This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
An Arrogant Insolence of the Polytheists in the Presence of Allah
ألكم الذكر وله الأنثىٰ تلك إذا قسمة ضيزىٰ
In the above verse of the Holy Quran, the word ”قسمة“ refers to a crooked and unjust division. Because the polytheists preferred sons for themselves and daughters for Allah. Their belief was that and they used to say that angels are the daughters of Allah. Thus, the Arab polytheists also believed in being the offspring of Allah, just as the Christians believed that they are the children of Allah. But the Christians always wished that their chief priest would have only male offspring. Regarding Lat, Uzza, and Manat, a group like Kalbi and others said that the polytheists used to say that idols are the daughters of Allah.
Later scholars have also supported this statement. But this is not the truth. Because they did not say that these idols are the daughters of Allah. Rather, they said that angels are the daughters of Allah, as Allah Almighty says about them:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنثَىٰ ﴿٢٧﴾
"Those who do not believe in the Hereafter call the angels female."
Reference: (53-An-Najm:27)
وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنَاثًا ۚ أَشَهِدُوا خَلْقَهُمْ ۚ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْأَلُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
"They have taken the angels, who are servants of the Most Merciful, as females. Have they seen their form?"
Reference: (43-Az-Zukhruf:19)
وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِمَا ضَرَبَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ مَثَلًا ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ ﴿١٧﴾
"The offspring they attribute to the Most Merciful, when the news of its birth is given to one of them, his face darkens and he becomes filled with grief."
Reference: (43-Az-Zukhruf:17)
A son is like his father, and a partner is like his other partner. The polytheists gave a feminine example to Allah along with a partner and then declared it a partner of Allah. And they used to do so because a partner is like a brother. Thus, the polytheists called Allah's partner a sister and daughter, even though they did not prefer daughters or sisters for themselves. When a father wishes not to have a daughter, how would he prefer a sister? Due to this wickedness, the Arab polytheists neither gave inheritance to their daughters nor to their sisters. From this, the extent of their ignorance and cruelty can be understood.
Revealing the Injustice of Saints and Grave Worshippers
The above discussion proves that these people considered themselves more honorable than Allah Almighty. Referring to them, Allah Almighty says:
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ ۗ تَاللَّهِ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٦﴾ وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ الْبَنَاتِ سُبْحَانَهُ ۙ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾
"These are the people whose reality you do not even know, yet they assign to them a share of the provision We have given. By Allah! You will surely be questioned about the lies you used to fabricate. They attribute daughters to Allah, glory be to Him! And for themselves, whatever they desire."
Reference: (16-An-Nahl:56-57)
ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم مِّن شُرَكَاءَ فِي مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢٨﴾
"I give you an example from your own selves: Are there among your slaves some partners in the wealth We have given you, so that you fear them as you fear one another? Thus We explain the signs in detail for people who use reason."
Reference: (30-Ar-Rum:28)
The polytheists absolutely do not want their slaves to be their partners and equals. But on the contrary, they made Allah’s creation His partner and attributed to Allah what they themselves do not like for themselves, such as partners. The polytheists also do not like that their children be their partners. But on the contrary, they make Allah’s creation His partner.
The polytheists also do not like to have daughters among their children; rather, they desire to have sons, and strong ones at that. But on the contrary, they attributed to Allah offspring, and weak daughters at that.
A special point in our discussion is that Allah the Generous is above and greater than everything, yet despite this, these polytheists dared to attribute to Allah what they themselves do not like for themselves.
