"The Arabian Peninsula is an arid region of Mountains, Steppes and Deserts, cut off by streams of water that surrounds it. The Peninsula has land suitable for farming only in southwest and few other places, mostly along the coast. Before Islam emerged in Arabia, it was divided into three different parts.

1. Arabia Patrea (the rocky)
2. Arabia Deserta, which was made up largely of Syrian Mesopotamian desert.
3. Arabia Felix (the happy) the rest of the peninsula which was unexplored."

(Ref: - Encyclopedia of Islam)

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Before the time of Rasulallah (S.A) most of the Arabs were nomads. Members of Semitic family, they lived in the tribal groups, following their herds and flocks from well to well, and from oasis to oasis. Besides raising animals they also engaged in a limited kind of trade.

Amongst Arabs the largest social unit was the tribe, a kinship group whose members claimed decants from a common ancestor. An individual was not identified by place or citizenship, but by ancestry and kinship. And his personality was inextricable part of the collective personality of the tribe. Arabian tribes had no written laws but lived according to the traditional rules transmitted by the word of mouth from one generation to the another. Tribes were governed by a rough sort of participatory polity in which each mature and effective male had the right to influence critical decisions.

The religion of Pre Islamic Arabs can be described as a mixture of Animism and Polytheism. Some of these forces and deities were associated with heavenly bodies like the sun and the moon, others with earthly phenomenon and still others with the abstract concept like fate and time. In addition the Arabs acknowledged the existence of lesser spirits who could befuddle tricks, inspire or inform human beings

The most dramatic expression of this Pre Islamic religion took the form of pilgrimages to sanctuaries, which was possible on a larger scale because inter tribal wars was prohibited during a commonly accepted series of sacred months. Mecca, the future birthplace of Islam, owed much of its influence and prosperity to being a pilgrimage center where many tribes regularly gathered for religious observances as well as trade. The rites of pilgrimage at Mecca were associated with rites in nearby sanctuaries. In particular three deities known as "Al Lat.", "Al Uzza"and "Al Manat" were especially revered.

In Many respects Pre Islamic polytheism was a life less religion. The deities had indistinct personalities and remote, though the people did feel that the Gods and Spirits could affect their lives. The rites in their honor were important, primarily because they were part of sacred tradition.

In analyzing the Meccan society before Islam, it can be well described as a community in transition. On one hand the values of Nomadic life remained strong, but on the other the movement of the Quresh tribe from a nomadic to sedentary existence led to changes in values and relationships. The growth of individualism in particular was gradually eroding the tribes. Solidarity and the clans of Quresh became increasingly competitive among themselves. As the social solidarity based on Kinship began to breakdown, the way was opened for a new definition of community in which individualism might be joined with social responsibility. One of the Islam’s contributions was to offer such a definition.

Ultimately their came a time, a time which was the turning point in the lives of Arabs. It was in 570 A.D when Rasulallah (S.A) was born. He was the Prophet of Allah towards mankind. Allah Subhanahu commanded his prophet to call the people towards Islam, and the path of Allah with Wisdom and goodly council. He was a warning and a messenger of mercy as well. Allah Says." We have made mercy personified in Rasulallah (S.A) for the entire world.

In the aforesaid verse Allah guides to call people in three fold ways:

First: - To invite them to Allah’s path through Wisdom. Those who understand Wisdom and appreciate truth would surely answer the call of Wisdom, and through this wisdom they would be saved from speculative philosophies and sophistication. This principle of Islam would till the end of existence continue to invite people.

Second: - Is to give goodly guidance and council. Allah has further revealed in Quran "Why do u say what you, do not". This verse is revealed on a hearth, which is entirely devoted to the will of Allah. : He respected elders and loved young ones, he behaved well with neighbors and helped elderly ones. He would take care of poor and display trustworthiness to all, mercy, truth, justice, co operation and companion are the characters which illuminates in life as record of history. His attitude towards his followers was such that even a harsh and arrogant man too would bow down before him in humility. This indeed explains the Quranic instructions of the goodly guidance.

Third: - Path is to argue in a better manner to those who are not ready to listen the call of wisdom and those who don’t pay heed to a goodly council, but are determined to defy and object are to be dealt with, through convincing arguments. People so addressed may probably come out of their doubts and fancies or else, if they chose to oppose they are to answer in a good manner so that the basic fiber of social existence is not broken, and an atmosphere of respect and mortality is maintained.

Allah has instructed his messenger to warn and guide people through these three means and then Allah says, "If ever then people don’t follow then Allah knows very well who are astray and who are the guided ones". As we ponder further on this verse, we wonder as to what the Qurans term (Hikmat) wisdom, may mean. Maulana Ahmed Hamiduddin Kirmani (A.Q) says that Allah Almighty has created this universe and has created the human beings as well as the Jinn’s for his worship. Now for this worship and prayer one need a sure path and a fit guidance. This sure path is the true religion of which Allah says, " The religion near Allah is only Islam". The prayer rites and the religious code of this true religion Allah has sent down to us through his messenger Rasulallah (S.A).

Just as wisdom spoke on the lips of Rasulallah (S.A) today it flows out from the councils of and deeds of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS). May Allah grant Aqa Maula (TUS) a long and prosperous life.

Ameen.

Abde Syedna (Tus)

Aliasger Sh Saifuddin Rasheed