Religion in pre-Islamic Arabia

Prior to the arrival and inital codification of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula in 622 CE (year one of the Islamic calendar), the physical centre of Islam, the Kaaba of Mecca , did not hold only the single symbol of "the God" as it does now. The Kaaba was instead covered in symbols representing the myriad demons, djinn , demigods and other assorted creatures which represented the profoundly polytheistic environment of pre-Islamic Arabia. We can infer from this plurality an exceptionally broad context in which mythology could flourish. The Arabian deities included : El or Ilah (meaning 'God') Bel or Belshamin Yarhibol or Malakbel Aglibol a number of astral and local deities Sin (or Nanna-Suen, Babylonian ) Athtar (related to Ishtar ) Shams (Samas or Utu ) Orotalt Alilat ( al-Lat ?) Nergal Nabu (or Nebo) Bes (Egypto-Arabic) Uzza Yaghuth Manat or Manah Atargatis (Syrian) Astarte (possibly) Beltis (possibly) See Demons in pre-Islamic Arab Culture . The pre-Islamic arabs, such as the Garamantes , were influenced by the religions of the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians . These pre-Islamic mythological systems also later influenced Islamic mythology . v t e

Arabian mythology comprises the ancient, pre-Islamic beliefs of the Arabs . Prior to Islam on the Arabian Peninsula in 622 , the physical centre of Islam, the Kaaba of Mecca , was covered in symbols representing the myriad demons , djinn , demigods and other assorted creatures which represented the profoundly polytheistic environment of pre-Islamic Ancient Arabia . We can infer from this plurality an exceptionally broad context in which mythology could flourish. Stories of genies , ghouls , magic lamps, flying carpets , and wishes contained in tales from the Arabian Nights and other works have been passed down through the generations. The concept of the Evil Eye is mentioned in the Qur'an , in Surat al-Falaq (in which one is told to seek refuge "from the mischief of the envious one as he envies"). The Hand of Fatima is sometimes used to neutralize the effect of Evil Eye. Among traditional Muslims, various verses from the Qur'an such as an-Nas and al-Falaq are sometimes recited for blessing.

Arabian mythology is the set of ancient, pre-Islamic beliefs held by the Arab people . Prior to Islam , the Kaaba of Mecca was covered in symbols representing the myriad demons , djinn , demigods , or simply tribal gods and other assorted deities which represented the polytheistic culture of pre-Islamic Arabia . The shrine was dedicated to the god Hubal and also contained images the three chief goddesses Al-lāt , Al-‘Uzzá , and Manāt . It has been inferred from this plurality that this mythology flourished in an exceptionally broad context. Many of the physical descriptions of the pre-Islamic gods are traced to idols , especially near the Kaaba, which is believed to have contained up to 360 of them. The named reference "armstrong" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page ).

Overview of religions in Arabia before Islam This article is about a religion-specific overview of Arabia before the rise of Islam in 610 CE. Alabaster votive figurines from Yemen , now in the National Museum of Oriental Art , Rome Religion in pre-Islamic Arabia included indigenous Arabian polytheism , ancient Semitic religions , Christianity , Judaism , Mandaeism , and Zoroastrianism . Arabian polytheism, the dominant form of religion in pre-Islamic Arabia , was based on veneration of deities and spirits. Worship was directed to various gods and goddesses, including Hubal and the goddesses al-Lāt , al-‘Uzzā , and Manāt , at local shrines and temples such as the Kaaba in Mecca . Deities were venerated and invoked through a variety of rituals, including pilgrimages and divination, as well as ritual sacrifice. Different theories have been proposed regarding the role of Allah in Meccan religion. Many of the physical descriptions of the pre-Islamic gods are traced to idols , especially near the Kaaba, which is said to have contained up to 360 of them. Other religions were represented to varying, lesser degrees. The influence of the adjacent Roman and Aksumite civilizations resulted in Christian communities in the northwest, northeast, and south of Arabia. Christianity made a lesser impact in the remainder of the peninsula, but did secure some conversions. With the exception of Nestorianism in the northeast and the Persian Gulf , the dominant form of Christianity was Miaphysitism . The peninsula had been a destination for Jewish migration since Roman times, which had resulted in a diaspora community supplemented by local converts. Additionally, the influence of the Sasanian Empire resulted in Iranian religions being present in the peninsula. Zoroastrianism existed in the east and south, while there is evidence of either Manichaeism or Mazdakism being possibly practiced in Mecca.

Alabaster -carved votive figurines from Yemen , now located in the National Museum of Oriental Art in the city of Rome . Gilded statue of the Canaanite creator god El ( c. 1400–1200 BC ) from the site of Tel Megiddo . El is considered to be the cognate of the word " Ilah " and continues to appear in compound names like Gabriel , Michael , Azrael , Israel , Ishmael , Samuel , Raphael , etc. In pre-Islamic Arabia , the dominant religious practice was that of Arab polytheism , which was based on the veneration of various deities and spirits , such as the god Hubal and the goddesses al-Lāt , al-‘Uzzā , and Manāt . Worship was centred around local shrines and temples, most notably including the Kaaba in Mecca . Deities were venerated and invoked through pilgrimages, divination, and ritual sacrifice, among other traditions. Different theories have been proposed regarding the role of " Allah " (a word in Arabic that is now chiefly associated with God in Islam ) in the Meccan religion. Many of the physical descriptions of the pre-Islamic gods and goddesses are traced to idols , especially near the Kaaba, which is said to have contained up to 360 of them. Other religions—namely Christianity , Judaism , and Zoroastrianism —were also represented in the region. The influence of the Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Aksum enabled the nurturing of Christian communities in northwestern, northeastern, and southern Arabia . In the other areas of the Arabian Peninsula , Christianity did not have as much of a presence, though it did secure some converts, and with the exception of Nestorianism in the northeast and around the Persian Gulf , the dominant form of the religion was Miaphysitism . Since the beginning of the Roman era, Jewish migration into Arabia had become increasingly frequent, resulting in the establishment of a prominent Jewish diaspora community , which was supplemented by local converts. Over time, Judaism grew throughout southern Arabia and the northwestern Hejaz . Additionally, the influence of the Sasanian Empire aided the growth of a Zoroastrian population in eastern and southern Arabia, and there is evidence of either Manichaeism or Mazdakism being practiced in Mecca as well. It is speculated that Zoroastrianism may have been practiced by some inhabitants of the Himyarite Kingdom , which was home to a mixed Arab–Persian community called al-Abnāʾ in Arabic.