ENGLISH-HISTORICAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS OF MEDINA DURING THE AGE OF IGNORANCE

Muhammad Khuzaima Arain; Hamedullah Bhutto; Manzoor Alam Bhutto

Muhammad Khuzaima Arain Teaching Assistant, Department of Comparative Religion and Islamic Culture University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2573-3259
Hamedullah Bhutto Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Religion and Islamic Culture University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2573-3259
Manzoor Alam Bhutto Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Comparative Religion and Islamic Culture University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3623-5587

Keywords: Medina, Jāhiliyyah, Pre-Islamic Arabia, Religion, Society, Education, Economy, Usury, Tribalism, Reform

Abstract

This research paper examines the religious, social, educational, political, and economic systems that existed in Medina during the Age of Ignorance from a historical and analytical perspective. Before the Prophet's (peace be upon him) migration, Medina was home to a multitude of tribes and religions, including polytheists, Jews, and eventually Muslims. Jewish tribes such as Banu Qurayza, Banu Nadir and Banu Qaynuqa played an important role in the social and political life of Medina. The Arab tribes of Aws and Khazraj were related to the Banu Azd of Yemen, who settled in Yathrib (Medina) after the break of the Marib damand were later called "Ansar".The population of Medina represented a mixed society, in which religious and ethnic diversity was found. Economically, Medina depended on the production of dates, trade and the usury system. The Jewish tribes dominated the usury business, which led to a division between social classes. The trend of education was limited and restricted to specific classes, while tribalism, alcoholism, murder and revengeful behavior were common among moral values. The aim of the paper is to clarify the initial structure and social system of Medina during this period in the light of historical references so that the background for the establishment of the Islamic state can be better understood.