Conditions of Society before the Advent of Islam Influence of Islam on Society

1. Religious Conditions

Truly speaking before the advent of Islam the social conditions for Europe and Arabia, Iran, Egypt and Iraq were very bad. Ignorance, idol-worshipping and tribal warfare common. Gambling, adultery and many bad habits were the order of the day. Fire was worshipped in Iran. The Arabs did not believe in One God. They had no faith in life after death. They worshipped idols, sun, moon and the stars. There was corruption in Rome and Greece. The Romans and Greeks gave a lot of priority to the  religious heads. India and China were also in the grip of total darkness. There was caste system.

2. Political Conditions

In the past Egypt, Iran, India, Rome and Greece were famous  for their great civilizations. There were vast empires but before the advent of Islam all had been  forgotten and lost. Big empires were sub-divided into small kingdoms. No body knew about peace and prosperity. No organised government was seen in the whole of Arabia. There was tribal rule and the different tribes were at war.

3. Social Conditions

There were many evils in the Society of Afro-Asian countries before the advent of Islam. Tribes often robbed one another and little dispute resulted in a war lasting for generations. Women had no status in society  and they were treated like slaves. The Arabs buried the girls as soon as they were born. People used to lend money on interest. Most of the Arabs were poor and led nomadic life. Slavery was very common. In India people were divided into four castes. Brahmans belonged to the highest caste. The Shudras were treated as the lowest caste. They were treated as untouchables.

4. Influence of Islam

The Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon Him) infused a new spirit and a deep sense of responsibility among the Muslims. He gave them the message of piety, unity, brotherhood, solidarity, truth, honesty and peace. He taught them to worship One God and to believe in the doctrine of Life after death. When he started preaching Islam, the Arabs of Mecca strongly opposed him. He faced many difficulties, hardships and problems. He had to migrate to Medina and fight some defensive battles. The City of Mecca was conquered by the Muslim without any bloodshed. All statues and idols were removed from the Holy Kaba.

5. The Last Pilgrimage

The Holy Prophet (Peach be upon Him) performed his last Haj in the year 632 A.D. (in the 10^th year of Hijra). He addressed a large gathering of his true and faithful followers in the plains of Arafat. He said O People! Listen carefully to what I say because I Know not whether I will be able to meet you here next year. Respect the persons and properties of one another. You have to appear before your Creator to account for your acts and deeds. Lead a life of goodness and do not subject other to cruelties. O, People Your wives have a claim on you as you have on them. Therefore, treat them kindly with love and affection. Feed your slaves on food which you yourselves eat. Do not treat them cruelly. All the Muslims are brothers, no matter what colour and creed they belong to. You are all followers of the same faith. It is not fair for you to harm any of your brothers or forcibly grab his property. See carefully that injustice is done to none.

The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) was a great reformer. He was respected and loved by his people due to his steadfastness, truth, simplicity, trust-worthiness, sincerity, patience, courage and sense of duty. He believed in generosity and forgiveness. He was polite, helpful and kind to everybody.

To liberate man, to educate man, in a word, to humanize man was the sole mission of his life. From the position a poor orphan boy he was elevated to the status of a prophet ruler but he ever led the life of a simple man. He was the first to unite the various tribes of Arabia into one nation. In fact he become the founder of the common-wealth of Islam. He converted the idol-worshippers of Arabia into a religious and God fearing nation which believed in One God. His prophets, His angels and His books and also in the doctrine of life after Death.

6. Death

The message of the last Pilgrimage is a charter of liberty, equality and justice. Immediately after that the holy prophet (Peach be upon Him) fell ill. He parted from this world on 12^th Rabi-ul-awal at the age of sixty-three.

7. Khulfa-e-Rashideen (The Pious Caliphs) (RA)

After the death of the Holy-Prophet (Peace be upon Him) Hazrat Abu Bakar Siddiq (Ra) was elected Khalifa. He reigned from 632 A.D. to 634 A.D He was very close friend and trusted follower of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him). He was very brave and daring. He defeated those who refused to pay Zakat and claimed to be prophets (false). He maintained law and order and conquered some territories of Syria and Iraq. After his death Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) was elected khalifa. He reigned from 634 A.D. to 644 A.D. He was just, pious and an able administrator. Many new territories of Iraq, Syria, Jerusalem, Armenia, Asia Minor, Khurasan and Makran were added to the Muslim Empire in his days. In the year 644 A.D he diede as a martyr by the dagger injury inflicted upon him by an Iranian slave Abu Lulu Feroz. 

Hazrat Usman Ghani (RA) was elected as the third Khalifa of the Muslims. He was a true Muslim. He was very modest, obliging and peace-loving. He reigned from 644 A.D. to 656 A.D. A group of Muslims opposed him on account of his administrative policies and actions. In the year 35 H or 656 A.D. the opponents entered his house and killed him when he was reciting Holy Quran. After his martyrdom, Hazrat Ali was elected as the fourth Khalifa. He was devoted to Islam. He was a great scholar of religion. He was very brave and courageous. He was fatally attacked while praying in a mosque at Kufa in year 661 A.D by a Khariji rebel namely Abdul Rahman bin Muljim. He succumbed to the injuries and died on 20the Ramzan.

1. Influence of Islam on Religious thought and belief     

(i).Islam teaches the people that there is only One God and He alone deserve all praise and worship. Islam gives the idea of another everlasting life of peace and joy in Hereafter. Islam lays the stress to lead virtuous lives. Islam does not influence Arabs alone, whenever and wherever the Muslims Went, their moral values and deeds had great effect on the ways of life and living of the people who belonged to different religions. As a result of this many people who belonged to different religions left their own religions and embraced Islam. The Christian Priests misrepresented Islam before their followers. But when the Christians had personal dealings with the Muslims, they changed their minds.
(ii). The Muslims ruled over South Asia for seven hundred years. Islam had deep influence on the religion and culture of the Indians with the result many of them embraced and Islam started mixed movements. The Arya Samaj and the Sikhs opposed idol-worship and these two sects stopped worshipping idols.

2. Influence of Islam on Social Life

(i). Islam has given equal status to every member of society. In Islam nobody enjoys respect due to colour, creed, race, nationality and economic status. God has created all alike. A slave can become a king and get the same honour and respect as the member of royal family. The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said that Arab has no preference over a non-Arab.
(ii). The Hindus were divided into caste system. The people belonging to high caste could neither sit nor eat with the people belonging to low castes. Low castes could not receive education. The influence of Islam weakened the effect of such inhuman attitudes. Before Islam women had low status in society. Islam granted equal status to the women folk with the men. Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi treated a Christian King so honourably that he refused of fight against him.
(iii). Fine arts and architecture was also promoted by the Muslims. Different inventions and scientific researches benefitted the Europeans and non-Muslims.

3. Influence of Islam on Economic Life

Islam is great supporter of economic justice. Islam does not permit accumulation of wealth in a few hands. The poor have a right on the wealth of the rich according to Islam. The main purpose of Zakat, Sadqa and Charity is to give financial help to the deserving people. This will not allow wealth to remain in a few hands only.

4. Influence of Islam on political Conditions

In Islam sovereignty belongs to Allah. He is the supreme authority in the political order of Islam. Everything which exists, belongs to Allah. Muslim Head of the State is only Khalifa of Allah and servant of His people. He runs the administration for the welfare of the public. In Islam Public opinion has great importance. Every citizen has the right to criticize the wrong doing of the ruler. Allah has ordered the Muslims to consult one another in their difficulties and problems. The system of Azan for calling the worshippers to prayer (Namaz) was adopted after mutual consultation. Through referendum the will of the people is ascertained. Thus the political system of Islam is based upon democracy and abides Public Opinion. In Islam it is the religious duty of every citizen to co-operate with the Government.