st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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ON THE MAHOMETAN CONTROVERSY. 9 1
Damascenus begins by saying that the Arabians
whom he designates by the various appellations just
mentioned, were idolaters down to the time of
Heraclius. They were worshippers of the morning
star, and of Venus, called in their own tongue
Chabar^ that is, great. This appears to be a correct
statement, so far as it goes. There is reason for
believing that Sabeanism, or the worship of the
heavenly bodies," says Sir William Muir, 1 "was in
Arabia the earliest form of departure from the pure
adoration of the deity. The book of Job, many
historical notices, and certain early names in the
Himyar dynasty, imply the prevalence of the system.
In Sura liii.
49
is an evident allusion to the
adoration of Al Shira, or Sirius." Whether the seventimes
repeated encompassing of the Kaaba, or sacred
stone of Mecca, by devotees in their worship, was
meant to symbolize the revolution of the seven
planets round the sun, is a disputed point. The
mention of Venus accords with what Herodotus tells
us of Aphrodite being known to the Arabians under
the name of Alitta or Alilah. 2 The name is plainly
identical with that of the goddess Lat, or Allat, found
in Sura liii.
think ye,"
Mahomet there asks,
of Allat and Al Uzzah, and Manah, the other third
goddess ? Lat -is said to have been the favourite
idol of the tribe of Hawazun, dwelling to the south
east of Mecca. 3 The stone-worship, which was so
1
"Life of Mahomet," 1858, i., p. ccxii. and note.
2 Herod, i.
131 and iii. 8. Selden would read "Alilat" in
both passages.
3 Osborn s "Islam under the Arabs," 1876, p. 12.