PRE-ISLAMIC SOCIETY
Umar spent half of his life in the pre-Islamic society ‘Jahiliyah’, and grew up like his peers of Quraysh, except that he has an advantage over them in that he was one of those who had learned to read, of whom there were very few. He bore responsibility at an early age, and had a very harsh upbringing in which he knew no type of luxury or manifestation of wealth. His father Al-Khattab forced him to tend his camels. His father’s harsh treatment had a negative effect on Umar which he remembered all his life. Undoubtedly, this job -tending livestock- which was the constant work of Umar in Makkah, before he entered Islam, caused him to acquire good characteristics, such as forbearance, patience and toughness. But tending sheep was not the only work that the son of Al-Khattab did during the pre-Islamic era (Ibraheem, 2005: 226).
From his early youth he also excelled in many kinds of sports, such as wrestling, riding and horsemanship. He enjoyed and narrated poetry, and he was interested in the history and affaires of his people. He was keen to attend the great fairs of the Arabs, such as Ukaz, Mijannah and Dhu al-Majaz, where he would make the most of the opportunity to engage in trade and learn the history of the Arabs, and the battles and contests that had taken place among the tribes. Besides, he engaged in trade and profited, which made him one of the rich men of Makkah. He became acquainted with many people in the countries that he visited for the purpose of trade. He travelled to Syria in the summer and Yemen in the winter. Thus, he occupied a prominent position in Makkan society during the pre-Islamic era, and played an effective role in shaping events. He was assisted by the outstanding history of his forefathers. His grandfather Nufayl ibn Abdul-Uzza was one to whom Quraysh referred their disputes for judgment, and his ancestor Kaab was held in high esteem by the Arabs. They had recorded their
history from the year of his death until the event of the Elephant. Umar inherited this status from his forefathers which brought him a great deal of knowledge about the life and circumstances of the Arabs, in addition to his own smartness and intelligence.
So they would come to him to resolve their disputes (Al-Ani & Zaien, 1989: 16).
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was wise, eloquent, well spoken, strong, tolerant, noble, persuasive and clear of speech, which made him qualified to be an ambassador for Quraysh, to speak up for them before the other tribes. Ibn al- Jawzi said: the role of ambassador fell to Umar ibn Al-Khattab. If there was a war between Quraysh and another tribe, they would send him as an ambassador, and if another tribe was boasting
against them, they would send him to respond in kind, and they were pleased with him (Ibn Al-Jawzi, 2001: 11).
Umar lived during the pre-Islamic era and knew it inside out. He knew its true nature, its customs and traditions, and he defended it with all the power he possessed. Therefore, when he entered Islam he understood its beauty and true nature, and he recognized the great difference between guidance and misguidance, disbelief and faith, truth and falsehood, and he spoke his famous words: “The bonds of Islam will be undone one by one when there will be a generation brought up in Islam who do not know what ignorance is” (Aashour, 1998: 144).
Source: (The Series of: Men and Women Around Muhammad)
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