“And when they board a ship, they supplicate Allah , sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him” (Holy Quran 29: 65)
Idol Worship
Assalam alaikum.
People of Quraish, before Prophet Muhammad PBUH came, believed in Allah.
Abdullah (literal meaning: Slave of Allah) was the name of Prophet’s PBUH father.
BUT they used to do shirk
We should say
اللہ ہی (Only Allah)
But they said
اللہ بھی (Allah also)
We say
ایاک نعبد و ایاک نستعین
ONLY you we worship and ONLY you we ask help.
Thus they had lots of idols who they used to worship and ask help from besides Allah.
It was only in times of extreme distress, in times of extreme emergency (like sinking ship etc) that they used to call Allah for help.
Just like atheists now a days, may uncontrollably say “Oh God” when on a plane about to crash.
Shirk: The Biggest Sin
Shirk (associating partners with Allah Almighty) is the biggest sin in the eyes of Allah. Allah Almighty will forgive all sins EXCEPT shirk; stressed in the Holy Quran and Ahadith:
“Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin.‘ (Quran 4: 48)
Hazrat Ibn Abbas RA reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty said: Whoever knows that I have power to forgive sins, I will forgive him and I will not mind, as long as he does not associate any partners with me.”
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
Often Shirk goes unnoticed as discussed here:
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/34817/what-is-the-true-meaning-of-shirk-and-what-are-its-types
“So the sincere believer’s fear of shirk should increase as should his desire for his for his Lord to keep him away from it, and he should say the great du’aa’ which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught to his companions when he said to them:
“Shirk among you will be more subtle than the footsteps of an ant, but I will teach you something which, if you do it, both minor and major shirk will be kept away from you. Say: Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wa astaghfiruka lima la a’lam (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware).”
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3731
The Holy Prophet PBUH and his companions PBUH ultimately had to fight several holy wars against these Mushrikeen of Makkah, with some ending up fighting against their own relatives).
Political Idols
So, Quresh of Makkah did believe in Allah.
But they had Laat and Uzzah etc as their idols, who they used to worship and believed these idols would solve all their problems.
These idols were their only hope.
It was only when their boats were sinking, they used to call Allah Almighty for help.
The same is with some political fanatics. They can’t see the uselessness of their idols; they remain blind to all their mistakes, blunders, treachery etc.
They believe that their political idols are the last hope for the country,
Not believing in Allah Almighty in that HE can bring in a better person who will strictly follow the teachings of Islam.
Islam Came to Destroy All Idols
Islam came to establish justice for all. All citizens are equal.
No one is superior to another except by Taqwa and only Allah can judge that.
So we should NOT be wrongly defending any person or leader or party or get offended by it.
Islam came to destroy ALL idols.
اسلام سارے بتوں کو مٹانے آیا ہے.
Do Not Mock Other People’s Idols
Surat No 6 : Ayat No 108
وَ لَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ فَیَسُبُّوا اللّٰہَ عَدۡوًۢا بِغَیۡرِ عِلۡمٍ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ زَیَّنَّا لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ عَمَلَہُمۡ ۪ ثُمَّ اِلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ مَّرۡجِعُہُمۡ فَیُنَبِّئُہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾
اور گالی مت دو ان کو جن کی یہ لوگ اللہ تعالٰی کو چھوڑ کر عبادت کرتے ہیں کیونکہ پھر وہ براہ جہل حد سے گزر کر اللہ تعالٰی کی شان میں گستاخی کریں گے ہم نے اسی طرح ہر طریقہ والوں کو ان کا عمل مرغوب بنا رکھا ہے پھر اپنے رب ہی کے پاس ان کو جانا ہے سو وہ ان کو بتلا دے گا جو کچھ بھی وہ کیا کرتے تھے ۔
“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah , lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.“
Commentary:
Do not abuse or make fun of people’s idols, otherwise they may make mockery of Allah or His Deen, Ashaar e Islam/teachings of Islam out of ignorance; for example making fun/criticism/refutal of riba or jihad or other aspects of Islam their idols do not follow.
For they are so blinded that their deeds are made pleasing to them. But ultimately they will return to their Creator and informed of their horrendous errors.
(As indicated from tafseer Ibn Kaseer, tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani, Ma’arif ul Quran, Book ‘Tauheed and Shirk’ by Maulana Maududi, my teacher and other Ulema Kiraam)
Blind Following
Some of these political fanatics are so much blinded that even if you give them a million proofs against their political idols, it still will not be enough.
Even the very mistakes, blunders, errors which they and their leaders considered as such when in opposition are no longer considered as mistakes by their leaders or their supporters.
If this is not blind following then what is it?
“Deaf, dumb and blind – so they will not return [to the right path].”
(Holy Quran 2: 18)
Comparing their Idols with Holy Personalities!
This is the dangerous mindset that has developed in many political supporters.
Comparing their leaders with our Prophet PBUH or his companions RA Astaghfirullah, Naoozobillah.
So many other exaggerated praises that one cannot even imagine e.g. promised messiah.
They maybe committing a type of Shirk, without even knowing it.
The Abuse
Even the most educated swear abuses at a neutral person for criticizing their icons. Happening every day on social media.
No tolerance at all to criticism of their idols. This is the level and beyond that they will go to defend them.
They are ready to bash the state institutions including the Army, Judges etc just to defend their parties or leaders. Such anti-Pakistan, Anti-Patriotic posts should be discouraged.
It shows to what extent supporters will go to support their idol. They are ready to throw Pakistan and its military overboard just to support their idols, as if not even caring for their country.
اپنے سیاسی قائدین کو بچانا ہے. باقی پاکستان سمیت سب بھار میں جائیں
We have to discourage this trend or mindset, otherwise who knows what it will lead to; already has caused so much hatred and division among the masses.
Charm, Handsomeness, Charisma of Political Idols
Unfortunately such political supporters are still being affected by “Charm, handsomeness, charisma, huge gatherings etc” of their political idols. These things do not impress the common man.
What really matters is what has been done for the poor man? What positive steps in relation to principles of Islamic economics have been taken to benefit the poor man in the long run?
The Ultimate Lengths they will go: Mocking Islam
Why are they trying to defend un-Islamic actions vis-a-vis economics or other aspects, being applied similarly by each and every party and NOT according to Islamic principles. Is this not bordering on hypocrisy?
At what lengths people will go to defend their political idols; mocking verses of the Holy Quran, Ahadith, prophecies of the Holy Prophet PBUH and/or not accepting, questioning (and even criticizing) the principles of Islamic economics laid down in the Holy Quran and Ahadith.
These prophecies including about Imam Mehdi were told by our Prophet PBUH to warn the people and teach them Islamic Eschatology ‘Knowledge of End Times’.
Sheikh Imran Hussein is one of the most renowned scholars of this subject and many others including Islamic economics. Similarly other Ulema Kiraam, scholars like Mr Orya Maqbool Jaan, Mr. Zaid Hamid, Dr. Zakir Naik and so many others.
At the same time we have a duty to teach the true principles of Islam, political Islam and Islamic economics and warn them not to be misguided by ‘false Mehdis’ and other liars, and give them true hope that Imam Mehdi’s time is near.
Being Ruthless and Harsh
As a true Muslim/Mumin, sometimes we have to be very harsh and ruthless in our address to such political fanatics and pray for their guidance for several reasons:
- To prevent spread of any fitna among the Muslim Society
- To wake them up from their slumber/sleep
- They may be committing a type of shirk and not even knowing it and
- Most importantly to protect them from the hell-fire as if they are own brothers, sisters or children
- To promote Muslim unity. Just as we call ourselves as only Muslims and not Sunni, Deobandi, Barelvi, Wahabbi etc, we should politically lable ourselves as only Muslims and not supporters of any specific political party.
- https://drnaumanshad.com/index.php/2013/06/11/hold-fast-to-the-rope-of-allah/
May Allah Almighty guide us all. Ameen.
واللہ اعلم بالصواب