Arabia before Islam

Arabia before Islam

How Social Structures and and political power was delegated

Prior to Islam, Arabia was split up into much smaller factions of communities that were separated by the vast desert. The central theme among these mini civilizations was the concept of kinship/blood relations which was often fabricated to consolidate power. The other common way to power was through military success, where one could earn the term Sharif, also known as nobility. Over time this word became a symbol for one who was a decedent of Muhammed, which further ties in the importance of the idea of Kinship through Islamic History and expansion.

Jonathan Berkey

Berkey, Jonathan P. The Formation of Islam (Cambridge University Press, 2002) Page 40

Cambridge University Press

500 - 600 CE

Related Text