MCQ Detailed View

Before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, the majority of the Arabs followed idolatry or polytheism. They worshipped multiple gods and idols that were placed inside and around the Kaaba in Makkah. These idols represented various deities, and each tribe had its own god or gods, which they believed offered protection, blessings, or intercession.

Although there were small communities of Jews and Christians in certain parts of Arabia—such as Najran, Yathrib (later Madinah), and parts of Yemen—the overwhelming religious practice in most regions, especially in Makkah and its surroundings, was idol worship. The Quraysh tribe, to which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ belonged, were custodians of the Kaaba and played a central role in maintaining these idols.

Idolatry in pre-Islamic Arabia wasn't organized in a structured theological system. Instead, it was a mix of tribal traditions, superstitions, and reverence for ancestral deities. People believed that these idols could intercede with Allah or influence nature and life events. The Kaaba housed over 360 idols, including famous ones like Hubal, Al-Lat, Al-Uzza, and Manat.

Islam came as a complete rejection of these polytheistic practices, calling people to worship one true God—Allah. The destruction of idols from the Kaaba after the conquest of Makkah marked a clear break from this pre-Islamic religious tradition and established monotheism as the central belief in the Arabian Peninsula.

🟩 Key Facts:

• 
  

  The majority of Arabs before Islam were idol worshippers.

  
  


• 
  

  Kaaba housed over 360 idols before Islam.

  
  


• 
  

  Idolatry was based on tribal customs and polytheistic beliefs.

  
  


• 
  

  Minorities of Jews and Christians existed in certain areas.

  
  


• 
  

  Islam introduced pure monotheism and abolished idol worship.

  
  


• 
  

  Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) as the foundation of faith.