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Idols were placed in and around Ka‟bah. They were ancient, and those that had been
worshipped during the prophethood of Noah before the Flood then swept away by its
waters and buried under the sands of Jeddah. Centuries later a man by the name of
Amr, Luhai‟s son discovered these idols and introduced them to the tribes and was
responsible for re-establishing their worship.

As time progressed, the tribes thought it more fitting that their idols should be placed in
or around Ka‟bah so they took them with them when they went to Mecca on pilgrimage.
To many, Allah had become remote, whereas they could physically see their idols and
concocted the idea that their idols had powers to intercede between Allah and
themselves. When the Prophet entered Mecca on the day of its Opening there were 365
idols housed in Ka‟bah and its courtyard. The Prophet pointed to each of them, and one
by one the idols toppled over and broke into pieces.

However, not all the Arabs were pagan, some were Christians whereas as others, many
of whom lived in Mecca were known as “Ahnaf”. The Ahnaf were people who tried their
best to follow the way of their great ancestor Prophet Abraham, but apart from their

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