Authored by: Sheikh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him)
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi (may Allah protect him)
It was the practice of the people of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) to use the actions of their forefathers as evidence without relying on any clear proof or wisdom. Allah Almighty has declared this falsehood in several verses of the Qur'an, such as:
"Pharaoh said: 'Who is your Lord, O Musa?' (Musa) said: 'Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided it.' (Pharaoh) said: 'Then what is the case of the previous generations?' (Musa) said: 'The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a Record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets. It is He who has made the earth for you as a bed and has made roads for you therein, and sent down water from the sky. Then We brought forth thereby various kinds of vegetation. Eat and pasture your cattle.' "
[Surah Ta-Ha, 20:49-54]
In another instance, Allah says:
"But when Musa came to them with Our clear signs, they said: 'This is nothing but fabricated magic, and we have never heard of this among our forefathers.' Musa said: 'My Lord knows best who has come with guidance from Him and whose will be the final home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will never succeed.' "
[Surah Al-Qasas, 28:36-37]
Similarly, regarding the people of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him):
"And We certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he said, 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?' But the eminent ones among those who disbelieved from his people said, 'This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to assert superiority over you. And if Allah had willed, He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.' They said: 'He is a man possessed, so wait concerning him for a time.' "
[Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:23-25]
Additionally, regarding the people of Makkah:
"And the eminent among them went forth, saying: 'Continue steadfast in your worship of your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended. We have not heard of this in the former religion; this is nothing but a fabrication.' "
[Surah Sad, 38:6-7]
The reasoning of these disbelievers for rejecting the guidance of the prophets was solely that their ancestors had not practiced these teachings. Reflect on how flawed their approach was, remaining rigid and closed-minded. If their hearts were open and their ears willing to listen, they would have recognized the truth from its proof and submitted to it without argument. Unfortunately, the inheritors of such misguided thinking continue to share the same fate, as their hearts have become alike.
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi (may Allah protect him)
It was the practice of the people of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) to use the actions of their forefathers as evidence without relying on any clear proof or wisdom. Allah Almighty has declared this falsehood in several verses of the Qur'an, such as:
"Pharaoh said: 'Who is your Lord, O Musa?' (Musa) said: 'Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided it.' (Pharaoh) said: 'Then what is the case of the previous generations?' (Musa) said: 'The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a Record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets. It is He who has made the earth for you as a bed and has made roads for you therein, and sent down water from the sky. Then We brought forth thereby various kinds of vegetation. Eat and pasture your cattle.' "
[Surah Ta-Ha, 20:49-54]
In another instance, Allah says:
"But when Musa came to them with Our clear signs, they said: 'This is nothing but fabricated magic, and we have never heard of this among our forefathers.' Musa said: 'My Lord knows best who has come with guidance from Him and whose will be the final home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will never succeed.' "
[Surah Al-Qasas, 28:36-37]
Similarly, regarding the people of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him):
"And We certainly sent Nuh to his people, and he said, 'O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?' But the eminent ones among those who disbelieved from his people said, 'This is not but a man like yourselves who wishes to assert superiority over you. And if Allah had willed, He would have sent down angels. We have not heard of this among our forefathers.' They said: 'He is a man possessed, so wait concerning him for a time.' "
[Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:23-25]
Additionally, regarding the people of Makkah:
"And the eminent among them went forth, saying: 'Continue steadfast in your worship of your gods. Indeed, this is a thing intended. We have not heard of this in the former religion; this is nothing but a fabrication.' "
[Surah Sad, 38:6-7]
The reasoning of these disbelievers for rejecting the guidance of the prophets was solely that their ancestors had not practiced these teachings. Reflect on how flawed their approach was, remaining rigid and closed-minded. If their hearts were open and their ears willing to listen, they would have recognized the truth from its proof and submitted to it without argument. Unfortunately, the inheritors of such misguided thinking continue to share the same fate, as their hearts have become alike.