I belive Josh's assessment is accurate, given the historical context of the development of Islam.
Islam, as a religion, more or less evolved from earlier pagan belief, as well as from foreign religious influence (Zoroastrianism from the east, and Judaism from the West).
The cult of the Daughters of Allah
(al-Lat, al-Uzza, Manat) arose again during the time of Muhammad's
years of prophecy because some members of the Quraysh tribe were unwilling to make concessions for the new religion being preached in Arabia. As a result, Muhammad initially mentioned the Daughters of Allah in Sura 53, as tradition goes, the prophet claimed these Daughters could function as intermediaries between humans and God (similar to Catholics praying to Mary as intermediary). Muhammad's primary concern, at the time, to gain converts, even if it meant compromising his revelation.
I will also note that the 2 verses in Sura 53 which mention the Daughters of Allah are no longer there; they have been removed. Nonetheless it has been a siginificant change in the Koran.