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IMPACT OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION ON WORLD
THE ARABIAN SOCIETY ON THE EVE OF ISLAM
Before the emergence of Islam, the Arabs dwelled in cities
and towns or were desert nomads. Those living in desert or rural area were
known as bedouin. The Arabs were a tribal for centuries.
1.SOCIAL CONDITION:
The Arabs were hardy, freedom-loving and valiant people.
They could develop a duel on very petty matters which could last long as
a tribal enmity. They kept and traded slaves. The slave had no place in
their social order. They were treated like animals and all types of injustices
were perpetrated on them.
2.MORAL CONDITION:
The moral life of Arabs was very degrading. Wine, gamble,
dance and quarrelsomeness were common in them. They would kill their enemy
and ampulate his nose, ears and hands. The condition of women was very
bad in that society. They inherited nothing from the property of their
fathers or husbands. Certain tribes would go to the extent of killing their
newly-born daughters to obviate their marriage.
3. RELIGIOUS CONDITION:
The Arabs were icon-worshippers. Each tribe had an idol
of its own. All tribal idols were kept in the Kaaba and numbered 360. Apart
from icon-worshipping, some tribes worshipped moon, stars and even trees.
A tiny minority believed in one God as well.
4. POLITICAL CONDITION:
The Arabs were in pitiable political plight. There was
no central authority or universal law. The entire people of Arabia were
divided into various tribes and each tribe was free and self-governing,
with a Shaikh as its tribal leader who served as a jury according to the
triabal custom.
IMPACT OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION
At the advent of Islam, the society all over the world,
including Arabia was in a state of utter chaos. The Prophet of Islam (Peace
be upon him) gave a new life to the ill and weak society with the message
of unity of God or Allah, virtuousness or piety and universal love of humanity.
THE MOSQUE:
The prophet (P.B.U.H.) erected a mosque with the helping
hands of his Holy companions (may grace of Allah be upon them). The place
was used for prayers as well as a meeting place for mutual discussion and
advice on all problems facing the Muslim community. The matters of law
were decided there. The matters of peace and war came for open discussion.
The society which the prophet (P.B.U.H) established had the following distinctive
feature.
FRATERNITY:
Those who migrated from Makkah to Medina had nothing
with them in the form of worldly wherewithals, including food and shelter.
The prophet (P.B.U.H) established a fraternal brotherhood between the migrants
from Makkah and the local resident of Medina. It was this unique brotherhood
that the Medinites not only provide dhouses to the Makkans but also made
them shareholders in their property and became like real brothers despite
the fact the just before they hardly knew each other. The Islamic society
began with such a concept of brotherhood which the world had not witnessed
before.
CLEANLINESS AND TIDINESS:
Before the advent of Islam, the Arabs hardly cared about
the cleanliness of their body and clothings. Islam taught them about cleanliness
and tideness. He instructed them for cleanliness and tidiness of body and
clothings and ablution before going for prayers. He elevated the status
of cleanliness and tidiness to semi-faith.
THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN:
Before Islam, the women was considered as a household
maid and enjoyed no rights. Islam granted the status of respected and respectful
member of the family and granted them the high pedestal of a mohter, a
sister or a wife and made them a shareholder in the property of fathers
and husbands.
END TO ETHNIC SUPERIORITY:
The Arabs were always proud of their pedigree. They regarded
the non-Arab people as inferiors. The Islam declared the ethnic superiority
as anti-thesis of Islam and said that no white is superior to black and
no Arab to a non-Arab or a non-Arab to an Arab. The basis of superiority
over others is not race or colour but virtue and piety in Islam.
THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
In an Islamic society, all citizens, be they Muslim or
otherwise are equal citizens. Each citizen enjoys the opportunities to
improve his or her lot and to make struggle for a better and fuller career.
In an Islamic government, the slave have also enjoyed the rights of the
free citizens. The history bears testimony to the fact that many slaves
became even kings by the dint of their ability.
THE SUPREMACY OF LAW:
The strict obedience of Islamic laws and injunctions
is obligatory for the poor and the rich as for the small and the big. The
Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) used to say that each and every wrong-doer
shall be punished even if he were the leader of the faithful.
PEACE AND FRATERNITY:
Islam is a religion and peace and fraternity. It allows
rancour with none and preached tolerance. According to the dictates of
Islam, the Muslims never took up arms unless their basic rights granted
to them by Allah were trampled with.
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT:
Islam grants human beings total intellectual freedom.
Rather it would be truer to say that it was Islam which for the first time
in human history brought about a revolution in freedom of thought. In all
the ages of history prior to Islam, the system of despotism prevailed,
and man was consequently denied freedom of thought. This was a matter of
the utmost gravity for it is a fact that the secret of all human progress
lies hidden in such freedom.