The History of Arabs and the Promise of God to Abraham

The Arabian Peninsula

Arabian Peninsula located in the South West of Asian continent. It is divided into 5 prominent vast areas which are:

a. Hejaz with Mecca, Madinah, and Thaif as its cities
b. Yemen in the South with Sanaa that exist since ancient times as its city
c. Nejd in the Central of Arabian Peninsula
d. Tihamah which is located between Hejaz and Yemen
e. Yamamah located between Nejed and Yemen

The Arabian Peninsula is the only biggest Peninsula in the earth. It size is almost 1/3 European continent but with short beach if it is compared to its size. The beach is straight without any bay for ship to launch its anchor.

Arabian Peninsula geographically with high lands, rock mountains, and basically desert. The rain scarcely pouring down because the wind there consist no water vapor. Only the winds that blows in Yemen consists water vapor and it blows every summer. That is why Yemen is among the fertile area in Arabian Peninsula.

Due to the scarceness of rain, so there is no river in Arabian Peninsula. They only have wells and oasis. Around the wells and oasis' area, the plants grow. It is a fertile place in the middle of the desert.

The climate in Arabian Peninsula is hot because most of its area receives sunlight and the wind that blows did not bring any cold and mild water vapor.

Because of this Arabian Peninsula became the poorest land in the earth. The land is barren, there is no ship port, and the inhabitants lived in poverty. This had made living nomadic life. The moved from a place to a place, searching for fertile land with the grass growing for their camels and goats' grazing. After the grass had finish being grazed, they will move to other place.

Fights always happened for the fertile lands (oasis). They need the fertile land for their camels and goats to graze. The fights can sometimes happen to be a big war between caravans. That is why Arabs always live in war situation. This explains why the Salam (peace) greeting always said to each other now.

Because of the wars that happened, snatching the properties too always happened and Arabs too had made the habit of killing their own children because they are afraid of poverty. It is said that a group of thieves who attacked a person in the day light will become a good host in the night. These bad habits becomes a custom that later being canceled by Islam.

Killing the children habits had been stated in Quran

al-Anaam verses 140 - 151
an-Nahl verses 58 - 59
al-Israa verse 31

Beside the chaos that happened because of poverty and the fights to survive, Arabs too have various good values such as appreciating their guests, generous, courageous, patient, and moderate. This is the habits that Islam emphasize later.

How many typess of Arabs that exist?

Historians had divided Arabs into 3 types

1. The destructed Arabs
2. The Qahtani or pure Arabs
3. The Ismaili

The Destructed Arabs

They were destructed by God, they have no descendants at all because all of them had been uprooted from the earth.

1. The Aad

The tribe Aad lived in al-Ahqaf in Yemen today. Their kingdom is actually a great ancient kingdom. Their ruling extends from Syria to Iraq.

When they get the power, they became cruel and brutal. They also disobey God the One but worshiping idols and statues. So, God had sent Hud (pbuh) as the sign of His Mercy toward human.

There are people who believe Hud (pbuh) and there are also those who do not believe and only mocking the believers. They also said to Hud (pbuh): "it is the same for us whether you remind us or not."

They were then destroyed by God when He sent an extremely cold wind and it blows in frenzy. This Aad people then destroyed by God and they are known as the "First Aad."

Those who were saved by God with His prophet, Hud (pbuh) were known as the "Second Aad." They moved to Hadramaut in Yemen. However they were assimilated into Qahtani Arabs. The Qahtani Arabs moved from Mesopotamia to Yemen. This "Second Aad" too then perished.

The stories of them were told to us in Quran

Surah Hud vs. 50 - 60
Surah al-A'araf vs. 65 - 72
Surah Haqqah vs. 6 - 8

Until now we can see the ruin of a fort known as Qabni Hud. In this city the grave of prophet Hud (pbuh) located. This fort is located in the East of Tasiem city.

The Aad Arabs had achieved high civilization from the ruins that can be seen excavated from the desert of al-Ahqaf. Among them are the Irama-Zatil-Imad which is a capital of the Aad ancient kingdom.

There are also expeditions by Western scholars excavating the ruins of al-Ahqaf and making researches. Among them is Mr. Philby from England. He was provided assistance by the servant of two holy cities, which is Ibnu Saud in 1932. The al-Ahqaf desert too is known as Rab el-Khali means the place without any lord because the land lords which are the Aad had emptied the place.

2. The Thamud

They once lived in al-Hijir (the Rock) and Wadil-Qura (between Hejaz and Syria). Their house were carved in the rock mountains. They filthy rich at that time with camels, cows, and goats also with various vegetables that they got from the plants that grows around. However they became Kafir (ungrateful) to God and involved in bad habits (idolatry). God then still being Merciful to them and sending His prophet, whose name is Saaleh (pbuh) to correct them on the straight path. God granted mu3jizat (miracle) to prophet Saleh (pbuh) which is a giant female camel. God had tested them (the sign whether one is a believer or not) not to disturb the giant camel, because once they harm the camel, they will be destroyed by God.

They do not believe prophet Saleh (pbuh) and they killed the giant camel. They had exceed the limit. God destroyed them with earthquake. Their mighty carved houses in the rock mountains all destroyed and they died in their houses. However the ruins of their houses still exist and can be seen in the road from Hejaz to Yemen. It is always seen by the travelers when they use the road.

Surah about these Arabs

Surah al-A'araf vs. 73 - 79
Surah Hud vs. 61 - 68
Surah an - Naml vs. 45 - 53

3. Qahtani Arabs

The Children of Qahtan are the descendants of Yaarob Ben Qathan. This tribe were originated from Mesopotamia. Because the population in Mesopotamia keep increasing and the spaces becoming small, they have to moved out. They moved down South in Yemen in gradual from Mesopotamia.

Before the Qahtani Arabs arrived, Yemen were inhabited by the "Second Aad." Thus the war waged between these two tribes. The "Second Aad" were lost in the war have to live under the rule of Qahtanis. Later they were assimilated into Qahtani.

Qahtani Arabs had established several kingdoms.

1. Yemeni kingdoms

Because Yemen is a fertile region, the Children of Qahtan did not live nomadic life. They began establishing permanent settlement that soon became kingdoms with cities.

a. Sabaiah (Sheba)

The first king of this kingdom is Sabaa (Sheba). This king had developed a city as an administration center which is called as Ma'areb. Near this city, a dam. This dam keeps the water from the rain that poured down in three months every summer.

The dam has doors that can be opened and closed according to their necessity to water, and the water was irrigated to canals.

With good irrigation system, Yemen became a fertile region with greens. The dam is known as Saddu Ma'areb.

After Sheba died, he was then succeeded by his descendants. Among them is Belqis (Queen Sheba). She lived in the reign of king Solomon (pbuh). The story in Quran is in Surah an-Naml vs. 20 - 44).

This kingdom survived for such a long time. When they forget G-d due to the luxury of life, and turned to other god which is the Sun (a creature), G-d then had destroyed their kingdom with a big flood. This flood happened when the dam Maareb was broken.

The dam Maareb was broken because the people had forgotten to inspect the dam due to the exceeding enjoyment of life and it's later broken and the water brings a big flood that ruins their kingdom.

However those who survived moved again to several places around Arabian Peninsula. According to Sedelliot, this dam happened to be broken in 120 BC. We read this story in Quran, Surah Saba vs. 15 - 17.

b. Himyarite kingdom

This kingdom was established not long after Sheba kingdom was destroyed by the flood. The people who established this kingdom are those who survived the flood in Sheba kingdom. Himyarites are a sub-tribe of Qahtani Arabs of Saba kingdom. Himyarite kingdom's center is in Sanaa.

The kingdom last long. The last king is called Yousuf Zun Nuas. During the reign of this king Himyarite kingdom is in its downfall. Yousuf Zun Nuas embraced Judaism. He also had forced his subjects to embrace Judaism. There are the subjects in Najran who believes in Jesus (pbuh). The teaching of Jesus (pbuh) was brought there by a person whose name is Faimiyyoun (St. Phemion of Syria). The people of Najran refused to embrace Judaism and they were tormented and burned by the cruel king. I think it is around 534 C, and more than 12, 000 being burned. Some Muslims who interprete Quran had stated that Yousuf Zun Nuas is the one among those who were referred as Ashaabul Ukhdud (the makers of the pit of fire) in the Surah al-Buruj.

Surah al-Buruj translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali

4. Woe to the makers of the pit (of fire)

5. Fire supplied (abundantly) with fuel

6. Behold! They sat over against the (fire)

7. And they witnessed (all) that they were doing against the believers

8. And they ill-treated them for no other reason that they believed in G-d Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise!-

9. Him who belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And G-d is Witness to all things.

10. Those who persecute (or draw int temptation) the believers, men and women, and do not turn into repentance, will have the penalty of Hell: they will have the penalty of of the burning Fire.

Due to this brutality, the Emperor of Eastern Rome, Ceasar Justin I (518 - 527 C) who is the protector of the religion of Christ had ordered the Najasyi (Negus) of Ethiopia to attack Yemen.

Negus then sent an army under a war chief whose name is Aryath. King Zun Nuas had no force anymore to avoid the attack and he ran. After that, this kingdom had fallen under the administration of Ethiopia. Aryath became the first governor. Aryath was later murdered by Abrahah who is also an Ethiopian war chief. Abrahah appointed himself as the governor and approved by Negus in Ethiopia.

Abrahah too had forced his army to attack Mecca in order to destruct Kaaba structure. He had also had made another building in Sanaa so that people will perform pilgrimage there and not anymore in Mecca. When he nearly reached Mecca, G-d had sent a kind of disease to them through the birds. Many of his army died, and he himself died when he reached Sanaa in Yemen. We read this in Quran, surah al-Fiil vs. 1 -5.

This event happened around 570 C. In 20 April 571 C, our holy prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca the holy city. After Abrahah died, he was succeeded by his son. But later, a Himyarite whose name is Saif Ben Zi Yasin had lead a rebel. He asked the help from Persian king whose name is Anoushirvan (531 - 579 C). They succeeded expeling Ethiopian from Yemen with the help of Persian army under war chief Wuhrouz the Dailami. Saif Ben Zi Yasin was appointed a king by Persian king.

Many noblemen from around Arabian Peninsula greet Saif Ben Zi Yasin. Among those noblemen is the grandfather of our prophet whose name is Abdul Mutallib Ben Hashim, he is also the servant of the Kaaba (the one who keep the key of Kaaba structure). It is narrated that when Abdul Mutallib met Saif Ben Zi Yasin, he had foretold Abdul Mutallib about a prophet will be sent by G-d from among the Arabs.

However Saif did not rule for long. He was later murdered by some Ethiopians that still living in Yemen because he had oppressed them. Yemen then fallen again under Ethiopia. The king Anushirvan then had sent his army again under Wuhrouz the Dailami to liberate Yemen. Because Yemen still can't stand on her own foot yet, Persia had put it under Persian protectorate land. Wuhrouz became the governor and he ruled Yemen under the name of Persia.

After Wuhrouz died, he was succeeded by other Persians. The last Persian governor is Bazan. In the time of Bazan, Islam shines. Bazan then embraced Islam and under his rule Islam spread in Yemen. Later Yemen became a Muslim territory.

ii. Manazirah kingdom

This kingdom is located in Mesopotamia. It was established by Qahtani Arabs of Yemen who had returned back to their ancestor's land after the flood of Maareb. This kingdom is also known as the Lachmides (the children of Lakhim) or Hirah.

Manazirah kingdom is not an independent kingdom. They are under the influence of Persia. Persia had appointed the rulers from the children of Lakhim and they ruled the Arabs in Mesopotamia. They were used as puppets to:

i. be a buffer state for the business of Persian in Arabian Peninsula and also to guard the Persian whenever they do business in Arabian Peninsula from the attacks of Arab tribes that live in Mesopotamia.

ii. protect Persia from being attacked by the Arabs

iii. be a tool to oppose Eastern Rome. Eastern Rome and Persia are always in battle. In the side of Persia, the Manazirah kingdom provide assistance in the form of army.

Manazirah kingdom last for about 600 years. The last king is al-Munzir Ben Nu'man. He died in a battle when fighting Muslim army under the chieftain Khalid Ben al-Walid in the reign of our caliph Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (G-d be please with him). Later in 633 C, Manazirah was included under Islamic territory.

iii. Ghassanides kingdom

This kingdom located in the South of Syria. It was established by the Qahtani Arabs of Yemen. They also moved there after the dam Maareb was broken.

This kingdom is also a protectorate of Eastern Rome kingdom. This kingdom is used by the Eastern Romans to guarantee their business work smoothly and also to guard Syria from the attacks from other Arab kingdoms. It is also used to oppose the Persian influence.

This kingdom later fallen and it was included under Islamic territory during the rule of our caliph Umar al-Khattab (G-d be please with him) who ruled in 13 - 14 H (634 - 644 C). The last king of Ghassan is Jabalah Ben Aiham. He had embraced Islam but during Pilgrimage ritual in Mecca, a commoner had unintentionally stepped on the edge of his white robe that made he slap the person's face. This case was brought to the our caliph, and he asked the king to apologize because there is no more status difference when performing pilgrim. The king is an ego and he refused. Later, he ran to Constatinople and seek the refuge under Heraclius I. He died as a Christian in the year 20 H in Constantinople.

iv. Kindah kingdom

This small kingdom is located in Nejd. It was established by the Qahtani Arabs from Yemen. They moved there after the flood from the dam Maareb. The last king is Umrul-Qais. He is also a famous poet and he died 50 years before prophet Muhammad (pbuh) born.

The Aus and Khazraj in Madinah the Holy City

I'm sure everyone had at least heard about them. Our prophet (pbuh) had called them as the Ansar (the helpers) after Hijrah event and they became the brothers in faith with the Muslim Quraisy of Mecca known as the Muhajirin (the immigrants).

These two tribes are actually the sub-tribe of Qahtani Arabs. They moved from Yemen just like those Arabs that established kingdoms in the previous post, when the dam of Maareb of Sheba kingdom was broken. These people had moved North to Madinah.

Madinah during the paganism time, was inhabited by the Amaliqah (Amelechites). They were originally a sub-tribe of the perished Arabs which hold power in Hejaz. Medinah old name is Yathrib.

Amalechites are brutal and cruel people. Prophet Moses (pbuh) had sent an army who are the Jews to up-root those brutal Amalechites. Before the Jews depart, Moses (pbuh) had told them not to live even a soul of Amalechites alive. They have to kill them all.

However the Jews did not listen to their prophet order and one of the Amalechite prince still survive. When the Jews wanted to depart to their home, prophet Moses (pbuh) had passed away. They did not fulfill their promise to prophet Moses (pbuh) so they were forbidden to go home. This is how the Jews had been found living in Madinah. Later they became powerful in Madinah. After the Romans had chased Jews from Palestine, many of them had seek refuge in Madinah where their brothers had lived there. Thus Jews becoming more powerful.

The Aus and Khazraj moved out from Yemen after the flood of Maareb. They lived in poverty in Madinah and lacking of everything under the rule of the Jews when the Jews gaining power. However the help from Ghassanides kingdom came and the Aus and Khazraj tribes managed to get back their power from the Jews.

The Aus and Khazraj then lived in glory but arguments arise and the civil wars then happened again. Many died due to the civil wars. Notes too that the Jews had always looking down to these Arab tribes and claiming that they are low life. The Jews are so proud because they said they have the scripture (Torah). They also had heard about the coming of a prophet told to them by the proud Jews. The Jews wanted to be in ally with this prophet to dominate these Arabs and the world.

During the beginning of the spread of Islam, these Arabs the Aus and Khazraj had heard about the prophet in Mecca. So some of them had performed pilgrimage in Mecca. They felt interested when they come in contact with this person Muhammad (pbuh) and they wanted to first becoming the follower of this prophet. They sent messengers to contact the prophet in Mecca in the next year and learning the religion from him. And then, they had invited the prophet (pbuh) to live with them in Madinah. They hope that the civil wars will end after the prophet come.

Their desire to bring prophet (pbuh) had grab the attention of the prophet (pbuh) himself. So, he first asked his companions to slowly move to Madinah. Later he followed them. When he arrived in Madinah, he changed the name of Yathrib to become Madinah. The Aus and Khazraj were called the Ansar (the helpers) and those who immigrated were called the Muhajirin (the immigrants). They were all becoming the brothers in the faith.

Madinah then becomes the center in the spreading of Islamic teaching.

The children of Ishmael

Now we reached the children of Ishmael. Ishmael (pbuh) is the son of Abraham (pbuh) and both of them were appointed prophets. However only Abraham is the messenger of G-d. Abraham (pbuh) in the beginning lives in the city of Ur in Babylon, Mesopotamia. The Babylonians worshiped the solar system and they too had carved idols representing those solar gods.

Abraham (pbuh) calls the inhabitants of Ur to worship only God. But his people are so stubborn. They had also burn him alive in the big fire but God had saved him. God made the fire cold for him. Before that an angel had came to help him, but he refused, he said he do not called angel but God so God is the One who saved him.

And then, Abraham (pbuh) and his followers left Ur for Palestine. The famine had happened there. Abraham and Sarah his wife have to enter Egypt to find food. The king of Egypt, fallen in love with Sarah but he did not know Sarah is the wife of Abraham (pbuh). In Egypt Sarah was given presents and also was granted a servant girl whose name is Hajar.

When they returned to Palestine, Sarah had presented Hajar to Abraham (pbuh) and asked him to marry Hajar because she still have no child. When Ishmael (pbuh) was born, Sarah became jealous and she had asked Abraham (pbuh) to send Hajar and Ishmael to other place. This is normal, Sarah is not an angel but a human and a female. She have emotions and sentiments too.

Abraham (pbuh) sent Hajar and Ishmael (pbuh) to Hejaz. They were sent in a barren land which is in Mecca today. Abraham then prayed to G-d to protect his family there and he returned home in Palestine. Hajar lived there alone with baby Ishmael (pbuh). She have to find water for herself and her baby so she slowly ran between Safa and Marwa hills. Later when she came back to her tent she found a water source at the feet of her baby. The water source then became an oasis and the well was known as Zumzum. The efforts of Hajar searching for water is now included in Manasik Hajj (the pilgrimage rituals). It is known as Sa'ie (Effort).

Then a caravan of Jurhum sub-tribe of Qahtan Arabs from South arrived and they asked Hajar permission the live with them near the water source. The generous lady permitted them and she said that as long nobody trying to conquer the water source she will be happy to live with everyone.

Abraham (pbuh) always visiting Mecca. One day he happened to receive dreams. He thought the dream is from Satan but the dreams kept happened. It is about he is slaughtering his son Ishmael (pbuh). However, in Jews and Christians Bible, it is said that Isaac being slaughtered (Genesis 22: 1 - 14).

Ishmael (pbuh) lived with the Jurhum Arabs and he learned their language. He also married a Jurhum lady. Ishmael (pbuh) was annointed the prophet for the inhabitants of Hejaz. God had also ordered Abraham (pbuh) and Ishmael (pbuh) to build up the structure of Kaaba (that cubicle building). After finish, Abraham (pbuh) have to inform the people of Hejaz that he and his son had build a House of Worship to worship Him. Abraham (pbuh) too had prayed to God so that He will grant peace to this city of Mecca and the inhabitants receiving bountiful of blessings. Human from around the world then performing pilgrimage and worship acts there. Abraham (pbuh) too prayed that one day from his descendant and from Ishmael descendant there will be a prophet to teach the "Book" and the "Wisdom" to human-being.

The prayers of Abraham (pbuh) were all granted by God. He had sent Muhammad (pbuh) and also had made the pilgrimage to Mecca a pillar in the religion. You can read all of this in:

Surah al-Baqarah vs. 124, 131, and 258
Surah Aali-Imran vs. 96 - 97
Surah al-Ana'am vs. 74 - 84
Surah Ibrahim vs. 35 - 37
Surah Maryam vs. 41 - 49
Surah al-Anbiyaa' vs. 51 - 72
Surah as-Syuraa' vs. 60 - 89
Surah as-Saffat vs. 83 - 111

Other than Ishmael (pbuh), Abraham (pbuh) too has another son whose name is Isaac (pbuh). He was born by Sarah after Ishmael (pbuh) was born by Hajar. Isaac has two sons which are Esau and Jacob. Jacob is the one who is known as Israel. Jacob descendents are those who are later known as Israelis.

Ishmael (pbuh) had 12 sons. 11 of them had their descendants extinct and only the descendants of Adnan survive. From Adnan, the children of Ishmael expanded.

Conclusion

i. The children of Qahthan, from the flood that ruined Sheba kingdom they fled to the lands around Arabian Peninsula. Some of them had established kingdoms again.

ii. The children of Ishmael or Adnan. They are the descent of Ishmael the son of Abraham (pbuh). They live in Hejaz, Tihamah, Nejed, and Iraq. The children of Ishmael had no proper kingdoms. They only live nomadic life with Syeikhs or Amirs that becoming their tribal chief. There are of several sub-tribes. Among them is the Quraisy. Quraisy settled in the city of Mecca.