Did the Messenger worship idols before the advent of his prophethood, and what is the truth behind the story of the Satanic Verses?

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was not upon the religion of his people before his prophethood. Rather, he was born a Muslim believer. Several pieces of evidence indicate this, including what the scholar Al-Saffarini quoted from Ibn Aqil, Imam Ahmad's reliance on the hadith of Al-Irbad ibn Sariyah Al-Sulami, may Allah be pleased with him, and Imam Ahmad's refutation of anyone who claimed otherwise. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was infallible before his prophethood from ignorance of Allah and doubt in His Oneness. He grew up upon monotheism and faith. Narrations and reports about the prophets indicate their transcendence from this deficiency, among which is the story of Bahira the monk with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he was young. Scholars have agreed that the statement that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was upon the religion of his people is an evil statement.

As for the saying of Allah the Almighty: "You did not know what the Scripture was, nor what Faith was," scholars interpret it to mean the laws of faith and the details of rulings, or that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not know before revelation how to invite to faith, or that he was from an unlettered people who knew neither the Scripture nor faith.