المعبود شيع القوم نشأته-وظائفه- مناطق عبادته

الملخص EN

This study aimed at reviewing some religious issues related to northern Arabia that had a great role in the prosperity and emergence of its civilizations.

Religion was known for the diversity of its deities, rituals, and symbols, including the Nabatean Idol Shay al-Qawm, which is one of the oldest tribal deities that were associated with the economic aspect.

Later, the worship of this deity spread into the neighbouring urban areas and became one of the major deities of the Arabs of Al-Safa.

It also had a significant social connection with Sufism.

Besides, inscriptions and offerings representing this idol were found among the monuments of the Palmyrian civilization.

Its worship spread especially among the Arab tribes that worked in pasture and trade, and they took Shay al-Qawm as a deity protecting their trade.

The reference to this deity was associated with other deities among the Arabs of Al-Safa, such as : Al-Lat, Baal Shamin, Jad Al Awaid and the Nabati idol Dhul-Shra, as mentioned on stone inscriptions.