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Ethics
We cannot deny that the pre-Islam Arabs had such a
large bulk of evils. Admittedly, vices and evils, utterly rejected
by reason, were rampant amongst the pre-Islam Arabs, but this could
never screen off the surprise-provoking existence of highly
praiseworthy virtues, of which we could adduce the following:
- Hospitality: They used to emulate one
another at hospitality and take utmost pride in it. Almost half of
their poetry heritage was dedicated to the merits and nobility
attached to entertaining one’s guest. They were generous and
hospitable on the point of fault. They would sacrifice their
private sustenance to a cold or hungry guest. They would not
hesitate to incur heavy blood-money and relevant burdens just to
stop blood-shed, and consequently merit praise and eulogy.
In the context of hospitality, there springs up
their common habits of drinking wine which was regarded as a
channel branching out of generosity and showing hospitality. Wine
drinking was a genuine source of pride for the Arabs of the
pre-Islamic period. The great poets of that era never forgot to
include their suspending odes the most ornate lines pregnant with
boasting and praise of drinking orgies. Even the word ‘grapes’ in
Arabic is identical to generosity in both pronunciation and
spelling. Gambling was also another practice of theirs closely
associated with generosity since the proceeds would always go to
charity. Even the Noble Qur’ân does not play down the benefits
that derive from wine drinking and gambling, but also
says,
"And the sin of them
is greater than their benefit." [Al-Qur'an
2:219]
- Keeping a
covenant: For the Arab, to make
a promise was to run into debt. He would never grudge the death of
his children or destruction of his household just to uphold the
deep-rooted tradition of covenant-keeping. The literature of that
period is rich in stories highlighting this merit.
- Sense of honour and repudiation of
injustice: This attribute stemmed mainly from excess courage,
keen sense of self-esteem and impetuosity. The Arab was always in
revolt against the least allusion to humiliation or slackness. He
would never hesitate to sacrifice himself to maintain his ever
alert sense of self-respect.
- Firm will and
determination: An Arab would
never desist an avenue conducive to an object of pride or a
standing of honour, even if it were at the expense of his
life.
- Forbearance, perseverance and
mildness:
The Arab regarded these traits with great admiration, no wonder,
his impetuosity and courage-based life was sadly wanting in
them.
- Pure and simple bedouin
life still
untarnished with accessories of deceptive urban appearances, was a
driving reason to his nature of truthfulness and honesty, and
detachment from intrigue and treachery.
Such priceless ethics coupled with a favourable
geographical position of Arabia were in fact the factors that lay
behind selecting the Arabs to undertake the burden of communicating
the Message (of Islam) and leading mankind down a new course of
life.
In this regard, these ethics per se, though
detrimental in some areas, and in need of rectification in certain
aspects, were greatly invaluable to the ultimate welfare of the
human community and Islam has did it completely.
The most priceless ethics, next to covenant-keeping,
were no doubt their sense of self-esteem and strong determination,
two human traits indispensable in combatting evil and eliminating
moral corruption on the one hand, and establishing a good and
justice-orientated society, on the other.
Actually, the life of the Arabs in the
pre-Islamic period was rich in other countless virtues we do not
need to enumerate for the time being.
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