Islam before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Mecca can be traced back to the period known as the Jahiliyyah, which is Arabic for “the time of ignorance”. The Jahiliyyah period refers to the pre-Islamic era in Arabian history, which lasted for several centuries until the arrival of Prophet Muhammad.
During this period, the Arabian Peninsula was home to several religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and polytheistic beliefs such as worshiping idols and nature spirits. The Arab tribes often engaged in tribal conflicts and warfare, and there was no central authority or government in the region.
Despite the prevalence of polytheism, there were individuals and communities who embraced monotheistic beliefs. The most significant monotheistic religion in the Arabian Peninsula before Islam was Hanifism, which was founded by a group of individuals who rejected the polytheistic beliefs of their society and embraced the worship of one God.
Hanifism shared many similarities with the Abrahamic religions of Judaism and Christianity, including a belief in monotheism and adherence to strict ethical principles. Some of the notable figures in Hanifism include Waraqa bin Naufal, who was a cousin of Prophet Muhammad’s wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Waraqa is believed to have been a Hanif and familiar with the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
The concept of monotheism was also prevalent among the Arab tribes, despite their adherence to polytheistic beliefs. The Kaaba in Mecca, which is considered the holiest site in Islam, was a place of pilgrimage and worship for the Arab tribes long before the advent of Islam. The Kaaba was originally built as a shrine for the worship of one God, but it eventually became a center for the worship of various deities and idols.
In conclusion, Islam existed in various forms in Arabia before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad. The period of Jahiliyyah was marked by the prevalence of polytheistic beliefs and tribal conflicts, but there were also individuals and communities who embraced monotheistic beliefs, including Hanifism and the concept of the worship of one God. Prophet Muhammad’s arrival and his message of Islam resulted in the widespread adoption of monotheism and the establishment of a central authority that united the tribes of Arabia under the banner of Islam.
