Did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Borrow Tawhid from the Arabs?

Atheist Objection: Did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Derive Monotheism from Arabs Around Him?

❖ Introduction​

An atheist, in his online book “Authors of the Qur’an”, attempted to prove that the Qur’an is not a divine revelation but a composition compiled from various sources. He specifically objected to the doctrine of Tawhid (monotheism), claiming that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ adopted it from the surrounding Arabs. He presented several monotheistic statements from pre-Islamic Arabia to support his argument. Although these references appear valid on the surface, the author deliberately misrepresented them to support a misleading premise.

❖ The Abrahamic Faith (Ḥanīfiyyah) in Pre-Islamic Arabia​

Before the advent of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, a pure monotheistic religion based on the Abrahamic tradition existed in Arabia. Over time, however, innovations and distortions crept in, and particularly shirk (polytheism) overshadowed the pure doctrine of Tawhid. This religion, introduced in the time of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Isma'il عليهما السلام, had long been present among the Arabs. However, after the time of ‘Amr ibn Luhayy al-Khuzā‘ī, idolatry became widespread.

❖ Meaning of Ḥanīfiyyah​

The word ḥanīf linguistically means “to incline” — that is, to deviate from false religion and adhere to the true one.

Many Arab ḥunafā’, such as Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl, abandoned idolatry and earnestly sought the monotheistic faith of Ibrahim عليه السلام.

❖ Makkah and the Quraysh​

Followers of ḥanīfiyyah also lived in Makkah. Among them, four notable personalities are frequently mentioned:


➊ Waraqah ibn Nawfal
➋ ‘Ubaydullah ibn Jahsh
➌ ‘Uthman ibn al-Huwayrith
➍ Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl


These individuals had rejected the prevailing idol worship in search of the truth of monotheism.

❖ Yathrib / Madinah​

Monotheists were also present in Madinah, particularly among the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, who upheld certain principles of the Abrahamic religion. Notable examples include:

• Suwayd ibn Ṣāmit: Regarded as a follower of ḥanīfiyyah in his region.
• Abu al-Haytham ibn al-Tayyihān and As‘ad ibn Zurārah: Both were known for advocating Tawhid.

❖ Ḥanīfiyyah Among Arab Tribes​

Several other Arab tribes also had adherents to the ḥanīf faith:

➊ Thaqīf / Hawāzin: The renowned poet Umayyah ibn Abī al-Ṣalt from this tribe was a firm believer in Tawhid.
➋ Banū ‘Abs: Khālid ibn Sinān al-‘Absī is also counted among the ḥunafā’.
➌ ‘Abd al-Qays: This tribe was likewise monotheistic in belief.
➍ Banū ‘Āmir ibn Ṣa‘ṣa‘ah: Poets like al-Nābighah al-Ja‘dī and Labīd were adherents of monotheism.

❖ Conclusion​

The Abrahamic faith had a lasting influence in pre-Islamic Arabia, and many individuals and tribes adhered to its teachings. Despite the prevalence of polytheism and idolatry, followers of ḥanīfiyyah remained present throughout the ages, striving to uphold the true essence of Tawhid. At the time of the Prophetic mission of Muhammad ﷺ, these ḥunafā’ were among the first to embrace Islam.