Pakistan International School Jeddah English Section

Academic Year: 2021–2022

Islamiyat 0493
Notes and Guidelines

Student Name/ID

Class/ Section

Chapter 3 The Life and Importance of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Topics Life of Prophet (SAW) in Makkah

Condition of Arabia before the advent of Islam

Reference notes - 1
 Chapter 3 – Condition of Arabia before the advent of Islam
.

Generic Guidelines
➢ These notes are consisted of outlines NOT the complete answer.
➢ Outlines are based on the IGCSE requirements with the reference of past paper question
and guidelines with examiner report for the relevant topics.
➢ These notes will serve the students as a mind map, in order to form a well-developed
answer.
➢ Students are required to use the given key points to develop the response in their own
words.
➢ For some topics notes are given in complete paragraph form to give idea how to develop the
answer
➢ References are also included within the notes to help students memorize

Life of Prophet (SAW) in Makkah

Condition of Arabia before the advent of Islam

A good answer should have most of the information and a lot of detail, accurate chronology,
perhaps giving relevant quotes. Following is the outline for a well-developed response.

➢ Outlines
➢ Introduction
➢ Religious Conditions:
➢ Social Conditions
➢ Position of Women
➢ Cultural Conditions
➢ Political Conditions
➢ Economic Conditions

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 Chapter 3 – Condition of Arabia before the advent of Islam
.
Past Paper Questions and Marking Scheme
Part ‘a’ (10 Marks Question)
Students are required to recall, select and present relevant facts from the main elements of the faith and
history of Islam in part ‘A’.

Conditions of Arabia before the Advent of Islam

1. Explain the socio-religious, political and economic conditions of Arabia at the time of the
birth of the holy prophet (SAW). [10]

➢ Introduction
The pre-Islamic period of history of Arabia is known as the period of jahiliyyah or the period of
ignorance. There were several reasons for this, as explained below:

Religious Conditions
Idol Worshipping:
• The Arabs, before the advent of Islam were mostly idol worshippers, with the exception of the
Jews and the Christian every tribe had its own deity: there were about 360 idols in Ka'bah at
the time of the conquest of Makkah.
• People from different parts of Arabia used to come to pay their homage to these idols; Al Habal
was the chief of these deities, whereas Al Lat, Al Uzzah, and Al Manat were female deities,
and were referred to as the "Daughters of Allah".
• There were hundreds of other idols; animals were sacrificed at their altar; and the blood of
these animals was presented as an offering to these deities. They considered angels to be
daughters of Allah, "Has then your Lord (O Pagans!) preferred for you sons and taken for
Himself daughters among the angels? Truly you utter a most dreadful saying"! [Isra 15:40]
Elements in the Nature:
• Beside the idols, the Arabs worshipped the sun, the moon, and the stars; they regarded trees,
stones, caves and other objects of nature as holy.
• Some believed ghosts and jinn, and were steeped in superstition; they resorted to the process
of divination through arrows, while others were devoted to fire-worship and they built altars
and shrines to fire.
Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrian:
• During the period of Jahiliya, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism were also practiced in
Arabia. The Christians and the Jews had distorted their religions.
• The Christians believed that the Christ was the son of God, while the Jews believed that Ezra
was the son of God. "The Jews call Uzair a son of Allah and the Christians call Christ son of
Allah." [at-Taubah 9:30] They had distorted and modified their books to serve their purpose.

➢Social Conditions
• The Arab society at the time of Jahiliya was morally corrupt. Arabs were superstitious,
uncivilized and barbarous.
• They indulged in all kind of evils; they were addicted to gambling, drinking, and stealing;
and practiced fornication, adultery and usury. Unfair trade practices were widespread,
'Might is right’, was the order of the day.
• Slavery was common and master enjoyed the right of life and death over his slaves.
Injustice and all kind of malpractices were rampant in the society. Raiding the trading
caravans as well as highway robbery was common.

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 Chapter 3 – Condition of Arabia before the advent of Islam
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➢ Position of Women

• The position of women in the Arabian society was so low that they could be inherited like
property or animals; they were regarded as chattels; they had no right and no social
standing.
• A man could many as many women as he liked, and could divorce them any time he
wished.
• The birth of a daughter was regarded as a matter of shame to the family.
• Some tribes buried female infants alive. "When the female (infant) Buried alive is
questioned. For what crime she was killed." (At-Takwir81:89)
• Children were murdered for fear of poverty that would come from raising them.

➢ Cultural Conditions

• The Arabic language and poetry was fully developed and the Arabs excelled in poetry.
Every year a fare used to be held at Ukaz, where poetry contests were held and the best
poems were written in gold letter and hung on the Ka'bah.
• The Arabs had excellent memories, and were proud of their fluency and regarded all
other people as dumb and mute.
• They were brave people, loyalty to their tribe; courage, proof of the honour and
glorification of the tribes was regarded as virtues.
• The Arabs were always ready to pick a fight, and did not hesitate to shed blood. A minor
incident would stir up a dispute which, would last for many years, and thousands of lives
would be lost.

➢ Political Conditions

• The Arabs did not have an organized government. Most of them were nomads with no
settlements. They were scattered tribes who would settle where ever they found water and
pasture.
• The chiefs of the tribes were chosen because of their bravery, wealth, and wisdom.
• Tribal loyalties led to inter-tribal rivalry and jealousy Disputes among tribes arose over
cattle pastures, springs of water, horseracing and other minor matters. The dispute would
stretch to many years.
• One such dispute harb-Al - Basus stretched to ten years, while battle of Dahis and
Ghabra started over horse racing and lasted for many decades. The tribe stood by its
members and would not rest till they avenged him in case of injury or murder.

➢ Economic Condition
• Economically, Jews were leaders of Arabia. They were owner of best arable land in
Hijaz, best farmers, good businessmen & industrialists.
• Arabs were far behind than other nations in industry, would hire slaves and foreigners to
work for them so slaves were backbone of economy in Arabia. Arabs were mostly
traders; Quraysh tribe was among the leading traders.
• Trading caravans were dispatched on yearly basis, one in winters to Yemen and one in
summers to as-Sham (Syria)
• People visiting Kabbah for homage especially in hajj months was a great source of income
for Makkans.

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