What is the ruling on one who says that the Arabs in the Pre-Islamic Era of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) did not know Allah?

This statement is true in that they did not know Allah with the true knowledge that engenders awe of Him, glorification of Him, submission to Him, and avoidance of associating partners with Him. Had they known Him with His true knowledge, they would not have associated idols with Him and worshipped them instead of Him, nor would they have committed heinous sins. Their ignorance was a result of their lack of true knowledge of Allah. Ibn Juzayy said in his tafsir (definition) concerning the verse: "{And they did not appraise Allah with His true appraisal}" meaning, they did not know Him with His true knowledge.