It shall now be mentioned that upon the advent of Islām, Arabia was composed of many religions which adhered to diverse doctrines and different ideologies. However, with respect to lifestyle and national character, all of Arabia was under the same precept. Moreover, the habits and characteristics mentioned above were common to all. In the time of the Jāhiliyyah, there was a Jewish Chieftain in Yathrab named Fiṭyūn. This wretched man’s general order throughout the city was that any girl who was to be married was first required to come to his home first. Hence, at the time of marriage, a majority of the Jews in Yathrab would send their unmarried girls to his home before they were lawful to anyone else. Eventually, a man, in his indignation, killed Fiṭyūn.1 Similarly, in this era, the Christians were also in an awful state, as acknowledged by Muir himself in his book.2 Therefore, in Arabia, with regards to lifestyle, characteristics and national customs, whether Idolaters, Jewish or Christian, all were similar in hue. The blazing arena of bloodshed, devastation, gambling, fornication and drinking burnt in every corner.
Similarly, it was common among all to conform to rituals, to such extent as religion became inconsequential before them. Strange rituals disseminated throughout the country. For example, one ritual was to seek lot by divining arrows. In other words, ten people would include their share in a sacrifice, after which its division would not be through proportionally equal shares; rather lots were drawn by divining arrows. In this manner, people would acquire their share by the lots which were drawn to them, while others would remain without any share at all. Every arrow was assigned a name to which differentially separate portions were assigned.
The seeking of omens by divining arrows was also a commonly practised ritual. Prior to the commencement of any task, omens would be taken by divining arrows. Divining arrows were also placed in the Ka‘bah as well and people would go there to seek omens. It was also common to take omens by the flight of birds.
Among various Arabian tribes, another eccentric custom was after departing for travel, if for some reason, a return was necessary during the course of travel, they would not enter through the front door, rather, they would enter their homes through the rear. The Holy Qur’ān makes mention of this as well.3
Among various tribes it was a custom that if an individual died, his camel would be tied in the proximity of his grave until it too would die of hunger and thirst. The practice of lamentation and mourning over the dead was excessively rampant among the women. Mourning over the dead would continue year upon year.
In Arabia, generally, women did not milk animals and it was considered disgraceful for women to do so. If in any family a woman was seen performing this task, that household would fall in the eyes of others.
It was also a ritual to release animals to wander freely as an offering in the name of idols and as an oblation. In this respect, four types of animals were recognized: Firstly, a Sā’ibah, which referred to a she-camel which gave birth to ten female camels consecutively. Conveyance on she-camels of this kind would be completely relinquished. Moreover, save guests, the use of its milk was not considered lawful, nor was it stripped of its wool. Secondly, a Baḥīrah, which referred to the eleventh female child of a Sā’ibah. The ears of a Baḥīrah were cut down the middle and released to roam free with her mother. Thirdly, a Ḥām, which was the name given to a camel that was the father of ten female children, would also be left to roam independently. Fourthly, a Waṣīlah, which referred to a she-goat that gave birth to ten female children consecutively. The meat of the offspring of such a she-goat was consumed only by men, and considered unlawful for women. Albeit, if any of its children died, women were also permitted to consume its meat.4 The Holy Qur’ān has also mentioned these animals.5
Many outlandish nuptial rituals were also practiced. Generally, there were four types of matrimony. The most deviant and filthiest type was that a few men would come to a single woman and one after another they would incur dishonour upon themselves by illicit intercourse. At the birth of her child these men would gather around her once again and the child would be attributed to whoever the woman held responsible. However, the nobles were free of such shamelessness.6
These few rituals have been mentioned merely as an example. Nonetheless, Arabia was full of countless rituals and many strange customs had been innovated, but Islām fully abolished them with a single strike.
1 Sīratun-Nabī, By Shiblī Nu‘mānī, Volume 1, p. 148, Bāb Madīnah Munawwarah awr Anṣār, Published by the Ḥudhaifah Academy, Urdu Bazār, Lahore (2000)
2 Life of ‘Mahomet’, By Sir William Muir, pg. xcv, Reprint of the 1894 Ed., Published by Voice of India New Delhi
3 Al-Baqarah (2:190)
4 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 81-82, Amrul-Buḥairati was-Sā’ibati wal-Waṣīlah wal-Ḥāmī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)
* Al-An‘ām (6:140)
5 Al-Mā’idah (5:104)
6 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābun-Nikāḥ, Bābu Man Qāla lā Nikāḥa illā bi-Walīyin, Ḥadīth No. 5127