[paraclete]

Allah - the Moon God

The Archeology of The Middle East

The religion of Islam has as its focus of worship a deity by the name of "Allah." The Muslims claim that Allah in pre-Islamic times was the biblical God of the Patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. The issue is thus one of continuity. Was "Allah" the biblical God or a pagan god in Arabia during pre- Islamic times? The Muslim's claim of continuity is essential to their attempt to convert Jews and Christians for if "Allah" is part of the flow of divine revelation in Scripture, then it is the next step in biblical religion. Thus we should all become Muslims. But, on the other hand, if Allah was a pre- Islamic pagan deity, then its core claim is refuted. Religious claims often fall before the results of hard sciences such as archeology. We can endlessly speculate about the past or go and dig it up and see what the evidence reveals. This is the only way to find out the truth concerning the origins of Allah. As we shall see, the hard evidence demonstrates that the god Allah was a pagan deity. In fact, he was the Moon-god who was married to the sun goddess and the stars were his daughters.

The reader must know that Ismael was a Hebrew.

Archaeologists have uncovered temples to the Moon-god throughout the Middle East. From the mountains of Turkey to the banks of the Nile, the most wide-spread religion of the ancient world was the worship of the Moon-god. In the first literate civilization, the Sumerians have left us thousands of clay tablets in which they described their religious beliefs. As demonstrated by Sjoberg and Hall, the ancient Sumerians worshipped a Moon-god who was called many different names. The most popular names were Nanna, Suen and Asimbabbar. His symbol was the crescent moon. Given the amount of artifacts concerning the worship of this Moon-god, it is clear that this was the dominant religion in Sumeria. The cult of the Moon-god was the most popular religion throughout ancient Mesopotamia.
In ancient Syria and Canna, the Moon-god Sin was usually represented by the moon in its crescent phase. At times the full moon was placed inside the crescent moon to emphasize all the phases of the moon. The sun-goddess was the wife of Sin and the stars were their daughters. For example, Istar was a daughter of Sin. Sacrifices to the Moon-god are described in the Pas Shamra texts. In the Ugaritic texts, the Moon-god was sometimes called Kusuh. In Persia, as well as in Egypt, the Moon- god is depicted on wall murals and on the heads of statues. He was the Judge of men and gods. The Old Testament constantly rebuked the worship of the Moon-god (see: Deut. 4:19;17:3; II Kngs. 21:3,5; 23:5; Jer. 8:2; 19:13; Zeph. 1:5, etc.) When Israel fell into idolatry, it was usually the cult of the Moon-god. As a matter of fact, everywhere in the ancient world, the symbol of the crescent moon can be found on seal impressions, steles, pottery, amulets, clay tablets, cylinders, weights, earrings, necklaces, wall murals, etc. In Tell-el-Obeid, a copper calf was found with a crescent moon on its forehead. An idol with the body of a bull and the head of man has a crescent moon inlaid on its forehead with shells. In Ur, the Stela of Ur-Nammu has the crescent symbol placed at the top of the register of gods because the Moon-god was the head of the gods. Even bread was baked in the form of a crescent as an act of devotion to the Moon-god. The Ur of the Chaldees was so devoted to the Moon-god that it was sometimes called Nannar in tablets from that time.

A temple of the Moon-god has been excavated in Ur by Sir Leonard Woolley. He dug up many examples of moon worship in Ur and these are displayed in the British Museum to this day. Harran was likewise noted for its devotion to the Moon-god. In the 1950's a major temple to the Moon-god was excavated at Hazer in Palestine. Two idols of the moon god were found. Each was a stature of a man sitting upon a throne with a crescent moon carved on his chest . The accompanying inscriptions make it clear that these were idols of the Moon-god. Several smaller statues were also found which were identified by their inscriptions as the "daughters" of the Moon-god. What about Arabia? As pointed out by Prof. Coon, "Muslims are notoriously loath to preserve traditions of earlier paganism and like to garble what pre-Islamic history they permit to survive in anachronistic terms."

During the nineteenth century, Amaud, Halevy and Glaser went to Southern Arabia and dug up thousands of Sabean, Minaean, and Qatabanian inscriptions which were subsequently translated. In the 1940's, the archeologists G. Caton Thompson and Carleton S. Coon made some amazing discoveries in Arabia. During the 1950's, Wendell Phillips, W.F. Albright, Richard Bower and others excavated sites at Qataban, Timna, and Marib (the ancient capital of Sheba). Thousands of inscriptions from walls and rocks in Northern Arabia have also been collected. Reliefs and votive bowls used in worship of the "daughters of Allah" have also been discovered. The three daughters, al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat are sometimes depicted together with Allah the Moon-god represented by a crescent moon above them. The archeological evidence demonstrates that the dominant religion of Arabia was the cult of the Moon-god.

[paraclete]

part 2

In Old Testament times, Nabonidus (555-539 BC), the last king of Babylon, built Tayma, Arabia as a center of Moon-god worship. Segall stated, "South Arabia's stellar religion has always been dominated by the Moon-god in various variations." Many scholars have also noticed that the Moon-god's name "Sin" is a part of such Arabic words as "Sinai," the "wilderness of Sin," etc. When the popularity of the Moon-god waned elsewhere, the Arabs remained true to their conviction that the Moon-god was the greatest of all gods. While they worshipped 360 gods at the Kabah in Mecca, the Moon-god was the chief deity. Mecca was in fact built as a shrine for the Moon-god.

This is what made it the most sacred site of Arabian paganism. In 1944, G. Caton Thompson revealed in her book, The Tombs and Moon Temple of Hureidha, that she had uncovered a temple of the Moon-god in southern Arabia. The symbols of the crescent moon and no less than twenty-one inscriptions with the name Sin were found in this temple. An idol which may be the Moon-god himself was also discovered. This was later confirmed by other well-known archeologists.

The evidence reveals that the temple of the Moon-god was active even in the Christian era. Evidence gathered from both North and South Arabia demonstrate that Moon-god worship was clearly active even in Muhammad's day and was still the dominant cult. According to numerous inscriptions, while the name of the Moon-god was Sin, his title was al- ilah, i.e. "the deity," meaning that he was the chief or high god among the gods. As Coon pointed out, "The god Il or Ilah was originally a phase of the Moon God." The Moon-god was called al- ilah, i.e. the god, which was shortened to Allah in pre-Islamic times. The pagan Arabs even used Allah in the names they gave to their children. For example, both Muhammad's father and uncle had Allah as part of their names.

The fact that they were given such names by their pagan parents proves that Allah was the title for the Moon-god even in Muhammad's day. Prof. Coon goes on to say, "Similarly, under Mohammed's tutelage, the relatively anonymous Ilah, became Al-Ilah, The God, or Allah, the Supreme Being."

This fact answers the questions, "Why is Allah never defined in the Qur'an? Why did Muhammad assume that the pagan Arabs already knew who Allah was?" Muhammad was raised in the religion of the Moon-god Allah. But he went one step further than his fellow pagan Arabs. While they believed that Allah, i.e. the Moon-god, was the greatest of all gods and the supreme deity in a pantheon of deities, Muhammad decided that Allah was not only the greatest god but the only god.

In effect he said, "Look, you already believe that the Moon-god Allah is the greatest of all gods. All I want you to do is to accept that the idea that he is the only god. I am not taking away the Allah you already worship. I am only taking away his wife and his daughters and all the other gods." This is seen from the fact that the first point of the Muslim creed is not, "Allah is great" but "Allah is the greatest," i.e. he is the greatest among the gods. Why would Muhammad say that Allah is the "greatest" except in a polytheistic context? The Arabic word is used to contrast the greater from the lesser. That this is true is seen from the fact that the pagan Arabs never accused Muhammad of preaching a different Allah than the one they already worshipped. This "Allah" was the Moon-god according to the archeological evidence. Muhammad thus attempted to have it both ways. To the pagans, he said that he still believed in the Moon-god Allah. To the Jews and the Christians, he said that Allah was their God too. But both the Jews and the Christians knew better and that is why they rejected his god Allah as a false god.

Al-Kindi, one of the early Christian apologists against Islam, pointed out that Islam and its god Allah did not come from the Bible but from the paganism of the Sabeans. They did not worship the God of the Bible but the Moon-god and his daughters al-Uzza, al-Lat and Manat. Dr. Newman concludes his study of the early Christian-Muslim debates by stating, "Islam proved itself to be...a separate and antagonistic religion which had sprung up from idolatry." Islamic scholar Caesar Farah concluded "There is no reason, therefore, to accept the idea that Allah passed to the Muslims from the Christians and Jews." The Arabs worshipped the Moon-god as a supreme deity. But this was not biblical monotheism. While the Moon-god was greater than all other gods and goddesses, this was still a polytheistic pantheon of deities. Now that we have the actual idols of the Moon-god, it is no longer possible to avoid the fact that Allah was a pagan god in pre-Islamic times. Is it any wonder then that the symbol of Islam is the crescent moon? That a crescent moon sits on top of their mosques and minarets? That a crescent moon is found on the flags of Islamic nations? That the Muslims fast during the month which begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon in the sky?

CONCLUSION

The pagan Arabs worshipped the Moon-god Allah by praying toward Mecca several times a day; making a pilgrimage to Mecca; running around the temple of the Moon-god called the Kabah; kissing the black stone; killing an animal in sacrifice to the Moon-god; throwing stones at the devil; fasting for the month which begins and ends with the crescent moon; giving alms to the poor, etc.

The Muslim's claim that Allah is the God of the Bible and that Islam arose from the religion of the prophets and apostles is refuted by solid, overwhelming archeological evidence. Islam is nothing more than a revival of the ancient Moon-god cult. It has taken the symbols, the rites, the ceremonies, and even the name of its god from the ancient pagan religion of the Moon-god. As such, it is sheer idolatry and must be rejected by all those who follow the Torah and Gospel. Moongod.htm

So it is evident that Islam worhips the Moon God a different God to the Jehovah of the Jews and Jesus of the Christians?

[shygrneyzs]

To balance this one should read the following article: it is far too long to cut and paste here:
Reply To Robert Morey's Moon-God Allah Myth: A Look At The Archaeological Evidence

Comparative Index to Islam : MOON GOD

I am not pro or anti Islam. But one should read both sides then make their opinion.

[firmbeliever]

Quran 71:16
"And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp?"

Quran 55:5
"The sun and the moon run on their fixed courses (exactly) calculated with measured out stages for each (for reckoning, etc.)."

Quran 41:37
"And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allâh Who created them, if you (really) worship Him."

Quran 39:5
"He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving."

In the few verse quoted above from the Quran, Allah has never ordered the worship of the moon.If muslims believed in a moon god would not the book we follow tell us that the moon is all powerful and that we should worship him?

Another thing is that Quran does not contradict the sun being a planet that moves in its orbit and that the moon also orbits.Why is the moon not named as a higher power or something that could benefit the muslims with its power.

Quran chapter 36 verses 36-40.
"Glory be to Him, Who has created all the pairs of that which the earth produces, as well as of their own (human) kind (male and female), and of that which they know not.
And a sign for them is the night, We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness.
And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.
And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit."

Whoever is spreading such a lie that muslims worship a moon god is spreading falsehood knowingly or unknowingly.

Also refer to my answer
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/christ...tml#post574789

[Capuchin]

What's wrong with worshipping a moon god? O_o

[firmbeliever]

What's wrong with worshipping a moon god? O_o

That equals to shirk in Islam and it is setting up partners with Allah and/or worshipping a created thing instead of the creator...

One of the reasons we cannot agree with Chrisitans about Jesus(alaihi salaam) is also because he is sometimes called the son of God, and this means setting up partners with Allah for muslims.Even if we hold Jesus (alaihi salaam) in high esteem we cannot put him on the same level as Allah or say that he is the son of Allah.

This setting up of partners is one of the sins that takes a muslim out of his religion.(see the seriousness of the issue for a muslim to be accused of such a thing?)

[firmbeliever]

To balance this one should read the following article: it is far too long to cut and paste here:
Reply To Robert Morey's Moon-God Allah Myth: A Look At The Archaeological Evidence

Comparative Index to Islam : MOON GOD

I am not pro or anti Islam. But one should read both sides then make their opinion.

Thank you again for the links as I had not seen this website before this.:)

I know you are a fair person, so I am not assuming you to be pro or anti Islam...

[Lucas Ammons]

Moon god? Where did you hear scuttlebutt? Get your facts straight. Lecifur himself give you that crap? Muslims, Chirstians, Jews worship the SAME god. Allah, Yaway, Jehovah, all are names for the almighty. The alpha and omega.

[Capuchin]

Why can't allah, yahweh, etc be a moon god?

I'm really confused.

[firmbeliever]

Why can't allah, yahweh, etc be a moon god?

I'm really confused.

I did answer your question on why Allah cannot be accepted as a moon God by muslims.:)

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/islam/...tml#post574857

[Capuchin]

No I don't think you did. Or at least I didn't understand your answer :confused:. Why would it be setting up partners?

[NeedKarma]

This setting up of partners is one of the sins that takes a muslim out of his religion.(see the seriousness of the issue for a muslim to be accused of such a thing?)

Is that the thing where other muslims must kill someone who leaves the religion?

[firmbeliever]

No I don't think you did. Or at least I didnt understand your answer :confused:. Why would it be setting up partners?

First you must understand that we muslims do not worship any of our prophets(peace be upon them all) because they are humans and not God's sons or Gods themselves but human messengers and Allah's servants.
Another thing is we do not worship angels either because they too are obeying commands of the Almighty and we believe angels do not even have free will like humans and jinns.

So that being said if we were to worship anything other than God, would we not consider our Prophet(peace be upon him) a candidate but we have been commanded not to worship our prophets or their graves or their family members,angels, other humans or any other created thing/being like the Sun and the moon or other planets.
We believe that all created beings/things that exist on this universe and beyond obey the Almighty and we worship none but the Creator alone without submitting to any other force whether they be humans or natural forces like winds,ocean,fire etc.

I hope that makes it a little more clear...

[Lucas Ammons]

Moon god= false god/Idol. Quit spreading these lies. Athesists can't understood religion, and so they mock it. May god open your eyes.

[Capuchin]

I'm not mocking anyone. Instead I think you are mocking me because I don't understand. You might be the one with your eyes closed, here.

If someone says "moon god", to me it means "God of the Moon". I don't see how any offence could become of calling Allah or Yahweh or whatever "God of the Moon", since in your belief system, they created the moon.

[firmbeliever]

If someone says "moon god", to me it means "God of the Moon". I don't see how any offence could become of calling Allah or Yahweh or whatever "God of the Moon", since in your belief system, they created the moon.

That maybe the difference in thought because when most of us say Moon God, it mostly refers to the moon being worshipped as a God (and I think the OP was referring to the moon God as such).

[firmbeliever]

Is that the thing where other muslims must kill someone who leaves the religion?

Here is a detailed answer to the question of apostasy.

http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?re...&txt=apostates

Hope it helps you in knowing what is considered apostasy and I am not here to defend the rules and regulations of Islam,only to explain what I understand.

[NeedKarma]

The info in that link confirms what I said. Thank you. Any other religion will not kill those that decide to leave it, seems like another method of governing by fear. That's probably a whole other thread though.

[NeedKarma]

firmbeliever agrees: I knew all you wanted was a confirmation that muslims are "barbaric", which you believe to be the truth...

Here's the funny thing: I have never uttered those words in my life, only you made that assumption. If you believe the islamic apostate laws to be barbaric then say so, please do not put words into my mouth. Let the facts speak for themselves.

[firmbeliever]

I do not think or believe Islam to be barbaric(otherwise I will not be following the religion unless I believed in Islam as a total religion),
But the term has been used against us in many forms and by using the term I am not saying you will use that term or was thinking of using that term,but you just wanted confirmation that Islam is not a fit religion.

Hence I was not expecting you to agree with apostasy and the rules of apostasy in Islam.

I apologise for, if it seemed to you that I was putting words in...