The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 82
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 82 died in this state. This occurred prior to Islām. 1 Hence, prior to the advent of Islām various religions existed in Arabia. However, despite the diversity of religions found in Arabia, its true and common religion was idolatry. The number of other religions was very small, and even they, were in an austere state of ruin and failure. European historians have themselves admitted this fact. Whilst reviewing the ancient religions of Arabia, Sir William Muir states: “During the youth of Mahomet, the aspect of the Peninsula was strongly conservative; perhaps never at any previous time was reform more hopeless. . . . . . After five centuries of Christian evangelisation, we can point to but a sprinkling here and there of Christian converts; - the Beni‘l-Ḥārith of Nejrān; the Beni Hanīfa of Al-Yemāma; some of the Beni Ṭai’ at Teimā; and hardly any more. Judaism, vastly more powerful, had exhibited spasmodic efforts at proselytism; but, as an active and converting agent, the Jewish faith was no longer operative. In fine, viewed in a religious aspect, the surface of Arabia had been now and then gently rippled by the feeble efforts of Christianity; the sterner influences of Judaism had been occasionally visible in a deeper and more troubled current; but the tide of indigeneous idolatry and Ishmaelite superstition, setting strongly from every quarter towards the Ka‘ba, gave ample evidence that the faith and worship of Makkah held the Arab mind in a rigorous and undisputed thraldom. ” 2 This was not the state of Arabia alone, rather, this time period was an era of darkness for the entire world and all religions had moved away from its original precepts. The mantle of misguidance had been spread in every direction. The following Qur’ānic verse alludes to this very fact: “Corruption has appeared on land and sea” 3 In other words, religions based on the revelation of God have also been 1 As-Sīratul-Ḥalbiyyah, Bābu Mā Ḥafiẓahullāhu Ta‘āla bihī fī Ṣigharihi. . . . . , Volume 1, p. 181, Dārul- Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, (2002) 2 Life of ‘Mahomet’, By Sir William Muir, pg. xcvii, Reprint of the 1894 Ed. , Published by Voice of India New Delhi 3 Ar-Rūm (30:42)