Jahillyah (age of ignorance) AS Islamic Studies Lesson 3 & 4

Monday, 06 June 2016 Jahilliyah: Group Work Objective: be able to define the period of Jahiliyyah and explain the main features of Pre-Islamic Arabia as a presentation to the whole class. Key question: what do you think the term Jahilliyah means and try to identify the type of acts you think are referred to by this term, Jahilliyah? Starter: what is the most despicable act you have read about in the Jahilliyah times of Arabia? Why? Lesson 3 & 4

Definition of Jahilliyah 1 Jahiliyah Literally 'ignorance', is an expression for the pagan practice of the days before Mohammad. Jahiliyah denotes all those world-views and ways of life that are based on rejection or disregard of so-called heavenly guidance communicated to mankind through the Prophets of God; the attitude of treating human life - either wholly or partly - as independent of the directives of God. Ayyam al-Jahiliyah, or 'The Days of Ignorance' in the books of history, indicate the period before Mohammad when the people in Arabia forgot the teachings of their Prophets. Lesson 3 & 4

Definition of Jahilliyah 2 Jahiliyah means ignorant. Jahiliyyah refers to the pre- Islamic era that existed in Arabia. It is a combination of views, ideas, and practices that totally defy and reject the guidance sent down by God through His Prophets. Lesson 3 & 4

Definition of Jahilliyah 3 Jack Finegan THE JAHILIYAH PERIOD, A.D. c FROM the Muslim point of view the entire time prior to the rise of Islam was jahiliyah. This word appears several times in the Qur'an and is variously translated "Time of Ignorance" or "Paganism." Finding such a designation not altogether appropriate to the relatively advanced civilizations hitherto discussed, the modern historian is inclined to limit the word to the century just before the establishment of Islam. The Archeology Of World ReligionsThe Archeology Of World Religions, Jack Finegan, 1952, p , 492) Lesson 3 & 4

Definition of Jahilliyah 3 What does Jahiliyah mean? 1. Islam calls the pagan life of Arabs 'Jahiliyah' (ignorance). This label specifically identified the lifestyle to be found in the land of the Arabs before the Islamic Mission began. It included the beliefs and customs of the pagan Arabs who lived in a most decadent and perverse manner. This stage in history was full of chaos and corruption, and witnessed a decline in the sociology and ideology of the age. This was because the signs of truth had disappeared in that dark historical stage. The aspects of deviation from truth and justice had become embodied in the society, much in the same manner as the perverse practices of Sodom and Gommorah in the time of Prophet Lot, so that evil was acknowledged as good and good was acknowledged as evil. Lesson 3 & 4

Definition of Jahilliyah 4 What does Jahiliyah mean? We find that 'jahiliyah' means error, going astray, deviation from Allah's straight path, and negligence in His worship. That is because 'jahiliyah', in the Qur'anic viewpoint, means a religion and lifestyle that follows a line contrary to the line of Islam in nature and aim. It follows the line of deviation from the path of true religion and Allah's 'shari'ah' (law) which guides man. 'Jahiliyah' (ignorance) is a way of life. It has its own faith, way of thinking, and lifestyle including social manners, worship, values and concepts, viewpoint towards life, method to create civilization, and a direction for human activities in areas such as culture, art, literature, politics, economy, power, law and order, etc. Lesson 3 & 4

Problems 1 Disatisfaction and Prophesy The ethos of the desert tribes was not working in the cities. Division between rich and poor was growing and arousing concerns about justice. Most of all the Arabs were becoming more aware of the surrounding peoples with their much more sophisticated religions, their commercial power and splendour, including the unheard of idea of the afterlife, with its implications for the individual. In the Arab world the individual had little meaning. Monotheist ideas ruled outside Arabia but paganism within. The other peoples had their revelations from God and their books but God had not come to the Arabs. Some were questioning the polytheism of the Arabs. Worst symptom of the spiritual malaise was the constant communal violence. Lesson 3 & 4

Problems 2 Disatisfaction and Prophesy People were groping toward monotheism and by the time Muhammad started preaching in Mecca it was already considered that the Ka'aba was dedicated to al-Llah even though Hubal presided. That al-Llah was the creator was taken for granted though other deities closer to earth found more favour. Sura 29:61-3: "If you askest them [that is the Quraysh] `Who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon?' they will certainly say al-Llah..." Some saw al-Llah as the same God worshipped by Christians and Jews. Arabs who had become Christians called God al-Llah and "seem to have made the hajj to his shrine alongside the pagans". Ref: Karen Armstrong Lesson 3 & 4

Problems 3 There are two ways we can discuss hijab-the veil of ignorance and the Islamic veil. The veil in the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyah) meant preventing women from participating in public life and denying her rights. Women were used by men only for enjoyment and were deprived of human values (Al-Balagh 5). Islam condemns this kind of hijab of Jahiliyah, for imprisoning women in their home disables at least half of society and hinders women's social and public lives (Al-Balagh 18). Lesson 3 & 4

Economical Prosperity Only three cities of importance were to be found in Hejaz. These were Taif, Mecca and Medina. Taif enjoyed a picturesque and fertile location in the mountains and Medina (then known as Yathrib ) was in a Well-watered plain, but 'Mecca" stood in a barren, rocky valley. Despite the sterility and extreme heat of the place, Mecca enjoyed the possession of a famous well called Zamzam and an ancient sanctuary known as the Ka'bah, and was also where important commercial routes intersected. (The Archeology Of World Religions, Jack Finegan, 1952, p , 492)The Archeology Of World Religions Lesson 3 & 4

Religious background 1 The Bedouins of the desert, who comprised the majority of North Arabia's population, were basically animistic in their religion. Springs and wells, stones and trees were the dwelling-places of spirits, and wild animals and fearsome places of the Wilderness were inhabited by jinn or demons. Higher gods also were worshiped, and among these the most important, for our account, were Allah, Allat, al-`Uzza and Manat.“ (The Archeology Of World Religions, Jack Finegan, 1952, p , 492)The Archeology Of World Religions Lesson 3 & 4

Religious background 2 While Allah is best known as the principal god of Mecca, he was also worshiped in other places throughout Arabia as is shown by the occurrence of the name in Sabean, Minean and particularly Libyanite inscriptions." The Qur'an (xxix, 61) refers to the belief of the pagans in Allah as the creator of the heavens and the earth; and Muhammad's own father bore the name of `Abd Allah or `Abdullah, meaning the slave or worshiper of this god. [This indicates the Arabs were aware of the existence of one God, Allah.] In Mecca, Allah was worshiped in the Ka'bah and possibly represented by the famous Black Stone in that place. (The Archeology Of World Religions, Jack Finegan, 1952, p , 492)The Archeology Of World Religions Lesson 3 & 4

Religious background 3 As in South Arabia, in North the monotheistic faiths of Judaism and Christianity had long since become known. When the first Jewish communities were established in North Arabia. They came to Arabia as a result of the trade route, linking Makka with the north and south. half of the sixth century B.c. From there they followed on down the main caravan route to establish other colonies in Khaibar, Medina and Mecca." (The Archeology Of World Religions, Jack Finegan, 1952, p , 492)The Archeology Of World Religions Lesson 3 & 4

Religious background 4 A careful study of the relevant data particularly in the Qur'an shows that Muhammad had a very considerable store of knowledge of Judaism and Christianity, and that it was of the sort which he would have been most likely to obtain through oral channels and personal observation over a long period of time. He was specially impressed, it seems, with the fact that both the Jews and the Christians were People of a Book, and it was his desire likewise to provide his own people with a Book which would be to them what the Torah was to the Jews and the Bible to the Christians.' (The Archeology Of World Religions, Jack Finegan, 1952, p , 492)The Archeology Of World Religions Lesson 3 & 4

Teachers’ notes: Resources required for next slides: Watton (L/A) Civilisations of pre-Islamic Arabia Social – Political condition of the world before the final messenger Qur’anic General Account on the Arab Jahiliyyah’s Socio- Economic Life Lesson 3 & 4

Group work: You will be working in groups of 3 / 4. You will research the chosen / allocated area and produce a quality presentation of the key Pre-Islamic era. You may choose to use power point OR simply type the research on A4 and distribute it to the class after reading it out. Use references and quotes AND do not copy and paste. Use the next lesson for research and the following lesson for the presentation. Also consider was the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) influenced by any of these features? Lesson 3 & 4

Each group will be allocated one of the following areas to research: 1.The religious context 2.Social (moral) context 3.Political context 4.Economical context Lesson 3 & 4

Task 1: During Pre-Islamic Arabia, do you think there was a religious atmosphere and did the Arabs have any allegiance to any form of Religion? In short was Pre-Islamic Arabia a religious Society? Reference and support your answers. Lesson 3 & 4

Exam Questions Outline the main religious features of pre-Islamic Arabia. Describe the characteristics of two of the following in pre-Islamic Arabia: The religious context Social (moral) context Political context Economical context Lesson 3 & 4