Proverbs
Those who worship other than Allah also present an excuse that “The one who does the work is Allah alone; these elders are our intercessors with Allah.” This is a strong back door to shirk.
(وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِندَ اللَّهِ)
“And those who worship others besides Allah, who neither harm them nor benefit them, and say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.'”
Despite this excuse, such people are called polytheists. Accordingly, Shah Abdul Qadir writes in the benefits of this verse:
“The polytheist says that Allah is the Owner, and these partners are authorized over us by Him. So it is said: If they were truly authorized, then why would you be forbidden from them?”
Various examples are fabricated to justify polytheism; some say that just as the ruler of a country governs the kingdom through subordinate officials, similarly Allah Almighty governs the system of the universe through His deputies. Some say that just as one cannot climb to the roof of a house without stairs, similarly means are necessary to reach Allah Almighty. Giving such examples is not permissible according to Shariah but is rather a backdoor to polytheism. In such examples, the Creator is equated with the creation. Allah Almighty has forbidden presenting such examples in these words:
(فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا لِلَّهِ الْأَمْثَالَ)
“So do not set up equals to Allah.”
Some ignorant people say that the elders whom we worship were also created by Allah after all; all these are baseless and vain statements. Allah the Exalted says:
(وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ)
“And they worship besides Allah those who neither own any share of provision for them from the heavens and the earth nor do they have power.”
Shah Abdul Qadir (RA) writes under this verse:
“The polytheists say: Allah is the Owner, these people are independent in His dominion, therefore they worship them; this is a wrong example. Allah does everything Himself and has not entrusted anyone.”
However, some examples can be given which are correct, and they are as follows:
First Example:
((ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوكًا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَاهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوُونَ ۚ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ))
“Allah gives the example of a slave who has no power and a person to whom We have given good and ample provision from Our own side, so he spends from it secretly and openly. Can these two be equal? Rather, most of them do not know.”
’’Aufi narrated from Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما that this is the example of a disbeliever and a believer, meaning the intention is to show the superiority of the believer by comparing the two, and Mujahid’s opinion is that this is the example of idols and Allah. Shawkani, the author of Fath al-Bayan, Jamal al-Din Qasmi, and others have preferred the second opinion. Imam Ibn Qayyim also supported this in “I’lam al-Muwaqqi’in,” that just as a slave who owns nothing and is completely unable to dispose of his master’s property without permission cannot be equal to a free person whom Allah has blessed with abundant wealth and who spends day and night with full freedom and plenty, although both are Allah’s creation and human beings, their conditions are not equal. Similarly, how can carved stone idols be equal to Allah, the Sustainer of all worlds?
Indeed, all praise is only for Allah because all blessings are from Him. How can idols made of stones deserve any praise or commendation? But most people (who associate partners with Allah) do not understand this.
Second Example:
(وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ)
“And Allah presents an example of two men: one is mute and has no power to do anything, and he is a burden to his master. Wherever he sends him, he brings no good. Can he be equal to the one who commands justice while he is on a straight path?”
“Readers! Through this second example, the difference between idols and Allah Almighty is also made clear, that one man is mute and deaf, cannot express his inner thoughts, nor has the ability to perform any beneficial speech or action, and is entirely a burden on his relatives, neither useful for himself nor for others in any capacity. How can such a man be equal to a person who has full ability to speak, possesses intellect and wisdom, commands people to good deeds and benefits them, has good character and is religious, and achieves his goals through easy and straight paths? Just as these two men cannot be equal, similarly, how can the stone idols, which idolaters carry from one place to another, be equal to Allah Almighty, the Creator of the universe? They are a burden on Him, neither able to benefit Him nor harm Him?”
Third Example:
(( مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤١﴾ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ ﴿٤٢﴾))
“Those who take others as their helpers besides Allah, their example is like that of a spider who builds its house, and indeed the weakest of houses is the spider’s house. Would that they understood. Indeed, Allah knows whatever they call upon besides Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.”
In this noble verse, Allah Almighty has illustrated the vileness and disgrace of “shirk” (associating partners with Allah) through an example: those who consider others besides Allah as their friends and helpers, and bow down before them, their example is like that of a spider and its web. The spider weaves its web around itself, thinking that now it is protected from cold, heat, and every enemy, but everyone knows how weak that web is. This is the condition of the polytheists and their allies; they think these idols will benefit them, whereas everyone knows their helplessness and weakness. If even a fly sits on their idols, they do not have the strength to drive it away. This fact is so clear that even a person of little intellect understands it, but shirk has veiled their minds, so they do not comprehend anything.
That is why in verse (42), Allah Almighty, while warning, said that these polytheists worship false gods other than Him, He is well aware of these (gods), and He is the All-Powerful and All-Wise, He will surely make them taste the punishment of these polytheistic deeds.
(وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ)
“And We relate to you the examples of the former peoples.”
Readers! The purpose of presenting these examples is so that you understand the issues of monotheism and polytheism well, but the ability to do so is granted by Allah to the one who has firm knowledge of Allah’s essence and attributes, and who reflects upon the proofs and evidences that come before his sight.
