ما الذي كان يدين به العرب قبل الإسلام؟

Most Arabs practised polytheism and idol worship, with remnants of the religion of Abraham such as the pilgrimage and circumambulation. Among them were Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and remnants of the Sabians ^{1 2}.

Al-Raheeq al-Makhtum notes that most Arabs were on the religion of Abraham, through the call of Ishmael, until time stretched out on them. Then Amr ibn Luhayy, chief of Khuza'a, brought Hubal from Syria and called the people of Mecca to polytheism, and they answered him. Idols multiplied until each tribe had one, and then each house had one. Polytheism and idol worship became the most prominent feature of the religion of the people of ignorance, who claimed that they followed the religion of Abraham ^{1 3}. Their rites of worship are in idol worship in the Jahiliyya.

Remnants of Abraham's religion remained among them, which they did not abandon entirely. These included honouring the House, circling it, the pilgrimage and the umra, standing at Arafat and Muzdalifa, and offering camels. They also introduced innovations in this, such as those of the Hums ^{4 2}.

Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism and Sabianism found their way into the regions of the Arabs. The Jews were in Yathrib, Khaybar, Tayma and Yemen. The Christians were in Najran, Yemen, among the Ghassanids, Taghlib and Tayy, and among some kings of al-Hira. The Zoroastrians were in the Arab lands of Iraq, Bahrain and Hajar. Remnants of the Sabians were mixed with the Zoroastrians ^{2 5 6}. Details are in the religions of the Arabs in the Jahiliyya, Judaism in the Arabian Peninsula and Christianity in the Arabian Peninsula.

This is one author's account from within the Sunni framework. Modern studies of the religions of the Arabs before Islam will be added in their entries.