What were the religious beliefs on the Arabian peninsula before mohamed?

Answer 1

Arabia was majority pagan before the arrival of Islam. They believed in many gods (polytheism) and were open the idea of there being many other gods besides what they worshipped (henotheism).

Allah was the creator sky God who was supreme above the other gods. However he was not directly accessible to Mankind so they worshipped an array of intercessor gods and demons who interceded to Allah on behalf of the person praying.

The chief of these gods was Hubal. Hubal was portrayed as a man of rock with an arm of gold. Then there were the chief three goddesses Al-Lat (considered feminine form of Allah), Al-Uzza & Al-Manat. They were considered to be the daughters of Allah. Al-Lat was the mother goddess, she was also said to have been worshipped in Carthage and the Levant. She has been depicted riding a camel and is equated with Roman Minerva and Greek Athena. Al-Uzza was a war goddess and Goddess of Beauty, the pagan Arabs envoked her before heading into battle. She was portrayed as some kind of warrior queen and has been equated with Egyptian Isis and Greek Aphrodite. The third was Al-Manat who is said to have been the most ancient of the three. She was the Goddess of time and fate and was associated with death. She is equated with the Graeco-Roman goddess Nemesis.

Other major deities of the pagan Arabs included;

Wadd - Love and Friendship

Dhu'l'Khalasa - Oracular god of white stone

Manaf - Women and Menses

Ta'lab - Oracular deity originating from Sheba

Dhushara - Lord of the Mountain

Amm - Moon god, associated with Weather and Lightning

Al-Qaum - War and Night. Envoked to protect caravans.

The pagan Arabs also believed in minor gods and demons known as Jinn (Jinnee, Genie). Belief in Jinns remained as a part of Islam. Marids and Ifrits were two types of Jinn. There were other monsters such as Ghouls, who roamed the deserts at night and ate the flesh of the dead. There was also the Nasnas, depicted as half a man. It was said to have been a dangerous and agile creature. Bahamuth (Behemoth) was a large creature that crushed its victims.

The pagan Arabs didn't believe in an afterlife. They believed that once you died that was it, you were dust.

The Kabah (cube in Mecca) was filled with some 360 idol prior to the arrival of Islam. The exact worship rituals of the Pagan Arabs are not known but there are references to them. Circumabulating around the Kabah as Muslims do today while performing Hajj or Umrah was one of the mentioned rituals. It is more than likely that they prostrated and bowed infront of their idols and gave offerings (possibly food, clothes, water, wealth etc). Swaying, playing tambourines, reciting poetry and dancing may have also formed part of the worship rituals of the pre-Islamic Arabs. Sacrifices of animals and even humans (often babies) have been documented. These were said to be done in times of great need but cannot be said for certain. It is possible that the burying of infant daughters as documented in the Qur'an may have been linked to such human sacrifice rituals but cannot be verified.

Answer 2

most of people worshiped idol (pagan) there were 365 idol in Kaaba every tribe had its own god there were some followers of other religions as well like Jews, Christians and some who followed Abraham ( Ibrahim) who worshiped the god of Ibrahim but they were very few Mohammad was born in such family

Answer 3

Prior to the advent of Islam, the majority of people on the Arabian Peninsular were pagans, but significant numbers had converted to Christianity and Judaism. Even the Prophet Muhammad's cousin was a Christian.

Answer 4

Christianity or non-believers

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Christians and Jews (called in Islam holders of the book; Torah and The Bible) and pagans who were worshiping idols as partners to God.

Answer 5

Regarding Islam in its general sense as understood by its followers as full submission to God, the Creator; as the one and only God with no partner, no son, no father, no companion, no associate, and no equivalence; then Islam is the first religion on earth with no religion preceding it.

Regarding Islam per Quran revelation by God to prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (or Jibril) that started in year 610 AD through 632 AD (year of the prophet Muhammad's death), then it was preceded by numerous religions, including:

• Judaism
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Shinto
• Zoroastrianism

As well as numerous forms of polytheistic religions

Answer 6

they were polytheist, and had 360 idols standing outside the kaabah

Answer 7

People were living in a very primitive way of life as Bedouins. They were mostly illiterate and raising wars for very trivial reasons.

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