Arabian pre-Islamic beliefs and gods

Jahiliyyah

Arabian pre-islamic beliefs refer to the the beliefs of the Arabs in the era prior to Islam. This era is also called Jahiliyyah (Arabic: جاهلية‎). It is an Islamic concept of "ignorance of divine guidance" or "the state of ignorance of the guidance from God" or "Days of Ignorance". It refers to the condition Arabs found themselves in pre-Islamic Arabia, i.e. prior to the revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad. During that period 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. The following are the worshiped and idolized gods and the goddesses.

The Ancient Arabian gods and goddesses

Arabs in the pre-islamic era were polytheists. They worshiped and venerated many gods and godesses that they kept in the kaaba. The most important of them was. The Father, Hubal (Arabic: هبل‎). He was regarded as the chief god of gods and the most notable one, the idol of Hubal was near the Kaaba in mecca and was made of red agate, and shaped like a human, but with the right hand broken off and replaced with a golden hand.
In addition to Hubal, there were three godesses.

• Allāt (Arabic: اللات‎) or Al-Lāt was a Pre-Islamic Arabian goddess who was one of the three chief goddesses of Mecca. She is mentioned in the Qur'an (Sura 53:19)
• Al-‘Uzzá (Arabic: العزى‎) "The Mightiest One" or "The strong" was an Arabian fertility goddess who was one of the three chief goddesses of Mecca, Arabs only call upon her or Hubal for protection and victory before any war.
• Manāt (Arabic: مناة‎) who Arabs believed Manāt to be the goddess of fate, The Book of Idols describes her as the most ancient of all these idols. The Arabs used to name their children 'Abd-Manāt and Zayd-Manāt. Manāt was erected on the seashore in the vicinity of al-Mushallal in Qudayd, between Medina and Mecca. All the Arabs used to venerate her and sacrifice before her. The Aws and the Khazraj, as well as those Arabs among the people of Yathrib and other places who took to their way of life, were wont to go on pilgrimage and observe the vigil at all the appointed places, but not shave their heads. At the end of the pilgrimage, however, when they were about to return home, they would set out to the place where Manāt stood, shave their heads, and stay there a while. They did not consider their pilgrimage completed until they visited Manāt.

Other notable gods included:

• Manaf (Arabic: مناف‎) whose statue was caressed by women, but when they had their periods they were not allowed near it.
• Wadd (Arabic: واد‎) who was the god of love and friendship. Snakes were believed to be sacred to Wadd.
• Amm (Arabic: أم‎) Was a moon god worshipped in ancient Qataban. He was revered as a weather god, as his attributes included lightning bolts.
• Ta'lab (Arabic: طالب‎) who was a god worshipped in southern Arabia, particularly in Sheba. Ta'lab was the moon god. His oracle was consulted for advice.
• Dhu'l-Halasa (Arabic: ذو الحلاس‎) was an oracular god of south Arabia. He was venerated in the form of a white stone.
• Al-Qaum (Arabic: القوم‎) was the Nabataean god of war and the night, and also guardian of caravans.
• Dushara (Arabic: ذو شرى‎) was a Nabataean god. His name means "Lord of the Mountain"

More on Arabian pre-islamic gods on wikipedia