Article (54)

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

The Conditions of Arabia Before the Prophethood of the Messenger ﷺ - A Research-Based and Evidenced Study

—

The prophethood of the Holy Prophet ﷺ was a great historical turning point that guided nations from darkness to light. Before his prophethood, Arabia was a society plagued by ignorance, polytheism, social anarchy, moral degradation, and cultural collapse. Religion had deteriorated, worship had become superstition, and human dignity was trampled upon. The purpose of this research is to review the real situation of Arabia before the prophethood and to compare it with the revolution that was implemented through Mustafa ﷺ.

Religious Conditions: Polytheism, Idolatry, and the Trade of Religion

The religious system of Arabia was dilapidated and based on superstition.

Each tribe had its own separate idol, and there were 360 idols in the Kaaba. The concept of worship was tainted with polytheism and shame—a cradle of Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Sabeanism, and various local and foreign beliefs—but the practical situation was based on polytheism and idolatry. People bowed down to self-made gods, asked them for their needs, and offered sacrifices in their name. Traces of the monotheism brought by Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) remained even in names, but its true spirit had been erased. This reality is expressed in the Holy Quran as follows:

أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ

وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ

أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَىٰ

تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ

Surah An-Najm, Part 27, Verse 19/20/21/22/

Translation: Have you then considered al-Lat and al-'Uzza? And Manat, the third - the other? Is the male for you and for Him the female?

Lat and Uzza: These were the names of idols. Polytheists. Whom they worshiped _ They thought that the angels were the daughters of Allah and these idols were the temples of the angels _ Some people used to say that the women of the jinn (fairies) are the daughters of God and these idols are their dwellings.

This is mentioned in the meaning of Tafsir Mazhari Surah An-Najm verse 19

Jewish and Christian scholars had also distorted the religion in their selfishness:

Allah Almighty says:

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ _Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 79

The Condition of Women and Weak Classes

Before the prophethood of the Prophet (PBUH), women were subjected to severe oppression and deprivation in Arabian society. She had no right to vote, no education, and no respectable place in society. In that era of ignorance, the birth of a daughter was considered a disgrace, even the cruel act of burying innocent girls alive was common.

The Holy Quran describes this horrific attitude as follows:

﴿وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُمْ بِالْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ۝ يَتَوَارَىٰ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِن سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ ۚ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَىٰ هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ ۗ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ﴾

(Surah An-Nahl: 58–59) Surah At-Takwir Verse 8/9

Before the prophethood of the Messenger ﷺ, the society of Arabia was steeped in ignorance, oppression, and lawlessness. Women and weak classes were subjected to severe oppression, even faces turned black at the birth of a daughter and even thought of burying her alive. The Quran exposed this cruel attitude and shook humanity against it.

Tribal Wars and Sedition

Arab society was constantly engaged in war and strife. Fights would continue for generations over small matters.

What to say of killing someone's honor, even killing someone's camel would ignite the fire of war."

The Birth of Mustafa ﷺ and Miraculous Signs

At the time of the advent of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, such miracles took place that marked the beginning of a new era:

Fourteen battlements of Noshirwan's palace fell

The fire temple of Persia went out

The Sawa River dried up

"These events were the harbinger of the changing world order."

The Birth of Mustafa ﷺ — Miraculous Signs and Reformative Revolution

The sacred birth of the Holy Prophet ﷺ was the great moment that ushered the universe into a new era of light and guidance. With the advent of the Prophet ﷺ, such miraculous signs appeared that announced that the darkness of oppression, ignorance, and injustice was about to end.

Miraculous Signs — A Herald of a New Era

1. Fourteen battlements of Noshirwan's palace fell

Fourteen strong battlements of the magnificent palace of the great Persian Empire suddenly collapsed. This was a sign that the tall buildings of falsehood were about to fall and a new global leadership was emerging.

2. The fire temple of Persia went out

The fire that had been burning for a thousand years suddenly went out that night. This was a sign towards the coming of the light of truth that would extinguish every false light.

3. The Sawa River dried up

The river that people considered sacred suddenly dried up, as if it was announcing that the course of human destiny was about to change and that the personality had come into the world from whose feet springs of guidance would gush forth.

The Reformative Revolution of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — The Universal Message of Mercy

The birth of Mustafa ﷺ was not only the manifestation of miracles, but also the beginning of the greatest reform movement of humanity.

The Mercy of the Worlds ﷺ came as such a mercy that taught the world respect, justice, morality, peace, and equality.

You ﷺ:

Gave man the respect of being human

Gave women the right to status, honor, and inheritance

Showed slaves the doors of freedom and equality

Gave society a system of justice and equality

Made an ignorant nation a model of high morals

The Holy Quran has described this fact in these words:

"وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ"

"And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds."

(Surah Al-Anbiya Verse 107)

The prophethood of the Holy Prophet ﷺ not only ended the religious decline of Arabia but also established new foundations of social justice, religious freedom, rights of voice, and moral reforms. This revolution is a turning point in human history, the impact of which is still present on the world's civilization, law, and ethics.

The miracles of your ﷺ birth gave the message to the heavens and the earth that the sun of truth has risen, and your ﷺ reform movement taught the whole of humanity that justice, mercy, and morality are the foundations on which a peaceful and dignified society is built.

Thus, the arrival of the Prophet ﷺ is not just a historical event, but a new dawn for humanity.

:Note:

All other parts of this article are taken from authentic books of Sirat, historical references, and authentic Islamic sources.

By: Mahmood-ul-Bari

mahmoodulbari342@gmail.com

The right to object is reserved, but it must be reasoned. There is no room for irrelevant talk, incoherent claims, and extraneous matters.