SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The objective of this study is to illustrate the religious conflict between the Prophet Muhammad and the Mushrikun of Mecca and to study some of the poetry which was said in connection with the religious idea of that period. Although the study was connected with one part of the Arabic Literature, poetry, it is stressed more on the historical part of it. The first chapter deals with the historical Background of the Arabs' life before the advent of Islam, social, political, intellectual and religious. A more detailed study was given to the religious part of the pre-Islamic Arabs, as this is the most important point which led to the spiritual conflict between the Prophet and his fellow Qurayshites. A study of how they came to worship idols and verses of poetry which were said to glorify their idols. How did Christianity and Judaism reach Arabia and their influences in the life of the Arabs. The second chapter deals with the life of the Prophet Muhammad, his personality, his situation in the Meccan society, his prophethood and his early message to his people. This is then followed by the reaction of the Quraysh towards the new religion, which did not recognise their faith and belief and denounced their glorified and venerated idols. Why did the Quraysh reject Islam and refused Muhammad's prophecy? What are their movements against the Prophet, his followers and Islam? How did the Prophet face them? And finally the study of those people who took active parts and actions in stopping the Prophet from preaching Islam. The sources of study are based mostly on al-Qur' an and kutub al-tafsir as well as historical and Arabic literary sources. Quranic verses are translated with the help of the translation of al-Qur'an by Muhammad Yusuf 'Ali, Pickthall and others. Wabillahi al-taufiq.