Hunafa (the Upright), Hanafiyah (Upright Faith) and Its Relation with Islam (a historical account of hunafa and hanif faith during the pre-Islam era)

Before the advent of Islam and prophetic mission, when idolatry and polytheism were prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula, a spontaneous movement came to existence, which was later known as "hanif faith". its adherents were named ahnaf" Ahnaf are people of insight and pure faith who, due to their insight and inner guaidamce, refrained from idolatry and turned to God and worshipped none other than Him. Due to the fact that their religious acts and behavior were based on the remaining Ibraham's religious injunctions or ascribed totally to their own pure godly disposition or perhaps both of the two mentioned factors, different possibilities exist. Regardless of the origin or basis of the faith of the hunafa, they had important functions during the pre- Islam era. They, not only turned away from idolatry, unjustice and superstitions but also forbade others from exercising them. The Prophet's forefathers represent a distinct type of hanafiyah for they, according to historical oridence, never worshipped any idol, nor did they have any inclination to idolatry or polytheism.