Arabian mythology

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Myths of the Fertile Crescent series
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Mesopotamian mythology
Ancient Arabian mythology
Ancient Levantine mythology
Names of God in the Hebrew Bible
Mesopotamian religion
Yezidic religion
Pre-Islamic Arabian gods
Ēl, Ilāh "God" Bēl, Baʕl, Bēl-Šamīn Aglibol al-Lāt, al-'Ilāhat Astarte Atargatis (Syrian) Ištar, Athtar Beltis? Bes (Egypto-Arabic) Manāt Manaf Nergal	Nabū, Nebo Orotalt Qawm Sīn, Nanna-Suen Shams, Samas ʕUzzā Wadd Yaghūth Yarhibol/Malakbel astral & local deities demons
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Arabian mythology comprises the ancient, pre-Islamic beliefs of the Arabs. Prior to the arrival and initial codification of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula in 622 CE, year one of the Islamic calendar, the physical centre of Islam, the Kaaba of Mecca, did not hold only the single symbol of "the God" as it does now. The Kaaba was instead covered in symbols representing the myriad demons, djinn, demigods and other assorted creatures which represented the profoundly polytheistic environment of pre-Islamic Arabia. We can infer from this plurality an exceptionally broad context in which mythology could flourish.

[edit] Relation with Islamic mythology

Stories of genies, magic lamps, flying carpets, and wishes contained in tales from the Arabian Nights and other works have been passed down through the generations. Islamic mythology has probably been influenced to a large degree by Arabian mythology and the two are often difficult to distinguish. The two differ, in that Islam prohibits sorcery. Many Islamic elders have told their children bedtime stories about a snake that is mentioned in Islamic Hadith as punishment for missing prayer in hope that their children will establish what has been made obligatory to them.

The concept of the Evil Eye is considered by some to be mentioned in the Qur'an, in Surat al-Falaq (in which one is told to seek refuge "from the mischief of the envious one as he envies"), and is held to be true by millions of Muslims. The Hand of Fatima is sometimes used to neutralize the effect of Evil Eye, though its use is forbidden in Islam, as are all talismans and superstitions. Among traditional muslims, various verses from the Qur'an such as an-Nas and al-Falaq are sometimes recited for blessing, or protection from such superstitions.