What did Somalis worship before the coming of Islam

 Introduction

Have you ever heard of Cabudwaaq or Ceelwaaq? Do you know the origin of these names and where they came from? They all have one thing in common: the word Waaq, which was the god worshipped by the ancient Somalis.

The Ancient Somali God: What Did They Worship?

Long before Islam arrived, it is said that the communities who traced their roots to the Kushites had a very powerful kingdom known as the Kushite heartland – followed a religion called the Waaq religion. This kingdom stretched from the Nile River to the great deserts.

In this belief system, people worshiped a god called Waaq. The word has many interpretations, but the strongest one is “the god of the sky.” People believed that Waaq lived in the heavens, with the moon, sun, and stars as his main signs.

The early Somalis would pray to Waaq whenever they needed something. For example, during drought, they prayed to him for rain. When rain came, they called it “barwaaqo” (prosperity), meaning it was a blessing from Waaq.

They also believed in spiritual beings called Ayaanle, who acted as messengers between God and humans. From this belief came the popular Somali names Ayaan and Ayaanle. They also believed in an angel of death, known as Huur, who was thought to be the messenger of destruction.

In addition, people divided spirits into two types: those that brought harm and those that brought blessings. To protect themselves from harm, they would sacrifice animals.

Where Did the Waaq Belief Come From?

Historians give different opinions:

1. Some say the Waaq religion came from earlier Abrahamic traditions, especially the faith of Prophet Abraham. Evidence for this is that Somalis did not worship idols, but they did agree that there was one god in the heavens. In this view, “Waaq” means the Creator of the sky and the entire universe.

2. Others argue that the Waaq religion was similar to other ancient practices where people worshiped the moon and sun as gods. This is supported by the fact that some groups related to the Kushites, like parts of the Oromo, Afar, and Rendille, still hold onto such traditions.

For example, some non-Muslim Afar light fires at night and raise their hands toward the moon for blessings.

The Meaning of “Waaq”

Beyond its use in religion, the word “Waaq” in Somali culture came to mean the same as Allah. Even after Islam, Somalis continued using similar terms like Eebe, Guule, and Sareeye – all of which describe the one powerful God.

One thing that stood out about the Waaq religion compared to other ancient faiths was its strong focus on the oneness of God, while many other religions worshiped idols, natural objects, or philosophical ideas about divine beings.