Before Muhammad, what religion did most Arabs on the Arabian peninsula worship?

• A. Polytheistic gods and idol worship
• B. Christianity
• C. Judaism
• D. Monotheism

Answer: (A)

Before Muhammad, most Arabs on the Arabian Peninsula practiced polytheism, worshiping many gods and spirits. Idols and shrines were common across tribes, and Mecca’s Kaaba housed a collection of statues representing different deities that people would venerate, especially during pilgrimage. While there were some monotheistic leanings among certain individuals (often called hanifs) and Christian and Jewish communities in specific towns, these were minority groups. So the prevailing religious landscape was polytheistic idol worship, not a single monotheistic faith.