Pre-Islamic Arabia was in process of social integration mainly because of mercantilist economics and subsequent individualism. Long before the arrival of Islam, the social system was organized on matriarchal basis. The wealth was held by community or tribe collectively. The rise in trade disrupted the whole system. The money economy was now introduced. The trade, on the other hand, was a personal affair not a collective one. One’s sharpness and tendency towards entrepreneurship made him/her successful in the field of trade. Thus, came into existence the element of individualism. Everyone now wanted the riches for himself for he believed it was due to his hard work.
Due to this reason, the individuals fought and for this tribes fought. Over time, the larger tribes divided into sub tribes and then further sub tribes. Since there was a lot of fighting, there was a lot of bloodshed. The tribes kept on fighting for years. An eye for an eye was the order of the day. Islam didn’t disturb the system of blood for blood or blood-money abruptly, but it gradually made it much less severe. The blood revenge was now to be a task of a family of an individual and not of a tribe. It was also announced that forgiving was the better act in the eyes of Allah.
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