Before the advent of Islam

Before the advent of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula was living in a nomadic environment and a tribal system. This era was called the era of ‘Jahiliyah’ or the era of ignorance by Islam, where they considered Polytheism to be ignorant because Islam was not among them. It’s a strange base that has no logic. For instance, Before Islam, they had nobility, generosity, lowering the gaze, equestrianism, poetizing, commitment to sacred months, acceptance of others, and lack of religious fanaticism. And there were Jews living among the Arabs as Arabs and they were proud that they have a number of prophets and sacred books heaven sent. In addition to a small number of Christians and many other religions such as Sabaeans, Zoroastrianism, and others.

Abbas Al-Akkad

 

" the Jews boast about the adventures of their ancient prophets and their previous state established by King David "

In his book “The beginning of the light," Mr. Abbas AL-Akkad said that the Jews boast about the adventures of their ancient prophets and their previous state established by King David, and the stories that followed the dream that fondled the imagination of the rich Arabs and their gentlefolk, to the extent that many of them dreaming about unifying and ruling these scattered tribes under one state. Besides, the Arabian Peninsula has witnessed in various regions attempts to unify the tribes politically, either through political alliances, or by subjugating one tribe to another by force, or alliance between tribes belonging to one ancestor. In addition to other attempts directly took the form of possession, as attempts Zuhair al-Janabi, the leader of the Qudah tribe to declare himself as the king of Bakr and Tuglp tribes, which is mentioned by Ibn Al-Atir in his book “full in history, or The Complete History”. He also mentioned the establishment of kingdoms in previous times, such as the Kingdom of Al-Hira and Ghassanah, but the Arabs did not accept that an individual has control over them, that is the rule of a clan or a tribe over the rest, which is rejected by tribal pride.  

While most Arab kingdoms were under foreign occupation, Yemen lost its independence since the first quarter of the sixth century AD and fell under the rule of the Ahbash and Persians, and the Kingdom of Alhira lost independence and turned to an emirate ruled by the Prince of Persia, And the condition of the Kingdom of Ghassania deteriorated after the abandonment of the Romans.

Map of Arabia 600 AD: This map shows the major cities and tribal distribution across
the Arabian peninsula.

The area of ​​the Hijaz with its two leading cities, Makkah and Yathrib, enjoyed independence and stability, due to its geographical position, from rough roads and harshness of life, resulted in keeping them far from the international conflict and influence by any foreign civilization. However, this situation deprived the Hijaz of intellectual richness.   

In the face of these obvious tribal and intellectual obstacles due to the nature of the region, people wish for a prophet like David, and this idea spread among the Arabs so quickly to speed up the arrival of the awaited prophet, and the people believed in this idea and accepted it, and they were preparing for this great coming prophet to be one of them.

The irony is that not many years go by until the Arabian Peninsula is one state united by the power of sword after Muhammad ibn Abdullah announced what the people wish for, the coming of a prophet who unites them. He took the opportunity and declared himself a prophet, that preceded by more than thirteen people claimed Prophecy but did not catch up with luck and write to them success.  

"Mecca turned from a mere station on the path of commerce claiming taxes, to a commercial metropolis where a class of merchants appeared"

And because Mecca was an important center in the way of trade between the north and south and between the east and west. The nomads have set places for rest and recreation along the way, as mentioned Dr. Ahmed Shalabi in his book the biography of the Prophet, Mecca turned from a mere station on the path of commerce claiming taxes, to a commercial metropolis where a class of merchants appeared. This is pointed out by Professor Ahmed Amin in his book "The Dawn of Islam". He said that the Yemenis declined and were replaced in the trade by the Arab of Hijaz. This was since the beginning of the sixth century AD. The Arab of Hijaz bought goods with Yemenis and Abyssinians and sell them in the markets of the Levant and Egypt, and also in Persia but not as much, because the trade with the Persians was in the hands of the Arabs of Hira. And the Arabs of the Hijaz made Mecca a base for their trade and put the road under their protection.

In an affirmation of the words of Professor Ahmed Amin, the historical narratives have gathered on the fact that the "King of Yemen" early on led a campaign to control Mecca and Yathrib, he also had wars with the Aws and Khazraj and furthermore, he attempted to demolish the Kaaba however, he was prevented by the Jewish rabbis.  

The novels also reported a number of attempts by the kings of Himyar to extend their control and influence over the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to the famous elephant campaign on Mecca.

In the last quarter of the sixth century, the tribal divisions were rupturing Yathrib apart; Quraish was not innocent of what is happening in Yathrib, in fact, they made an alliance with Aws against the Khazraj in a previous war, Which explains what will happen later, when the people of Yathrib led by The Khazraj allied themselves with the Prophet Muhammad against Quraysh, which shows that this alliance was built on political reasons, not religious.  

And because Mecca was keeping its promises, covenants, protecting the trade and securing the trade routes. As a result, Mecca experienced general Arab respect and eligibility for leadership, and its people gained great wealth. As Dr. Ahmed Al-Sharif says in his book Mecca, the city of ignorance and, the era of the Apostle; That Mecca has become worthy to be the nucleus in the establishment of an Arab nationalism, and Quraish assured this notion and worked to support it and made sure to keep it going.  

It is clear from the analysis of the previous events that Mecca was ready for leadership and was looking for this prophet or the expected leader to achieve its dream of leading the Arab region, and the idea of leadership and prophecy has become the subject of many men of Mecca, because of the appropriate environment.