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==Gods== ==Gods==
The main god in the Arabian peninsula was ] ({{lang-ar|هبل}}), who is regarded as the most notable and chief of the gods. An idol of Hubal, said to have been near the Kaaba, is described as shaped like a human with the right hand severed and replaced with a golden hand.<ref>''The Book of Idols (''Kitāb al-Asnām'')'' by Hishām Ibn al-Kalbī</ref> The most notable of the gods of the Arabian peninsula was ] ({{lang-ar|هبل}}). An idol of Hubal, said to have been near the Kaaba, is described as shaped like a human with the right hand severed and replaced with a golden hand.<ref>''The Book of Idols (''Kitāb al-Asnām'')'' by Hishām Ibn al-Kalbī</ref>


In pre-Islamic Arabia, ] was used by Meccans as a reference to a ], possibly a ].<ref name="EoI"/><ref>See Qur'an {{cite quran|13|16|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|29|61-63|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|31|25|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|39|38|style=nosup|expand=no}})</ref> Allah was considered the creator of the world and the giver of rain, but in contrast to Islam, Allah was not considered the ]. The notion of the term may have been vague in the Meccan religion.<ref name="EoI">L. Gardet, ''Allah'', Encyclopaedia of Islam</ref> Allah was associated with companions, whom pre-Islamic Arabs considered as subordinate deities. Meccans held that a kind of ] existed between Allah and the ].<ref>See Qur'an {{cite quran|37|158|style=nosup|expand=no}})</ref> Allah was thought to have had sons<ref>See Qur'an ({{cite quran|6|100|style=nosup|expand=no}})</ref> and the local deities ], ] and ] were his daughters.<ref>See Qur'an ({{cite quran|53|19-22|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|16|57|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|37|149|style=nosup|expand=no}})</ref> The Meccans possibly associated angels with Allah.<ref>See Qur'an ({{cite quran|53|26-27|style=nosup|expand=no}})</ref><ref name="GodEoQ"/> Allah was invoked in times of distress.<ref name="GodEoQ">Gerhard Böwering, ''God and his Attributes'', Encyclopedia of the Qur'an</ref><ref>See Qur'an {{cite quran|6|109|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|10|22|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|16|38|style=nosup|expand=no}}; {{cite quran|29|65|style=nosup|expand=no}})</ref> ] name was {{transl|ar|DIN|ʿAbd-Allāh}} meaning "the worshiper of Allāh".<ref name="GodEoQ"/>
⚫ The three daughters of Hubal, who were the chief ]es of Meccan Arabian mythology, were ], ], and ]. Each is associated with certain domains and had shrines with idols located near ]<ref name=book>''Book of Idols''</ref> which have been destroyed.<ref>{{cite book| title=] - Sīratu Rasūlu l-LāhHawting}}</ref> Allāt ({{lang-ar|اللات}}) or Al-lāt is the goddess associated with the ].<ref name="Maspero">, by: ]</ref> Al-‘Uzzá ({{lang-ar|العزى}}) "The Mightiest One" or "The Strong" was an Arabian fertility goddess. She was called upon for protection and victory before war.<ref>Tawil 1993</ref> Manāt ({{lang-ar|مناة}}) was the goddess of fate; the ] describes her as the most ancient of all these idols. An idol of Manāt was erected on the seashore in the vicinity of al-Mushallal in Qudayd, between ] and Mecca. The ] and the ], as well as the inhabitants of Medina and Mecca and their vicinities, venerated Manāt and performed sacrifices before her idol, including offering their children. ]s of some Arabs, including the Aws, Khazraj, Yathrib and others, were not considered completed until they visited Manāt and shaved their heads.<ref></ref>

⚫ The three daughters of Allah and chief ]es of Meccan Arabian mythology were ], ], and ]. Each is associated with certain domains and had shrines with idols located near ]<ref name=book>''Book of Idols''</ref> which have been destroyed.<ref>{{cite book| title=] - Sīratu Rasūlu l-LāhHawting}}</ref> Allāt ({{lang-ar|اللات}}) or Al-lāt is the goddess associated with the ].<ref name="Maspero">, by: ]</ref> Al-‘Uzzá ({{lang-ar|العزى}}) "The Mightiest One" or "The Strong" was an Arabian fertility goddess. She was called upon for protection and victory before war.<ref>Tawil 1993</ref> Manāt ({{lang-ar|مناة}}) was the goddess of fate, the ] describes her as the most ancient of all these idols. An idol of Manāt was erected on the seashore in the vicinity of al-Mushallal in Qudayd, between ] and Mecca. The ] and the ], as well as the inhabitants of Medina and Mecca and their vicinities, venerated Manāt and performed sacrifices before her idol, including offering their children. ]s of some Arabs, including the Aws, Khazraj, Yathrib and others, were not considered completed until they visited Manāt and shaved their heads.<ref></ref>


], ]]] ], ]]]

Revision as of 21:35, 1 July 2014

Part of the myth series on
Religions of the ancient Near East
Pre-Islamic Arabian deities
Arabian deities of other Semitic origins

Arabian mythology is the set of ancient, pre-Islamic beliefs held by the Arab people. Prior to Islam, the Kaaba of Mecca was covered in symbols representing the myriad demons, djinn, demigods, or simply tribal gods and other assorted deities which represented the polytheistic culture of pre-Islamic Arabia. It has been inferred from this plurality that this mythology flourished in an exceptionally broad context. Many of the physical descriptions of the pre-Islamic gods are traced to idols, especially near the Kaaba, which is believed to have contained up to 360 of them.

Gods

The most notable of the gods of the Arabian peninsula was Hubal (Template:Lang-ar). An idol of Hubal, said to have been near the Kaaba, is described as shaped like a human with the right hand severed and replaced with a golden hand.

In pre-Islamic Arabia, Allah was used by Meccans as a reference to a creator god, possibly a supreme deity. Allah was considered the creator of the world and the giver of rain, but in contrast to Islam, Allah was not considered the sole divinity. The notion of the term may have been vague in the Meccan religion. Allah was associated with companions, whom pre-Islamic Arabs considered as subordinate deities. Meccans held that a kind of kinship existed between Allah and the jinn. Allah was thought to have had sons and the local deities al-ʿUzzā, Manāt and al-Lāt were his daughters. The Meccans possibly associated angels with Allah. Allah was invoked in times of distress. Muhammad's father's name was ʿAbd-Allāh meaning "the worshiper of Allāh".

The three daughters of Allah and chief goddesses of Meccan Arabian mythology were Al-lāt, Al-‘Uzzá, and Manāt. Each is associated with certain domains and had shrines with idols located near Taif which have been destroyed. Allāt (Template:Lang-ar) or Al-lāt is the goddess associated with the underworld. Al-‘Uzzá (Template:Lang-ar) "The Mightiest One" or "The Strong" was an Arabian fertility goddess. She was called upon for protection and victory before war. Manāt (Template:Lang-ar) was the goddess of fate, the Book of Idols describes her as the most ancient of all these idols. An idol of Manāt was erected on the seashore in the vicinity of al-Mushallal in Qudayd, between Medina and Mecca. The Aws and the Khazraj, as well as the inhabitants of Medina and Mecca and their vicinities, venerated Manāt and performed sacrifices before her idol, including offering their children. Pilgrimages of some Arabs, including the Aws, Khazraj, Yathrib and others, were not considered completed until they visited Manāt and shaved their heads.

Dushara, National Museum of Damascus
Other notable gods
  1. Manaf (Template:Lang-ar) was a god related to women and menstruation.
  2. Wadd (Template:Lang-ar) was a god of love and friendship. Snakes were believed to be sacred to Wadd.
  3. Amm (Template:Lang-ar) was a moon god worshipped in ancient Qataban. He was revered as in association with the weather, especially lightning.
  4. Ta'lab (Template:Lang-ar) was a god worshipped in southern Arabia, particularly in Sheba and also a moon god. His oracle was consulted for advice.
  5. Dhu'l-Halasa (Template:Lang-ar) was an oracular god of south Arabia. He was venerated in the form of a white stone.
  6. Al-Qaum (Template:Lang-ar) was the Nabataean god of war and the night, and also guardian of caravans.
  7. Dushara (Template:Lang-ar) was a Nabataean god, his name meaning "Lord of the Mountain"

Supernatural beings

Spirits

  • Jinn (also called djinn or genies, Template:Lang-ar jinn) are supernatural creatures which possess free will, and can be either good or evil. In some cases, evil genies are said to lead humans astray.
  • Marids (Template:Lang-ar mārid) are often described as the most powerful type of jinn, having especially great powers. They are the most arrogant and proud as well. Like every jinn, they have free will yet could be compelled to perform chores. They also have the ability to grant wishes to mortals, but that usually requires battle, and according to some sources imprisonment, rituals, or just a great deal of flattery.
  • Ifrits (Template:Lang-ar ‘ifrīt) are infernal jinn, spirits below the level of angels and devils, noted for their strength and cunning. An ifrit is an enormous winged creature of fire, either male or female, who lives underground and frequents ruins. Ifrits live in a society structured along ancient Arab tribal lines, complete with kings, tribes, and clans. They generally marry one another, but they can also marry humans. While ordinary weapons and forces have no power over them, they are susceptible to magic, which humans can use to kill them or to capture and enslave them. As with the jinn, an ifrit may be either a believer or an unbeliever, good or evil, but he is most often depicted as a wicked and ruthless being.

Monsters

  • A Nasnas (Template:Lang-ar nasnās) is "half a human being; having half a head, half a body, one arm, one leg, with which it hops with much agility". It was believed to be the offspring of a demon called a Shiqq and a human being.
  • Ghouls (Template:Lang-ar ghūl) are desert-dwelling, shapeshifting demons that can assume the guise of animal, especially hyenas. They lure unwary travellers into the desert wastes to slay and devour them. These creatures also prey on young children, rob graves, drink blood, and eat the dead, taking on the form of the one they previously ate. Because of the latter habit, the word ghoul is sometimes used to refer to an ordinary human such as a grave robber, or to anyone who delights in the macabre.
  • Bahamut (Template:Lang-ar Bahamūt) is a vast fish that supports the earth. It is sometimes described as having a head resembling a hippopotamus or elephant.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Karen Armstrong (2000,2002). Islam: A Short History. p. 11. ISBN 0-8129-6618-X. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. The Book of Idols (Kitāb al-Asnām) by Hishām Ibn al-Kalbī
  3. ^ L. Gardet, Allah, Encyclopaedia of Islam
  4. See Qur'an 13:16; 29:61-63; 31:25; 39:38)
  5. See Qur'an 37:158)
  6. See Qur'an (6:100)
  7. See Qur'an (53:19-22; 16:57; 37:149)
  8. See Qur'an (53:26-27)
  9. ^ Gerhard Böwering, God and his Attributes, Encyclopedia of the Qur'an
  10. See Qur'an 6:109; 10:22; 16:38; 29:65)
  11. ^ Book of Idols
  12. Ibn Ishaq - Sīratu Rasūlu l-LāhHawting.
  13. The Dawn of Civilisation, by: Gaston Maspero
  14. Tawil 1993
  15. Hommel, First Encyclopaedia of Islam, Vol. 1. p. 380
  16. Quran 7:11–12
  17. Robert Irwin The Arabian Nights: a Companion (Penguin, 1994)
  18. "ghoul". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved January 22, 2006.
  19. Borges, Jorge Luis (2002). The Book of Imaginary Beings. London: Vintage. pp. 25–26. ISBN 0-09-944263-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

References

  • The Book of Idols (Kitāb al-Asnām) by Hishām Ibn al-Kalbī

Sources

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