Reading And Critical Thinking — Class 9 English Solutions

Before the advent of Islam, pre-Islamic Arabia was plunged into profound moral and spiritual darkness, historically known as the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah). Monotheism had collapsed into rampant idol worship, with hundreds of stone deities venerated across the peninsula. Society stood on the verge of chaos; cruel barbaric customs prevailed, notably female infanticide, the brutal oppression of the vulnerable, and a complete breakdown of legal order. Fractured Arabian tribes were locked in perpetual blood feuds and petty rivalries that dragged on for generations over trivial disputes. As the textbook emphasizes, a human civilization that had taken four thousand years to grow stood on the brink of total disintegration.

Islam revolutionized Arabian society by replacing polytheism and superstition with unwavering faith in the Oneness of Allah (Tauheed). Morally and socially, it dismantled tribal animosities, uniting warring factions into an egalitarian brotherhood founded upon justice, mutual dignity, and compassion. Cruel ancestral customs like female infanticide were strictly outlawed, women were granted lawful human rights, and structured welfare was instituted for orphans and the destitute. By inspiring a dedication to knowledge (Iqra) and moral purity, Islam transformed nomadic tribes into leaders of an enlightened global civilization, elevating humanity across both spiritual and worldly domains.

Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) is the Last and Final Messenger (Khatam-un-Nabiyyin) of Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty sent him as an everlasting mercy to all mankind (Rahmatul-lil-Alameen), concluding the noble chain of divine prophethood with the revelation of the Holy Quran for the universal guidance of all generations.

Major world religions and their most prominent figures include:

• Islam: Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) — The final Prophet of Allah who delivered the complete, universal divine code (The Holy Quran).
• Christianity: Hazrat Isa / Jesus (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام) — A revered Prophet in Islam and the central figure of Christianity who preached love and compassion.
• Judaism: Hazrat Musa / Moses (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام) — The major Prophet who received the Torah (Tawrat) on Mount Sinai and led the Israelites.
• Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) — Spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism in ancient India, preaching the Eightfold Path to enlightenment.
• Sikhism: Guru Nanak Dev Ji — Founder and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus in the 15th century.

Every year, a prominent annual fair was held at Ukaz for poetical competitions.

Because the pre-Islamic Arabs possessed an exceptional memory and took supreme pride in their linguistic eloquence, poets from all Arabian tribes assembled at Ukaz to recite their finest verses, compete for literary acclaim, and celebrate their rich oral heritage.

Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) began spending time in solitude and meditation at the age of thirty-eight (38) years.

Distressed by the moral corruption, social injustice, and polytheism of his society, he retired to the quiet Cave of Hira on Mount Noor with provisions of food and water, spending days and weeks in continuous contemplation and remembrance of Allah Almighty.

The pagan Arabs sent a delegation to the Holy Prophet's (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) kind, caring, and influential uncle, Abu Talib.

Feeling threatened by the rapid spread of Islam and the challenge to their idol worship and political dominance, the delegation demanded that Abu Talib either restrain his nephew from preaching Allah's message or face their combined enmity and open conflict.

Michael H. Hart, a prominent American historian and author of The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, ranked Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) as the number one most influential figure in human history, stating:

"Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ), however, was responsible for both the theology of Islam and its main ethical and moral principles. In addition he played a key role in proselytizing the new faith, and in establishing the religious practices... In fact as the driving force behind the Arab conquests, he may well rank as the most influential political leader of all time... he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels."

The emphasis on the Arabs' extraordinary memory and eloquence highlights a vibrant oral culture where spoken poetry represented the highest artistic and cultural achievement. Without widespread written records, the Arabs relied on astounding mnemonic power to preserve complex tribal genealogies, historical traditions, and epic verses across generations. The annual poetical fair at Ukaz served as a prestigious national assembly where tribal bards competed for literary supremacy and communal honor. This supreme linguistic mastery and retention explained why Allah Almighty chose the Arabic language to convey the inimitable, miraculous literary perfection of the Holy Quran.

The anecdote narrates that Hammad told Caliph Walid bin Yazid that he could recite from memory one hundred long poems for each letter of the Arabic alphabet—composed exclusively by pre-Islamic poets before the promulgation of Islam, without counting shorter pieces. This striking historical dialogue directly demonstrates the astounding mnemonic capability and immense poetic richness of the ancient Arabs. It provides undeniable proof of their unparalleled oral retention, showing how thousands of elaborate classical verses were preserved accurately without written scripts, and underscores why Arabic was chosen for the divine revelation.

The pre-Islamic civilizational crisis—where a four-thousand-year-old societal structure stood crumbling on the verge of chaos—closely parallels historical epochs like the European Dark Ages following the fall of Rome. Both eras suffered from the collapse of moral order, fragmented tribal warfare, lawlessness, and severe social stagnation. Just as Europe was eventually revived through the intellectual, scientific, and institutional awakening of the Renaissance, pre-Islamic Arabia was rescued through the profound spiritual and ethical revelation of Islam. In both historical instances, overcoming civilizational disintegration required a transformative ideological renaissance that restored human dignity, social justice, and moral purpose.

As highlighted by historian Michael H. Hart, Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) was the only leader in human history who achieved supreme, lasting success on both religious and secular levels. Spiritually, he elevated mankind by eradicating pagan idolatry and superstition, replacing them with pure monotheism (Tauheed), moral accountability, and sublime ethical conduct rooted in truth, compassion, and humility. In the worldly domain, he dissolved tribal feuds to forge a unified egalitarian brotherhood, established the rule of law through the Charter of Madinah, outlawed female infanticide, secured unprecedented legal rights for women, and instituted institutional welfare through Zakat. Through this harmonious synthesis of spiritual righteousness and just governance, he elevated humanity from barbarism to an enlightened global civilization.

The concluding Quranic verse cited in the chapter (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:45–46) beautifully encapsulates the complete prophetic mission of Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) through five comprehensive titles:

1. A Witness (Shahid): Bearing testimony before Allah to divine truth, the delivery of the message, and the deeds of mankind.
2. A Bearer of Glad Tidings (Mubashir): Giving joyous news of Allah's mercy, forgiveness, and eternal Paradise to those who believe and act righteously.
3. A Warner (Nadhir): Compassionately warning humanity against the destructive consequences of disbelief, injustice, and moral corruption.
4. An Inviter to Allah (Da'i ila Allah): Calling all mankind to the path of righteousness, truth, and monotheism by Allah's divine leave.
5. A Light-Giving Torch (Sirajam Muneera): Serving as a radiant, universal beacon of divine guidance that dispels the darkness of ignorance, cruelty, and falsehood forever.

The author presents an objective, balanced perspective of the pre-Islamic Arabs, recognizing both their natural gifts and their profound moral and spiritual degradation before Islam:

• Recognition of Natural Talents and Eloquence:
  • Exceptional Memory & Poetry: The author notes that the Arabs possessed an extraordinary memory and unmatched poetic eloquence, as evidenced by the annual poetry contests at the fair of Ukaz (Paragraph 2).
  • Linguistic Mastery: The anecdote of Hammad reciting 100 long poems for each letter of the alphabet illustrates why Allah selected their language for the Holy Quran.
• Critique of Moral Decay and Chaos:
  • Verge of Chaos: The author writes that human civilization stood on the brink of collapse due to rampant idolatry, cruelty, and lawlessness (Paragraph 3).
  • Superstition and Resistance to Truth: They were trapped in a nexus of superstition and injustice, reacting violently against the ethical message of Tauheed to defend their idol worship and tribal dominance (Paragraphs 6 & 7).

Main Idea: The commencement of the prophetic mission and the first divine revelation (Wahi) bestowed upon Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) in the Cave of Hira to guide and enlighten humanity out of darkness and injustice into the light of faith.

Supporting Details:

1. Profound Compassion for Mankind: His heart was overflowing with deep sympathy and an urgent desire to eliminate wrong beliefs, social evils, cruelty, and injustice from the world.
2. Arrival of Angel Jibreel (A.S): The Archangel Gabriel (Jibreel عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام) appeared in the Cave of Hira to convey the first message of Allah Almighty.
3. The First Revelation (Surah Al-Alaq 96:1–5): The divine command commanding the Prophet to "Read in the name of thy Lord Who created..." and teaching mankind that which they knew not.

Objective Summary:

The Saviour of Mankind chronicles the civilizational transformation of Arabia through the life and prophetic mission of Hazrat Muhammad (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلٰى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَسَلَّمَ). In the 5th and 6th centuries, Arabian society stood on the verge of chaos, steeped in idol worship, cruelty, and tribal blood feuds.

Moved by deep compassion for suffering humanity, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) sought spiritual solitude in the Cave of Hira, where at age 40 he received the first Quranic revelation (Surah Al-Alaq) through Angel Jibreel (A.S). When he proclaimed the Oneness of Allah (Tauheed) and universal human equality, the pagan Quraish subjected early Muslims to severe persecution and economic boycotts. Resolutely declaring to his uncle Abu Talib that he would never abandon his divine mission even if the sun and moon were placed in his hands, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) successfully established an enlightened, just civilization based on faith, brotherhood, and moral integrity. His sublime life remains the living embodiment of the Holy Quran and an eternal beacon of guidance for all mankind.