From Yasrib to Madina
In pre-Islamic times, the Arabian Peninsula, known as Jaziratul Arab or the Arabian Subcontinent, was the first habitat of the Arab people. This fact is historically proven. The Arabian Peninsula is surrounded by the ocean on three sides. As geographical boundaries, it is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the south, Iraq and the Levant region to the north, the Arabian (or Persian) Gulf to the east, and the Red Sea to the west. Historians have divided the Arab people into two branches. The Araba are the descendants of Kahlan, whose homeland was Yemen. The Kahlanis later split into two branches, namely Saba’ and Himyar. Since they were the first to speak the Arabic language in the Arabian Subcontinent, they are called Araba Arab.
The Mustariba are the descendants of Adnan, who was related to Prophet Ismail. Ismail used to speak the Syrian language, which was his father Ibrahim’s language. At one point, Ibrahim and his son Ismail came to Mecca. The Kahlanis of the Jurhum clan lived near the Kaaba and some of them married women from there. During that time, Ibrahim not only taught the Arabic language to his children but also to their offspring. For this reason, they are called Araba Mustariba. Adnanis originally inhabited the regions of Hijaz, Najd, and the desert areas of Syria. Later, the Kahlanis migrated to northern Arabia and integrated with the Adnanis, especially in Medina, which became their homeland.
Extinct Arab tribes: Before the Adnanians and Kehlani, there was a large group of Arabs known as the Bilalupta (or vanished Arabs). However, they completely disappeared, and no one claims to be their descendant. Therefore, they are referred to as Bilupta Arabs. Prominent tribes among the vanished Arabs include the Ad, Thamud, Tasam, and Jadis. Their famous cities included Hadramaut, Yathrib, Oman, Tayma, and Wadi al-Qura, among others.
The earlier name of madina was yasrib. The name of Prophet Noah’s son was Yasarib. The number of Yasarib’s descendants increased over time. He came to Madinah and settled there. The city was named Yasarib in accordance with his name. Yasarib means to accuse or threaten. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) arrived, the city may not have possessed such virtues as the name Yasarib suggests. Therefore, upon the guidance of the Prophet Allah, the name of the city was changed to Madinah Tayyiba.
In that age of ignorance, there were thousands of idols on the Arabian Peninsula. Each tribe had its own independent idol, but only the tribe of Quraysh had 360 independent idols around the Kaaba. During the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) destroyed and removed all these idols.
The Kaaba and the pilgrimage site have held great significance and superiority among the Arabs since the construction of the sacred Kaaba by the Prophet Ibrahim. As a sacred place, their only sanctified location was the Kaaba. The contemporary Arabs used to perform tawaf (circumambulation) around this magnificent structure and also protect its honor. After the emergence of Islam, the importance and respect of the Kaaba increased even further. The Tawaf around the Kaaba is still recognized at all times. The rituals and regulations of Hajj have been prescribed since the time of the Prophet Ibrahim. For a long time, the Arabs practiced idol worship, but they continued to perform Hajj in this sacred house, adhering to its essential principles. However, they mixed ignorance into it.
Madina is one of the important cities for muslims .
Significantly, the mention of Talbiyah is notable. During Hajj, they would recite the Talbiyah in the following manner:
Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik la sharika laka labbaik. Innal hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk. La sharika laka.
The emergence of strengthened Hajj and incorporated it into the practices of Islamic rituals, distancing it from innovations. Since the time of the Prophet Ibrahim, the area around the sacred Kaaba, known as the Haram, has held significance and value among the Arabs. A tradition of honoring and evaluating the Haram prevailed. The Arabs unanimously agreed on the illegality of aggression or violence within the boundaries of the Haram. They were diligent in ensuring the safety of anyone entering the Haram, and no harm would be inflicted upon them until they safely exited. This was their concerted effort. In the era of ignorance, the Arabs had an admirable practice. They respected and valued it appropriately. With the advent of Islam, the honor of this practice further increased. One of the crucial aspects was the sanctity of four specified months, during which no warfare, killing, or disputes would take place. The designated four months are Rajab, Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram.
This written tradition played a significant role in bringing about a vast contribution among various tribes of Arabia. It served as a crucial role in performing religious ceremonies of each tribe, maintaining a secure marketplace, preserving the continuity of literature and seasons, and keeping war, conflict, disputes, and controversies—which were inherent in the character of pre-Islamic Arabia—at bay. The social fabric of the entire Arabian Peninsula’s inhabitants revolved around nomadism (Bedouinism) as a predominant characteristic. Even the residents of cities like Mecca, Yathrib, Sana’a, and Nazareth were not exempt from this desert-like nature. This nomadic nature controlled all aspects of their lives, thoughts, and actions. It gave birth to their tribal pride and ignorant traditionalism. Jahiliyyah had hardened their minds and mentality, making them aggressive and prone to constant conflict. As a result, they remained engaged in incessant battles and hostilities with one another. The causes of these battles varied, but most of them were trivial and insignificant. For instance, a camel’s killing led to a continuous war between the Banu Bakr and Banu Taghlib tribes that lasted for forty long years.