Islam uses the term "Paganism" to describe a variety of practices, including polytheism and the worship of gods other than Allah (Arabic for "one") during the last messenger and prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Polytheists are people or groups who believe in and worship several gods or deities, much as pagans. The Greek words "poly," which means numerous, and "theos," which means deity, are the source of the name "polytheism". In polytheistic belief systems, a pantheon of gods or goddesses, each with unique characteristics, spheres of influence, and responsibilities, are acknowledged and revered.
Whereas, the idea that there is only one god or supreme entity is known as Monotheism. Monotheistic believers embrace this ultimate divine entity's uniqueness and unity. Polytheistic belief systems emphasize the existence of several gods, whereas monotheistic belief systems emphasize the existence of a single, transcendent, all-powerful god.
"Surely, Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin." (Quran 4:48)
The worship of saints, idols, or any other created being is likewise condemned by Islamic teachings. Islam's central teaching is the worship of the one true God, alone and without partners.
It is important to remember that in Islamic theology and discourse, the term "paganism" is not frequently employed to refer to other belief systems. The rejection of polytheism and the assertion of God's unity are usually the main points of emphasis instead.
Prophet Nuh lived in a society that had turned away from monotheistic religion and had adopted a number of immoral customs, including polytheism.
Abraham, often referred to as Ibrahim in Islam, was raised in an idolatrous culture. His people were polytheists who revered a variety of statues and idols.
The Quran recounts Abraham's reflections and rejection of his people's pagan beliefs. Abraham questioned the legitimacy of worshiping statues and celestial bodies, as described in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:51–70). He tried to get his people to consider the pointlessness of worshiping inanimate objects by having a conversation and argument with them.
Following the teachings of Muhammad (peace be upon him), Muslims reject polytheism and associate Allah with associates. Instead, they believe in the absolute oneness of God.
During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, the conversion of pagan populations to Islam was a difficult process involving many variables. Over the course of his 23-year prophetic mission, Muhammad preached monotheism and extended invitations to convert to Islam.
- Prophetic Character
- The Message of Monotheism
- Social and Economic Justice
- Inclusivity
- Miracles and Signs
- Patience and Perseverance
- Personal Relationships
- Military and Political Success
A number of these causes combined to cause the gradual conversion of people to Islam. It's critical to recognize that the conversion process was dynamic and that people changed to Islam for a variety of reasons, impacted by both psychological and intellectual elements.
According to the Quran:
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:163):
"And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate."
Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4):
"Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'"
Surah Al-An'am (6:102):
"That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs."
Surah Al-Shura (42:11):
"There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing."
Surah Al-Fussilat (41:6):
"Say, 'I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.'"
Surah Al-Ankabut (29:46):
"And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, 'We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.'"
Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:91):
"Never did Allah take to Himself a son, and never was there with Him any (other) god -- in that case would each god certainly have certainly taken away what he created, and some of them would certainly have overpowered others; glory be to Allah above what they describe!"
These verses highlight Allah's qualities, His unique oneness, and His rejection of all conceptions of spouses, associates, or children. One of the main tenets of Islam is tawhid, and these verses highlight how monotheistic Islam is.
During Paganism, denying their own god and accepting the one and only God of Islam was one of the first challenges that Pagans had to face in order to accept Islam. It is said that there were about 368 Pagan Gods during the time of Muhammad (peace be upon him). When pagans believed in about 368 gods, they were perplexed and cynical about how on earth they could repudiate the god their own ancestors worshipped and then acknowledge that there is only one god. He discussed all 99 qualities of Allah. Muhammad (pbuh) did not tell them to stop believing in God; rather, he told them to embrace Allah, the Arabic name for the single God.
https://myislam.org/99-names-of-allah/
Here are some similarities:
99 Names of Allah (Asmaul Husna), and Pagan Deities in Pre-Islamic Arabia:
1. Allah (الله)
Hubal: Chief god of the Kaaba in Mecca. Considered principal deity of the Quraysh tribe.
2. Allah Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) The Most Gracious
Al-Lat: Goddess associated with fertility, venerated in Ta'if.
3. Allah Ar-Rahim (الرحيم) The Most Merciful
Al-Uzza: Goddess associated with love and beauty, significant to the Quraysh tribe.
4. Allah Al-Malik (الملك) The Owner of Sovereignty
Manat: Goddess associated with fate and destiny. Considered one of the daughters of Allah in some traditions.
5. Allah Al-Quddus (القدوس) The Holy
Wadd, Suwa, Yaghuth, Ya'uq, Nasr: Idols or deities worshiped by various tribes in different regions of Arabia.
6. Allah As-Salam (السلام) The Peace
Dhu al-Khalasa: Idol located in Yemen, associated with the tribe of Banu Hamdan.
7. Allah Al-Mu'min (المؤمن) The Faithful
Al-Kutbay: Deity worshiped by the Banu Tamim tribe.
8. Allah Al-Muhaymin (المهيمن) The Guardian
Ruda: God revered by the Banu Qasi tribe.
9. Allah Al-Aziz (العزيز) The Almighty
Yaghuth: Idol worshiped in the region.
10. Allah Al-Jabbar (الجبار) The Compeller
Ya'uq: Another idol venerated by some tribes.
11. Allah Al-Mutakabbir (المتكبر) The Majestic
Nasr: Deity or idol associated with pre-Islamic Arabian polytheism etc.
Before embracing Islam, Umar bin Khattab (RA) reportedly said that one day, while traveling, he realized it was time for prayer, but he had left his God at home. With the help of some dates, he was able to mold his conception of God and pray. He ate his God later without hesitation because he was hungry. He laughed after telling the incident and said, It's a good thing I was introduced to Islam, adding that the genuine God need not take the form of a physical object.
In another incident, Umar was known for his humility, and it is said that he spoke to the Black Stone during Tawaf, saying, "I know that you are a mere stone and can neither harm nor benefit. Had I not seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you." Prophet Adam was the first to receive the black stone from Angel Gabriel. When Adam would kiss it when he was upset, Allah would pardon him for his humility and sincere desire for forgiveness. What if, in Umar's instance, it was claimed that he and other Muslims were actually worshiping the black stone? It shows how cautious he was when he approached a stone, weighed its possible advantages, and avoided conflating it with his one God in the face of criticism from other faiths.
In summary, while preaching all 99 attributes of one Allah by Muhammad (peace be upon him), Pagans interested in Spiritual Search, Intellectual Inquiry, Emotional and Psychological Factors, and Guidance from Religious Authorities began to realize that, while one Allah sounded a lot like their own God, it also shared similarities with all 368 other Gods that existed at that time. That is to say, accepting Islam and submitting to Allah, the only God, may have been much more comfortable for individuals who were young, liberal, impoverished, poor, and struggling.
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