What religion were the Arab countries before Islam?

Question

Hope its not too dumb a question, but I never knew....

okay, was there a specific name or list of gods that were worshipped?

Answer 1

Similar to how the Ancient Greeks (and the Ancient Romans to a point) are later seen to have a country with a pantheon, the Arab lands of old were made up of a myriad of small kingdoms warring and cooperating amongst themselves.

Several empires arose in that area but would collapse or be invaded. Consider the Egyptian Dynasties (actually several different empires), Hittite Empire, Babylonian Empire, etc. Current theory is that invasions of pirates from other parts of the Mediterranean wiped out the foundations of these empires causing them to collapse back into petty kingdoms.

Each kingdom had a set of gods that would sometimes stay consistent, but more often would change depending on who had the "backing" of the gods (who won the last big battle).

As different kingdoms banded together to make a stronger fighting front they would often marry their pantheons together (your god married my gods daughter, now they battle brothers).

ADD: Notice how one of the distinguishing features of the god of the Jews is that he is very jealous and "punishes" them if they stray (start worshiping another god who is currently winning battles). This often distinguishes them from other nomadic cultures from that time and place (who would change gods to suit the current winners).

I found the uses of the term "El" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_%28god%29 and the uses of the word Baal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal very informative.
Both terms are used by and sperned by the Abrahamic Religions at different times.

Answer 2

Absolutely not Sikhism. There was a mishmash of various religious cults. Probably the most prevalent would have been the Zoroastrians. EDIT: I lol when I see people citing Wikipedia as their source. Anyone can change what is written on that site, and so it's only marginally better than one of those gossip rags that you pick up in line at the grocery store.

Answer 3

Many in the area where Muhammad is from were Jewish and Christian. There were some groups that worshiped idols or other gods and goddesses as well. That is one reason many scholars think Muhammad wrote and used the line of Abraham so he could get the Jews and Christians to follow him. Also when he said the "Satanic Verses" he was referring to two gods that were worshiped by the group he was talking to. If you look into the "Satanic Verses" it will tell you about the gods he was referring to and you can go from there. The areas of Medina and Mecca were mainly Jewish and Christian. =)

Answer 4

See the following Britannica online entry:

Polytheistic religions of Arabia prior to the rise of Islam.

"Most of the deities of the Arab tribes were sky gods, associated with heavenly bodies such as the Sun and Moon, and they had the power to ensure fecundity, protection, or revenge. At the head of the southern Arabian pantheon was 'Athtar, a god of thunderstorms and rain. Each kingdom also had a national deity, of whom the nation called itself the progeny."

Answer 5

It depended on the Areas, mostly they were Idol Worshippers or Pagans. There were Jews towards the west, South, east and north were Christians.

Yup, Manat, Al Lat, Al Uzza, Hubal, Isaaf, Naila, etc etc

Answer 6

Before the coming of Islam,the religion in Arab countries was called jahiliyah or animism, and paganism.They worshipped to idols,statues,sun,moon,stones,big trees etc.They did not believe in Allah the only one God.Besides those religions,some of them followed judaism and christianity because Moses and Jesus lived before Muhammad pbuh..They had many slaves and many wives. without limitation.They killed their female babies.
They did not respect females.They consisted of several tribes and among tribes staged war oftenly..They attacked each other.Their occupation were mostly farmers,cattle breeders and traders.They did not help and love each other.
among tribes.The tribes leader determined its own religion..

Answer 7

Names? Alat and Alak were two ... I'm sure I'm murdering the spelling there ... but there were many more; indeed, there was a whole host of gods and godesses that different people worshipped in different regions.

Answer 8

*** it-1 p. 141 Arabian ***

For the most part the Arabians were a wandering people who led a pastoral life, dwelling in tents. (Isa 13:20; Jer 3:2) Others, however, were traders, and some are mentioned as merchants for Tyre. (Eze 27:21) God’s servants had numerous contacts with them. The Midianite merchants on their way to Egypt to whom Joseph was sold were Arabian, as were the Sabeans from S Arabia who raided Job’s cattle and she-asses. (Ge 37:28; Job 1:1, 15) During their 40-year trek in the wilderness the Israelites came into calamitous contact with the Baal-worshiping Midianites (Nu 25:6, 14-18), and during the period of the Judges, hordes of camel-riding Arabians regularly raided Israel for seven years, until Judge Gideon severely defeated them.—Jg 6:1-6; 7:12-25.

Rulers of Arabian kingdoms paid tribute to King Solomon. (1Ki 10:15; 2Ch 9:14) The Arabs paid Jehoshaphat a tribute of 7,700 rams and an equal number of he-goats, but they later allied themselves with the Philistines against Jehoshaphat’s son and successor Jehoram, their marauder bands killing many of his sons. (2Ch 17:11; 21:16; 22:1) Uzziah waged successful warfare against them during his reign. (2Ch 26:1, 7) Arabian opposers were among those causing difficulty to Nehemiah during the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls.—Ne 2:19; 4:7, 8; 6:1.

Though nomadic, generally independent, and often quite isolated from the mainstream of activity of those times, the Arabs came in for prophetic attention and judgment by God. (Isa 21:13; Jer 25:17-24) Centuries later, some Arabians were perhaps among those becoming members of the early Christian congregation at Pentecost.—Ac 2:11, 41; see ARABIA.

*** it-1 pp. 140-141 Arabia ***

The waters of the Persian Gulf abound with pearl oysters. Since the SW corner of Arabia is separated from Africa by a narrow strait of water only about 32 km (20 mi) across, products from Ethiopia (2Ch 21:16), such as ivory and ebony, could also have been included in the wares of these traveling merchants.—Eze 27:15.
Cause Israel to Sin. Later, the Midianites manifested hostility toward the Israelites. They cooperated with the Moabites in hiring the prophet Balaam to curse Israel. (Nu 22:4-7) When this failed, the Midianites and Moabites, at Balaam’s advice, cunningly used their women to induce thousands of Israelite males to become involved in sexual immorality and idolatry in connection with Baal of Peor. (Nu 25:1-9, 14-18; 31:15, 16; 1Co 10:8; Re 2:14) Thereafter the Israelites, in obedience to divine command, took vengeance upon Midian. The Midianite cities and walled camps in the area were consigned to the fire. Thousands of domestic animals and many gold articles were taken as spoils. With the exception of the virgins, all, including the five kings of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—were put to death.—Nu 31.

Answer 9

Pagans

Answer 10

Pagans. Moon worshippers.