How many idols were placed inside the Kaaba during the era of the Kuffar of Quraysh?

During the era of the Kuffar of Quraysh, the Kaaba—originally built by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) for the worship of Allah alone—became filled with idols that represented various deities worshipped by the Arab tribes. Historical records indicate that the Quraysh and other Arab tribes collectively placed 360 idols inside and around the Kaaba. Each idol symbolized a god or goddess that different clans believed in, reflecting the widespread polytheism among the Arabs before the rise of Islam.

These idols were not merely decorative objects; they were central to the religious, cultural, and economic system of the pre-Islamic Arabian society. Pilgrims from across the Arabian Peninsula would travel to Makkah to honor these idols, bringing trade and prestige to the Quraysh tribe who managed the Kaaba. Famous idols such as Hubal, Lat, Uzza, and Manat were among the most revered, and each had its own rituals and followers.

The presence of 360 idols also symbolized how far the people had drifted from the pure monotheism taught by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). This spiritual decline continued until the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who restored the Kaaba to its original purpose. When Makkah was conquered in the 8th year of Hijrah, the Prophet (SAW) entered the Kaaba and ordered all idols to be destroyed. Reciting the verse, “Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished,” he personally removed many idols, marking the complete purification of the Sacred House from shirk.