PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD IN ARABIA (JAHILIYYA)

After studying about the origin of Christianity and how it spread in the different places in the
world, In this section, you will learn about Islam and how it spread.
 Before Islam came into existence, there was a period of darkness in human history
characterized by ignorance and disorder in the religious and social life of the world.
This period is called JAHILIYYA

 This was a period of barbarism when the social and religious disorder which had been
organized by Judaism and Christianity had broken down.
 The people had forgotten the ideals of their religion.
 Morality had broken down.
 There was corruption, intolerance. persecution and wrangles over beliefs and sects existed
everywhere.
 Greatest disorder existed in the social life of the Arabs. There was no discipline among the
Arabs.
 There was corruption, superstition, unrestrained freedom and unrestricted enjoyment in the
Arab society.
 Polygamy was the order of the day.
 Adultery was common among the pre-Islamic Arabs. There was too much freedom with the
opposite sex to the extent that brothers could marry their own sisters.
 Human sacrifice existed where by people sacrificed their children to false gods in order to
get a lot of wealth.

1
  Women were so much degraded in society.it appeared a curse to bear a girl child and
sometimes they were buried alive by heartless people.
 Women could not have any share of the property of their husbands or fathers. In short
women had no status in society.
 Slavery, in its worst form prevailed in the Arab society and the master could even put his
slave to death.
 Economically Arabia was at the primitive stage with little agricultural produce.
 There was disorder and confusion in the religious life of the Arabs. Even the few Jews and
Christians that existed did not hold high religious ideals.
 There was idol worship practiced by many people.
 There were no basic human rights. The rich ruled the poor and imposed what ever laws they
wanted. The world was divided into the ruling class and the ruled.

Attempt the questions below.

1. Describe the social and religious evils of the Jahiliyya period.

Corruption, segregation, incest idol worship, murder, polygamy, adultery, incest, bigamy, slavery,
oppression, unrestricted freedom.

2.Compare the evils of Jahiliyya period to those in Uganda today

 There is murder in Uganda just as it was during the jahiliyya period.For example the
Bijambiya cases in masaka of late.also the murder Brendah Nantongo.
 There is corruption in Uganda in public offices just as it was during Jahiliyya period.
 Superstition happened during Jahiliya just as it happens in Uganda today.
 Example,
 False religions are happening in Uganda just as the period of Jahiliya where they
worshipped idols.
 Kibwetere’s religion.
 Polygamy exists today just as it was during jahiliyya period.
 Human sacrifice still exists in Uganda just as it was during jahiliyya.
 Unrestricted freedom of media is there today similar to what happened during jahiliyya.
 Oppression is practiced in Uganda where by some people are so much mistreated like the
house maids just as it was during jahiliyya period.

DIFFERENCES

 Slavery was practiced during Jahiliyya while today there are other forms of oppression
slavery is highly condemned.
 In Uganda women have value and their rights are highly recognized and preserved while
during jahiliyya period women were mistreated.
 Incest is condemned in Uganda while in Jahiliyya period they practiced incest.
 Unrestricted enjoyment happened during jahiliyya period while in Uganda there are limits
to enjoyment. for example, bars and some leisure places have been put to a stop during
the CIVID 19 regulations.
 In conclusion, jahiliyya as the period of social and religious darkness took place before
Islam came into existence at a time when Christianity and Judaism had broken down.