Before the rise of Islam in the 7th century, Arabia was religiously diverse and culturally complex. The region contained groups with advanced trade networks and poetry, but also many tribes whose social practices were harsh, dangerous, and deeply fragmented.

1. Religious Beliefs

Pre-Islamic Arabia was home to a variety of religious traditions:

• Arabian polytheism was the most widespread. People worshipped hundreds of idols, spirits, and local deities.
• The Kaaba in Mecca itself housed around 360 idols, each representing different gods and goddesses.
• Judaism, Christianity, and other Abrahamic faiths were also practiced in various regions.
• Minority influences included Samaritanism and Iranian religions such as Zoroastrianism, brought through trade and political contact.

2. Literacy and Cultural Development

• Overall, literacy was low, and writing was not widely used for administration or governance.
• Cultural expression focused heavily on oral poetry, tribal storytelling, and genealogies.

3. External Influences

Arabia did not exist in isolation:

• Hellenization (mixing of Greek and local cultures) reached parts of Arabia after the conquests of Alexander the Great.
• In 106 CE, Rome annexed the Nabataean Kingdom and formed the province Arabia Petraea.
• Roman influence spread through Syria, Transjordan, and Palestine.
• Archaeological finds from Qaryat al-Faw, capital of the Kingdom of Kinda, include statues of Artemis, Heracles, and Harpocrates, showing Greco-Roman cultural influence.

4. Social Problems and Uncivilized Tribal Customs

Many Arab tribes lived in a harsh desert environment that shaped their behaviour. Not all tribes practiced these customs, but the following were widespread enough to be noted by historians and later condemned by Islam:

a. Tribal warfare and constant blood feuds

• Clans often fought endless revenge cycles lasting generations.
• Killing over small disputes was common, making Arabia extremely unstable.

b. Female infanticide (waʾd)

• Some tribes buried newborn girls alive, out of poverty, fear of shame, or social pressure.
• Islam later prohibited this practice completely.

c. Exploitation of the weak

• The strong often oppressed the weak; there was no central law.
• Slavery, human trafficking, and mistreatment of servants were common.

d. Alcohol abuse and unruly behaviour

• Heavy drinking, gambling, and violent celebrations were a normal part of life.
• These often contributed to fights, killings, and moral decline.

e. Harsh treatment of women

• In many tribes, women had no inheritance rights, no property ownership, and were treated as possessions or inherited objects.
• Marriages could include unlimited wives, temporary unions, or forced marriages.

f. Superstition and idol-based rituals

• People believed in stones, trees, and talismans.
• Sacrificing animals to idols or seeking omens from arrows (azlām) were common practices.

5. Political Fragmentation

Arabia lacked any unified government:

• Tribal leaders ruled small areas.
• There was no universal law, justice system, or stable authority.

6. International Context

The early 7th century saw the final and most destructive stage of the Byzantine–Sasanian wars/ Roman–Persian wars
This long conflict weakened both empires and indirectly prepared the way for the rapid spread of Islam.