القیم الخلقیة في الأمثال الجاھلیة

Abstract

Proverb is one of the important literary sources which reflect
the contemporary features of a society. Similarly, the Arabic
proverbs of pre-Islamic period mirror the scenario of the life
of Arabs of that period. Moral ethics are very important
human values that speak the condition of a society. It is
stated that during the Jaheli (Pre-Islamic) period the society
was deteriorated all-round. Moral values were no more there
in practice. Tribal traditions, slavery, degradation of women,
idolatry etc. were the common features of the society. On
the contrary, the Arabian society owned some kind of moral
values which are still appreciated in the modern world. For
example, they were very generous to the poor and were
strict to their promise. Treaties and protocols were
maintained carefully. Fight for the honor of their tribes was
common to all Arabian communities. They sacrificed their
life for the sake of their own tribe whether it was just or not.
As a result, warfare amongst the tribes was very common in
the society. Hospitality was another important social ethics
that was found in the proverbs of their literature. As a
primary as well as reliable source Arabic proverbs provide a
clear image of the moral condition of the people of Jaheli
period. In this article, we tried to analyze some moral values
of the Arabian society in the light of Arabic proverbs.