Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
1. Arabia before Islam
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The Quraysh were the most influential tribe in Makkah. Most of
them were engaged in trade, and some of them were great traders.
The name Quraysh is derived from a word which means to trade.
Since the Quraysh was the largest and most powerful tribe in
Makkah, its chief was the most influential man in Makkah.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ARAB
PEOPLE
Islam emerged in a region known as Hijaz, inhabited by the
descendants of Ismael and Banu Kinanah. These people had access
only to limited resources, limited habitable area, cattle, pasture and
oases. Everything was in short supply. So they could afford to lead
an extremely simple life.
Due to these constraints they often waged war, sometimes to
take possession of the limited reservoirs of water and pastures.
Nevertheless, these Bedouins had noble human qualities. For they
lived very far from the artificial world of civilization. The
atmosphere of nature served as a vast school of nature for them.
They never led the artificial life of the cities and their life was
devoid of all formalities. This extremely simple, austere life made
them realists.
All this was responsible for producing in them the qualities
which the Arabs call
al muruuwah
, manliness, which meant to them
acknowledging the truth, speaking nothing but the truth, fulfilling
promises, honouring obligations, supporting the oppressed,
