Saba (Sabean), Hadhramaut (Hadramut) and the
kingdom of Qutaban (Katabanu).[13] But
no matter all this development in their political system, the people of the
Arabian Peninsula still lack a formal centralized political or modern system of
government for their kings and heads lacks the power to veto.
1.4 THE RELIGIOUS
SITUATION IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA BEFORE ISLAM
Before the birth or the
emergence of Islam, there are some religious institutions in that region.
Prominent among this are Arabian Traditional Religion, Judaism, Christianity,
Judeo-Christianity, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism and so on. This period of the
Arabian history was known as the period of Jahiliya
which means the period of darkness or ignorance, for the Arabians engrossed
themselves with all manner of inhumane and barbaric activities. An analysis of
these religions will help one to have a good picture of religious atmosphere in
the Arabian Peninsula before Muhammad.
1.4.1 THE ARABIAN
TRADITIONAL RELIGION
The
Arabian traditionalist believed in and overall deity called Allah (,al-illah, corresponding to the Hebrew El,
plural ‘ Elohim’) but they turned mostly to lesser
divinities or spirits for their needs.[14] The
Arabs had many gods and even Tribal Gods. Though they have an overall believe
on Allah but Allah was regarded as the Tribal god of the Quraishi ; one of the
Tribes in the Arabian Penisula. The god, Allah, according to the Quariash, had
three daughters namely; Al-Lat which was also known as the goddess of
fertility, Al-Uzzi or Uzzat which was the goddess of power and Al-Manat which
referred to the goddess of faith.[15]
These
deities were far from being the only object of worship as there was also the Ka’bah or shrine in the center of Mecca
which contained the famous block stone (an object of immense veneration which
attracted pagan pilgrims to Mecca yearly). They caved and worshiped idols whom
they believed to be intermediary to the almighty God. Most of them do worship
objects in the sky such sun, moon and other heavenly bodies like planets.
1.4.2 JUDAISM
Judaism
was the religion of the Jews who settled in the Arabian Peninsula. History,
especially, biblical writings helps us to understand that the Jews were the
descendants of Abraham the father of Ishmael. Though, the Jews themselves are
not from the linage of Ishmael rather, from Isaac and Jacob. Judaism as a
religion has a long history in the Bible right from the Book of Exodus till
their arrival in Canaan. It is good to
note that Jerusalem which was the tribal home of the Jews can be said to be the
present day Palestine which was also among the Semetic region. The Jews are
very strong and stable in their religion as it was recorded that Prophet
Muhammad having seen how zealous and influential they are, tries to convert
them but their concept of election prevented them from accepting a new prophet
especially one coming from another people[16].
As Prophet Muhammad rightly said, that the Jews were the ‘People of the Book’
and their refusal from joining Islam even echoed in the Holy Quran (Q. 2 104
0113) which resulted in the changing of prayer direction (qibla). The Jews were
mostly found in Medina. However, some of them were found in other areas of the
Arabian Peninsula.
1.4.3 JUDEO-CHRISTIANITY
In desert spots between Jerusalem and
Mecca there were many groups of Judeo-Christians. These were Jews who accepted
Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, but still insisted on the observances of the
Old Law.[17]
The Judeo-Christians accepted inspired scriptures of Torah. They were called
“Nazarenes” (“Nasara” in the Quran). Like the Samaritans who accepted no
prophet between Aaron and Jesus but David. They accepted as inspired, the Torah
and the Gospel according Mathew and the Psalms, while they reject Isaiah,
Jeremiah and others.[18]
They also rejected some verses in the Old Testament with the notion that they
contained anthropomorphic description of God thus, making them to term the
Bible as corrupt because it has been tempered with.
The
Judeo-Christian has a heavenly book believed to have been delivered by Jesus to
their alleged founder Elxai.[19]
They never accepted Christ’s divinity for they still hold that he was the Son
of God by adoption during his baptism and was the prophet foretold by Moses.
For them Jesus Christ did not die on the cross rather, he came to reform the
Mosiac Law. The Judeo-Christians were hardly known in the Arabian Peninsula for
they flourished in the margins of society, in the remote desert settlements and
among the nomads in the land beneath the Fertile Crescent.[20] Like the Jews, they prayed facing Jerusalem,
prayed daily for cure from illness, deliverance, forgiveness of sins and all
this are devoted through ablution. The importance of Judeo-Christian is that it
was the form of Christianity most closely known by the Arabs at the time of
Prophet Muhammad. They hardly knew of the Greek Christianity, whether in its
orthodox or heretical forms.
1.4.4 CHRISTIANITY
Christianity
as a religion had long thrived In Mecca before the emergence of Islam. It was
first given to the Arabs who were converted to Christianity during their visit
to Jerusalem on Pentecost (Acts 2). Christians are found mostly in Yamen
(southern Arabia) and in Mecca. Most of them were traders and monks who had
their monasteries scattered around the desert area of the peninsula. Prophet
Muhammad, in one of his first business journey to Syria encounter a monk named
Bahira, who was among those that await the coming of the prophet.
Various Christian dominations were
present in the Arabia but Christianity was not so popular with the due to the
following reasons. A. Incessant warfare between the Christian empire of
Persian-Sassanid and the Byzantine for political occupation of the Arabian
Peninsula. B. the persecution of Christians in the Persian Empire due to the
Byzantine empire’s adoption of Christianity as the state religion. C.
Denominational Doctrine Differences which normally confused the Arabs. D. Inability of Christian evangelizers to give
the Arabs the Bible in their own language which Prophet Muhammad quickly did.
E. Failure of the early Church Leaders to maintain the purity of the church.[21]
Other
religions which existed in the Arabian Peninsula includes; Manichaeism which was
founded by Mani in the 3rd century AD. It was a dualist religion
which held that soul was part of the divine light imprisoned by the body. They
also hold that one can only be saved by living a holy life. Another religion
that existed in the Arabia was Zoroastrianism which was a religion of
Achaemenid dynasty founded by Zarathustra around 600 B.C. They believed in
Ahura-Mazdah as Supreme God and creator of life and goddess, while Ahrimon as
the creator of evil and death. For them, any negation of the body would be a
concession to Ahrimon. Their daily worship was passage read up from the Avesta
and to keep perpetual fire burning in the temple. They prefer to place corpses
of the dead on top of a tower of silence for birds to eat.[22]
1.5 ECONOMIC
SITUATION IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA BEFORE ISLAM
The
Economic lively hoods of the Arabs were suggested by their geographical
location. Thus, one may say that their economic activities are mostly based on
agriculture, pastoral farming, industries, markets, trade and different ways of
funds.
AGRICULTURE
The land of Mecca was not fertile and only dates were
able to be cultivated. The produce was so beneficial that they were used both
locally and for export. It is worth noted that that the people were experts in
transplanting. Most of their agricultural products are rice, vegetables, fruit,
cotton, coffee, tobacco and so on. In addition to this, they also produce
frankincense and myrrh in large quantity and it was with it that they engaged
in economic relationship with the western world.
INDUSTRY
AND MANUFACTURING
The city of Ta’if was known as the industrial city.
Skins of dead animals like Oxen, sheep, goats, camels, and many others were
transported there for treatment in various tanneries, and then in industries
for the production of bags, shoes, belts, luxuries and fantasies. They were
thus sent to the different parts of the country and to different other
countries as exported goods.[23]
It is true that, without farming and manufacturing, the Arabs were, compared to
other people, at an economic disadvantage; but they did compensate that in
another regard
INTERNATIONAL
TRADE ROUTE
Formerly, trade between India and China on the one
hand and Europe on the other passed through the old “silk route” from Asia
through Persia and Syria. The Byzantine-Persian wars blocked this route and
forced it to divert to the Indian Ocean. Goods were carried by ship as far
Yemen (the Red Sea was hard to navigate because of shallowness and lack of
wind), then unloaded and sent by camel caravan up the Arabian Peninsula and to
across Egypt and beyond. This diversion put Mecca right on the path of an
international trade route, and its merchants became wealthy independent
middlemen in this trade. More nomads were attracted to settle in the cities,
and thus, aggravating the social problems. These include: the lack of an
authority to control feuding clans who were now living in close quarters
instead of the vast expanse of the desert, and a privatization of life, so that
rich people exploited or did not take care of the poor of their clan,
particularly in the case of orphans.[24]
MARKET
STRUCTURE
There were three kinds of market in the main city of
Hijaz. The “common” market was used by each and every one. All Arabs had access
therein and there was no discrimination. The “slave” market was meant for the
buying and selling of slaves and was occupied by the middle class and rich
people. Access to such market was possible only if one was able to buy or sell
slaves. The poor people were excluded. The “aristocrat” was meant only for the
rich where only luxuries were sold. Goods and services of high qualities were
sold and offered there. All these markets were owned by the rich people of
Mecca, but their employees and workers were from the middle or low class. They
would work hard for only a little share of the profit.
INTERNATIONAL
TRADE RELATIONSHIP
The rich Arabs would engage in business with different
countries. They would trade with China for luxuries, Africa for crafts, Syria
for carpets, and India for spices. In return they would sell their dates,
leather products, agricultural products and slaves to these countries. They
would either engage in barter and monetary systems. The Bedouins would follow
the same track if ever they had the means to do so. All these business trades
would take place in caravans.
The
Arabs would also engage in the business of idols. They knew that during the
month of Dhul Hijjah, there would be many pilgrims who would come for the
pilgrimage. They would carve different models of the 360 idols present in and
around the sanctuary of the Ka’bah. They would deal in such business.
WAYS
OF FUNDS
There were different ways the Arabs would fund their
business and become richer and richer. Levies were imposed on anyone such as
travelers, foreigners and caravans for entering, staying and leaving the city
of Mecca. Another levy would be paid for catering for their animals and
belongings. Bribes were common among them for “progress”. Any desire for
favoritism would lead to bribes. High rate of interest was imposed on the
borrowers. The lenders were mainly the chiefs of Mecca or the Jews. Each year
it would increase by one hundred percent and at the end of the third year,
beginning the fourth year, the properties of the borrower would become the
properties of the lender, including wife and children.[25]
CONCLUSION
Having
evaluated the socio-religious situation in the Arabian Peninsula before the
emergence of Islam, starting from their political, religious system to the
economic situation in that region, one may easily conclude that the region was
already in its prime of its development before the coming of Prophet Muhammad.
However, despite their strong religious orientation, which is evident in their
strict adherence to the worship of their three hundred and sixty-five gods,
vices like idolatry, violent sectarianism, religious instability, burying of
female children alive, economic extortion of the poor by the greedy rich, lack
of security of life and goods for those travelling in the caravans, Prostitution
and drunkenness were all common among them in that peninsula. This nevertheless,
justifies Prophet Muhammad dislike about their way of life, and thus, seeks for
reform.
Finally,
this paper has not fully exhausted the socio-religious situation in the Arabian
Peninsula before the emergence of Islam. It is therefore, open for further
analytical development.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anson P. Atterbury,
Islam in Africa, Westport, Greenwood Press, 1969
Rev. Fr. Joseph Kenny, Early Islam, Nigeria, Dominican Publication, 1997
Rev. Fr. Joseph Kenny, West Africa and Islam: what every Catholic should know,
Nigeria, AECAWA PUB. 2004
Lecture note on Religious relationship in the seventh
century Semitic world.
[1]CF. REV. FR. JEO KENNY,OP. Early
Islam ,Ibadan, Pat-Mag Press Ltd. 1997, 1
[2] Cf. REV. FR, JEO JENNY,OP.
West Africa and Islam:what every Catholic should know , Nigeria, AECWA
PUBLICATION,2004,3
[3] Cf. REV. FR. JEO KENNY,OP. Early
Islam,3
[4] Ibidem 3
[5] Cf. REV. FR. JEO KENNY,OP. Early
Islam, 8
[6] Cf Lecture note on the development of Islam in the seven Semetic
World, page 3
[7] Cf. http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/articles/109643/arabia-before-the-prophet-muhammad-i.
accessed 27th May,2015.
[8]ibidem
[9] Cf. REV.FR. JEO KENNY,OP. Early
Islam. 7
[10] Cf. Lecture note on Islam, page 3
[11] Cf. http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/articles/109643/arabia-before-the-prophet-muhammad-i
accessed 27th May,2015.
[12]Cf. http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/articles/109643/arabia-before-the-prophet-muhammad-i
accessed 27th May,2015
[13] Cf. Lecture note on Islam, page 4
[14] Cf. REV.FR. JEO KENNY,OP. Early
Islam. 9
[15] Cf. Lecture note on Islam, page 4
[16] Cf. Lecture note on Islam, page 13
[17] Cf. REV. FR JEO KENNY, OP. West
Africa and Islam: what every Catholic
should know, Nigeria, AECAWA PUB. 3
[18] Ibidem 3
[19] Cf. Lecture note on Islam, page 5
[20] Cf. REV. FR JOE KENNY, OP. Early
Islam, 4
[21] Cf. Lecture note on Islam, page 5
[22] Cf. REV. FR KENNY, OP Early
Islam, 8
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