Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
1. Arabia before Islam
~ 13 ~
The nomadic life is based upon stockbreeding, especially the
breeding of camels. There is some rain in the winter season and
then some vegetation comes up in the low-lying areas. These areas
become a paradise for camels, as they provide the best pasture,
but with the coming of summer the pasture vanishes. Then the
nomads move on in search of other green areas in order to feed
themselves as well as their camels. Then there are some wells,
which provide water for the camels. The milk of the camels is the
diet of the nomads along with dates, which are obtained from the
oases. Cereals are not easily available. Only the rich can afford
them. The oases that are found in Madinah are near the
mountains. So there the date crop is grown. And in Taif, which has
very fertile soil, cereals are grown. Madinah has the largest of the
oases.
Ibrahim was the first to teach them the worship of one God.
The Arabs followed the religion of Ibrahim for some generations,
but their later generations tended to deviate from the straight path
shown to them by Ibrahim and became idolators. At the time of the
birth of the Prophet, the whole of Arabia had taken to idolatry.
Some of the tribes worshipped stars and planets, some stone idols,
and, thus the Kabah, which had been built for the worship of God
became a centre of idolatry. It housed 360 idols, one for each day
of the year. Hubal was the most honoured. Carved in red stone, it
held seven arrows in its hand. Among the Arabs lots were drawn to
decide all important matters.
