Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 14
14 sensitive about anything that they deemed touched this honour. The virtue of hospitality was practiced to an exaggerated degree. A guest was entertained and protected to the utmost limit of the host’s capacity. Notions of chivalry were sometimes carried to fantastic lengths. Courage and bravery were called for and were displayed in every exigency of their stern and austere life. Fighting broke out frequently and tribal raids were common. Brutal and savage deeds, such as cutting off the ears and noses of the enemy dead and tearing out their hearts and livers, were not only practiced, but were gloried in. Little was known of art. The main channels of artistic and emotional outlet were furnished by poetry and oratory. In consequence, though writing was little known, spoken Arabic had been developed to a very high degree of excellence. The Arabs were not familiar with any of the then known sciences, but being a people under the necessity of travelling at night ⎯ particularly during the hot season ⎯ across pathless deserts, they were interested in the elements of astronomy and had acquired a certain degree of proficiency in them. Their principal vices were indulgence in liquor and gambling, and promiscuity in sexual relations. Woman was held in little honour, and among certain families who prided themselves on their status, the