The first idol venerated (1)

Text
al-Himyari, The Scented Gardens of the History of Countries 73:
They said: the first idol venerated beside God (who is exalted) was Wadd. Wadd was a flawless man among the people of Babil, a beloved one among his tribesmen. When he died they flocked in large groups around his grave, in the land of Babil, and mourned for him. When Satan saw their mourning for him he assumed a human shape and said: ‘I see your mourning for this man. Would you like me to mold someone like him, so that he will be amidst you and that you can remember him? They said: ‘Yes’. He made a statue for them and they began to turn their face to it and honour it, until each of them placed a statue in his house, in order to honour him and in pursuit of blessings from him. Then they begot offspring, (who did) identically, until they adopted him as a god, whom they venerated beside God, who is exalted.

Source (list of abbreviations)
al-Himyari, The Scented Gardens of the History of Countries 73

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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