When mystics are confronted with the idea that by making duaa to things or people other than Allah is shirk similar to the pre-Islamic arabs, their response is often that they do not worship stones or statues so its different. However, the pre-Islamic arabs did not actually believe these statues were their God. Rather, they believed this statue represented a god or ilah, that was going to deliver their prayer to the upper ‘G” God or Allah. Wellhausen states that Allah was known from Jewish and Christian sources and was known to pagan Arabs as the supreme god (Guillaume, Alfred (1963), Islam, Cassell, p. 7).
The pagan arabs in fact believed in Allah, the lord of the universe, however they believed there were certain aspects delegated to Allah’s servants, such as various human saints. They believed that Allah was too busy to entertain your trivial prayers, and you should go to his servant or partner to deliver the message to Allah for you. The Quran describes their belief system:
Why then was no help forthcoming to them from those whom they worshipped as gods, besides Allah, as a means of access (to Allah)? Nay, they left them in the lurch: but that was their falsehood and their invention.
46:27 – فَلَوْلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرْبَانًا ءَالِهَةًۢ ۖ بَلْ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ :
Again, here Allah describes those who take partners with Allah:
Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): “We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah.” Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful
39:3 – أَلَا لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِى مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌۭ كَفَّارٌۭ
Here, Allah makes it clear, that the pre-Islamic arabs and pegans in fact believe in Allah, and the idols are just a means to get closer to Allah. Allah makes it clear in the Quran that he himself is in control of every trivial aspect of our lives, and the lives of animals and nature all together, and that he does not need help from anyone, nor does anyone in actuality help him:
Do they not observe the birds above them, spreading their wings and folding them in? None can uphold them except (Allah) Most Gracious: truly it is He that watches over all things.
67:19 – أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍۢ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۭ بَصِيرٌ
Here Allah swt describes the fact that he in fact makes the bird fly, do you not think Allah can handle your affairs. Rather, Allah indicates that to believe in their power of others to help you is nothing but a delusion
Nay, who is there that can help you, (even as) an army, besides (Allah) Most Merciful? In nothing but delusion are the Unbelievers.
67:20 – أَمَّنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌۭ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ
Allah swt says here, even an army of who you think are helpers, cannot help you, other than Allah. You are believing in delusions.
I hope this makes the clear case, that pre-Islamic Arabs and/or pagans in fact did believe in Allah, and that Allah is the one that helps all of us with important and trivial matters.
In the fatihah, the most central surah for all muslims, we say the following:
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
1:5 – إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٥
In other words, we worship Allah, AND we seek help from Allah. That is all.
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