The Battle of Words in the Pre-Islamic Arabia: How It Impacted the Growth of Islam

The early Arab poets had a great influence in the propagation of Islam. In the pre-Islamic (Jahiliyah) era and the early Islamic age, the spoken-word poet was a formidable warlord. Rather than go into warfare armed with ammunitions, the poet armed himself with satirical wits and wild sarcasms. Words were considered to be the nucleus of power, thus, the “Battle of words” was an integral part of the Pre-Islamic Arab Culture.

In the tribal society, when there was a dispute between any two tribes or clans, the feuding tribes would rendezvous in a common open field, each tribe presenting its most trusted poet who would rain lyrical invectives on the other tribe and praise the glory and strength of his own tribe. The tribal group which found itself without a response at the end of the lyrical battle was considered defeated and left in shame.

The advent of Islam led to the extinction of many of the Jahiliyan traditions. However, the Battle of words persisted as it was rationalized as a more subtle way of expressing Ideological supremacy among tribes.

According to historians, the Battle of words actually provided an enabling atmosphere for a new custom (Islam and sharia) to thrive. The new found religion and custom was championed by a prophet whose poetic and oratory brilliance was equalled by non in the whole of the arabian Peninsular and beyond.

Abdu Al-Masih, a christian historian and critic of mohammedanism, described the Prophet and founder of Islam as thus:

“Muhammed was a brilliant spokesman and gifted orator, always rebutting his enemies with ease in a breathtaking war of words. In keeping with the old tradition (Battle of words) Muhammed accepted the challenges of his enemies and vanquished them with stunning words and combats arrayed in captivating rythmical stanzas”.

Though no verse of the holy Quran or any part of the Islamic literature indicates the direct involvement of the holy prophet in a tribal squabble, it is believed that the entourage of the prophet which comprised former seasoned poets and poetry lovers always craved a reprisal attack on the offensive Pagan poets. Most of the time Muhammed would restrain his community as they ran a risk of going beyond the mark.

In an hadith (saying of the prophet) cited in Sahih Al-Bukhari (a collection of sayings of the prophet), it was reported that Al-Bara ibn Azib said on the day of Quraizas (beseige) the messanger of Allah eventually freed the muslim poets to show their mettle.

The Pagan Arabs had besieged the muslims community, unleashing their poets to rain invectives on the prophets and his followers. The embattled muslims wanted a reprisal. After much importunity from the muslim umah and initial reluctance of the holy prophet, Muhammed ordered Hassan Ibn Thabit, a renowned poet and favorite bard of the prophet, to lampoon the pagan poets that he would be inspired by the holy spirit.

It instructive to note however that Mohammed (PUB) was not a poet in the right sense of the word. His mastery of words and literary dexterity was divinely inspired rather than consciously learned. His wits were inspired to admonish people to the right path, not to launch offensives. However, the pagan Arabs were often put on the defensive due to Mohammed’s brilliance with words.

Prophets of God were gifted and lived according to their circumstances and socio-cultural environment. The Pre-Islamic society was a society of words. Mohammed needed the power of words to enable him to found the Islamic state from the Arabian world.