Thus they offered sacrifices and offerings to their deities...
Thus they offered sacrifices and offerings to their deities seeking forgiveness for their sins or assistance in their needs; the offerings were supposed to intercede on their behalf. Some times a sin was expiated or help was sought by offering even a human sacrifice.
They carried this idea of continuation of the life so far as to bury with a man all types of necessities of life, not forgetting his ornaments and arms, in order that he might use them on his onward journey; some times even his concubines and soldiers were buried alive with him to keep him company. You may see a lot of such finds in archaeological museums around the world.
Some such ideas have persisted even among the Muslims - with all their diverse cultures and languages, albeit in modified forms. The Qur'an has rejected all such superstitious beliefs and baseless ideas in no uncertain terms: • . . . and the command on that day shall be entirely Allah's (82:19). • . . .
and they see the chastisement and their ties are cut asunder **(2:166).** • And certainly you have come to Us alone as We created you at first, and you have left behind your backs the things which We gave you, and We do not see with you your intercessors about whom you asserted that they were (Allah's) associates in respect to you; certainly the ties between you are now cut off and what you asserted is gone from you (6:94).
But the Qur'an is not content with this general declaration; it refutes each and every myth and superstition described above: • And be on your guard against the day when one soul shall not avail another in the least; neither shall intercession on its behalf be accepted, nor shall any compensation be taken from it, nor shall they be helped (12:48) . • . . . before the day comes in which there is no bargaining, neither any friendship nor intercession (2:254).