Arabia before the Prophet ﷺ

Sixth-century Arabia was a society of tribes. The Ka‘bah, built for the worship of one God, held more than three hundred idols. Few could read, yet memory and poetry were extraordinary.

• The tribe came first — standing by your own mattered more than standing by what was right.
• The weak had no rights — slaves, women and orphans could be robbed of what was theirs.
• Baby girls were buried alive in some tribes.
• Interest and gambling held up the economy.

There was good too: hospitality, keeping one's word, courage, plain speech. Islam wiped out the evil and raised the good higher. The Prophet ﷺ said: “I was sent to perfect good character.”