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Before Islam – Al-Shia https://en.al-shia.org The al-Shia Scientific, Cultural, and Doctrinal Website Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:42:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://en.al-shia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/cropped-cropped-FIcon-32x32.png Before Islam – Al-Shia https://en.al-shia.org 32 32 Idols of Pre-Islamic Arabian Era https://en.al-shia.org/idols-of-pre-islamic-arabian-era/ https://en.al-shia.org/idols-of-pre-islamic-arabian-era/#respond Sun, 02 Feb 2025 10:30:40 +0000 https://neweng.al-shia.org/?p=264 Introduction The pre-Islamic Arabian era, often referred to as the Jahiliyyah period, was characterized by a rich but spiritually fragmented cultural landscape.

Central to this period were the numerous idols worshipped by the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula, reflecting their polytheistic traditions and deep-rooted tribal identities. These idols, crafted from various materials like wood, stone, or metal, were perceived as intermediaries to higher powers, symbolizing natural forces, tribal heritage, or specific deities. The Kaaba in Mecca served as a central shrine, housing 360 idols, including prominent ones such as Hubal, Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat.

Idol worship was not merely a religious practice but was deeply interwoven with social and economic life, influencing festivals, trade, and inter-tribal relations. This paper written by Yasin T. al-Jibouri [1] explores the origin, significance, and eventual decline of idol worship in Arabia, particularly under the transformative influence of Islam’s monotheistic message brought by (PBUHH).

Idols in Mecca The Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.a) was quoted to have said that the first person to distort the creed of Ishmael son of Abraham was one Amr ibn Luhay ibn Qam`ah ibn Khindaf. This man, according to the Prophet, installed idols and started the custom of making offerings to them as well as other pagan rituals [2] . Hubal idol Amr ibn Luhay went out of Mecca to the Sham (the present-day Syria but which at the time, incorporated Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine).

When he came to Mab of the Balqa area, which was then inhabited by the “Amaleeq,” descendants of `Imlaq (or `Imleeq) son of Lawdh son of Sam son of Noah, he saw them worshipping idols.