Initially, the majority
of Arabs embraced the religion brought by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), namely the
teachings of monotheism so that only worshiping Allah, Almighty God. After a
long time, they have left the teachings, but still there are still remnants of
the teachings of Abraham
.
Then there was someone
in Mecca named ‘Amr bin Luhay of the Khuza'ah tribe who was highly respected by
his people because of his generosity and good behavior. One time he went to
Sham and saw that the people there were practicing idol worship. ‘Amr bin Luhay
thinks that this is a good thing. So he took home an idol named Hubal to Mecca
and placed the idol inside the Kaaba (Ka'bah). He invited his people to do what
the people of Sham did. Because of his high position, the people of Mecca
wanted to follow what 'Amr bin Luhay said. Increasingly, the residents of Mecca
made idol worship as their belief. It quickly spread to the Hijaz region (Mecca
and its surroundings) and expanded to cover the Arabian Peninsula. In some
time, there were hundreds of idols around the Kaaba. Arab society also became
shirk.
Not enough with these
idols, they also had statues and idols in their homes that they always
worshiped. They surround the statue when going out of the house or when going
home, and the statue is also carried on the way if the statue is considered to
have given permission. All of these statues are actually considered as an
intermediary between humans and God. They assume that worship of idols is an
approach to God. They have just forgotten to worshiping God.
People from all over
the Arabian Peninsula came on pilgrimages to the Kaaba (Ka'bah), a holy house built
by Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael.
Surat Al-Baqarah verses
125-126:
وَإِذۡ
جَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡبَيۡتَ مَثَابَةٗ لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمۡنٗا وَٱتَّخِذُواْ مِن مَّقَامِ
إِبۡرَٰهِۧمَ مُصَلّٗىۖ وَعَهِدۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِۧمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ أَن
طَهِّرَا بَيۡتِيَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلۡعَٰكِفِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ ١٢٥ وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِۧمُ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡ
هَٰذَا بَلَدًا ءَامِنٗا وَٱرۡزُقۡ أَهۡلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ
مِنۡهُم بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۚ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُۥ قَلِيلٗا
ثُمَّ أَضۡطَرُّهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلنَّارِۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ١٢٦
125. And [mention] when We made the House a place
of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers],
from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham
and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and
those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in
prayer]."
126. And
[mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide
its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last
Day." [Allah] said. "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him
enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire,
and wretched is the destination."
Surah Ali Imran verses
96-97:
إِنَّ
أَوَّلَ بَيۡتٖ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكٗا وَهُدٗى
لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٩٦ فِيهِ ءَايَٰتُۢ
بَيِّنَٰتٞ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ ءَامِنٗاۗ وَلِلَّهِ
عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ حِجُّ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَاعَ إِلَيۡهِ سَبِيلٗاۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ
فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
٩٧
96. Indeed, the first House [of worship]
established for mankind was that at Makkah - blessed and a guidance for the
worlds.
97. In it are
clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham. And whoever enters it
shall be safe. And [due] to Allah from the people is a pilgrimage to the House
- for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves - then
indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.
Mecca is indeed a
religious center in the Arabian Peninsula. Mecca also became the center of
trade in the Arabian peninsula. Then Mecca is considered the
"capital" of the Arabian peninsula. Allah SWT has determined that
Mecca, the holy city, will be the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, the Last
Prophet. Since then until now, Mecca has become a place visited by Muslims all
over the world.
Mecca is located
between a caravan road parallel to the Red Sea, between Yemen and Palestine /
Sham. The city is located in a not-so-wide valley surrounded by hills. These
hills almost surrounded Mecca and there were three ways to get out, namely the
road to Yemen, the road to the Red Sea precisely in the port of Jeddah, and the
road to Palestine.
The social life of the
Arab community is divided into tribal and social classes. There was a high
social gap in Arabia at that time. Noble class has a lot of wealth and high
position, while the slaves have nothing and live in humiliation. The tribes in
Arabia are always competing and hostile, even to the point of conflict due to a
high sense of tribal fanaticism. Every tribe member must defend one tribe with
him, whether right or wrong.
Women in Arabia get
tyrannical treatment. Men can do polygamy indefinitely, marry two sisters at
once, and divorce women indefinitely. Adultery is also considered normal. There
are so many relationships between men and women who are illegitimate (not
married) and this certainly harms women. The birth of a daughter is a shame to
them. According to them girls are not like boys who are able to work hard and
fight for the interests of their tribe. Because of this, they buried the baby
girl alive.
They also often gamble
and drink liquor, and even become their own pride. The point is their life is
very bad and goes on without rules. Therefore, the period of moral
deterioration is called the era of ignorance (jahiliyah).
The economic life of Arab society rests on the
trade sector. Most Arabs are traders, only a small proportion of the Arab
population who live as farmers and raise livestock that live in the periphery
of the country. They do not know the industry, so the goods produced are
obtained from Yemen or Sham. Although there are some nobles and big traders,
there are still many people who live in shortages.
Among the various bad
behaviors, the Arabs still have commendable behavior, even if they are on the
wrong track. They are generous, keep promises,
brave, gentle, maintain self-esteem, and helpful.
Reference:
·
Mubarakfuri,
Syekh Shafiyyur-Rahman, and Haidir, Abdullah (Translator). 2005. Sejarah Hidup dan Perjuangan Rasulullah.
Riyadh: Kantor Dakwah dan Bimbingan bagi Pendatang Al-Sulay.
·
Haekal, Muhammad
Husain, dan Audah, Ali (Translator). Sejarah
Hidup Muhammad.
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