ARA 101: Pre-Islamic Arabia & The Advent of Islam

Flashcards covering pre-Islamic Arabian kingdoms, religious traditions, tribal society of Jahiliyyah, and regional geopolitical conflicts with the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires.

What were the dates, location, capital, and primary cause of the downfall of the Kingdom of Saba’ (Sheba)?

It flourished from c. 9th century BCE to 275 CE in Yemen with its capital at Sheba; it ended when the destruction of the Dam annihilated the inhabitants.

What was the dominant religion of the Kingdom of Saba’ under Balqees?

Idol-worship, specifically the worship of the Sun.

Where was the Kingdom of Ma‘īn located, what was its capital, and how did it end?

It was located in Ħadramaut (north of Sheba) with its capital at Karna, and it ended in the 1st century BCE at the hands of the Himyarites.

What event prompted the Abyssinian conquest that brought an end to the Kingdom of Himyar?

The Jewish King of Yemen, Dhu Nuwas, ordered Christian converts to be burnt, which angered the Abyssinians and led them to invade and end Himyarite rule.

What were the tribal origins, capital, and imperial sponsor of the Kingdom of Ħīrah (the Lakhmids)?

They originated from the Yemeni tribes of Tanoukh and Lakhm, had their capital at Ħīrah near the Euphrates River, and were ruled under the Persian Empire.

Where was the Kingdom of the Ghassānids established, what was its capital, and how did its rule end?

It was established in The Levant under Roman rule with its capital at Busra, and ended in 636 CE when Khālid ibn al-Walīd defeated the Byzantine Romans at Yarmouk.

What was the ancient name of Mecca, and what title is given to it in Islam?

Its ancient name was Bacca, and in Islam it is designated as Ummul-Qurā (“Mother of all Towns”).

To which destinations did the trade caravans of Quraysh travel during the winter and summer seasons?

They sent caravans to Yemen in the winter and to the Levant in the summer.

Which four lunar months were observed as sacred non-fighting periods in pre-Islamic Arabia?

Dhul-Qi‘dah (month 11), Dhul-Ħijjah (month 12), al-Muħarram (month 1), and Rajab (month 7).

Which major cultural souqs were held during the Hajj season where poets competed by reciting poems?

Ukāż, Mijannah, and Dhul-Majāz.

How many idols were housed in and around the Ka‘ba, and what are six specific idols named in the lecture?

360 idols; specifically Hubal, Isāf, Nā’ilah, al-Lāt, al-‘Uzzā, and Manāt.

What did the pre-Islamic Arabian concept of “al-dahr” signify?

Notions of time and fate representing an impersonal destructive force to which all mortals succumb, associated with disbelief in God, an afterlife, or divine accountability.

Who were the ħunafā’ in pre-Islamic Arabia, and who are two named examples?

Inheritors of the monotheism of Prophet Abraham who rejected idols, refused meat sacrificed to deities, and avoided alcohol; examples include Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl and Amr ibn Absah al-Salmiy.

How did Monophysite doctrine differ from Nestorian doctrine among Christian Arab communities?

Monophysites (Egypt and Ethiopia) believed Jesus had only a single divine nature, whereas Nestorians (Iraq and central Arabia) stressed Jesus's humanity and held that He had two loosely united natures.

What does the term Jāhiliyyah mean, and what was its core system of governance?

It translates to “Age of Darkness” or “Ignorance,” and its governance was governed by deep-rooted tribalism where members aided kinsmen whether right or wrong.

Which historical figure became a proverbial icon for exceptional qualities of generosity and hospitality in Jāhiliyyah Arabia?

Hatim al-Ta’i.

Why was female infanticide practiced in pre-Islamic Arabian society?

Female babies were buried alive either out of fear of shame or poverty.

Which two imperial powers flanked pre-Islamic Arabia, and what were their official religions?

The Byzantine Empire (Christian) and the Sāsānid Persian Empire (Zoroastrian).

In what year did the Ethiopian viceroy Abraha lead a march towards Mecca?

568 CE.

What major military shift occurred between the Persians and Byzantines in 615 CE and 622 CE, as referenced in the Qur’ān?

In 615 CE the Persians defeated the Byzantines and conquered Syria and Egypt; in 622 CE the Byzantines launched a counter-offensive and regained their lost territories.