Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Richard F. Burton, trans., The Ara-

bian Nights. Edited by Jack Zipes (New York: Penguin 

Books, 2001; Husain Haddawy, trans., The Arabian 

Nights (New York: W.W. Norton, 1990); Robert Irwin, 

The Arabian Nights: A Companion (London: Penguin 

Books, 1995).

Arabian religions, pre-Islamic

Before the historical appearance of i

slam

 in the 

seventh century, there were a variety of religions 

practiced by the peoples of the Arabian Peninsula 

and its borderlands in southern s

yria

 and southern 

i

raq

. Though the evidence is meager, it appears 

that in addition to ancient native Arabian religions, 

there were also three religious traditions that had 

come into the region from neighboring territories: 

Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism. By the 

middle of the eighth century, Islam had become 

the dominant religion, and the institutions, prac-

tices, and beliefs of the former religions had either 

been displaced or absorbed by Islamic ones.

Native Arabian religions focused partly on 

temple cults located in cities and towns, includ-

ing m

ecca

, the site of the k

aaba

, where as many 

as 360 gods and goddesses may have been wor-

shipped. The temples were ceremonial centers 

that housed sacred images, which were cared for 

by ritual experts who conducted 

animal

 sacrifices 

and transmitted other offerings on behalf of the 

lay people. Some of these temples attracted pil-

grims who came from surrounding regions and 

had to follow special ritual rules, not unlike those 

observed during the annual 

haJJ

. Several of the 

Arabian deities worshipped were associated with 

the Sun, 

moon

, planets, and stars. The main dei-

ties in Mecca at the time of Islam’s appearance 

were Hubal (a god of divination), a

llah

 and al-

Lat (a high god and his wife), al-Uzza (a powerful 

goddess

, perhaps Venus), and Manat (a goddess of 

destiny and another form of Venus). Certain rocks, 

trees, and springs of water were also believed to be 

inhabited by spiritual beings, known as 

Jinn

. With 

the exception of Allah only, the q

Uran

 attacked 

worship of such deities and spirits, and such prac-

tices were later formally banned by Islamic law as 

unbelief (kufr) and 

idolatry

 (shirk)

The Quran contains evidence of the presence 

of Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian religions in 

the Arabian Peninsula during m

Uhammad

’s lifetime 

(570?–632). Judaism came into Arabia before the 

first century 

c

.

e

. but became especially evident 

K  52