Author Description

The chapter about idols in Maqrīzī’s universal history is made of excerpts from earlier books, some of which are no longer extant. Excerpts from the latter category naturally form the most exciting aspect of this text. Its appearance comes at a time when certain scholars doubt the import or even the very existence of pre-Islamic idol worship. Early Islamic literature often focuses on the contemporaries of the Prophet Muḥammad whose stories were a source of pride for their offspring. The crucial moment in one’s life was the conversion, and it is in the context of conversion that we learn about idol worship.