Since people would come here to worship, the Koreish tribe had a large economy that provided the pilgrims with food, lodging and other services. The political organization of the city and of the tribe worked to promote and maintain this economy.
Pre-Islamic Arabia:.
It is important to note that the pre-Islamic Arab society had not known any state structure. It was a predominantly a tribal society which did not know any distinction between a state and a civil society. There was no written law, much less a constitution. There was no governing authority either hereditary or elected. There was no taxation system nor any police or army. There was no concept of territorial governance or defense or policing. Each tribe followed its own customs and traditions. Warfare between tribes was common. The powerful tribes usually took over the weaker ones. .
This dark age period was known as Jahalyia. The whole Arabia was divided into innumerable petty states, each clan forming a separate and independent political unit. Each tribe had a chief of its own who would lead it in battle against a hostile tribe to vindicate its rights. Tribal prejudice was common and small incidents would lead to bitter feuds which continued for generations. But there was no law whatsoever, binding the tribe to the nation. The daily life of a Bedouin was nothing more than that of a shepherd, obtaining their livelihood from the rearing of animals and wandering in quest of water and pasture. Some, however, being more disposed to a settled life, gathered together forming small villages. The social condition of Arabs was appalling as it was enriched in immorality. The use of alcohol and immorality destroyed its society. Gambling and adultery were encouraged. Women, have no right and no social respect. A man was free to marry any number of women and could divorce as he wished. Women were deprived of the right of inheritance. The Arabs were embarrassed at the birth of daughters and sometimes, they would kill the new born.
