kept in a tent during the peace-time and on the horseback during battles; 'Umar b. al-
Khattab (t) was sent as the envoy of Quraysh to other tribes with whom they intended to
measure swords or where a tribe bragging of its superiority wanted the issue to be decided
by a duel; Safwan b. Umaayah of Bani Jomah played at the dice which was deemed essential
before undertaking any important task; and, Harith b. Qays was liable to perform all admin-
istrative business besides being the custodian of offerings to the idols kept in the Ka'bah.
The duties allocated to these persons were hereditary offices held earlier by their forefa-
thers.
COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
The Quraysh of Makkah used to fit out two commercial Caravans, one to Syria during the
summer and the other to Yemen during the winter season. The four months of Hajj, that is,
Rajab, Dhul-Q'ada, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, were deemed sacred when it was not lawful
to engage in hostilities. During these months the precincts of the Holy Temple and the open
place besides it were utilized as a trade centre to which people from distant places came for
transacting business. All the necessaries required by the Arabs were easily available in this
market of Makkah. The stores for the sale of various commodities, located in different lanes
and byways, mentioned by the historians, tend to show the economic and cultural growth of
Makkah. The vendors of attars had their stalls in a separate bylane and so were the shops of
fruit-sellers, barbers, grocers, fresh dates and other wares and trades localized in different
alleys. A number of these markets were spacious enough, as, for example, the market set
apart for food-grains was well-stocked with wheat, ghee (clarified butter), honey and similar
other commodities. All these articles were brought by trading caravans. To cite an instance,
wheat was brought to Makkah from Yamama. Similarly, cloth and shoe stores had separate
quarters allocated to them in the market.
Makkah had also a few meeting places where carefree young men used to come together
for diversion and pastime. Those who were prosperous and accustomed to live high, spent
the winter in Makkah and the summer in Ta'if. There were even some smart young men
known for their costly and trim dresses costing several hundred dirhams.
Makkah was the centre of a lucrative trade transacting business on a large scale. Its mer-
chants convoyed caravans to different countries in Asia and Africa and imported almost
everything of necessity and costly wares marketable in Arabia. They usually brought resin,
ivory, gold and ebony from Africa; hide, incense, frankincense, spices, sandal-wood and
saffron from Yemen; different oils and food-grains, amour, silk and wines from Egypt and
Syria; cloth from Iraq: and gold, tin, precious stones and ivory from India. The wealYour
merchants of Makkah sometimes presented the products of their city, of which the most
valued were leather products, to the kings and nobles of other countries. When the Quraysh
sent 'Abdullah b. Abu Rabl'a and 'Amr b. al-'As to Abyssinia to bring back the Muslim fugi-
tives, they sent with them leather goods of Makkah as gifts to Negus and his generals.