When did Islam arise what was …

During his life time Muhammad enjoyed supreme power and respect in the society. He had supreme religious as well as political rights. After his death the Caliphs succeeded to this position. Below them came in order the scholars and writers, traders, Physicist, Qazi and teacher. In a way they constituted the middle class of the society. Third order consisted of the peasants and artisans and at the lowest ring came the slaves.

The wealth and influence of an individual in society was calculated on the basis of slaves owned by him. But the slaves enjoyed the opportunity of advancing on the basis of their merit. They were neither considered untouchable nor were looked down upon. Women had to live in Purdah. Islamic society continued to have the traditions of polygamy and easy divorce, though women had the right to read and write. On the whole Islam could not make the social life of Arabia very progressive.