Holy Prophet of Islam - Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa — Page 33
The Holy Prophet of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa sa. S&. Prophet, Arabs were primitive culturally and in their living style. People used to go out in the fields or to remote uninhabited areas to relieve themselves. Fighting among the people and the tribes over minor matters was common. Most people were idolators. The sanctuary, Ka'bah, was filled with idols placed there for worship. The largest idol named Hubal stood in the center of the Ka'bah. . Each tribe had its own leader. Their living style was very simple. . Some people lived in cities while the others were nomadic. The Bedouin did not live in one place; they constantly moved to places wherever they would find water and greenery. Two coins, 'Dirham and Auqiyya' were used as currency in those days. One Auqiyya was equivalent to forty. Dirhams. For measuring purposes two units, Madd and Sa' were used. . Most of the inhabitants were traders. Fairs were held at different locations which were attended by people coming to trade from far away areas. The majority of the people were illiterate. Only a few people could read and write. Idolatry was prevalent throughout Arabia. It is stated that the Ka'bah contained as many as three hundred and sixty idols. Other towns had their own major and minor gods and goddesses. It was an age of ignorance (ayyamul jahiliyyah) during which, generally speaking moral rectitude and the spiritual code had long been forgotten. Superstitious rites and dogmas had replaced the tenets of the Divine religion. Only a few Quraishites (the ancestors of the Holy Prophet and a handful of others) remained followers of the religion of Ibrāhīm", but they were an exception and were not able to exert any influence on others who were deeply submerged in pagan rites and beliefs. There were those who did not believe in God at all and thought that life was just a natural phenomenon. Some believed in God but not in the Day of Resurrection or reward and punishment. as sa. It was customary to offer human sacrifices to the idols. Drinking, gambling and fornication were prevalent throughout the area. Marriage with two sisters was permissible and common. Similarly, upon on the death of his father, a man could marry the wife of his father who was his step-mother. There was no limit on the number of women one could marry. . When girls were born, they often were buried alive. Women and slaves were treated cruelly. Fighting among the tribes over trivial issues was 33