16.2.1 Transformation of Arabia

From Fragmentation to Unity

When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent, Arabia was a land marked by deep division, ignorance of divine guidance, and entrenched customs that often led to injustice. Within a single generation, that same land became the cradle of a new civilization based on revelation, justice, and brotherhood. This chapter focuses on how the message of the Prophet ﷺ transformed Arabia itself, not the rest of the world, which will be discussed elsewhere.

Before Islam, the Arabian Peninsula was largely defined by tribal loyalties instead of a sense of a larger community. Each tribe saw itself as the center of loyalty and honor. After the mission of the Prophet ﷺ, these same tribes came to see themselves as one Ummah, united by faith and obedience to Allah. The Qur’an described this as a special favor granted to the believers:

﴿وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا﴾
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah, all together, and do not be divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you, when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together, so you became, by His favor, brothers.”
(Qur’an 3:103)

This verse was revealed in Madinah, an environment where previously hostile Arab tribes became brothers through Islam. What happened in Madinah then spread across Arabia. The transformation was not only political or military, but spiritual and moral, and it affected every layer of society.

From Tribal Pride to Brotherhood of Faith

Before Islam, honor was defined by tribe, lineage, power, and vengeance. A man was judged by who his forefathers were, how many allies he had, and how fiercely he defended his tribe, right or wrong. Islam replaced this with a new standard. The Prophet ﷺ declared in his Farewell Sermon:

«أَلَا لَا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيٍّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِيٍّ، وَلَا لِأَعْجَمِيٍّ عَلَى عَرَبِيٍّ، وَلَا لِأَحْمَرَ عَلَى أَسْوَدَ، وَلَا لِأَسْوَدَ عَلَى أَحْمَرَ، إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى»
“Know that an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a red (i.e. white) over a black, nor a black over a red, except by taqwa (piety).”
(Ahmad)

With this one principle, Arabia’s old measure of worth was overturned. Men who were once despised because of their lineage, their tribe, or their status as slaves became leaders because of their faith and character. Bilal ibn Rabah, a former slave from Abyssinia, was chosen as the first mu’adhdhin of Islam. Salman al-Farisi, from Persia, was consulted on major matters such as the digging of the trench in the Battle of the Trench. Suhayb ar-Rumi, from the Roman lands, was counted among the early Muslims close to the Prophet ﷺ.

The Qur’an set the standard clearly:

﴿إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ﴾
“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.”
(Qur’an 49:13)

This redefinition of honor brought tribes together under one banner, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul Allah,” and created a sense of being one community instead of competing clans.

From Cycles of Revenge to Rule of Law

In pre-Islamic Arabia, disputes were often settled by revenge and continuous feuds. If one person was killed, his tribe might kill several people from the other tribe. This cycle of bloodshed could continue for generations. Islam replaced this with a system of justice, limits, and forgiveness.

The Qur’an acknowledged the principle of legal retaliation (qisas), but surrounded it with guidance toward fairness and mercy:

﴿وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقِصَاصِ حَيَاةٌ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾
“And there is for you in legal retribution [saving of] life, O people of understanding, that you may become righteous.”
(Qur’an 2:179)

The Prophet ﷺ emphasized that the law applied to everyone, regardless of status. When some Companions interceded to protect a noble woman from punishment, he ﷺ said:

«إِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ الَّذِينَ قَبْلَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الشَّرِيفُ تَرَكُوهُ، وَإِذَا سَرَقَ فِيهِمُ الضَّعِيفُ أَقَامُوا عَلَيْهِ الْحَدَّ»
“Those before you were destroyed because if a noble person stole among them, they would let him go, but if a weak person stole, they would carry out the punishment on him.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

By making everyone equal before the law, whether rich or poor, noble or weak, Islam broke the tribal habit of protecting one’s own even when they committed injustice. This shifted Arabia from a culture of personal vengeance to one of structured, divinely guided justice.

At the same time, Islam strongly encouraged forgiveness and reconciliation. The Qur’an praised those who pardon:

﴿وَأَن تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى﴾
“And to pardon is nearer to righteousness.”
(Qur’an 2:237)

So the new Arabian society did not only punish, it also healed, reconciled, and taught people to seek Allah’s pleasure through patience and forgiveness.

From Ignorance and Idolatry to Knowledge and Tawhid

The greatest change in Arabia was belief. The Arabs moved from worshipping many idols and following inherited customs without reflection to worshipping Allah alone with knowledge and clear guidance.

Pre-Islamic Arabs knew of Allah as a Creator, but they associated partners with Him, prayed to idols, and followed soothsayers. The Qur’an constantly called them to pure monotheism:

﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ. وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ﴾
“Say, He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
(Qur’an 112:1–4)

The Ka‘bah in Makkah, once filled with idols, was purified. Upon the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ entered the Masjid al-Haram and recited:

﴿وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا﴾
“And say, ‘Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed falsehood is ever bound to vanish.’”
(Qur’an 17:81)

He ﷺ ordered the destruction of the idols around the Ka‘bah. Arabia, which had been a center of idol worship, now became the center of pure tawhid. The call “Allahu Akbar” echoed from Makkah and Madinah and spread through the towns and deserts of the Peninsula.

This spiritual transformation also came with a transformation in knowledge. The first revealed word, “Iqra” (Read), introduced a new attitude toward learning and reflection. People were encouraged to learn the Qur’an, study the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ, and think about the creation of the heavens and the earth:

﴿إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ﴾
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for those of understanding.”
(Qur’an 3:190)

Thus, Arabia shifted from blindly following ancestors to seeking knowledge, memorizing revelation, and transmitting it carefully. This love of knowledge would soon influence the wider world, but its roots were planted in the transformed Arabian society.

From Social Injustice to Protection of the Weak

The society of Arabia before Islam often neglected or mistreated the weak, including orphans, slaves, the poor, and many women. Through the Prophet ﷺ, Allah changed how people saw and treated those who had little power.

The Qur’an repeatedly commanded kindness to orphans and the poor:

﴿فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ. وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ﴾
“So as for the orphan, do not oppress him. And as for the beggar, do not repel him.”
(Qur’an 93:9–10)

Zakah, a mandatory charity, was made one of the pillars of Islam. It created a constant flow of wealth from the rich to the poor inside Arabia. The Prophet ﷺ said regarding wealth and social responsibility:

«وَفِي مَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ، لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ»
“And in their wealth there is a known right, for the one who asks and the one who is deprived.”
(This meaning is expressed in Qur’an 70:24–25, and supported by many hadith)

Women, who in many parts of Arabia could be inherited as property or denied any say in marriage, were given clear rights in the Qur’an. They gained rights in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and dignity. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا»
“Treat women well.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

Even towards slaves, a change took place. While slavery was not abolished at once, emancipation was strongly encouraged, and kind treatment was made obligatory. Many sins had kaffarah (expiation) through freeing a slave. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«إِخْوَانُكُمْ خَوَلُكُمْ، جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ تَحْتَ أَيْدِيكُمْ، فَمَنْ كَانَ أَخُوهُ تَحْتَ يَدِهِ، فَلْيُطْعِمْهُ مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ، وَلْيُلْبِسْهُ مِمَّا يَلْبَسُ»
“Your servants are your brothers whom Allah has placed under your authority. So whoever has his brother under his authority, let him feed him from what he eats and clothe him from what he wears.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)

These teachings changed household life, market behavior, and the way people saw the vulnerable. Over time, the norms of Arabian society shifted closer to justice and mercy, as commanded by Allah.

From Constant War to Conditions of Peace

Tribal wars used to erupt over small insults or minor incidents and could last for years. Poetry of that time often glorified bravery in endless battles. When Islam spread across Arabia, fighting did not disappear completely, but its reasons and rules were transformed.

The Qur’an set clear boundaries for fighting:

﴿وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلَا تَعْتَدُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ﴾
“And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love the transgressors.”
(Qur’an 2:190)

This removed the idea of fighting merely for tribal pride or revenge. It introduced a purpose, defense of faith and protection of the oppressed, and it placed limits to prevent injustice in war.

The Prophet ﷺ taught ethical rules during battles:

«اغْزُوا بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ، فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ، وَلَا تَغُلُّوا، وَلَا تَغْدِرُوا، وَلَا تُمَثِّلُوا، وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا»
“Go forth in the name of Allah, in the way of Allah. Fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Do not steal from the spoils, do not betray, do not mutilate, and do not kill a child.”
(Muslim)

As more tribes entered Islam, their mutual hostilities were gradually resolved under the Prophet’s leadership. Treaties, such as the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, introduced the idea of a formal peace agreement that had to be respected, even when emotionally difficult. This taught the Arabs to value long-term stability and peaceful coexistence more than quick victories.

By the end of the Prophet’s life, widespread, constant tribal warfare inside Arabia was replaced by a largely unified community with a shared law, shared worship, and decreased internal fighting. This opened the door for security in travel, trade, and learning throughout the Peninsula.

From Scattered Customs to a Shared Way of Life

Before Islam, different tribes had different customs regarding marriage, trade, revenge, celebration, and worship. There was no single standard that all recognized as sacred. Through the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, Arabian society gained a shared way of life that brought harmony to daily practice.

The daily prayers at fixed times, the month of Ramadan, the rites of Hajj, and the rules of halal and haram food created a rhythm that all Muslims shared from Makkah to the far desert. The Qur’an said about Salah:

﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ﴾
“Indeed, prayer restrains from immorality and wrongdoing.”
(Qur’an 29:45)

Worship was no longer scattered rituals to different idols, but a unified system that shaped character, time, and society.

Similarly, trade was regulated by clear principles. Forbidden practices such as riba (usury), cheating, and gambling were replaced by honest dealings. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«التَّاجِرُ الصَّدُوقُ الْأَمِينُ، مَعَ النَّبِيِّينَ، وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ، وَالشُّهَدَاءِ»
“The truthful, trustworthy merchant will be with the Prophets, the truthful ones, and the martyrs.”
(Tirmidhi)

This made honesty in business a religious duty and an honored path, not simply a personal choice. As these teachings spread, markets in Arabia increasingly adopted shared moral expectations, which strengthened trust between people and tribes.

Family life was also reshaped by guidance regarding marriage contracts, rights, responsibilities, and inheritance. The Qur’an spelled out detailed portions of inheritance, giving relatives, including women and children, defined shares. This replaced many arbitrary customs where some would be entirely excluded from wealth.

The result was that Arabs, regardless of tribe, began to live according to a common framework that organized worship, family, and business. This strengthened unity at a very practical, everyday level.

From Local Vision to a Sense of Mission

Before Islam, the concerns of most Arab tribes were narrow. They focused on their own survival, honor, and local rivalries. The Qur’anic message expanded their vision. The Arabs came to see themselves as carriers of a message for all humanity, responsible before Allah.

The Qur’an addressed them:

﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ﴾
“And thus We have made you a middle nation, that you may be witnesses over mankind.”
(Qur’an 2:143)

And about the Prophet ﷺ, Allah said:

﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا﴾
“And We have not sent you except to all people as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.”
(Qur’an 34:28)

As they embraced Islam, the people of Arabia stopped seeing themselves as just tribes competing for grazing land or poetry honor. They understood that they were now part of an Ummah whose purpose was to worship Allah and convey His guidance. This new sense of mission motivated them to learn, to practice, and to teach Islam to others, beginning from their own families and neighbors and then beyond Arabia.

This inner transformation gave the society a new energy, discipline, and purpose. It is one of the major reasons why the changes in Arabia were not temporary, but laid the foundation for a lasting civilization.

The New Face of Arabia at the Time of the Prophet’s Passing

By the time the Prophet ﷺ passed away in Madinah, the picture of Arabia was very different from the world into which he was born. Most of the tribes had entered Islam. Idols had been removed from the Ka‘bah. The call to prayer was heard in cities, towns, and encampments. People prayed together behind one imam, fasted together in Ramadan, and gathered together in Hajj.

Zakah was collected and distributed. Orphans, widows, and the poor were recognized by the state and the community. Rules of marriage, divorce, and inheritance were widely known and practiced. The Qur’an was memorized by many and recited in homes and mosques. The sayings and actions of the Prophet ﷺ were being preserved by the Companions who lived with him in Makkah and Madinah.

The transformation can be summarized as a movement from:

ignorance (jahiliyyah) to guidance (huda),
shirk to tawhid,
tribal division to unity,
revenge to structured justice and forgiveness,
oppression of the weak to recognition of rights,
and narrow concern to a sense of global mission.

This new Arabia, shaped by the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ, became the starting point from which Islam would spread beyond the Peninsula. The details of that wider spread will be explored separately. Here, it is enough to see that the Prophet ﷺ did not only preach to individual hearts, he transformed an entire land, its beliefs, its ethics, and its way of life, through the mercy and guidance that Allah sent with him.

﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ﴾
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
(Qur’an 21:107)

Arabia was the first to taste this mercy in full, and its transformation stands as one of the clearest proofs of the truth and power of his message ﷺ.