What was the religion of Muslims before Muhammad?

Question

It's always been my understanding that Jews have always been Jews since the time of Abraham and even before. I was talking to a muslim recently and he claimed that Abraham and his kin where muslim, definetly not Jews. Also that Jesus was a muslim, as well as Moses and others I thought to be Jews.

I thought Islam didn't exist till Muhammad created it, much like Christianity. So what where the Muslim people were before Muhammad? Also, what where the Arab people before Islam?

Tariq, please do not give others thumbs down, especially if they might be right. Also, please do not cut and paste large amounts of text as an answer.
We do not know who many of these named people are and it only serves to dull our interests. Also, please do not name quotations (probably from the Quran) as history. Please source material that can be linked to scientific research.

Answer 1

There were many different religions in persia and Arabia before the muslims took over.

The word Jew means many different things to different people. The "Jewish" people I have spoken with today claim Abraham was the first Jew. Muslims believe the covenant followed Ishmael. Jews believe the covenant followed Isaac. Then there is Esau and Jacob. Why is Jacob considered Jewish and Esau not? Some would say Esau sold his Jewishness for a bowl of soup. Can you sell your Jewishness?

If you ask me it's all a bunch of hogwash. God loves all his children equally. You will be blessed if you follow the plan for your life. If you don't you won't be "cursed"; God won't hate you; you just will feel disconnected from God. This is unpleasant.

I believe the selfishness found in "holy" texts are an abomination. They are an attempt to hoard God's blessings. In the end, this selfishness will comeback to haunt anyone who attempts such nonsense. Nature always has a way of returning to balance.

In short, we are all God's children. It will serve us well to work together for God's purpose. Even the person who seems to contribute very little to society is essential to God's plan. Some day people will begin to spread out and colonize the universe. For this is God's ultimate plan.

Answer 2

Abraham was the first monotheist he gave rise to both the Jewish People (through his son Issac) and the Muslims (through his son Ishmael).

He was both the first Jews and first Muslim, most moderate Muslims, especially Israeli Arabs say "Our father Abraham" when talking to Jews.

Moses and Jesus were both Jews but as Islam reveres nearly all Jewish and Christian personalities as prophets (including Moses and Jesus) it would make no sense if they were of another Religion than Islam. You are quite correct that Isalm as a religion did not actually exist until Mohammed (who died in 632 CE).

Answer 3

I believe Abraham was a Jew, and the Father of all Jews. If you read the Bible that will give you the history. Abraham was not a Muslim. The Muslims came from his son Ismael as stated above. This is a very complex issue, and I am sure will not be answered properly on yahoo answers.

Answer 4

Muslims worship a god by the name of Allah. They also give him ninety-nine other names. The question that naturally arises is who or what is this Allah? Where did the Muslims derive their ideas of Allah's nature and attributes?
Islam is a modern version of the ancient fertility religion of the moon god. Once this is grasped, the rise and history of Islam becomes clear.
Islam's origins have been traced back by scholars to the ancient fertility religion of the worship of the moon god which was always the dominant religion of Arabia. The moon god was worshipped by praying toward Mecca several times a day, making an annual pilgrimage to the Kabah which was a temple of the moon god, running around the Kabah seven times, caressing an idol of a black stone set in the wall of the Kabah, running between two hills, making animal sacrifices, gathering on Fridays for prayers, giving alms to the poor, etc.. These were pagan rites practiced by the Arabs long before Muhammad was born.
What religion today practices the pagan rites of the moon god? Islam! This explains why the crescent moon is the symbol of Islam. It is placed on top of mosques and minarets and displayed on hats, flags, rugs, amulets and even jewelry. Every time you see the Muslim symbol of a crescent moon, you are seeing the ancient symbol of the moon god.
Does the average Muslim know that he is worshipping a moon god? No. Does he know why the crescent moon symbol sits on top of his mosque? No. Is he shocked and perhaps angered at these facts of history? Yes. But can mere denial or angry threats refute the fact that Islam is nothing more than a modern version of the ancient religion of the moon god Allah? No. The average Muslim has been kept in the dark by the Mullahs and Imams who would lose their power if the truth ever got out.
instead of worshipping a false moon god called Allah, you should worship the God of the Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. This one true God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Read the New Testament for it is the true Word of God.

Answer 5

Well Islam means "submission to the will of God" and someone who observes this is known as a Muslim. Muslims believe that Moses (pbuh), Jesus (pbuh) and all Prophets bought the same message to "submit" to God i.e. to become Muslims.

However the religion of Islam as we know it today was not around, with each Prophet God sent something new and each Prophet was specifically for the people of the time. Whereas Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was sent for the whole of mankind and brought the final message and completed the religion which God wanted us to follow:

...This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion... (Quran 5:3)

Before becoming Muslims my ancestors were most likley Hindus. But the Arabs differed from being Pagans, Christians and Jews.

Answer 6

Like the Jews of the time they worshipped more than one God. The early Jewish religion also included a female deity.
As did that of the tribes who would become followers of the Prophet Muhammad and acknowledge and accept the truth of his message that there was but One True God Allah..

Answer 7

We believe that Islam is not any new religion

All prophets bought the same religion of Islam , that is to Worship Allah alone , although laws may have been different to suit different time period and community. But the message was same.

Thats why we believe in all previous prophets too but Muhammad is the last and seal of All Prophets.

Answer 8

Islam is not new religion,Islam is the first religion since this earth is created.prophet before Muhammad p.b.u.h. is also Muslim like abraham,jacob,moses,jesus....&others..
But their follower change the scripture.We can see the contradict between dif. version.Only al-Quran have the old scripture that if we compare with Al-Quran today,there's no difference,even in single word.There's no contradict between one sentence with other sentence.

Answer 9

Abraham's sons were Issac (promised one of Jewish mother Sarai) and Ismael ( born of Egyptian mother Hagar)

Issac descendants continued Jewish while Ishmael's descendants were called Ishmealite till Muhammad

Bible :Genesis16 :1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Answer 10

Here is a Ayah of Quran as a proof that Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian. He was a Muslims and firm believer of God Allmighty whom Muslims believe.

"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian; but an upright Muslim." (Soorah Aal'imraan 3:67)

To read more about Islam read the following sites:

http://www.islamworld.net/true.html
http://www.islamreligion.com/
http://sheikyusuf.com/

Abraham, his sons Ismael and Ishaq and Ishaq son Jacob and his 12 sons were all Muslims. You will find this in Quran if you refer to index in the back of Quran with translation of Mohmmad Asad or Yusuf Ali and read about Abraham and his sons Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (Yusuf) and his 11 brothers.
Name of one amongst these twelves was Judah. All Jews are descendents of these 12 brothers. Lot later they started calling their religion as Judaism after the Jadah probably their leader. And they started calling themselves or other people starting them Jews as the followers of Judaism.

Since they believd in one and only God who created all humans this planets, heavens and earth, they were Muslims. Definition of Muslim is one who suddender himself to the will of God and live the way of life God teaches us.

Even today there are many Muslims amongst Christians wh do not call themselves Muslims though they do not believe Jesus as God or son of God and believe on the God the creator of every thing. They worship God and talk directly to God. These are Muslims even if they do not declare to be Muslims due to pressure of Christian world or not wanting to part from their families of Christians and Jews.

You are wlecome to chat with me on yahoo Messenger if you wish to discuss more on this subject.