The Pagan Origins of Eid and Ramadan: What Islam Doesn’t Tell You

The Pagan Roots of Eid and Ramadan

Though many Muslims believe that Ramadan and Eid are exclusive divine ordinances revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, historical evidence tells a different story. The origins of these Islamic rituals can be traced to pre-Islamic Arabian paganism, particularly moon worship, seasonal fasting, and Kaaba-centered idolatry. Just as Christianity incorporated Roman pagan festivals into its calendar, Islam absorbed and rebranded many practices familiar to the pagan Arabs of Muhammad’s time.

Moon Worship in Pre-Islamic Arabia

Before the rise of Islam, Arabia was a polytheistic region filled with tribal deities. Among the most revered celestial objects was the moon, worshiped as a divine sign of cycles, fertility, and fate. The crescent moon, now the symbol of Islam, was used to determine religious observances even before Muhammad’s revelations.

Many ancient Arab tribes worshiped al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat—three goddesses described in the Qur'an (Sura 53:19-20)—who were believed to intercede on behalf of humans. These deities were associated with celestial bodies and fertility, themes commonly observed in moon-worshiping cultures.

The fact that Ramadan begins and ends with the sighting of the crescent moon is not a new innovation but a continuation of ancient lunar cult practices. The pagan use of lunar phases to determine religious duties was simply retained under a new monotheistic label.

Ramadan: Pagan Fasting and Seasonal Observance

Fasting as a religious act predates Islam by thousands of years. Ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Hindus, and Greeks all observed forms of fasting tied to seasonal changes, solstices, and moon phases. These fasts were believed to cleanse the body, appease the gods, and prepare participants for renewal or fertility.

In pre-Islamic Arabia, there were already fasting periods observed by pagan tribes, particularly in sacred months like Sha'ban and Rajab, which were considered spiritually potent even before Islam. The Islamic month of Ramadan, with its 29-30 days of fasting, is remarkably aligned with ancient lunar fasting festivals.

The Qur’an (2:183) itself admits that fasting was not new:

"Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you..."

This statement acknowledges that the practice had precedents in earlier (often pagan) religions.

The Kaaba and Pagan Pilgrimage

Long before it became a central symbol of Islam, the Kaaba in Mecca was a pagan shrine. It housed over 360 idols, including the revered black stone—which many scholars believe was a meteorite worshiped by pre-Islamic Arabs.

The Tawaf, or the ritual of circling the Kaaba seven times, mimics earlier pagan circumambulation rituals, where tribes walked around sacred stones or temples as acts of worship. The Kaaba's significance during Eid al-Adha (the festival following Hajj) directly links Islamic festivals with these older seasonal pilgrimages.

Eid al-Fitr: Harvest and Moon Celebration

Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, is viewed as a joyous religious occasion. However, its timing and practices bear resemblance to pre-Islamic harvest festivals and moon feasts. In many ancient cultures, the end of a fast—especially one tied to the lunar cycle—was celebrated with feasting, almsgiving, and new clothing.

These customs were prevalent in Sabaean and Nabataean Arabian traditions, where moon goddesses like Almaqah and Sin were honored with food offerings and public rejoicing. Giving zakat al-fitr (charity) also parallels the agricultural tithes offered to the gods in pre-Islamic ceremonies.

Eid al-Adha: Echoes of Human and Animal Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha, celebrated roughly two months after Eid al-Fitr, commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. But even this ritual has pre-Islamic and pagan counterparts. Sacrifices—both human and animal—were a central feature in Canaanite, Arabian, and Mesopotamian religions.

Pre-Islamic Arabs performed ritual animal sacrifices during sacred months and pilgrimages. These practices were not abolished but absorbed and modified under Islam, now given a new theological narrative but maintaining the same basic rituals—including slaughter, communal feasting, and pilgrimage.

Conclusion: Masking Paganism in Islamic Dress

When critically examined, Ramadan and the two Eids are not new divine institutions but ritual continuations of pre-Islamic Arabian religion. Just as Christianity masked pagan winter and fertility festivals with Christ-centered reinterpretations, Islam cloaked moon worship, seasonal fasting, and idol-based pilgrimage in the language of monotheism.

For those seeking pure worship of the Most High—free from man-made traditions—it’s crucial to test every practice against the unaltered Word of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. No matter how well-packaged, if it has pagan origins, it is not holy.

"Learn not the way of the heathen..." – Jeremiah 10:2