Page:Early Christianity in Arabia.djvu/181

Rh ancient idol, the personification of Venus; the same charge was alleged by the Carmathians, who carried it away among the plunder of Mecca during the khalifate of Mocktader, and it has been again renewed by the Wahabites of the present day. Thus the religion of Muhammed was established without altering the form of that which had preceded it, the worship of the Pagan Arabs was permitted to proceed in its usual course, the Koreish were still allowed the possession of the house of God, and continued to reap the same profit as usual from the devotees who came to visit the Kaaba, and drink of the sacred well of Zemzem, to which their devotion was increased by