“The sun, take the donkey’s tooth!”
Question: If a person, after pulling out a tooth, addresses the sun saying, “Take the donkey’s tooth and in return give the deer’s tooth,” what is the ruling on such a statement?
Answer: Such talk is baseless and has no benefit. It may become a form of shirk (associating partners with Allah) because it is equivalent to asking the sun for a prayer or calling upon it, whereas the sun itself is a creation performing a duty. A person who prays to the sun, the sun is neither the owner of benefit or harm for him nor for anyone else. Therefore, addressing the sun is like asking it for prayer and worshiping it. Indeed, Allah Almighty has mentioned the sun-worshipping polytheists. The Divine command is:
﴿وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوْمَهَا يَسْجُدُونَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ . . .﴾
“I found him and his people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah…”
Nizarshad Bari says:
﴿لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ . . .﴾
“Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah who created them all…”
There is no doubt that asking the sun for help and calling upon it is equivalent to worshiping it, bowing before it, showing attachment to it, and venerating and sanctifying it, which is exactly prostration to it. Furthermore, the person who calls upon the sun is engaged in a futile act because the sun neither hears nor responds, nor can it give anything to the caller.
Allah created teeth for humans and also for most animals. Their benefit is to chew food well and to tear it. This kindness is only from Allah, who alone is the owner of giving benefit and harm. Therefore, a Muslim asks only this one Allah and does not turn to anyone else.
If one reflects on the teeth of livestock, there is no difference. Whether the donkey is wild or domesticated, Allah has created suitable teeth for it, and its teeth remain with it for its whole or most of its life. The same can be said about the deer’s teeth; the female deer is called “Ghazal” (deer) in Arabic. The same applies to other animals like camels, goats, and similar creatures. Allah, the Lord of Glory, has created teeth for these animals according to their needs, and these teeth reach their final limit only through use.
However, some people think that the donkey is an undesirable creature and its teeth are the worst, causing disgust, but this is not true. Similarly, the deer’s teeth are not suitable for humans because these teeth were created for it alone. If someone thinks that the above statement sounds good to him, there is no harm in using it, but what benefit is there? Because a servant of Allah turns to his Lord and does not turn to any other creation besides this Pure Being. And Allah knows best!
