Mindful College Writing: The desert, Bedouin values, and Islam

Arabian culture before the Prophet Muhammed was the driving force for the Islamic faith. The Bedouins had to be tough to be able to handle the rough conditions of desert living. The desert prevented the Bedouins from creating towns or large communities. They were self-reliant because of the scarcity of food and water. Seasonal migration was the Arabs’ way of life. Kinship ties were very important for migration. These blood ties allowed for nomads to cross the territory of a different tribe without problems due to having a blood relative in that tribe. The Bedovins valued “Asabiyyah” and “Murua’a”, which later influenced The Qur’an.

The values of “Asabiyyah”: The Bedouins valued social solidarity because it was easier to survive being independent than the alternative which was to feed and provide water for a large migration group, which would raise the death rate due to starvation or dehydration. Unity and social cohesion brought peace among tribes because they all had a common goal that bound them together - survival. The focus on group consciousness influenced Muhammed’s mission to bring his followers in Mecca and Medina together. The Arabs needed unity because they need corporation from others for finding water and food.

The values of “Murua’a”: “do what must be done” encouraged Bedouins to be responsible for keeping one’s word and protect one’s tribe. Competition over resources was intense and a readiness to participate in organized warfare was common. Generously sharing water and/or food was one of the most important values. The Bedouins had to possess courage to face the harshness of desert living and raid tribes for the necessities for survival.

These values influenced The Qur’an, for example, the Islamic people were obligated to follow the teachings of The Qur’an which can be seen in early values of the obligation to pagan ritual. Divine mercy and compassion are themes in The Qur’an. This was influenced by the early Arabs values of being generous to each other. The Arabs understood the importance of being kind to each other for the longevity of the Arabian people. The deities the early Arabs worshiped influenced the deities that were later worshipped at Mecca and Medina. The Arabian culture before the Prophet influenced The Five Pillars. Generosity seen in The Five Pillars that Muhammad was greatly in support of was a crucial value for the early Arabian culture.