ostrich over it. Being a popular deity, its replicas were sold by vendors to the villagers and
pilgrims visiting Makkah.
The Arabs possessed the virtues of courage, loyalty and generosity, but during the long
night of superstition and ignorance, worship of images and idols had stolen into their hearts,
perhaps, more firmly than any other nation; and they had wandered far away from the
simple faith of their ancestors Ibrahim and Isma'il which had once taught them the true
meaning of religious piety, purity of morals and seemliness of conduct.
So, this was the city of Makkah. Then by the middle of the sixth century of Christian era,
before the birth of the Prophet (r), whence we see Islam rising on a horizon shrouded in
obscure darkness.
In very truth the Lord has said:
That You may warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so they are heedless.
[Qur'aan 36:6]