How Did Arab Culture Influence Pre Islamic Culture

Arab culture before the time of Muhammad comprised cities, such as Mecca and the nomadic Bedouin clan. The central group, the tribe, superseded any other allegiance or commitment (337). Economically, there was a cross section of cooperation between desert tribes and city tribes. For example, the Bedouin exchanged their sheep and camel wool for dates and wheat (337). The Meccans secured economic and political power through purchasing, marketing and furnishing bazaars in various cities where tribes could exchange goods (337). Arab religion before the time of Muhammad centered on the Ka’ba which housed the Black Stone, a figure of divine authority worshipped in Mecca in pre-Islamic times. The Ka’ba contained at least 360 idols and every Arab tribe could find its deities there (337).

The first convert outside his household was Abu Bakr, a man of some wealth and influence in Mecca. He was also the person first chosen as caliph. His successor was Umar and under Umar’s influence Islam expanded rapidly into other countries. Umar also faced opposition to Islam by Arab tribes that felt their allegiance to Islam ended with Muhammad’s death. With force the caliphs maintained the unity of the Arabs until they were committed to the Muslim way and not just Muhammad. Under Umar, the Arab armies captured most of the Middle East (348). Jerusalem was a religious prize that fell in 638 and its importance came only after Mecca and Medina, for many of the events of the Hebrew Bible were shared in the Qur’an. Egypt fell in 641, and soon the other North African countries to the west fell. Religious zeal was the supreme motivation because converting idolaters to Islam was an act of merit. Muslim victory did not mean that everyone in a territory became a Muslim, however, since Jews and Christians could retain their faith by paying a tax