The Reality of Shirk:
Shirk is a verbal noun derived from the root Mujarrad, and from the root Fih comes ” اَشْرَكَ‘‘ meaning part. It is said that ”بِیعَ شِرُكَ مِنْ دَارِہ “ means a part of a house has been sold. This is also supported by the Holy Quran. Allah Almighty says:
(وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ)
“And they have no share in the creation of the heavens and the earth.”
At another place, He says:
(اَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِؕ)
“Do they have a share in the creation of the heavens?”
And the prayer of Musa (Moses) to Allah (asking for Harun (Aaron) as a helper) also indicates this meaning. Thus, in
, it is stated that Musa prayed:
(وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِىٓ أَمْرِى )
“And appoint for me a helper from my family.”
”الشركة“ means to combine two or more parts in such a way that it becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other, and ”شراك‘‘ refers to the strap of a shoe.
In terms of meaning, the Shariah definition of shirk is “to consider someone other than Allah as a partner in Allah’s essence, attributes, and worship.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) defines shirk as follows:
(( وَجُمَّاعُ الْأمْرِ اَنَّ الشَّرُكَ نَوعَانٍ شِرْكٌ فِي الرَّبُوبِيَّةِ بِأَنْ يُجْعَلَ لِغَيْرِهِ مَعَهُ تَدْبِيرٌ ….. فَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهُمُ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّة إستقلالاً وَلَا يُشْرِكُونَهُ فِى شَيْءٍ مِنْ ذَالِكَ وَلَا يُعِينُونَهُ عَلَى مُلْكِهِ ـ شِرْكٌ فِي الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ بِأَنْ يَدْعُوَ غَيْرَهُ دُعَاءَ عِبَادَةٍ أَوْ دُعَاءَ مَسْتَلَةٍ . ))
“The summary and comprehensive statement is that shirk has two types! One is shirk in Lordship (Rububiyyah), which is to associate someone with Allah in the management, control, and nurturing of the universe. Allah Almighty has clearly stated that these self-made gods of the polytheists neither have any personal control over anything, nor are they partners with Him, nor are they helpers in His kingdom and governance. The second type is shirk in worship (Uluhiyyah). This is to call upon anyone other than Allah for worship or for unseen help.”
And their student and spiritual guide Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
وَالشَّرُكُ فَاحْذَرُهُ فَشِرُكْ ظاهر
ذَالْقِسْمِ لَيْسَ بِقَابِل الغفران
وَهُوَ اتخاذ الند لِلرَّحْمَنِ
أَيًّا كَانَ مِنْ حَجَرٍ وَّمِنْ إِنْسَانِ
يُدْعَوْهُ اَوْ يُرْجَوْهُ ثُمَّ يَخَافُهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ كَمَحَبَّة الدَّيَّان
“Beware of shirk! One type of shirk is outright shirk, which is absolutely unforgivable, and that is to associate someone else with Allah, whether it be a stone or a human. This includes calling upon them for help in times of distress, hoping for benefit from them, fearing harm from them in the unseen, or loving them as one loves Allah.”
Al-Hafiz, the commentator, jurist, and preacher Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) defines shirk in his book
as follows:
((اَلشَّرَكُ: هُوَ أَن تَجْعَلَ لِلَّهِ نِدَّا، أَوْ تَعْبُدَ مَعَهُ غَيْرَهُ مِنْ حَجَرٍ أَوْ بَشَرٍ، أَوْ شَمْسٍ، أَوْ قَمَرٍ، أَوْ نَبِي، أَو جِنّي، أَو نَجم، أو مَلَك، أو شَيخ أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ.))
“Shirk is to consider someone as a partner with Allah, or to begin worshipping someone other than Him, such as a stone, a human, the sun, the moon, a prophet, jinn, stars, angels, or any sheikh.”
Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy on him) explains the reality of shirk in these words:
((حَقِيقَةُ الشَّرُكِ أَن يَعْتَقِدَ إِنْسَانٌ فِي بَعْضِ الْمُعَظَّمِينَ مِنَ النَّاسِ اَنَّ الْآثَارَ الْعَجِيْبَةَ الصَّادِرَةَ مِنْهُ إِنَّمَا صَدَرَتْ لِكَوْنِهِ مُتّصِفًا بصِفَةِ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الْكَمَالِ مِمَّا لَمْ يُعْهَدُ فِي جِنْسِ الْإِنْسَانِ بَلْ يُخْتَصُّ بِالْوَاجِبِ جَلَّ مَجُدُهُ لَا يُوجَدُ فِي غَيْرِهِ إِلَّا أَن يَخْلَعَ هُوَ خِلْعَةَ الألوهِيَّةِ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ أَوْ يُغْنى غَيْرُهُ فِي ذَاتِهِ، وَيَبْقَى بِذَاتِهِ أَوْ نَحْوِ ذلِكَ مِمَّا يَظُنُّه هَذَا الْمُعْتَقِدُ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْخُرَافَاتِ.))
“The reality of shirk is that a person holds the belief about elders that the strange and wondrous effects (miracles) that emanate from them occur because they possess those perfect attributes which do not exist in the human species, but are exclusive to the Necessary Being, Glorious and Exalted. And these attributes are found in others besides Allah only if Allah bestows divinity upon them, or if the other being is annihilated in the Divine Essence and remains with that Essence, or if one holds some other corrupt and absurd belief.”
From Shah Sahib’s (may Allah have mercy on him) statement, it is as clear as daylight that always great personalities are made partners and associates of Allah Almighty.
But what is their position in divinity, permanent or temporary? Regarding this, it is stated:
((وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ اِعْتَقَدَ إِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ السَّيِّدُ وَهُوَ المُدَيّرُ ، لكنهُ قَدْ يَخْلَعُ عَلَى بَعْضٍ عَبِيدِهِ لِبَاسَ الشَّرَفِ وَالثَّالِهِ، وَيَجْعَلُهُ مُتَصَرِّفًا فِي بَعْضِ الأمُورِ الْخَاصَّةِ، وَيَقْبَلُ شَفَاعَتَه فِى عِبَادِهِ بِمَنزِلَةِ مَلِكِ الْمُلُوكِ يَبْعَثُ عَلى كُلِّ قطرٍ مَلَكًا وَيُقَلِّدُهُ تَدْبِيرَ تِلْكَ الْمَمْلَكَةِ فِيمَا عَدَا الأمور العِظَامِ . ))
“And the polytheists believed that Allah is the chief, and He is the only Lord, but occasionally He bestows the honor of divinity upon one of His servants, and in certain special matters He makes him the controller, and accepts their intercession on behalf of the servants. This is the same status as when a king sends a governor to every region of his kingdom and, except for important matters, entrusts them with the administration of that territory.”
Recognize Shirk in the Light of the Holy Quran!
Wherever the words (اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ)
, (آنی تُسْحَرُونَ)
, (أَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ)
, and (بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ)
are used in the Holy Quran, the denial of shirk (associating partners with Allah) is made. Similarly, where words like “سُبْحَانَ” and “Ta’ala” are used, shirk is also refuted. Therefore, by keeping this rule and principle in mind and studying the Holy Quran, the reality of shirk will become clear by itself. The human mind will decide that indeed these are the attributes which, if attributed to anyone other than Allah, necessarily constitute shirk. Accordingly:
(أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً أُخْرَىٰ ۚ قُل لَّا أَشْهَدُ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنَّنِي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ (19))
“Do you indeed testify that there are other gods with Allah? Say, ‘I do not testify.’ Say, ‘He is the One God, and indeed, I am free from what you associate [with Him].'”
At another place it is said:
(وَ لَا تَاْكُلُوْا مِمَّا لَمْ یُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللّٰهِ عَلَیْهِ وَ اِنَّهٗ لَفِسْقٌؕ-وَ اِنَّ الشَّیٰطِیْنَ لَیُوْحُوْنَ اِلٰۤى اَوْلِیٰٓـٕهِمْ لِیُجَادِلُوْكُمْۚ-وَ اِنْ اَطَعْتُمُوْهُمْ اِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُوْنَ(121))
“And do not eat of that animal upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed it is Fisq (disobedience). And indeed, the devils inspire their friends with insinuations to dispute with you, and if you obey them, indeed you would be associators (polytheists).”
(فَلَمَّا آتَاهُمَا صَالِحًا جَعَلَا لَهُ شُرَكَاءَ فِيمَا آتَاهُمَا فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ (190))
“So when Allah gave them both a healthy child, they began to associate others with Allah concerning what He had given them. Allah is exalted above what they associate with Him.”
The command of Allah Almighty is:
(وَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمٰنُ وَلَدًا سُبْحٰنَهٗؕ-بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُوْنَ(26))
“And they said, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son.’ Exalted is He; He is free from that.”
The command of Allah Almighty:
(وَّ مَا كَانَ مَعَهٗ مِنْ اِلٰهٍ اِذًا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ اِلٰهٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَ لَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلٰى بَعْضٍؕ-سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا یَصِفُوْنَ(91))
“There is no deity with Him. Otherwise, each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have overpowered others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe.”
And immediately after that, He said:
(عٰلِمِ الْغَیْبِ وَ الشَّهَادَةِ فَتَعٰلٰى عَمَّا یُشْرِكُوْنَ(92))
“He is the Knower of the unseen and the present, so He is far above those deities whom the polytheists consider as His partners.”
And in Surah Al-Qasas, it is stated:
(وَ رَبُّكَ یَخْلُقُ مَا یَشَآءُ وَ یَخْتَارُؕ-مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِیَرَةُؕ-سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ وَ تَعٰلٰى عَمَّا یُشْرِكُوْنَ(68))
“And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allah and high above what they associate with Him.”
And in Surah Ar-Rum, it is said:
(اَللّٰهُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ یُمِیْتُكُمْ ثُمَّ یُحْیِیْكُمْؕ-هَلْ مِنْ شُرَكَآىٕكُمْ مَّنْ یَّفْعَلُ مِنْ ذٰلِكُمْ مِّنْ شَیْءٍؕ-سُبْحٰنَهٗ وَ تَعٰلٰى عَمَّا یُشْرِكُوْنَ(40))
“He is Allah, who created you, then provided for you, then will cause you to die, and then will give you life. Is there any of your ‘partners’ who does anything of that? Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.”
And in Surah Al-Hashr, it is stated:
(هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِیْ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَۚ-اَلْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوْسُ السَّلٰمُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَیْمِنُ الْعَزِیْزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُؕ-سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا یُشْرِكُوْنَ(23))
“He is Allah, besides Whom there is no deity; He is the Sovereign, the Pure, the Source of Peace, the Granter of Security, the Guardian over all, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah above what they associate with Him.”
Summary of the Verses:
Reflecting on the above verses reveals that shirk (polytheism) is the worship of creation, meaning:
➊ You believe that Allah is a deity, and along with Him, there are other deities as well.
➋ You consider some creation as the lawgiver and legislator for human life.
➌ You regard some creation as deserving of worship, as the giver of children, and as the provider of sustenance.
➍ You declare some creation as the son, daughter, mother, father, wife, or husband of the Creator of the universe.
➎ You imagine that some creation is the Knower of the unseen.
➏ You consider some creation as the Creator, the Provider, the Giver of life, and the One who causes death. (This is called shirk in action.)
➐ To attribute Allah Almighty’s names and attributes to any other creation. (This is called shirk in names and attributes.)
To believe that anyone other than Allah possesses supernatural powers and authority.
Important Benefit:
After reflecting on these verses of the Holy Quran, the reality of shirk becomes clear. It can also be understood just from the word “shirk,” provided a person has sound and correct reasoning.
The word “shirk” means “partnership,” “sharing,” and the one who associates partners with Allah is called a “mushrik.” Now, how can two parties be partners unless there is sharing between them?
For partnership, sharing is necessary. Now, if a mushrik does not give Allah any share in worship and worships only others, how can this act be shirk? And how can he become a mushrik? The demand and meaning of the word shirk is that;
He worships Allah as well as someone else alongside Him.
To consider Allah as the Legislator and also to consider someone else as a legislator and lawmaker alongside Him.
To consider Allah as the Knower of the unseen and also to consider someone else as the Knower of the unseen alongside Him.
To consider Allah as the Creator, Provider, Giver of life and Death, and to hold exactly the same belief about someone else as well.
To have the conception that Allah is the owner of supernatural powers and to hold the same belief about someone else as well, etc.
This will be shirk (polytheism). Accordingly, the Quranic commentator, the scholar of the Ummah, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (RA) states:
((الْمُشْرِكُ الَّذِي عَبَدَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا غَيْرَهُ. ))
“Polytheist is the one who worships another deity along with Allah.”
One doubt and its removal:
However, one doubt remains, which is that in some books the terms “intrinsically” and “بالإستقلال” are restricted, meaning that the definition of “shirk” has been given somewhat like this: the meaning of shirk is that a power, ability, attribute, or characteristic which is exclusively and specifically for Allah Almighty is intrinsically attributed to someone other than Allah. And that entity is considered to have real control over matters.
Removal:
It should be remembered that wherever shirk is mentioned in the Quran and Hadith, the term “شرك بالله” is used. For example, “لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللهِ“, “وَمَنْ يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ“, and “لَا يُشْرِكُنَ بِاللَّهِ” and others.
This style of expression clearly shows that the polytheist primarily and essentially always worships Allah; only afterwards does he sometimes worship someone other than Allah and associate them with Allah. Thus, not only did the polytheists worship Allah, but they consistently and always worshipped Allah. Yes, sometimes they worshipped someone else, and in this way, by committing shirk, they became polytheists. In the Quran and Hadith, you will not find any other style of expression contrary to this, which proves that they primarily and essentially worshipped others first, and then sometimes worshipped Allah Almighty. No! You will never find such an expression anywhere. Understand and contemplate!
Secondly:
Independence or individuality is not a restriction found in the Quran and Hadith, nor in the sayings of the pious predecessors, and those like Tahir-ul-Qadri who have imposed this restriction have made a very big mistake. Because when the existence of a creation itself is not personal and permanent, but temporary, then how can any of its attributes be called permanent? Which can be negated when necessary. Therefore, in the places in the Holy Quran where the servants of the Lord of the Worlds are denied creation and provision, dominion and control, knowledge and authority, and intercession, it means the denial of granted and temporary power, not personal and permanent.
Furthermore, Maulana Ghulamullah Khan Hanafi states:
“The books in which the restrictions of independence or inherent power have been mentioned, it means that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has given the saints, ascetics, and prophets the power that whenever they wish, they can take life. Or they can cause benefit or harm to whomever they wish. According to this meaning, acquiring is incidental, and in using this power, they are permanent or inherent. This meaning can be combined with incidental, and this meaning, when attributed to anyone other than Allah, is considered disbelief and polytheism.
The harms of Shirk:
➊ Shirk is the greatest sin. The noble saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is:
((أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِأَكْبَرِ الْكَبَائِرِ، قُلْنَا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! قَالَ: أَلْإِشْرَاكُ باللهِ وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَين .))
“Shall I not tell you about the greatest sin?” We said: “Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!” He ﷺ said: “Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents.”
➋ Shirk is the greatest injustice. The command of the Almighty Allah is:
(اِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِیْمٌ(13))
“Indeed, shirk is a great injustice.”
Benefit:
Injustice is called:
“To remove something from its original place and position and place it elsewhere.”
Therefore, whoever worships other than Allah has certainly removed worship from its original place and used it in an improper place, and this is the greatest injustice.
➌ In the battlefield, the blood and wealth of the polytheist are lawful. The command of Allah Almighty is:
(فَاِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْاَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِیْنَ حَیْثُ وَجَدْتُّمُوْهُمْ وَ خُذُوْهُمْ وَ احْصُرُوْهُمْ وَ اقْعُدُوْا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍۚ)
“So when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.”
And the exalted saying of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is:
((أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، فَإِذَا قَالُوهَا عَصَمُوا مِنّى دِمَاءَ هُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا . ))
“I have been commanded to fight against the people until they testify to the لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ, and when they testify to it, they will have secured protection for their blood and wealth from me, except by right.”
➍ All the good deeds of a polytheist are destroyed and all their actions are ruined. As Allah Almighty mentioned after praising the noble group of Prophets, our master Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub, Nuh, Dawud, Sulaiman, Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa, Harun, Zakariya, Yahya, Ismail, Yasa, Yunus, and Lut:
(وَ لَوْ اَشْرَكُوْا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُوْا یَعْمَلُوْنَ(88))
“And if they had associated others with Allah, their deeds would have been in vain.”
Even addressing the Seal of the Prophets ﷺ, it was revealed:
(وَ لَقَدْ اُوْحِیَ اِلَیْكَ وَ اِلَى الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَۚ-لَىٕنْ اَشْرَكْتَ لَیَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَ لَتَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِیْنَ(65))
“And it has already been revealed to you and to those before you among the messengers that if you associate others with Allah, your deeds will be in vain, and you will surely be among the losers.”
➎ The polytheist will not be forgiven. Allah Almighty says:
(اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یَغْفِرُ اَنْ یُّشْرَكَ بِهٖ وَ یَغْفِرُ مَا دُوْنَ ذٰلِكَ لِمَنْ یَّشَآءُۚ-وَ مَنْ یُّشْرِكْ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرٰۤى اِثْمًا عَظِیْمًا(48))
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives anything else of whoever He wills.”
➏ Paradise is forbidden for the polytheist. And the polytheist will remain in Hell forever.
(اِنَّهٗ مَنْ یُّشْرِكْ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَیْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَ مَاْوٰىهُ النَّارُؕ-وَ مَا لِلظّٰلِمِیْنَ مِنْ اَنْصَارٍ(72))
“Indeed, whoever associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.”
Allah Almighty has also explained this in Surah Al-A’raf, verse (50), saying:
(وَنَادَى اَصْحَبُ النَّارِ اَصْحَبَ الْجَنَّةِ اَنْ اَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ اَوْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللهُ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى الْكَفِرِينَ ٥)
“And the inhabitants of the Hellfire will call to the inhabitants of Paradise, ‘Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allah has provided you.’ They will say, ‘Indeed, Allah has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.'”
In addition to this, consider the noble saying of the Prophet ﷺ, narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه:
(( مَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ يَدْعُوا لِلَّهِ نِدًّا دَخَلَ النَّارَ . ))
“Whoever dies in a state of associating partners with Allah, will enter the Fire.”
➐ A polytheist considers his deities as independent and shares them in divine actions, therefore he is afflicted with some punishment in this world, so that the weakness of those deities becomes clear to him.
(وَ اِنْ مِّنْ قَرْیَةٍ اِلَّا نَحْنُ مُهْلِكُوْهَا قَبْلَ یَوْمِ الْقِیٰمَةِ اَوْ مُعَذِّبُوْهَا عَذَابًا شَدِیْدًاؕ-كَانَ ذٰلِكَ فِی الْكِتٰبِ مَسْطُوْرًا(58))
“And there is no town but that We will destroy it before the Day of Resurrection or punish it with a severe punishment. That is written in the Book.”
On this verse, Shah Abdul Qadir writes:
“That is, it is written in destiny, the people of every city appoint an elder whom they worship, saying we are his subjects and under his protection. So when the time comes, no protection can be given.”
The command of Allah Almighty is:
(وَّ هُوَ یُجِیْرُ وَ لَا یُجَارُ عَلَیْهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ(88))
“And He is the only Protector, and no one can be a protector against Him.”
➑ There will be no intercession for a polytheist. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari that the Holy Prophet ﷺ, while mentioning the great intercession, said:
((أَسْعَدُ النَّاسِ بِشَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ خَالِصًا من قلبه . ))
“On the Day of Judgment, the person who will benefit from my intercession is the one who sincerely and wholeheartedly says لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ.”
In the Holy Quran, when Prophet Nuh (Noah) made intercession for his son, not only was this intercession rejected, but intercession itself was forbidden because he was a polytheist. It is stated in Surah
:
(فَلَا تَسْــٴَـلْنِ مَا لَیْسَ لَكَ بِهٖ عِلْمٌؕ-اِنِّیْۤ اَعِظُكَ اَنْ تَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْجٰهِلِیْنَ(46))
“So do not ask about things of which you have no knowledge. I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant.”
The same applies to the intercession of Prophet Ibrahim for his polytheist father. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( فَيَقُولُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ : يَا رَبِّ أَنتَ وَعَدْتَنِى أَنْ لَا تُخْزِينِي يَوْمَ يُبْعَثُونَ وَأَى خِزِي أَخْرَى مِنْ أَبِي الْاَبْعَدِ؟ فَيَقُولُ اللهُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ إِنِّى حَرَّمْتُ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ))
“Ibrahim will say; O Lord! You had promised me that You would not disgrace me on the Day of Resurrection, but what disgrace can be greater than this that my father is far from Your mercy?” Allah Almighty will say:
“I have forbidden Paradise for the disbelievers.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
((ثُمَّ يُقَالُ: يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ مَا تَحْتَ رِجْلَيْكَ، فَيَنْظُرُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِدِيحٍ مُلْتَطِحَ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِقَوَائِمِهِ فَيُلْقَى فِي النَّارِ.))
“Then it will be said: O Ibrahim! What is under your feet? When they look, they will see a slaughtered animal covered in blood lying there, so it will be grabbed by the feet and thrown into Hell.”
(فَاعْتَبِرُوْا یٰۤاُولِی الْاَبْصَارِ(2))
Polytheism before and after the Prophethood ﷺ:
Before we discuss the nature of the polytheism of the polytheists of Makkah at the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or present the outline of those polytheistic rituals that are found among people in this era, it is extremely necessary to describe the forms of polytheism before the Prophethood ﷺ, so that the meaning and concept of polytheism can be fully understood. Because a complete depiction of polytheism is not possible until the polytheism before you ﷺ and the polytheism at the time of the Prophethood are explained.
The People of Noah (علیہ السلام):
These people believed in and worshipped “Wadd, Suwa’, Yaghuth, Ya’uq, and Nasr.”
(وَ قَالُوْا لَا تَذَرُنَّ اٰلِهَتَكُمْ وَ لَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَّ لَا سُوَاعًا ﳔ وَّ لَا یَغُوْثَ وَ یَعُوْقَ وَ نَسْرًاﭤ(23))
“And they said, ‘O people! Do not forsake your gods, nor forsake Wadd, nor Suwa’, nor Yaghuth, Ya’uq, and Nasr.'”
Therefore, Prophet Noah (علیہ السلام) raised his voice:
(مَالَكُمْ مِّنْ إِلهٍ غَيْرِهِ)
“Besides Him, you have no deity.”
The greatness and majesty of Allah, the Lord of Glory, was surpassed in their hearts only by the love and respect for them (the Pure Five). Therefore, Noah (peace be upon him) said:
(مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ وَقَارًا(13))
“What is wrong with you that you do not fear the honor and respect of your Lord?”
In difficulties, they considered the Pure Five as helpers besides Allah Almighty. This is why, when they were drowned, the falsity of this belief was expressed in these words:
( فَلَمْ یَجِدُوْا لَهُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ اَنْصَارًا(25))
“So they found no helpers besides Allah.”
The People of Hud (peace be upon him):
These people committed shirk in names; they had given various names to their false deities. Their dispute with Prophet Hud (peace be upon him) was about this very issue, and the argument continued on this matter. The proof of this is found in the following noble verse:
اَتُجَادِلُوْنَنِیْ فِیْۤ اَسْمَآءٍ سَمَّیْتُمُوْهَاۤ اَنْتُمْ وَ اٰبَآؤُكُمْ مَّا نَزَّلَ اللّٰهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطٰنٍؕ.
’’(That is, Hud ﷺ said:) Do you dispute with me concerning names which you and your forefathers have named, for which Allah has sent down no authority?‘‘
Benefit:
Allama Shabbir Ahmad Usmani Hanafi Deobandi wrote in the margin of this noble verse that the polytheists of the nation of Hud also used to say to their idols that such-and-such one brings rain, such-and-such one provides sustenance, and such-and-such one grants children. And by analogy, they considered others besides Allah as means to attain nearness to Allah and called upon them in absentia for their needs.
Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in ”
” that “Such names are also commonly found among us. For example, so-and-so elder is Ghaus (Helper in Distress), so-and-so is Wali Data, so-and-so is Ganj Bakhsh, so-and-so is Mushkil Kusha. The only difference is that in that era, the polytheists attributed such qualities to gods, goddesses, angels, or certain spirits, whereas in our time these qualities are attributed to elders, whether they are alive or have passed away. Allah Almighty says that there is no evidence in the Divine Shariah for such claims that my so-and-so saint or elder can be a Mushkil Kusha (problem solver), and that I have given them such powers.”
Thus, when the people of Hud (peace be upon him) were destroyed, Allah Almighty says that none of their tricks worked, nor did any means benefit them.
(فَمَاۤ اَغْنَتْ عَنْهُمْ اٰلِهَتُهُمُ الَّتِیْ یَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مِنْ شَیْءٍ لَّمَّا جَآءَ اَمْرُ رَبِّكَؕ)
“So when the command of your Lord came, the idols which they used to worship besides Allah did not avail them at all.”
At another place it is stated:
(فَلَوْ لَا نَصَرَهُمُ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ قُرْبَانًا اٰلِهَةًؕ-بَلْ ضَلُّوْا عَنْهُمْۚ-وَ ذٰلِكَ اِفْكُهُمْ وَ مَا كَانُوْا یَفْتَرُوْنَ(28))
“Then why did not all those who had taken gods besides Allah to draw them near to Allah help them? But they all vanished from them, and that (idolatry) was their lie and their fabrication against Allah.”
The People of Ibrahim (AS):
This nation had started worshipping idols by making statues of their elders. The common practice of statues and idols began with this nation. Some among them used to worship celestial bodies. The idols and statues attributed to those elders were believed by them to be unseen, all-hearing and all-seeing, possessors of authority and power, and beneficial and harmful. Therefore, they called upon them in their needs. When Ibrahim (AS) was sent, he first addressed his father:
(یٰۤاَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا یَسْمَعُ وَ لَا یُبْصِرُ وَ لَا یُغْنِیْ عَنْكَ شَیْــٴًـا(42))
“O my father! Why do you worship that which neither hears nor sees nor can benefit you in any way?”
In the same speech, the worship of elders was declared as the worship of Satan, because the worship of elders can only happen due to Satan’s misguidance.
((یٰۤاَبَتِ لَا تَعْبُدِ الشَّیْطٰنَؕ-اِنَّ الشَّیْطٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحْمٰنِ عَصِیًّا(44)))
“O my father! Do not worship Satan; indeed, Satan has been a disobedient to the Most Merciful.”
Then addressing the people:
(اِذْ قَالَ لِاَبِیْهِ وَ قَوْمِهٖ مَا هٰذِهِ التَّمَاثِیْلُ الَّتِیْۤ اَنْتُمْ لَهَا عٰكِفُوْنَ(52))
“When he said to his father and his people, ‘What are these statues to which you are devoted?'”
Elsewhere it is mentioned:
(وَ اَعْتَزِلُكُمْ وَ مَا تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَ اَدْعُوْا رَبِّیْ ﳲ عَسٰۤى اَلَّاۤ اَكُوْنَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّیْ شَقِیًّا(48))
“And O people! I disassociate myself from what you worship besides Allah. I call upon my Lord, hoping that I will not be deprived of my Lord’s mercy by calling upon Him.”
The People of Yusuf (Joseph):
This people also had various lords proposed to them. Like the people of Hud, they had different names for them. Accordingly, Sayyiduna Yusuf (Joseph) refuted this belief with the following words:
( يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ (39) مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ)
“O companions of the prison! Are there many different gods or is Allah the One and Almighty? Those besides Allah whom you worship are only names which you and your forefathers have invented; Allah has revealed no authority for them. The owner of every command and decision is only Allah. He has commanded that none be worshipped except Him.”
The People of Musa (Moses) :
This people worshipped a living ruler, whose title was Pharaoh. He claimed:
(( أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَى ))
“I am your greatest lord.”
Besides him, there were other gods as well, whom even Pharaoh himself worshipped. As is evident from Surah Al-A’raf, the greatest shirk among them was that they called upon these gods in their needs in absentia. This is clear from the speech of the believers among Pharaoh’s people. Details of this story are mentioned in Surah Al-Mu’min.
The People of Ilyas (Elijah):
The name of Ilyas (Elijah) is also “Ilyasin,” and in the books of Bani Israel, his name appears as “Elijah.” His era was after Solomon (Sulaiman). Allah sent him as a prophet to the people of Bani Israel living in the city of Baalbek and its surroundings when idolatry had spread among them. People had become worshippers of a deity named Baad instead of Allah. They would call upon it in secret needs and perform all kinds of vows and sacrifices in its name, neglecting the commands of the night. Ilyas (Elijah) said to them:
(اَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ(124)اَتَدْعُوْنَ بَعْلًا وَّ تَذَرُوْنَ اَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِیْنَ(125)اللّٰهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَ رَبَّ اٰبَآىٕكُمُ الْاَوَّلِیْنَ(126))
“Do you not fear the punishment of Allah that you worship idols instead? Have you gone so far astray that you follow your great idol (Baal) and have forgotten Allah, the Best of Creators, who is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?”
The People of the Cave:
This nation had accepted many gods besides Allah Almighty. They would call upon them secretly for the fulfillment of needs and relief from difficulties. And there was no evidence for this false belief except following and imitation of ancestors.
In this environment, a few young men raised the slogan of Tawheed (Oneness of God). They publicly refuted this false notion. It is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf:
(اِنَّهُمْ فِتْیَةٌ اٰمَنُوْا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَ زِدْنٰهُمْ هُدًى(13)وَّ رَبَطْنَا عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ اِذْ قَامُوْا فَقَالُوْا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ لَنْ نَّدْعُوَاۡ مِنْ دُوْنِهٖۤ اِلٰهًا لَّقَدْ قُلْنَاۤ اِذًا شَطَطًا(14)هٰۤؤُلَآءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِهٖۤ اٰلِهَةًؕ-لَوْ لَا یَاْتُوْنَ عَلَیْهِمْ بِسُلْطٰنٍۭ بَیِّنٍؕ-فَمَنْ اَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرٰى عَلَى اللّٰهِ كَذِبًاﭤ(15))
“Indeed, they were some youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. And We strengthened their hearts when they stood up and said, ‘Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth; we will never invoke any deity besides Him, for then we would have uttered an enormity.’ (Then they said to one another) ‘Our people have taken besides Allah gods; why do they not bring for [these] gods a clear authority?'”
The Polytheism of Jews and Christians:
The Jews declared Syedna Uzair (عزیرؑ) as the son of Allah, whose era was approximately five hundred and fifty years before Isa (Jesus) (علیہ السلام). It is said that he gathered the scattered things at night and compiled all the Israeli books written in Hebrew into a great book of law for the Children of Israel. Impressed by this, the Jews began to call him the metaphorical son of Allah, which was against the majesty of the Oneness of Allah. Among the misguided Christians, some accepted Isa (Jesus) (علیہ السلام) as the son of Allah.
(وَ قَالَتِ الْیَهُوْدُ عُزَیْرُ ﰳابْنُ اللّٰهِ وَ قَالَتِ النَّصٰرَى الْمَسِیْحُ ابْنُ اللّٰهِؕ)
“And the Jews said, ‘Uzair is the son of Allah,’ and the Christians said, ‘The Messiah is the son of Allah.'”
Some among the Christians believed in the Trinity. They considered Allah to be in the third rank. The following noble verse declares their disbelief:
((لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِیْنَ قَالُـوْۤا اِنَّ اللّٰهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلٰثَةٍۘ))
“Indeed, they have disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the third of three.'”
Benefit:
“The Trinity, meaning the belief in three persons, held that Allah is one among three, that is, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or the Father, the Son, and the Mother; all three together are one deity.
Allah Almighty declared those who hold such a belief as disbelievers.
One form of polytheism among the Christians was that they made their scholars and monks their deities instead of Allah, such that when their worldly scholars declared the forbidden as permissible and the permissible as forbidden, they followed them. It is narrated from Sayyid Naadi bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
“They came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a cross hanging around their necks (they had accepted Christianity during the Jahiliyyah period). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited this verse:
(اِتَّخَذُوْۤا اَحْبَارَهُمْ وَ رُهْبَانَهُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ)
‘They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah.’
(Sayyid Naadi (may Allah be pleased with him) said) I said:
The Christians did not worship their scholars. You ﷺ said:”
“Yes! They made what is lawful unlawful and what is unlawful lawful, so people obeyed them and followed them; this is their worship.”
Beliefs and Good Deeds of the Polytheists of Mecca and the Disbelievers of Quraysh:
The above lines mention the conditions of polytheism before the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Now we will present an outline of the state of polytheism among the polytheists of Mecca, so that the society in which you ﷺ were born and then sent as a Messenger, and the condition and nature of polytheism in that era, can be understood. Only then will a complete depiction of polytheism be possible.
The general Muslims either understand or have been made to understand that the acknowledgment of the existence of Allah Almighty and the recognition of the Pure Essence of the Lord Almighty is the essence of faith. (Their false assumption is that) we believe in Allah, therefore we are true Muslims and firm monotheists, and the disbelievers of Quraysh denied the existence of Allah, the Lord of Glory, and did not accept the existence of the Creator. Hence, they were declared polytheists.
This is a misconception and deception. On the contrary, the reality is that the Quraysh of Mecca not only believed in the Essence of the Creator, believed in the Divine Attributes, but also worshipped Allah. In this regard, observe the clarifications of the Holy Quran, the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ, and the authentic and correct narrations of the Seerah and history:
Beliefs and Views of the Polytheists of Mecca:
From the Book of Allah, the following beliefs and concepts of the polytheists of Mecca regarding the Essence and Attributes of Allah are known:
The Creator of humans is only Allah:
Allah Almighty says to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
(وَ لَىٕنْ سَاَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَیَقُوْلُنَّ اللّٰهُ فَاَنّٰى یُؤْفَكُوْنَ)
“And if you ask them who created them, they will say, Allah.”
The Creator of the Earth and the Heavens is only Allah:
Allah Almighty says to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
(وَ لَىٕنْ سَاَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ لَیَقُوْلُنَّ اللّٰهُؕ)
“And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will say, Allah.”
The Provider, Owner, Manager of affairs is Allah, and death and life are also in His hands:
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
(قُلْ مَنْ یَّرْزُقُكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الْاَرْضِ اَمَّنْ یَّمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَ الْاَبْصَارَ وَ مَنْ یُّخْرِ جُ الْحَیَّ مِنَ الْمَیِّتِ وَ یُخْرِ جُ الْمَیِّتَ مِنَ الْحَیِّ وَ مَنْ یُّدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَؕ-فَسَیَقُوْلُوْنَ اللّٰهُۚ)
“Ask them who provides for you from the heaven and the earth, or who owns the ears and eyes, and who brings the living out of the dead and the dead out of the living, and who manages all affairs; they will say, Allah.”
The Owner and Lord of the earth and the heavens, the Great Throne, and everything is only Allah:
(قُلْ لِّمَنِ الْاَرْضُ وَ مَنْ فِیْهَاۤ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ(84)سَیَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِؕ-قُلْ اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُوْنَ(85) قُلْ مَنْ رَّبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ السَّبْعِ وَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِیْمِ(86)سَیَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِؕ-قُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ(87))
“O my Prophet! Ask them, if you know, tell me who is the owner of the earth and those who live in it? They will answer that their owner is Allah. You say, then why do you not take admonition? O my Prophet! Ask them who is the Lord of the seven heavens and who is the Lord of the Great Throne? They will answer that it is Allah. You say, then why do you not fear Allah?”
The King and the Supreme Authority of Everything is Allah:
(قُلْ مَنْۢ بِیَدِهٖ مَلَكُوْتُ كُلِّ شَیْءٍ وَّ هُوَ یُجِیْرُ وَ لَا یُجَارُ عَلَیْهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ(88)سَیَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِؕ-قُلْ فَاَنّٰى تُسْحَرُوْنَ(89))
“O my Prophet! Ask them, if you know, tell me in whose hands is the kingdom of everything, and who gives refuge to all, and against whose will no one can be given refuge? They will answer that the kingdom of everything is only with Allah. You say, then why are you wandering like one who is bewitched?”
Allah is the Absolute Omnipotent:
The polytheists used to say that if we worship others besides Allah and declare some animals forbidden on our own, and our forefathers also used to do so, then neither we nor they are at fault; this is according to Allah’s will. If His will were not so, as Muhammad (ﷺ) assumes, we would not do this:
((سَیَقُوْلُ الَّذِیْنَ اَشْرَكُوْا لَوْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مَاۤ اَشْرَكْنَا وَ لَاۤ اٰبَآؤُنَا وَ لَا حَرَّمْنَا مِنْ شَیْءٍؕ))
“Those who associate others with Allah will soon say, ‘If Allah had willed, we would not have associated others with Him, nor would our forefathers, nor would we have declared anything forbidden on our own.'”
Allah is the Absolute Controller:
(وَ لَىٕنْ سَاَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ لَیَقُوْلُنَّ اللّٰهُۚ)
“And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will surely say, ‘Allah.'”
The One who sends down rain and brings forth vegetation from the earth is Allah:
(وَ لَىٕنْ سَاَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ نَّزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَاَحْیَا بِهِ الْاَرْضَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهَا لَیَقُوْلُنَّ اللّٰهُؕ)
“And if you ask them who sent down water from the sky, by which He revives the dead earth, they will say Allah.”
Al-Aziz (The Mighty) and Al-Alim (The All-Knowing) is Allah alone:
(وَ لَىٕنْ سَاَلْتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ لَیَقُوْلُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ الْعَزِیْزُ الْعَلِیْمُ(9))
And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely say that Allah created them, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.”
Only Allah can help in great calamities:
(فَاِذَا رَكِبُوْا فِی الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللّٰهَ مُخْلِصِیْنَ لَهُ الدِّیْنَ )
“So when those people board the ship, they call upon Allah, making their worship pure for Him.”
The famous commentator Allama Syed Mahmood Alusi Hanafi, who passed away in 1270 AH, in his masterpiece
under the interpretation of verse (جَاءَ تُهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ) has narrated from Sayyid Na Akramah (RA) that “When Akramah (RA) boarded the ship and a stormy wind came upon them,” he wrote:
((تَجْعَلُوا يَدْعُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَيُوَحِدُونَهُ قَالَ: مَا هَذَا؟ فَقَالُوا: هَذَا مَكَانُ لَا يَنْفَعُ فِيهِ إِلَّا اللهُ تَعَالَى، قَالَ: فَهَدَ إِلهُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الَّذِي يَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ فَارْجِعُوا بِنَا، فَرَجَعَ وَأَسْلَمَ.))
“Then the people of the ship began to call only upon the One God. (Akramah RA) said, ‘What is this?’ So they said:”
At this moment, no one can grant benefit except Allah Almighty. (On this) Ikramah رضي الله عنه said that Muhammad ﷺ also used to call us towards the same path, take us back. Accordingly, they returned and became Muslims.”
After this, the author writes with great sincerity:
(( وأيامًا كان فالآية دالة على أن المشركين لا يدعون غيره تعالى في تلك الحال، وأنت خبير بأن الناس اليوم إذا اعتراهم أمر خطير وخطب جسيم فى بر أو بحر دعوا من لا يضر ولا ينفع ولا يرى ولا يسمع ، فمنهم من يدعوا الخضر وإلياس، ومنهم من ينادى أبا الخميس والعباس ، ومنهم من يستغيث بأحد الأئمة ومنهم من يضرع إلى شيخ المشائخ الأمة ولا ترى فيهم أحدا يخص مولاه بتضرعه ودعاه ، ولا يكاد يمرّ له ببال إنه لودعا الله تعالى وحده ينجوا من هاتيك الأهوال، فبا الله تعالى عليك قل لي أي الفريقين من هذه الحيثية أهدى سبيلا ، وأي الداعيين أقوم قيلا؟ وإلى الله تعالى المشتكى من زمان عصفت فيه ريح الجهالة ، وتلاطمت أمواج الضلالة، وخرقت سفينة الشريعة، واتخذت الإستغاثة بغير الله تعالى للنجاة ذريعة وتعذر على العارفين الأمر بالمعروف وصالت دون النهي عن المنكر صنوف الحتوف .))
“Those were also days, and thus this verse indicates that the polytheists (of Mecca) would call upon no one but Allah in times of distress. And you are aware of the fact that today, when people face a great deadly event or a severe dangerous situation on land or sea, they call upon those who are neither capable of benefit nor harm, neither see nor hear. Some call upon Khidr and Elias, some call upon Abu al-Khamis and Abbas. Some seek help from an Imam, and some humbly pray to a venerable elder of the community. Among them, you will not see anyone earnestly praying solely to their Allah, nor does it even occur to them that if they called only upon Allah, they would be saved from these dreadful calamities. So, by Allah! Tell me, which of these two groups (the polytheists of Mecca or the Muslims of the present era) is on the path of guidance, and which of those who call upon others speaks the straight truth? And the complaint of the present era is only before Allah, in which a storm of ignorance is raging, and in the waves of misguidance there is turmoil and upheaval. The ship of Shariah has been breached, and calling upon others besides Allah for help has become a means of salvation. For the people of knowledge and gnosis, enjoining good has become extremely difficult, and on the path of forbidding evil, various kinds of destruction have become obstacles.”
The One Who Delays the Punishment is Allah:
(رَبَّنَا اكْشِفْ عَنَّا الْعَذَابَ اِنَّا مُؤْمِنُوْنَ(12) اَنّٰى لَهُمُ الذِّكْرٰى وَ قَدْ جَآءَهُمْ رَسُوْلٌ مُّبِیْنٌ(13)ثُمَّ تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَ قَالُوْا مُعَلَّمٌ مَّجْنُوْنٌﭥ(14) اِنَّا كَاشِفُوا الْعَذَابِ قَلِیْلًا اِنَّكُمْ عَآىٕدُوْنَﭥ(15))
“(The disbelievers will say) O our Lord! We have believed, so delay this punishment for us. How will they receive admonition? And their condition is that a clear expounding Messenger came to them, but they turned away from him and said, ‘He is a taught madman.’ We will delay the punishment for a few days; then you will return to your state.”
In the interpretation of these noble verses, it is narrated with various chains of transmission from Abdullah bin Masood (RA) that “When the people of Quraysh continued to harm the Holy Prophet ﷺ and persistently acted antagonistically towards him, he prayed against them, saying: O Allah! Assist me against them through a famine like the one that occurred in the time of Yusuf (Joseph) (AS). Consequently, a famine occurred, and the intensity of hunger was such that people began eating bones and carrion. People looked towards the sky, but due to starvation, they saw nothing but smoke. Eventually, they said:
(رَبَّنَا اكْشِفْ عَنَّا الْعَذَابَ اِنَّا مُؤْمِنُوْنَ(12))
‘O our Lord! Remove this torment from us, and we will surely believe.’
But Allah Almighty told them:
‘If We remove this torment from you, you will surely return to your former state.'”
Then the Prophet ﷺ also prayed for them, and this punishment was removed from them, but they still remained steadfast in disbelief and polytheism.
From these noble verses, it is established that although the Arabs had changed the Abrahamic religion and adopted a new polytheistic religion (as will be detailed later), they not only believed in the existence of the Creator of the universe, but were also aware of His name, that is, Allah. For the believers, there can be no stronger and more definitive proof than the clarifications of the Holy Quran, but the latest archaeological discoveries also confirm that the Arabs were aware of the name Allah. Allama Syed Suleiman Nadvi (may Allah have mercy on him) quoted the research of Professor “Nold Yaki” from the “Encyclopedia of Religions and Ethics” as follows:
“(Allah) which is written as هَلَّہ in the Safa inscriptions was a part of the name of Nabati and other ancient inhabitants of northern Arabia, for example:
Zaid Allahi, Abdullah Allahi in the Nabati inscriptions, the name of Allah does not appear as a separate deity, but it does appear in the Safa inscriptions. Among the later polytheists, the name of Allah is very common. “Walahasan” has quoted many passages from ancient Arabian literature in which the word Allah is used as a supreme deity.”
Summary:
Observe the summary of the beliefs and ideas of the pagan Arabs, the polytheists of Mecca. Their belief was that:
1. The Creator of all humans is only Allah.
2. The Creator of the earth and sky is Allah.
3. The Provider, Owner, and Manager of affairs is Allah.
4. Death and life are in the hands of Allah.
5. The Owner and Lord of the earth and sky, the Great Throne, and everything is Allah.
6. The King and the One with supreme authority and power over everything is Allah.
7. The All-Powerful is Allah.
8. The Absolute Controller is Allah.
9. The One who sends down rain and causes plants to grow from the earth is Allah.
10. “العزیز” and “العلیم” are Allah.
11. Only Allah can help in great calamities.
12. The One who averts punishment is Allah.
Good deeds of the disbelievers of Quraish, the polytheists of Makkah:
The beliefs and ideologies of the polytheists of Makkah have just been mentioned; now observe some good deeds of the disbelievers of Makkah:
They built the House of Allah “Baytullah”:
Remember that the polytheists of Makkah held such a degree of reverence and greatness for Allah that at the time of building the Baytullah, they said:
((لَا تُدْخِلُوا فِى بَنَائِهَا مِنْ كَسَبِكُمْ إِلَّا طَيِّبًا لَمْ تَقْطَعُوا فِيهِ رِحُمًا وَلَمْ تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِ أَحَدًا . ))
“O people! Spend only lawful earnings in the construction of the House of Allah. Do not invest money earned through cruelty or oppression here.”
They used to pray:
Shah Waliullah writes in his book Hujjatullah al-Balighah (127/1, Farhan Academy Edition):
((وَكَانَتْ فِيهِمُ الصَّلَاةُ، وَكَانَ ’’ أَبُو ذَرٍ ، رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ يُصَلَّى قَبْلَ أَن يَقْدُمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ، وَكَانَ قِسُ بنُ سَاعِدَةَ الْأَيَادِي “ يُصَلِّى.))
“And among them, prayer was also established. Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (RA) used to pray three years before presenting himself to the presence of the Prophet ﷺ, similarly Qas bin Sa’idah Al-Abadi also used to pray.”
It is also mentioned in Sahih Muslim (Book of the Virtues of the Companions, Chapter on the Virtues of Abu Dharr (RA)) that in the age of ignorance, Sayyiduna Abu Dharr used to perform the Isha prayer.
They performed Hajj, performed Umrah, and circumambulated the Kaaba:
Imam Ibn Ishaq (RA) says:
“The descendants of Ismail (Quraysh) changed the religion of Sayyiduna Ibrahim and Ismail and started idol worship, following the footsteps of the misguided previous nations. Despite this, some acts of the covenant of Ibrahim remained among them, such as the reverence of the House of Allah, its circumambulation, Hajj and Umrah, and staying at Arafah and Muzdalifah.”
states that when Mecca was conquered, the polytheists of Mecca were prevented from performing Hajj and circumambulating the Kaaba.
The implication is the opposite: that the polytheists of Mecca used to perform Hajj to the House of Allah and circumambulate the Kaaba. Otherwise, what meaning would the order to prevent them have?
They also fasted on the day of Ashura:
Thus, Sayyida Aisha (RA) says:
(( إِنَّ قُرَيْشًا كَانَتْ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ .))
“Indeed, the Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura during the period of ignorance.”
They gave Zakat:
The command of the Almighty Allah is:
((وَ جَعَلُوْا لِلّٰهِ مِمَّا ذَرَاَ مِنَ الْحَرْثِ وَ الْاَنْعَامِ نَصِیْبًا فَقَالُوْا هٰذَا لِلّٰهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَ هٰذَا لِشُرَكَآىٕنَاۚ ))
“And Allah has created crops and livestock, a portion of which the polytheists have designated for Allah, and according to their false assumption, they said this is for Allah, and this is for our gods.”
They used to free slaves:
As ibn Wa’il, at the time of his death, advised his son (Sayyiduna) Hisham (رضي الله عنه) to free a certain number of slaves on his behalf after his death, so he freed fifty (50) slaves.
Similarly, it is reported about Sayyiduna Hakim ibn Hizam that he freed one hundred (100) slaves during the pre-Islamic period.
They used to offer sacrifices:
It is reported about Sayyiduna Hakim ibn Hizam:
(( سَاقَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ مِائَةَ بَدَنَةٍ.))
“That he sacrificed one hundred (100) camels during the pre-Islamic era.”
They considered seclusion (I’tikaf) as a vow:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Umar (رضي الله عنه), they said, O Messenger of Allah!
(( إِنِّي نَذَرُتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ اَنْ اَعْتَكِفَ لَيْلَةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَقَالَ اَوْفِ بِنَدْرِكَ فَاعْتَكَفَ لَيْلَةٌ . ))
“I had vowed during the Jahiliyyah period that I would perform i’tikaf for one night in the Masjid al-Haram (House of Allah). (The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him) Fulfill your vow, so he performed i’tikaf for one night.”
They also performed the Ghusl of Janabah, and were followers and practitioners of the Sunnah of Ibrahim (all natural traits):
Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:
((وَمَا زَالَ الْغُسُلُ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ سُنَّةٌ مَعُمُولَةً عِنْدَهُمُ وَكَذَلِكَ الْخِتَانُ وَسَائِرُ خَصَائِلِ الْفِطْرَةِ. ))
“And performing ghusl after janabah has always been among the doors of worship. Similarly, circumcision and all natural traits have also been among the doors of worship.”
They used to perform Nikah:
Before Islam, in the Jahiliyyah period, the practice of proper Nikah was also prevalent. Thus, Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that there were four types of Nikah in Jahiliyyah:
(( فَنِكَاحُ النَّاسِ الْيَوْمَ .))
“One of them was the Nikah of the Muslims of that time.”
They also named their children Abdullah:
Among the polytheists of Mecca, it was common to name someone “Abdullah.” Thus, the name of the father of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was Abdullah.
And the name of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was also “Abdullah” during the era of ignorance.
Summary:
Some good deeds and characteristics of the disbelievers of Mecca have been mentioned; now observe the summary:
➊ They built the House of Allah, the “Bayt Allah.”
➋ They used to pray.
➌ They performed Hajj, Umrah, and also circumambulated the Kaaba.
➍ They observed the fast of Ashura.
➎ They gave Zakat.
➏ They freed slaves.
➐ They offered sacrifices.
➑ They vowed to observe I’tikaf (spiritual retreat).
➒ They performed the ritual bath (Ghusl Janabat) and believed in and practiced the Sunnah of Ibrahim (all natural traits).
➓ They contracted marriages.
⓫ They also named their children Abdullah, etc.
A moment for reflection! Yet, despite all this, the Holy Quran calls them disbelievers and polytheists. It warns that their punishment is Hellfire. Why is this?
Why were the polytheists of Mecca called polytheists?
Thus, Maulana Safi ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri
mentions some important rituals of idol worship prevalent among the people of ignorance while discussing “Arab Religions and Sects”:
The polytheists of the age of ignorance used to sit near the idols as devotees, seek refuge with them, call out loudly to them, and plead and supplicate to them for fulfilling their needs and removing difficulties, believing that they would intercede with Allah and fulfill their wishes.
They performed pilgrimage and circumambulation of the idols, approached them with humility and supplication, and prostrated before them. They offered gifts and sacrifices for the idols, sometimes slaughtering the sacrificial animals at the thresholds of the idols, and sometimes anywhere else, but always in the name of the idols. Allah Almighty has mentioned both these forms of slaughter in the Holy Quran. It is stated:
( وَ مَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى النُّصُبِ )
“That means those animals are also forbidden which are slaughtered at shrines.”
Elsewhere it is stated:
(وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ)
“Do not eat of that animal upon which Allah’s name has not been mentioned.”
One way of seeking nearness through idols was that the polytheists, at their discretion, would dedicate a portion of their food and drink, and the produce of their fields and livestock, to the idols. In this regard, their interesting custom was that they also dedicated a portion of their agricultural and animal produce to Allah. Then, due to various reasons, they could transfer Allah’s share to the idols, but the idols’ share could never be transferred to Allah under any circumstances. Allah Almighty says:
(وَ جَعَلُوْا لِلّٰهِ مِمَّا ذَرَاَ مِنَ الْحَرْثِ وَ الْاَنْعَامِ نَصِیْبًا فَقَالُوْا هٰذَا لِلّٰهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَ هٰذَا لِشُرَكَآىٕنَاۚ-فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآىٕهِمْ فَلَا یَصِلُ اِلَى اللّٰهِۚ-وَ مَا كَانَ لِلّٰهِ فَهُوَ یَصِلُ اِلٰى شُرَكَآىٕهِمْؕ-سَآءَ مَا یَحْكُمُوْنَ(136))
“The crops and livestock that Allah has created, a portion of them they have designated for Allah and said this is for Allah. In their view, this is for their partners, so what is for their partners does not reach Allah, but what is for Allah does reach their partners. How bad is the judgment that these people make.”
One way of approaching idols was that the polytheists would make various types of vows within crops and livestock. Allah Almighty says:
(وَ قَالُوْا هٰذِهٖۤ اَنْعَامٌ وَّ حَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا یَطْعَمُهَاۤ اِلَّا مَنْ نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَ اَنْعَامٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُوْرُهَا وَ اَنْعَامٌ لَّا یَذْكُرُوْنَ اسْمَ اللّٰهِ عَلَیْهَا افْتِرَآءً عَلَیْهِؕ)
“Those polytheists said that these livestock and crops are forbidden. Only those whom we wish can eat them. In their view… and these are the livestock whose backs have been forbidden (neither can they be ridden nor can goods be carried on them) and some livestock are such that these people, while slandering Allah, do not mention Allah’s name over them.”
Among these animals were بَحِيرَه، سَائِبَه, Wasilah, and Hami. Ibn Ishaq says that the female camel of بَحِيرَة، سَائِبہ is called Saibah. Saibah is the she-camel that has given birth to ten or twelve female offspring consecutively, without any male being born in between. Such a she-camel was set free; it was not ridden, its hair was not cut, and no one except a guest drank its milk. After that, the she-camel which gave birth to a female offspring was marked by having its ear pierced. It was also set free along with its mother. It was not ridden, its hair was not cut, and no one except a guest drank its milk. This is بحیرہ, and its mother is سائبہ.
Wasilah:
This goat was called one that gave birth to two female kids five times consecutively (meaning ten female kids in five births), with no male born in between. This goat was called “Waseela” because it connected all the female kids to each other. After that, only men could eat the kids born from this goat; women could not eat them. However, if any kid was born dead, both men and women could eat it.
Hami:
This male camel was one whose female partner gave birth to ten female kids consecutively, with no male born in between. The back of such a camel was preserved. Neither was it ridden, nor was its hair cut. Rather, it was left free in the camel herds for mating. Apart from this, no other benefit was taken from it. Refuting these practices of idol worship in the pre-Islamic era, Allah Almighty has said:
( مَا جَعَلَ اللّٰهُ مِنْۢ بَحِیْرَةٍ وَّ لَا سَآىٕبَةٍ وَّ لَا وَصِیْلَةٍ وَّ لَا حَامٍۙ-وَّ لٰكِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْا یَفْتَرُوْنَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ الْكَذِبَؕ-وَ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا یَعْقِلُوْنَ(103) )
“Allah has not made any Bahirah, nor any Sa’ibah, nor any Wasilah, nor any Hami, but those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah, and most of them do not understand.”
In another place He said:
((وَ قَالُوْا مَا فِیْ بُطُوْنِ هٰذِهِ الْاَنْعَامِ خَالِصَةٌ لِّذُكُوْرِنَا وَ مُحَرَّمٌ عَلٰۤى اَزْوَاجِنَاۚ-وَ اِنْ یَّكُنْ مَّیْتَةً فَهُمْ فِیْهِ شُرَكَآءُؕ))
“They (the polytheists) said: Whatever is in the bellies of these cattle is exclusively for our males and forbidden to our women. But if it dies, then both males and females share in it.”
Some other meanings of the mentioned types of cattle, i.e., Bahirah, Sa’ibah, etc., have also been explained.
which differ somewhat from the mentioned Tafsir of Ibn Ishaq.
Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib (RA) stated that these animals were for their false gods.
And in Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated in Marfu’ form that ” عمرو بن لُحَی is the first person who left animals in the name of idols.”
The Arabs did all this with their idols believing that these idols would bring them closer to Allah and intercede for them before Allah. Thus, the Holy Quran states that the polytheists said:
(مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ اِلَّا لِیُقَرِّبُوْنَاۤ اِلَى اللّٰهِ زُلْفٰىؕ)
“We worship them only so that they may bring us closer to Allah.”
(وَ یَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا یَضُرُّهُمْ وَ لَا یَنْفَعُهُمْ وَ یَقُوْلُوْنَ هٰۤؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَآؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللّٰهِؕ )
“These polytheists worship besides Allah those who can neither benefit them nor harm them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.'”
The Arab polytheists also used arrows for divination called “Laam.” (Laam is the plural of Zalm, and Zalm refers to an arrow without feathers.) These arrows used for fortune-telling were of three types. One type had only “Yes” or “No” written on them. These arrows were used for matters like travel and marriage. If the fortune yielded “Yes,” the desired action was carried out; if “No” came up, it was postponed for a year, and then the fortune was taken again.
The second type of divination arrows were those on which water, blood money, etc., were inscribed. The third type were those on which it was written, “He is from among you,” or “He is from outside your group,” or “He is affiliated.” The purpose of these arrows was that when there was doubt about someone’s lineage, he would be taken to Habl along with one hundred and one camels. The camels were handed over to the arrow priest, who would mix all the arrows together, shake them, and then draw one arrow. If the arrow drawn said, “He is from among you,” then he was considered a respected member of their tribe. If it said, “He is from outside your group,” then he was considered an ally. If it said, “He is affiliated,” then he remained in his position, neither considered a member of the tribe nor an ally.
A similar custom among the polytheists was gambling and using gambling arrows. Based on the marking on these arrows, they would slaughter a gambling camel and distribute its meat.
(The method was that the gamblers would slaughter one camel and divide it into ten or twenty-eight parts. Then they would draw lots using the arrows. One arrow would have a winning mark, and another arrow would be unmarked. The person whose name was on the arrow with the winning mark was considered successful, and the person whose name was on the unmarked arrow had to pay the price.)
The polytheists of Arabia also believed in the news of soothsayers, diviners, and astrologers. A soothsayer is one who predicts future events and claims to have knowledge of hidden secrets. Some soothsayers also claimed that a jinn was under their control who kept informing them of news, and some soothsayers said that they were granted such understanding through which they could discover the unseen. Some claimed that when a person came to ask them something, they could, through his words, actions, or condition, and through certain premises and causes, find out the location of the incident. Such a person was called a diviner. For example, a person who could tell the location of stolen goods, the place of theft, or lost animals, etc.
An astrologer is one who, by observing the stars and calculating their speed and timings, determines what future conditions and events will occur in the world.
Believing in the news of these astrologers is essentially believing in the stars, and one form of believing in the stars was that the Arab polytheists believed in the constellations and said that certain rains occurred due to such and such constellation.
Among the polytheists, there was also a custom of superstition. It is called “Tayrah” in Arabic. Its form was that the polytheists would go near a bird or a deer and scare it away. Then if it ran to the right side, they considered it a sign of goodness and success and proceeded with their work, and if it ran to the left side, they considered it a sign of bad luck and refrained from their work. Similarly, if any bird or animal crossed their path, they also considered it unlucky.
A similar practice was that the polytheists used to hang the ankle bone of a rabbit, and on certain days, months, they considered animals, houses, and women to be unlucky. They believed in the contagion of diseases and held the belief that the soul turns into an owl. That is, their belief was that until the revenge of a murdered person is taken, they do not find peace. Their soul wanders as an owl in the wilderness, continuously calling out “Thirsty, thirsty” or “Give me rice, give me rice.” When revenge is taken, they find comfort and peace. Intiha
These rituals were shirk then and are shirk now.
