"These Arabs worshipped spirits associated with natural features such as stones and trees, and possibly stars, but this worship was highly pragmatic and contingent upon the spirits delivering what was asked for. There were also jinn (we call them "genies"), invisible beings that could help or harm humans, that could possess a person and make him crazy (majnun, possessed by jinn), or could inspire a soothsayer (kahin) or a poet. They also recognised higher gods, usually connected with particular tribes, and distantly in the backgroudn, rarely invoked, was the creator God, Allah."

- Introducing Islam, William Shepard (p. 26)

"THis period is called the jahiliyya, conventionally translated "Age of Ignorance", but the word also implies wild or excessive behaviouur; this could be excess in fighting, or in seeking revenge, or in drinking wine, or in violating sexual rules, or even in generosity. [...] this value was counterbalanced by another, "hilm", self-control, but a poet sings: "Although I be in need of hilm, of jahl I am at times in greater need!"

- ibid, (p.27)