The Yemeni village of Bīsha: A study of its social structure and its economic and religious conditions before the Prophetic mission.

Abstract

Research into Arab villages and cities prior to their inhabitants’ conversion to Islam is of great importance for the historian, as it provides a foundational body of knowledge about the conditions of the Arabs and their historical ties. This, in turn, allows the study of Islamic history to be approached with greater clarity and accuracy.

The present study examines the village of Bīsha, one of the Yemeni villages that was later incorporated into Mecca in the Islamic period. It offers a clear picture of the political, economic, and social conditions of the Arabs in that region. This village encompassed numerous Arab tribes that later contributed to the spread of Islam. It was also distinguished from the lands of Mecca by its abundant water resources, agricultural production, and the presence of both domesticated and wild animals—factors that constituted strong incentives for settlement at the time, especially for desert tribes.

As a result, Bīsha became an object of Umayyad ambition, and its lands were seized during the reign of Hisham ibn ʿAbd al-Malik, who used the pretext of intertribal conflict and the need to establish security in the area. Accordingly, this study presents a historical portrayal of the tribal society in Bīsha, its principal components, its economic life, and the distinctive natural environment of the village, which at times was described as a city rather than a village due to its natural features and striking beauty.