毫无疑问,先知穆罕默德ﷺ的传记,显然完整体现了他所传达的崇高天启讯息。他传达此讯息,是为了把人类从黑暗与多神信仰的泥沼中拯救出来,引向光明与一神信仰的乐园。因此,要获得这一讯息真实而全面的图景,唯有通过对该传记的背景与问题进行细致研究和深入分析。有鉴于此,本章特别介绍伊斯兰教以前阿拉伯部落的性质与发展,以及笼罩先知使命的环境背景。

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.

从语源上看,“Arab”（阿拉伯）一词指的是沙漠以及荒芜贫瘠、近乎无水、寸草不生的土地。自有历史以来,阿拉伯半岛及其居民就一直被如此称呼。阿拉伯半岛西面以红海和西奈半岛为界,东面以阿拉伯湾为界,南面以阿拉伯海为界（阿拉伯海是印度洋的延伸部分）,北面以旧叙利亚和伊拉克的一部分为界。该地区面积估计在一百万至一百二十五万平方英里之间。

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.

由于其地理位置，该半岛始终具有重要地位。就其内部地形而言，它大多是沙漠和沙地，这使外来者和入侵者难以进入，也使其人民在历代都保持着完全的自由与独立，尽管周边存在两个强大的帝国。

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.

另一方面,它的外部地理环境使其成为古代世界的中心,并使其与当时大多数国家都有海陆相通的联系。得益于这一战略位置,阿拉伯半岛已成为贸易、文化、宗教和艺术的中心。

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.

阿拉伯民族按血统被分为三大类： 灭绝的阿拉伯人：古代阿拉伯人，其历史鲜为人知，其中包括阿德人、萨穆德人、塔萨姆人、扎迪斯人、埃姆拉克人等。

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.

纯阿拉伯人：指源自雅鲁卜·本·叶什朱卜·本·卡赫坦后裔的人，他们也被称为卡赫坦阿拉伯人。

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

阿拉伯化的阿拉伯人:他们出自以实玛利的后裔,也被称为阿德南阿拉伯人。纯正的阿拉伯人,即盖哈坦的后裔,原本居住在也门,由许多部落组成,其中两个非常著名:

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. 希姆亚尔：其中最著名的部落有宰德·贾姆胡尔、古达阿和萨卡西克。

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

2. 卡赫兰：其中最著名的氏族有哈姆丹、安马尔、泰伊、穆杜季、肯达、拉赫姆、朱达姆、阿兹德、奥斯、海兹拉吉，以及贾夫纳的后裔——即古代叙利亚的诸王。

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.

卡哈兰部族在大洪水(马里卜水坝决堤之洪水)之前迁离也门,散居阿拉伯半岛的各地。这是因为罗马人占领埃及和叙利亚之后,在海路和陆路贸易通道上施加压力并实施统治,使贸易陷入困境。自然地,卡哈兰与希姆叶尔之间的竞争导致前者迁离也门,而后者则定居于此。

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. 阿兹德部落（Azd）：在伊姆兰·本·阿姆尔·穆扎伊盖巴（‘Imran bin ‘Amr Muzaiqbâ’）的领导下，他们在也门各地迁徙，派出先遣人员，最终向北迁移。他们迁徙的经过可概括如下：

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. 陀阿拉伯·本·阿慕尔（Tha‘labah bin ‘Amr）离开了他的部族阿兹德（Al-Azd），前往希贾兹，并定居在塔阿拉比耶（Tha‘labiyah）与栈·甘尔（Dhi Qar）之间。

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

当他变得强盛后,便前往麦地那并在那里定居。他的后裔中有奥斯和哈兹拉季两部,他们是哈里萨·本·萨拉baa的儿子们。哈里萨·本·阿穆尔,人称呼扎阿,与族人在汉志流浪,直到抵达马尔·阿兹-扎赫兰。之后,他们占领了禁地,并在驱逐了其居民——朱尔胡姆部族之后,在麦加定居下来。

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 及其族人前往阿曼，在那里建立了阿兹德部落。该部落的后代定居于提哈马，并被称为“沙努’a 的阿兹德人”。

‘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.

杰夫娜·本·阿姆尔及其家人前往叙利亚，他在那里定居并建立了加萨尼王国。该王国之所以得名，是因为其先祖曾在希贾兹停留时所饮用的一眼泉水，他们正是在前往叙利亚的途中经过那里。

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. 拉赫姆和朱宰姆：纳斯尔·本·拉比‘a（曼扎尔的父亲）是希拉的国王，他属于哪一支？

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

3. 巴努·泰伊（Banu Tai’）：他们也向北迁徙，定居在所谓的阿贾山和萨勒玛山附近，这两座山因此被命名为泰伊山。

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

4. 凯因达（Kinda）：他们曾居住在巴林，后被驱逐至哈达拉毛和内志，并在那里建立了一个强大的政权，但好景不长，整个部落很快便衰落消亡了。

4. Kinda: Who dwelt in Bahrain but were expelled to Hadramout and Najd where they instituted a powerful government but not for long , for the whole tribe soon faded away.

• l 也门希姆叶尔部落的另一支，称为古大阿（Quda‘a），也离开了也门，定居在伊拉克边境的萨马瓦半沙漠地带。

• l Another tribe of Himyar, known as Quda‘a, also left Yemen and dwelt in Samawa semi-desert on the borders of Iraq.

阿拉伯化的阿拉伯人在血统上可追溯至他们的曾祖父易卜拉欣ﷺ，后者出生于伊拉克幼发拉底河西岸、库法附近一个名为“乌尔”的城镇。考古发掘揭示了该城的诸多细节、易卜拉欣的家族以及当时盛行的宗教和社会状况。

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.

众所周知,易卜拉欣(Abraham)(愿主赐他平安)离开乌尔前往哈兰,随后又前往巴勒斯坦,并将那里定为传达他使命的根据地。他在该地区各处漫游。当他前往埃及时,法老企图对他的妻子撒拉行恶,但安拉保护了她,法老的恶毒阴谋反噬到了他自己身上。法老由此认识到她对安拉的坚定虔诚;为了感谢她的恩德,法老将女儿夏甲奉献给撒拉服侍,而撒拉又将夏甲赐给易卜拉欣为妻。

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.

易卜拉欣返回巴勒斯坦,夏甲在那里生下了以实玛利。撒拉因嫉妒夏甲而十分痛苦,于是迫使易卜拉欣把夏甲和她的婴儿送走,送到希贾兹一个寸草不生的山谷里,那里位于一座小山丘上,靠近天房,四面八方涌来的洪水不断冲刷着这片土地。他为她们选定了一处地方,在麦加清真寺上方、靠近渗渗泉的一棵高大的树下,那里既无人烟也无水源。之后他便返回巴勒斯坦,留下妻儿,并给她们留下一个皮囊,里面装着一些椰枣和一罐水。没过多久,她们的食物和水都耗尽了,但由于安拉的恩惠,泉水涌了出来,维持她们生存了一段时间。渗渗泉的整个故事,已为人所共知。

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.

另一个也门部落——第二个朱尔胡姆部落——在哈哲尔的许可下来到麦加定居，此前据说他们曾在麦加周边的山谷中居住。《沙希赫·布哈里圣训集》中提到，该部落在伊斯玛仪长大成人之前就已来到麦加，而他们经过那个山谷，则是在此事发生之前很久的事了。

Another Yemeni tribe – Jurhum the Second – came and lived in Makkah upon Hagar’s permission, after being said to have lived in the valleys around Makkah. It is mentioned in the Sahih Al-Bukhari that this tribe came to Makkah before Ishmael was a young man while they had passed through that valley long before this event.

易卜拉欣时常前往麦加，探望他的妻子和儿子。这些旅程的确切次数至今无从得知，但可靠的历史资料提到了四次。

Abraham used to go to Makkah every now and then to see his wife and son. The number of these journeys is still unknown, but authentic historical resources spoke of four ones.

当他们两人都顺服了（归顺真主的前定），他把儿子按倒在额头上（或额的一侧，以便宰杀）；我呼唤他说："易卜拉欣啊！你确已应验了那异象！"我这样报酬行善者。这确是明显的考验。我用一头大牲畜赎回了他的儿子。{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].

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.

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.

穆达尔部落分为两大支系：一支是穆达尔之子盖斯·凯兰（Qais ‘Ailan）的后裔，另一支是穆达尔之子伊利亚斯（Elias bin Mudar）的后裔。 盖斯·凯兰的后裔包括：Banu Saleem、Banu Hawazin 和 Banu Ghatafan，其中Ghatafan之后又分出了‘Abs、Zubyan、Ashja‘ 和 Ghani bin A‘sur。 伊利亚斯·本·穆达尔的后裔包括：Tamim bin Murra、Hudhail bin Mudrika、Banu Asad bin Khuzaimah，以及Kinana bin Khuzaimah的各支系，其中出自Kinana的有古莱什人，即Fahr bin Malik bin An-Nadr bin Kinana的后裔。

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.

古莱什人分支出多个部落，其中最著名的有：朱玛部、萨哈姆部、阿迪部、麦赫祖姆部、泰伊姆部、祖赫拉部，以及古赛·本·基拉卜的三个分支：古赛之子阿卜杜德-达尔、古赛之子阿萨德·本·阿卜杜勒-欧扎、古赛之子阿卜杜·马纳夫。

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分出四支部落：‘Abd Shams、Nawfal、Muttalib和Hashim。然而，安拉选中的先知穆罕默德ﷺ，正是出自Hashim家族，他是‘Abdullah之子‘Abdul-Muttalib之子Hashim的后裔。

‘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).

先知穆罕默德ﷺ说:

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:

"真主从易卜拉欣的子孙中拣选了伊斯玛仪，从伊斯玛仪的子孙中拣选了基纳尼，从基纳尼的子孙中拣选了古莱氏，从古莱氏的子孙中拣选了哈希姆，又从哈希姆的子孙中拣选了我。"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”.

阿拔斯·本·阿卜杜勒-穆塔利ब（Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib）引述安拉的使者ﷺ说：

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

“安拉创造了人类，并从人类中选择了最优秀的部分；他从部落中选择了部落，并从最优秀的部落中选择了我；他从家族中选择了家族，并从最优秀的家族中选择了我。因此，我在本身和家族上都是最优秀的。”ﷺ

• l “Allâh created mankind and chose me from the best whereof, He chose the tribes and selected me from the best whereof; and He chose families and selected me from the best whereof. I am the very best in person and family”.