Pre-Islamic Arab Religion in Islam: Difference between revisions

This article discusses the [[monotheism|monotheistic]] religion of [[Islam]] and its pre-Islamic [[paganism|pagan]] heritage.

According to the [[hadith]], the [[Ka'aba]] in Mecca was a center of idol-worship, with the Ka'aba housing 360 idols:

Worship at the Ka’aba and the kissing of the Black Stone are just the first of many practices adopted from 7^th century paganism and repackaged within monotheistic Islam.

The pagan gods of pre-Islamic Arabia were worshipped in the form of rectangular stones or rocks. For example, the pagan deity 'Al-Lat', mentioned in {{Quran|53|19}}, and believed by pre-Islamic pagans to be one of the daughters of Allah, was once venerated as a cubic rock at Ta'if in Saudi Arabia. An edifice was built over the rock to mark it apart as a house of worship.  

There is no denying that the Black Stone was one among many stones and idols venerated at the Ka’aba by the pre-Islamic pagans. The Black Stone was kissed during pre-Islamic pagan worship. Though Muhammad threw out 360 other objects at the Ka’aba, he retained this Black Stone and continued the practice of kissing it. It is this same stone that the pre-Islamic pagans once kissed, that Muslims kiss today when visiting Mecca.

Pagans prior to Islam would pray five times per day towards Mecca.<ref>The Encyclopedia of Islam (edited by Eliade) P. 303FF</ref> Muhammad retained for Islam, this pre-Islamic practice, sanctioning it with a story of a night trip to heaven on a mythical beast called al-[[Buraq]]. In heaven, the Hadith tells us that Allah demanded 50 prayers per day per Muslim. Upon advice from Moses, Muhammed bargains with Allah and successfully reduces it to five prayers per day.  

Zoroastrians are also expected to recite their (kusti) prayers at least five times a day having first cleansed themselves by washing ([[ablution]]). So even today, this is not a practice unique to Islam.<ref>Bowker, John, The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, New York, Oxford University Press, 1997, pp. 763-764</ref> But, contrary to the Muslims, they pray in the direction of the Sun (at each time of the day) and/or of the Holy Fire (if they are in a Fire Temple). <ref>Joseph H. Peterson - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.avesta.org/ka/gahs.htm|2=2011-05-26}} GAHS (prayers for each period of the day)] - Avesta Zoroastrian Archives, accessed May 27, 2011</ref>

Muhammad's pagan tribe, the Quraish, fasted on the 10^th of Muharram. Though optional, Muhammad retained this pagan practice too.   

'Ashura' (i.e. the tenth of Muharram) was a day on which the tribe of Quraish used to fast in the pre-lslamic period of ignorance. The Prophet also used to fast on this day. So when he migrated to Medina, he fasted on it and ordered (the Muslims) to fast on it. When the fasting of Ramadan was enjoined, it became optional for the people to fast or not to fast on the day of Ashura.}}

Doing Tawaf between Safa and Marwa is an Islamic ritual associated with the pilgrimage to Mecca. Safa and Marwa are two mounts, located at Mecca. This ritual entails Muslims walking frantically between the two mounts, seven times. This was originally a pagan pre-Islamic practice. Muhammad retained it for Islam, sanctioning it with yet another Qur'anic [[revelation]].<ref>"''Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the Season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeyeth his own impulse to good,- be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and knoweth.''" - {{Quran|2|158}}</ref>

A myth was also created about Hagar running between these two mounts in search of water until she found the [[Zamzam Well]]. Even if this story were true, why is this reason for people to run up and down between two mounts to please a god? This myth was not created to further justify the ritual, but for another reason; Muhammad was trying to market [[Zamzam]], owned by his family, as a money-making venture.

   

{{Quote| {{Bukhari|2|26|706}}|Narrated 'Urwa: I asked 'Aisha : ...But in fact, this divine inspiration was revealed concerning the Ansar who used to assume “Ihram” for worshipping an idol called “Manat” which they used to worship at a place called Al-Mushallal before they embraced Islam, and whoever assumed Ihram (for the idol), would consider it not right to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.}}

[[File:Kaaba tawaf and hindu marriage.jpg|thumb|260px|right|In the Islamic ritual of [[w:Tawaf|Tawaf]], Muslims go around the Kaaba 7 times. In the Hindu marriage rite of [[w:Saptapadi|Saptapadi]], the married couple goes around a fire also 7 times. In both of these rituals, religious phrases are repeated during the [[w:circumambulation|circumambulation]].]]

[[w:circumambulation|Circumambulation]] is to go in circles around a particular object. In Islam, worshippers and pilgrims do this around the Ka'aba at Mecca. Pre-Islamic pagans used do it to please the moon god [[Hubal]], the 360 deities and Allah (who was merely one among the many deities worshipped there). Muhammad himself used to do it, even before the 360 idols inside the Ka'aba were removed.  

Judaism and Christianity (the religions of those who are considered [[Islam and the People of the Book|People of the Book]]) do not practice ritual circumambulation to please God. Two other faiths which do are Hinduism and Buddhism, religions older than Islam and accused by Islam of “paganism” and practicing idolatry.

   

Hubal was the moon god worshiped at the Ka’aba. The [[crescent Moon|crescent moon]] was Hubal’s symbol. Muhammad's pagan grandfather Abd al-Muttalib almost slaughtered Muhammad's father Abdallah at the Ka’aba, to Hubal. From Ibn Hisham: