PENDIDIKAN AGAMA DI ARAB PRA-ISLAM: TRADISI TARBIYAH DALAM MASYARAKAT POLITEISTIK DAN MONOTEISTIK

Abstract

This article discusses religious education in pre-Islamic Arabia, with a focus on the tradition of tarbiyah that developed in societies adhering to both polytheistic and monotheistic beliefs. The aim of this study is to understand how religious education was implemented in pre-Islamic Arab society and to explore the influence of these traditions on the development of Islamic teachings. The methodology used is a descriptive qualitative approach, analyzing historical sources, texts, and anthropological reports that depict the social-religious life of Arab society before the advent of Islam. The findings of this study show that religious education at the time was informal, primarily centered around religious rituals passed down orally. In polytheistic societies, religious education focused on idol worship and tribal customs, while in monotheistic communities, such as the Jewish and Christian groups, there was a more structured influence of religious teachings, though limited to certain groups. The study also finds that although there was no formal religious education system, basic tarbiyah principles had already begun to develop, albeit in a simpler form and dependent on oral traditions.