المستخلص: |
The study of graveyards of Arabs in Arabian peninsula before Islam is one of the most important studies because we can by conducting such studies find out various civilisational aspects especially those related to the methods of burying the dead and the funerary rituals used let alone the valuable antiquities found in the tombs. The study of such graveyards would also provide information about the methods used in constructing the tombs and the architecture adopted. It would also give a clear idea about the religious beliefs prevalent during that era and which were important in the daily life of people at that time and explain How far those people had faith in the existence of life after death. The conclusions reached by the study include the following: - The study showed the presence of similarities in funerary supplements found with the death in the south, middle and north of Arabian peninsula with those of messopotamea, Egypt and Levante civilisations, a matter which reflects clearly the presence of relations with these civilisations and of cultural civilisational and commercial communication with them. - It was concluded that people in the south and north of Arabian peninsula believed in live after deat and they used to purify themselves from sins continuously so that when they move to afterlife thay are clean from sins and guitts. - The belief by Arabs in central Arabian peninsula in the existence of a second life differed from on sect to another depending on the faith they follow. Some of them adored the one creator and believed in resurrection and afterlife while you may find another sect that believe in the one creator but denies the existence of life after death. - The people of Arabia builtd different types of tombs such as those made in caves, underground tombs and those built on the surface of the ground. Environmental, social and economic factors played a significant role in the variety of tomb shapes and locations. They were built according to different architectural designs that involved rooms which contained either collective or individual burials either over or under the ground and these tombs are full of precious acquisitions. - The habit was that the grave is dug forest then the dead person is prepared for burial and this includes covering his body with a shroud made from either leather, cloth or flax to be wrapped around his body and before that the dead body is often washed up with a sort of treatmemt that involves embalming the body and putting some seents on it. - The study also found out that there had been an organisation in dividing gravey ards so that every person knows his pwn tombs place before entering the other world. There had been, moreover graveyards of children and other graveyards of human gifts (body-partgifts) and this in turn differs from the so called human sacrifices completely. The purpose behind human gifts was to seek protection gods from envy, evil and malice. Animal graveyards were also found.
- In addition to being eities of the dead, graveyards represent embodyment of the relogious aspect of people and this is evident through entrusting tombs to be under the protection of gods so that they under take their protection and safeguarding as well as through the religious rituals practised before tombs such as submitting sacrifices and burning frankencence. - Women in Arabian peninsula had the right to posses and in her it graveyards but this does not mean that graveyards were the sole property of women. Findings indicate that she enjoyed equal rights to those enjoyed by men including the rights of ownership and inheriting. Moreover she even had contracted commercial deals for buying and seling the various properties and item. - The study showed that the Arabs of Arabian peninsula showed great skills and care in preparing the dead for burial and making funeravy furniture and sugget methods of sirrow, sadness and lamenting for losing their beloved ones.
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