Nature of Arab unity before Islam / G. E. von Grunebaum -- Role of nomads in the Near East in late antiquity (400-800 C.E.) / Fred M. Donner -- Bedouinization of Arabia / Werner Caskel -- Trans-Arabian routes of the pre-Islamic period / Daniel T. Potts -- Al-Hira : some notes on its relations with Arabia / M. J. Kister -- Pre-Islamic Bedouin religion / Joseph Henninger -- Idol worship in pre-Islamic Medina (Yathrib) / Michael Lecker -- Origin of the Jews of Yathrib / Moshe Gil -- Haram and Hawtah, the sacred enclave in Arabia / R. B. Serjeant -- Pre-foundations of the Muslim community in Mecca / Fazlur Rahman -- Mecca before the time of the prophet : attempt of an anthropological interpretation / Walter Dostal -- "Sacred offices" of Mecca from Jahiliyya to Islam / Gerald R. Hawting -- Hanifiyya and Ka'ba : an inquiry into the Arabian pre-Islamic background of Din Ibrahim / Uri Rubin -- Pre-Islamic monotheism in Arabia / Hamilton A. R. Gibb -- Belief in a "high god" in pre-Islamic Mecca / W. Montgomery Watt -- Ka'ba : aspects of its ritual functions and position in pre-Islamic and early Islamic times / Uri Rubin -- Role played by the organization of the "Hums" in the evolution of political ideas in pre-Islamic Mecca / Ugo Fabietti -- Campaign of Huluban : a new light on the expedition of Abraha / M. J. Kister.