Bila shaka yoyote, wasifu wa Mtume Muhammad ﷺ waziwazi unawakilisha mfano kamili wa Ujumbe mtukufu wa Kiungu ambao aliufikisha ili kuwatoa wanadamu kutoka kwenye matope ya giza na ushirikina hadi kwenye peponi ya nuru na tauhidi. Taswira halisi na pana ya Ujumbe huu basi inaweza kupatikana tu kupitia utafiti makini na uchambuzi wa kina wa misingi na masuala yanayohusu wasifu huo. Kwa kuzingatia hilo, sura nzima inatambulishwa hapa kuhusu asili na maendeleo ya makabila ya Kiarabu kabla ya Uislamu pamoja na mazingira ya kijamii yaliyozunguka utume wa Mtume ﷺ.

Beyond a shadow of doubt, the biography of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) manifestedly represents an exhaustive embodiment of the sublime Divine Message that he communicated in order to deliver the human race from the swamp of darkness and polytheism to the paradise of light and monotheism. An image, authentic as well as comprehensive, of this Message is therefore only attainable through careful study and profound analysis of both backgrounds and issues of such a biography. In view of this, a whole chapter is here introduced about the nature and development of Arab tribes prior to Islam as well as the circumstantial environment that enwrapped the Prophet’s mission.

Kiisimu cha neno "Kiarabu" ni jangwa na ardhi tupu iliyokauka, isiyo na maji wala miti. Tangu alfajiri ya historia, Peninsula ya Arabia na watu wake wameitwa hivyo. Peninsula ya Arabia imezungukwa upande wa magharibi na Bahari Nyekundu na Sinai, upande wa mashariki na Ghuba ya Arabia, upande wa kusini na Bahari ya Arabia, ambayo ni sehemu ya kuendelea kwa Bahari ya Hindi, na upande wa kaskazini na Syria ya kale pamoja na sehemu ya Iraq. Eneo hilo linakadiriwa kuwa kati ya maili za mraba milioni moja na milioni moja na robo.

Linguistically, the word “Arab” means deserts and waste barren land well-nigh waterless and treeless. Ever since the dawn of history, the Arabian Peninsula and its people have been called as such. The Arabian Peninsula is enclosed in the west by the Red Sea and Sinai, in the east by the Arabian Gulf, in the south by the Arabian Sea, which is an extension of the Indian Ocean, and in the north by old Syria and part of Iraq. The area is estimated between a million and a million and a quarter square miles.

Kutokana na nafasi yake ya kijiografia, rasi hii daima imeshikilia umuhimu mkubwa. Kwa kuzingatia mazingira yake ya ndani, sehemu kubwa yake ni jangwa na maeneo ya mchanga, jambo ambalo limeifanya isifikike kwa wageni na wavamizi, na kuwawezesha watu wake kuwa na uhuru kamili na kujitegemea katika zama zote, licha ya kuwepo kwa himaya mbili kubwa zilizokuwa jirani.

Thanks to its geographical position, the peninsula has always maintained great importance.. Considering its internal setting, it is mostly deserts and sandy places, which has rendered it inaccessible to foreigners and invaders, and allowed its people complete liberty and independence through the ages, despite the presence of two neighbouring great empires.

Mazingira yake ya nje, kwa upande mwingine, yalisababisha iwe kitovu cha dunia ya kale na yaliipatia viungo vya baharini na nchi kavu na mataifa mengi ya wakati huo. Kutokana na nafasi hii ya kimkakati, Rasi ya Arabia ilikuwa imekuwa kitovu cha biashara, utamaduni, dini na sanaa.

Its external setting, on the other hand, caused it to be the centre of the old world and provided it with sea and land links with most nations at the time. Thanks to this strategic position the Arabian Peninsula had become the centre for trade, culture, religion and art.

Makabila ya Waarabu imegawanywa kulingana na nasaba katika makundi matatu: Waarabu waliopotea: Waarabu wa kale, ambao historia yao haijulikani sana, na miongoni mwao walikuwa ‘Ad, Thamûd, Tasam, Jadis, Emlaq, na wengineo.

Arab kinfolks have been divided according to lineage into three groups: Perishing Arabs: The ancient Arabs, of whose history little is known, and of whom were ‘Ad, Thamûd, Tasam, Jadis, Emlaq, and others.

Waarabu safi: Ambao walitokana na kizazi cha Ya‘rub bin Yashjub bin Qahtan. Pia waliitwa Waarabu wa Kikahtani.

Pure Arabs: Who originated from the progeny of Ya‘rub bin Yashjub bin Qahtan. They were also called Qahtanian Arabs.

Waarabu waliofanywa Waarabu: Hawa ni wale waliotokana na kizazi cha Ismaili. Pia waliitwa Waarabu wa 'Adnani. Waarabu safi – watu wa Qahtan – awali waliishi Yemen na walijumuisha makabila mengi, mawili kati yake yalikuwa maarufu sana:

Arabized Arabs: Who originated from the progeny of Ishmael. They were also called ‘Adnanian Arabs. The pure Arabs – the people of Qahtan – originally lived in Yemen and comprised many tribes, two of which were very famous:

1. Himyar: Miongoni mwa koo zake maarufu zaidi ni Zaid Al-Jamhur, Quda‘a na Sakasic.

1. Himyar: The most famous of whose septs were Zaid Al-Jamhur, Quda‘a and Sakasic.

2. Qahtani: Koo zenye umaarufu zaidi miongoni mwa koo zake ni Hamdan, Anmar, Tai', Mudhhij, Kinda, Lakhm, Judham, Azd, Aws, Khazraj, na wazao wa Jafna — wafalme wa Shamu ya zamani.

2. Kahlan: The most famous of whose septs were Hamdan, Anmar, Tai’, Mudhhij, Kinda, Lakhm, Judham, Azd, Aws, Khazraj and the descendants of Jafna — the kings of old Syria.

Koo za Kahlan zilihama kutoka Yemen na kwenda kuishi katika sehemu mbalimbali za Peninsula ya Arabia kabla ya Mafuriko Makubwa (Sail Al-‘Arim wa Bwawa la Ma’rib), kutokana na kushindwa kwa biashara chini ya shinikizo na utawala wa Roma juu ya njia za biashara za baharini na nchi kavu baada ya Roma kuukalia Misri na Shamu. Kwa kawaida, ushindani kati ya Kahlan na Himyar ulisababisha Kahlan kuondoka na Himyar kukaa Yemen.

Kahlan septs emigrated from Yemen to dwell in the different parts of the Arabian Peninsula prior to the Great Flood (Sail Al-‘Arim of Ma’rib Dam), due to the failure of trade under the Roman pressure and domain on both sea and land trade routes following Roman occupation of Egypt and Syria. Naturally enough, the competition between Kahlan and Himyar led to the evacuation of the first and the settlement of the second in Yemen.

1. Azd: Ambao, chini ya uongozi wa ‘Imran bin ‘Amr Muzaiqbâ’, walizunguka-zunguka nchini Yemen, wakatuma watangulizi, na hatimaye wakaelekea kaskazini. Maelezo ya uhamiaji wao yanaweza kufupishwa kama ifuatavyo:

1. Azd: Who, under the leadership of ‘Imran bin ‘Amr Muzaiqbâ’, wandered in Yemen, sent pioneers and finally headed northwards. Details of their emigration can be summed up as follows:

2. Tha‘labah bin ‘Amr aliondoka kwenye kabila lake la Al-Azd kwenda Hijaz, akakaa kati ya Tha‘labiyah na Dhi Qar.

2. Tha‘labah bin ‘Amr left his tribe Al-Azd for Hijaz and dwelt between Tha‘labiyah and Dhi Qar.

Alipopata nguvu, alielekea Madinah ambako alikaa. Kizazi chake ni Aws na Khazraj, wana wa Haritha bin Tha‘labah. Haritha bin ‘Amr, anayejulikana kama Khuza‘a, alizunguka pamoja na watu wake huko Hijaz hadi walipofika Mar Az-Zahran. Baadaye, walilishinda Haram, na kuishi Makkah baada ya kuwafukuza watu wake, kabila la Jurhum.

When he gained strength, he headed for Madinah where he stayed. Of his seed are Aws and Khazraj, sons of Haritha bin Tha‘labah. Haritha bin ‘Amr, known as Khuza‘a, wandered with his folks in Hijaz until they came to Mar Az-Zahran. Later, they conquered the Haram, and settled in Makkah after having driven away its people, the tribe of Jurhum.

‘Imran bin ‘Amr na watu wake walikwenda Oman ambako walianzisha kabila la Azd, ambalo watoto wake walikaa Tihama na walijulikana kama Azd-of-Shanu’a.

‘Imran bin ‘Amr and his folks went to ‘Oman where they established the tribe of Azd whose children inhabited Tihama and were known as Azd-of-Shanu’a.

Jafna bin ‘Amr pamoja na familia yake, walielekea Shamu ambako alijikita na kuanzisha ufalme wa Ghassan, ambao ulipewa jina hilo kutokana na chemchemi ya maji, huko Hijazi, walipopumzika njiani kuelekea Shamu.

Jafna bin ‘Amr and his family, headed for Syria where he settled and initiated the kingdom of Ghassan who was so named after a spring of water, in Hijaz, where they stopped on their way to Syria.

2. Lakhm na Judham: Nasr bin Rabi‘a, baba wa Manadhira, alikuwa wa kabila gani la Wafalme wa Heerah?

2. Lakhm and Judham: Of whom was Nasr bin Rabi‘a, father of Manadhira, Kings of Heerah.

3. Banu Tai’: Ambao pia walihama kuelekea kaskazini na kukaa karibu na milima inayoitwa Aja na Salma, ambayo kwa sababu hiyo ilipewa jina la Milima ya Tai’.

3. Banu Tai’: Who also emigrated northwards to settle by the so- called Aja and Salma Mountains which were consequently named as Tai’ Mountains.

Waarabu waliofanywa Kiarabu hadi nasaba yao inamrudia babu yao mkubwa Ibrahimu (amani iwe juu yake) kutoka mji uitwao "Ur" karibu na Kufa, kwenye ukingo wa magharibi wa Mto Furati nchini Iraqi. Uchimbuaji wa mambo ya kale uliweka wazi maelezo mengi kuhusu mji huo, familia ya Ibrahimu, pamoja na dini zilizoenea na hali za kijamii za wakati huo.

The Arabized Arabs go back in ancestry to their great grandfather Abraham (Peace be upon him) from a town called “Ar” near Kufa on the west bank of the Euphrates in Iraq. Excavations brought to light great details of the town, Abraham’s family, and the prevalent religions and social circumstances.

Inajulikana kuwa Ibrahim (amani iwe juu yake) aliondoka Ur kwenda Harani, kisha kwenda Palestina, ambayo aliifanya makao makuu ya Ujumbe wake. Alitangatanga katika eneo lote. Alipoenda Misri, Firauni alijaribu kumtendea uovu mke wake Sarah, lakini Allah alimwokoa, na hila mbaya ya Firauni ikamrudia yeye mwenyewe. Hivyo akatambua kwamba Sarah alikuwa na mapenzi makubwa kwa Allah, na kwa kutambua fadhila yake, Firauni alimpa binti yake Hajar kumtumikia Sarah, lakini Sarah akampa Hajar kwa Ibrahim awe mke wake.

It is known that Abrahaml (Peace be upon him) eft Ar for Harran and then for Palestine, which he made headquarters for his Message. He wandered all over the area. When he went to Egypt, the Pharaoh tried to do evil to his wife Sarah, but Allâh saved her and the Pharaoh’s wicked scheme recoiled on him. He thus came to realize her strong attachment to Allâh, and, in acknowledgment of her grace, the Pharaoh rendered his daughter Hagar at Sarah’s service, but Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife.

Ibrahim wa kurudi Palestina ambako Hajar alimzaa Ismail. Sara alimwonea wivu Hajar kiasi kwamba alimlazimisha Ibrahim awapeleke Hajar na mtoto wake mbali, kwenye bonde lisilo na mimea juu ya kilima kidogo huko Hijaz, karibu na Nyumba Takatifu, wakiwa wameangaziwa na mafuriko yanayokuja kulia na kushoto. Alichagua kwao mahali chini ya mti mrefu juu ya Zamzam karibu na upande wa juu wa Msikiti huko Makkah, ambapo hakukuwa na watu wala maji, kisha akarudi Palestina akiwaacha mkewe na mtoto wakiwa na kifuko cha ngozi chenye tende kadhaa na chungu cha maji. Muda si mrefu, walimaliza chakula na maji, lakini kwa fadhila ya Allah maji yalichipuka na kuwatosha kwa muda fulani. Hadithi yote ya chemchemi ya Zamzam tayari inajulikana kwa kila mtu.

Abraham returned to Palestine where Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Sarah became so jealous of Hagar that she forced Abraham to send Hagar and her baby away to a plantless valley on a small hill in Hijaz, by the Sacred House, exposed to the wearing of floods coming right and left. He chose for them a place under a lofty tree above Zamzam near the upper side of the Mosque in Makkah where neither people nor water was available, and went back to Palestine leaving with his wife and baby a leather case with some dates and a pot of water. Not before long, they ran out of both food and water, but thanks to Allâh’s favour water gushed forth to sustain them for sometime. The whole story of Zamzam spring is already known to everybody.

• l "Basi, walipojisalimisha wote wawili (kwa Mapenzi ya Allah), naye akamlaza kifudifudi juu ya paji lake la uso (au upande wa paji la uso kwa ajili ya kuchinja); tukamwita: “Ee Ibrahim! Umetimiza ndoto (maono)!” Hakika! Ndivyo tunavyowalipa Muhsinun (wafanyao mema, wanaofanya mema kwa ajili ya Allah peke yake, bila ya kujionyesha wala kutafuta sifa au umaarufu, n.k., na kuyafanya kwa mujibu wa Amri za Allah). Hakika, hiyo ilikuwa mtihani wa wazi — na tukamkomboa kwa dhabihu kubwa (yaani kondoo dume).” [37:103-107].

• l “Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allâh), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); and We called out to him: “O Abraham! You have fulfilled the dream (vision)!” Verily! Thus do we reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers, who perform good deeds totally for Allâh’s sake only, without any show off or to gain praise or fame, etc. and do them in accordance to Allâh’s Orders). Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial — and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (i.e. a ram)” [37:103- 107].

Imeelezwa katika Mwanzo kwamba Ishmaeli alikuwa mkubwa kwa miaka kumi na mitatu kuliko ndugu yake Ishaki. Mfuatano wa simulizi la kutolewa dhabihu kwa Ishmaeli unaonyesha kwamba tukio hilo kweli lilitokea kabla ya kuzaliwa kwa Ishaki, na kwamba Ahadi ya Allah ya kumpa Ibrahimu mwana mwingine, Ishaki, ilikuja baada ya kusimuliwa kwa hadithi nzima. Simulizi hilo lilitaja safari moja – angalau – kabla Ishmaeli hajawa kijana. Al-Bukhari, kwa mapokezi ya Ibn ‘Abbas, aliripoti safari nyingine tatu; muhtasari wake ni kama ifuatavyo: Ishmaeli alipokuwa kijana, alijifunza Kiarabu kutoka kwa kabila la Jurhum, ambao walimpenda kwa upendo mkubwa na wakampa mmoja wa wanawake wao awe mke wake, muda mfupi baada ya mama yake kufariki. Ibrahimu, akitaka kumwona tena mke wa mwanawe na mwanawe, alikuja Makka baada ya ndoa ya Ishmaeli, lakini hakumkuta nyumbani. Alimuuliza mke wa Ishmaeli kuhusu mumewe na jinsi walivyokuwa wakiishi. Yeye alilalamika kuhusu umaskini, hivyo Ibrahimu akamwomba amwambie Ishmaeli abadilishe kizingiti chake. Ishmaeli alielewa ujumbe huo, akamtaliki mke wake na kuoa binti wa Mudadi bin ‘Amri, mkuu wa kabila la Jurhum.

It is mentioned in the Genesis that Ishmael was thirteen years older than his brother Ishaq. The sequence of the story of the sacrifice of Ishmael shows that it really happened before Ishaq’s birth, and that Allâh’s Promise to give Abraham another son, Ishaq, came after narration of the whole story. This story spoke of one journey – at least – before Ishmael became a young man. Al-Bukhari, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, reported the other three journeys; a summary of which goes as follows: When Ishmael became a young man, he learned Arabic at the hand of the tribe of Jurhum, who loved him with great admiration and gave him one of their women as a wife, soon after his mother died. Having wanted to see his wife and son again, Abraham came to Makkah, Ishmael’s marriage, but he didn’t find him at home. He asked Ishmael’s wife about her husband and how they were doing. She complained of poverty, so he asked her to tell Ishmael to change his doorstep. Ishmael understood the message, divorced his wife and got married to the daughter of Mudad bin ‘Amr, chief of the tribe of Jurhum.

Makabila ya Mudar iligawanyika katika migawanyiko miwili mikubwa: Qais ‘Ailan bin Mudar na matawi ya Elias bin Mudar. Kutoka kwa Qais ‘Ailan walitokea Banu Saleem, Banu Hawazin, na Banu Ghatafan, ambao kutoka kwao walitokea ‘Abs, Zubyan, Ashja‘ na Ghani bin A‘sur. Kutoka kwa Elias bin Mudar walitokea Tamim bin Murra, Hudhail bin Mudrika, Banu Asad bin Khuzaimah, na matawi ya Kinana bin Khuzaimah, ambao kutoka kwao walitokea Quraish, wazao wa Fahr bin Malik bin An-Nadr bin Kinana.

Mudar tribes branched out into two great divisions: Qais ‘Ailan bin Mudar and septs of Elias bin Mudar. Of Qais ‘Ailan were the Banu Saleem, Banu Hawazin, and Banu Ghatafan of whom descended ‘Abs, Zubyan, Ashja‘ and Ghani bin A‘sur. Of Elias bin Mudar were Tamim bin Murra, Hudhail bin Mudrika, Banu Asad bin Khuzaimah and septs of Kinana bin Khuzaimah, of whom came Quraish, the descendants of Fahr bin Malik bin An-Nadr bin Kinana.

Kabila la Quraish lilitawanyika katika makabila mbalimbali, maarufu zaidi kati yao yalikuwa Jumah, Sahm, ‘Adi, Makhzum, Tayim, Zahra, na matawi matatu ya Qusai bin Kilab: ‘Abdud-Dar bin Qusai, Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza bin Qusai, na ‘Abd Manaf bin Qusai.

Quraish branched out into various tribes, the most famous of whom were Jumah, Sahm, ‘Adi, Makhzum, Tayim, Zahra and the three septs of Qusai bin Kilab: ‘Abdud-Dar bin Qusai, Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza bin Qusai and ‘Abd Manaf bin Qusai.

‘Abd Manaf alizaa koo nne: ‘Abd Shams, Nawfal, Muttalib na Hashim. Hata hivyo, ni kutoka kwenye ukoo wa Hashim ambapo Allâh alimchagua Nabii Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib bin Hashim ﷺ.

‘Abd Manaf branched out into four tribes: ‘Abd Shams, Nawfal, Muttalib and Hashim. It is, however, from the family of Hashim that Allâh selected Prophet Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib bin Hashim (Peace be upon him).

Mtume Muhammad ﷺ alisema:

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

"Mwenyezi Mungu alimchagua Ismaili kutoka miongoni mwa wana wa Ibrahimu, Kinana kutoka miongoni mwa wana wa Ismaili, Quraishi kutoka miongoni mwa wana wa Kinana, Hashim kutoka miongoni mwa wana wa Quraishi, na Yeye alinichagua mimi kutoka miongoni mwa wana wa Hashim" ﷺ.

• l “Allâh selected Ishmael from the sons of Abraham, Kinana from the sons of Ishmael, Quraish from the sons of Kinana, Hashim from the sons of Quraish and He selected me from the sons of Hashim”.

Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib alinukuu kutoka kwa Mjumbe wa Allah ﷺ kwamba alisema:

Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib quoted the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) as saying: