Sana'a - Saba:
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
O Allah! Confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.
O Allah! Guide us and grant us acceptance, for You are the Hearing, the Knowing; accept our repentance, for You are the Relenting and the Merciful.
Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
At the beginning of the story of the prophet, friend, and messenger of Allah, Ibrahim (PBUH), we spoke about the journey of humanity and the significant violations and deviations that have occurred. These violations and deviations reached the level of associating partners with Allah (Glory be to Him) and reached a complete diversion from His path, message, and guidance.
We also clarified that human society began its march based on monotheism, believing in Allah (Glory be to Him) and adhering to His path. Human society has never been left without guidance from Allah (Glory be to Him) since its first day. In fact, the father of humanity, Adam (PBUH), was a prophet himself and received divine guidance, revelation, and instructions. Thus, the norm for human society was not deviation—that is, they did not begin their march based on polytheism, disbelief, misguidance, or falsehood until prophets and messengers were sent to them only to find themselves in a new situation that they had never been familiar with. On the contrary, the opposite is true.
What is abnormal and deviates from the innate, proper course of human life is deviation from Allah’s path and His message—be it a deviation from divine ethics and law (what is lawful or forbidden) or even the kind of deviation that reaches the point of associating partners with Allah, which represents the worst form of deviation, a complete denial of fundamental truths, and a reversal of the natural disposition with which Allah created humankind.
This is an important issue as many writers in the Western world and the approach followed in research and studies there depict the situation as if human society has always been primitive in its religion, to the extent of complete ignorance of Allah and total denial of the principle of monotheism. They suggest that the norm in human society is polytheism, disbelief, deviation, and reliance on the principle of polytheism, which involves the worship of multiple gods. This is a fundamental matter in this topic.
The consequence of deviating from the divine path and how we should understand the principle of monotheism
At the same time, we must recognise that human society's entire loss (which is a tremendous loss that encompasses losses at the intellectual and cultural levels, at the level of ethics and values, and at the level of the correct direction in the march of life) is a result of not following the messengers and prophets and of deviating from the path of Allah, the Almighty.
This always holds true. Whenever we observe cases of deviation in human societies (distorted ideas, misguidance in all its forms, following falsehood, and clinging to superstitions), all of this stems from deviating from the path of Allah (Glory be to Him) and choosing not to follow the messengers and prophets of Allah or cling to the messengers and prophets and their march.
Misguidance and falsehood are not limited to rigid beliefs that remain in the mind without any impact on real life, nor are they confined to rituals in temples. Misguidance extends into the reality of life. Along with polytheism and idolatry, there comes deviation in terms of morals and values and the way people deal with one another. Hence, polytheism leads to deviation from morals and values and the spread of injustices, crimes, corruption, and tyranny that fills life. In such cases, the march of human society transforms into a state of darkness, in every sense of the word: Ignorance, superstition, misguidance, and falsehood prevail, and the oppressive, corrupt, and arrogant forces of wickedness gain dominance. As a result, people suffer in their lives, as this has tangible effects on reality and people's lives, leading ultimately to a profound degeneration of human society, even beneath its basic human level. Therefore, this issue is not merely about isolated beliefs or confined rituals within the temples they built. Instead, it extends into people's lives and their reality, where they are subjected to oppression and corruption. Moreover, humanity loses sight of the correct goals for its march and goes on the wrong path, veering off the straight path of Allah, which results in incurring His wrath, anger, and punishment—Allah forbid!
The great principle of monotheism is not the kind of principle that can be reduced to a mere belief that only has to be expressed in a single phrase, such as 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.' Also, it is not just about limited religious rituals, for example, those observed in mosques or a set of religious rituals like the pillars of Islam—which form the foundation upon which the entire religion is built, including divine law, morals, values, interpersonal dealings, and the journey of life. Rather, the principle of monotheism is the basis upon which a magnificent way of life is constructed. Therefore, it is a grave error to neglect this principle and to assume that it is enough to merely acknowledge it—expressing this acknowledgement through the testimony of belief and performing a few limited religious rituals—while you turn in your life away from it and end up worshipping others besides Allah. This is a case of deviation and a failure to fully grasp the essence of this great principle: monotheism.
Our belief that there is no god but Allah, as the only true deity, and that our worship must be directed exclusively to Him, implies worship in its comprehensive and complete sense. It calls for adhering to His way and His teachings and turning to Him in absolute obedience and complete submission to His commands and prohibitions. This is the fruit of the principle of monotheism. Accordingly, regarding this matter, Allah (the Almighty) declares: {'He sends down the angels with revelation by His command to whoever He wills of His servants, [stating:] “Warn [humanity] that there is no god [worthy of worship] except Me, so be mindful of Me [alone]"'}[An-Nahl 16:2]. Thus, this is the fruit, {'There is no god [worthy of worship] except Me, so be mindful of Me [alone] '}—Allah addresses us in this manner. So piety is founded on that, and in other verses, Allah also emphasises worship, awe, and all that is connected to this great and significant principle.
The recognition of servitude to Allah as a natural quality deeply rooted in the human soul and the essence of creation
By nature, human beings recognise that they are servants of Allah, and they feel a sense of servitude within themselves and in their reality. This intrinsic state of need—the feeling of helplessness, weakness, and utter dependence—is deeply rooted in them, for that is how they have been created. We, as humans, and all other creatures are brought into existence by Allah in such a state that we all stand in need of Him as weak and helpless creatures in dire need of Him.
Thus, servitude to Allah is ingrained in the very essence of all beings; by their nature, composition, and creation, they exist in a state of servitude and complete need of Allah, the Almighty. Because it is an innate state, a person is naturally inclined to adopt an orientation. This means he cannot remain unaffected if he turns away from Allah and no longer acts according to this innate nature by following the proper and right direction and turning to Allah in submission and worship: He no longer turns to Allah out of his hope, fear, or need for Allah to ward off harm, secure benefit, or meet any other needs, nor he expresses this state of servitude solely through various religious rituals, such as prayer prescribed in Allah's religion, fasting, Hajj, supplication, and invocation, among others.
If a person does not follow the right path, he will deviate from his innate nature and follow the wrong path. This means that he will express his servitude to other than Allah. This is what happened with the polytheists. One of the key truths that Allah has emphasised repeatedly in the Holy Quran and supported with examples from the history of nations, is that the polytheists believed that there were partners with Allah, associating them with Him in divinity, considering them gods alongside Him, although they acknowledged Allah! They would then direct their worship towards these deities, asking them for victory and seeking from them what should only be sought from Allah. In other words, they believed these gods had the power to grant what they asked for, so they offered sacrifices and performed specific rituals and practices for them. As Allah said about them, {'They have taken other gods besides Allah to be a source of might for them'}[Maryam 19:81]. He also said, {'Still they have taken other gods besides Allah, hoping for help. They cannot help them, even though they serve them as dedicated guards'}[Ya-Sin 36:74-75]. This was their state: They deviated from their innate nature, driven by an instinctive need to seek help, but unfortunately, they chose to go in the opposite, contrary direction. This was because they felt the need for it.
However, when faced with extreme hardship and great danger, they would act according to their innate nature, as Allah emphasised in many verses of the Holy Quran. For example, when they were at sea, and the waves overwhelmed them, threatening to drown them and putting their lives in danger, they would, at that moment, return to their innate nature and call upon Allah alone. This is because they realised, deep in their hearts, that all those they believed to be gods, and to whom they drew near as deities, had no power to harm or benefit them; they could not do anything for them. So they would call upon Allah alone. In these times of great crisis and danger, they returned to their innate nature. Allah said about them: {'And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincerely devoted to Him in religion'}[Luqman 31:32]. At such moments, they would return to their innate nature.
In the case of such a deviation that involves polytheism, which can reach a complete departure from the path of Allah, falsehood increases and misguidance grows; as a result, a person falls into a deeply terrible and extremely negative state in his beliefs and thoughts. That is because he has moved away from the channels of guidance and the source of true guidance. The farther he drifts, the more lost he becomes in his perceptions, beliefs, and thoughts, ultimately transforming into someone consumed by darkness in every sense of the word.
What lies behind this great deviation in the matter of polytheism is a lack of faith or a forgetfulness of an essential principle: absolute perfection. The principle of absolute perfection is the foundational principle in the matter of divinity, meaning that everything besides Allah (Glory be to Him) is deficient, powerless, created, and governed within the framework of Allah's decree. This principle signifies that Allah alone is the Creator, the Lord of the worlds, the Provider, the One Who gives and takes life, and the One Who governs the affairs of the heavens and the earth. He alone has the right to guide His servants through the guidance and laws that shape the course of their lives. This is a very important matter, as the polytheists’ acceptance of the idea of believing in gods other than Allah was the result of their heedlessness towards this fundamental principle, even though it is an innate principle. As a result, they reached the point where they deified things that were even beneath them as humans, such as idols, because they had forgotten this principle. Consequently, they turned to creatures, inanimate objects, or beings that, like themselves, are in need of Allah and marked by powerlessness, weakness, and servitude to Allah, the Almighty. This was the very dangerous issue and the major problem that deeply influenced their acceptance of such misguided beliefs and led them to deviate so drastically.
The beginning of Prophet Ibrahim’s movement to save society from the fallacy of polytheism
Turning back to the story of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), we mentioned yesterday that misguidance, deviation, and polytheism greatly prevailed in his environment and society. This influence extended even to his immediate family, particularly his father, Azar. There is a scholarly debate among exegetes and historians regarding whether Azar was actually his uncle or his biological father. Regardless of this discussion, misguidance had permeated even his closest family circle, leaving him in a state of alienation within that society.
Therefore, in his movement to rescue that society and guide it towards the truth, Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) began with his own family. He sought to convince his father, Azar, to guide him and save him from this dreadful misguidance. Allah (the Almighty) states in the Holy Quran, {'And [mention] when Ibrahim said to his father Azar, “Do you take idols as gods? I truly see that you and your people are entirely misguided"'}[Al-An'am 6:74]. In this question—which was posed in a tone of rebuke and denunciation, {'Do you take idols as gods?'}—we observe the profound level of intellectual and cultural decline that societies and nations had reached, to the extent that they took mere idols as deities. What are these idols? They are sculpted statues shaped in specific forms, whether carved from stone—some from rocks, others from wood—or made of various materials. The raw materials varied; some even fashioned them from dough or dates. In times of severe crisis and famine, they would eat these idols instead of worshipping them!
Such a state of profound backwardness and decay has spread throughout many societies over countless ages, and it still persists in our modern era, despite all the advancements of this age—the era of space, technology, satellites, and other innovations. Yet, within these very societies, there remain those so mired in intellectual regression and decay that they believe in these manufactured idols as deities—whether they are carved from stone, as we have mentioned, or fashioned from any other materials. In this modern era, even plastic is used. Depending on the conditions and circumstances prevailing in various societies and nations, some even produce idols from gold—either by crafting them themselves or by purchasing them from others who manufacture them for money. So they buy them, making them their property, and then regard them as deities, considering them partners of Allah in divinity, while viewing themselves as slaves to these idols! This represents the worst level of intellectual regression and decay among humans, especially in relation to the most significant of issues.
One can observe how far misguidance can lead a person! Even in the most fundamental matter—which [by nature] should be perfectly clear to him, needing no discussion, debate, or effort to convince anyone—it becomes so obscured that a person accepts everything entirely contrary to his innate nature, to reason, and to self-evident truths, since these idols possess neither power, benefit, harm, nor any influence whatsoever.
For many generations across various human societies, nations, and peoples, they have devoted themselves to idols. They seek healing for their ailments from them, perform specific rituals in worship, declare themselves their slaves, and testify to their divinity! At times, they would feel the need to replace one idol with another or restore it if it suffered damage. In some societies, for instance, earthquakes would occur, shattering the idol, and so they would create a new one. Alternatively, a sculptor might craft a more aesthetically pleasing figure, earning greater wealth in gold and silver, which would lead to the old idol being replaced with the new one. The situation even reached levels of sheer absurdity—utter absurdity!
In pre-Islamic Arab society, during their travels, when people were far from their idols in their homelands, they felt the need for a ‘temporary god’—an idol suited to the necessities and circumstances of their journey. So upon reaching a certain valley or a desolate area, they would search for any rock that stood out from the rest—perhaps a smooth stone or one with a distinctive shape. Then they would walk around it, worship it, seek closeness to it, slaughter offerings for it, and present sacrifices to it. They would then supplicate to it, asking it to protect them and to guard their goods and belongings during their travels, among other things. This is foolishness at its absolute extreme!
Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) directed this kind of rebuke and condemnation at his father Azar—{'Do you take idols as gods? '}—because the falsehood of this practice was glaringly obvious! How can someone carve a stone, a piece of wood, a stick, or any other material, fashion it with their own hands from certain substances, and then believe it to be his god while considering himself its slave? He would then proceed to ask it for everything: victory, protection, sustenance, and support—only to later discard it and replace it with another idol or adopt a different practice altogether!
What led people to such intellectual decline and backwardness?
So what is behind this extremely strange situation? What brings people to this level, even billions of people? Even today, in our era—perhaps one of the most advanced periods in history—a significant portion of humanity remains engaged in polytheism. Temples exist everywhere, and there are also other forms of polytheistic practices that we will discuss as well.
The root cause that leads some people—entire nations and societies—to such a level of intellectual decline and backwardness lies in the influence of misguidance, misguided individuals, and the tendency to stray from guidance and those who deliver it. This is why Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) stated, {'I truly see that you and your people are entirely misguided '}[Al-An'am 6:74]. It is misguidance that leads people to accept any falsehood, no matter how absurd or utterly atrocious it may be—even when it involves a complete rejection of great, essential truths and sacred principles. This same misguidance that leads people to polytheism—despite its absurdity and obvious falsehood—is, at its core, a denial of the greatest truth: that Allah alone is the Lord of all worlds, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Sovereign over all things. He is the only true God, and there is no deity but Him. Therefore, we must devote our worship to Him alone—in our hopes, in our fears, in our desires. We must also worship Him according to His laws, path, and teachings, adhering to His guidance.
The state of misguidance is what conditions a person to accept falsehood, embrace absurdities, and believe in anything, no matter how utterly wrong it may be. That is why the Holy Quran repeatedly warns against misguidance and those who mislead others—those who divert people from the right path and make them accept false, distorted, and even ridiculous ideas and beliefs, which eventually become religious doctrines to which they adhere. When we reflect on this matter, which is of great significance due to its profound impact on human society, we find that there is always a group of misleading individuals who play a major role in leading people astray.
For example, a stone idol is not something that, by its very form, can speak and convince people that it is a god. Rather, it is the misleaders who lead people to believe that a piece of carved stone, wood, gold, or any other metal, even dough or cake, is a god. They convince others that they are its slaves, that they must devote everything to it and demand everything from it. These misleaders are extremely dangerous to people. The group of misleaders may be a small one, but they manage to mislead many. One misleader may mislead an entire nation. This issue is very serious.
For instance, in the story of the idols, what was happening?
As these groups benefited, they insisted on entrenching this practice. In reality, they perpetuated myths around these idols. For example, they would say that so-and-so offered sacrifices and his sick relative was healed, or that so-and-so offered sacrifices and his travelling relative returned safely. Or they would claim that so-and-so did not offer good sacrifices, so a disaster befell him. These myths spread widely and sometimes continued for generations, becoming deeply ingrained beliefs. They became matters of extreme sensitivity, to the point where criticising, questioning, or raising doubts about them was considered very dangerous and strictly off-limits. Anyone who did so could face direct targeting. In this way, the general situation became one dominated by falsehood and misguidance. This is why Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) said, {'“You have taken idols [for worship] instead of Allah, only to keep [the bond of] affection among yourselves in this worldly life"'}[Al-'Ankabut 29:25]. These relationships, connections, influence, and friendships serve to root such falsehood, protect it, and present it as if it were untouchable.
In fact, one of the most dangerous types of misguidance is that which is presented in the name of religion. Misguidance takes many forms, as it can manifest in people's thoughts, perceptions, and concepts that contradict with true guidance and the channels and source of divine guidance. However, when something is presented as religious beliefs or in the name of religion, yet it is actually misguidance and not part of Allah's true religion, the issue becomes very serious—much more dangerous. This is because when it comes to the matter of religiosity and religious commitment, people, especially those with a strong sense of religiosity—in fact, such people show strong commitment to their religious beliefs, whether false or true. So when falsehood turns into religious beliefs, many of those who believe in this falsehood and embrace it, become more committed to it and show greater adherence to it. Therefore, it becomes difficult to persuade them to abandon it, as they cling to it with intense fanaticism.
This was the case with the beliefs of the polytheists. They were highly fanatical about their idols, to the extent that they would wage war for the sake of their idols and show enmity towards anyone who criticised their worship, objected to it, or questioned it. They were extremely dedicated in the offerings they made to these idols, to the extent that some, due to their extreme devotion, would even offer their own sons—their flesh and blood—as offerings to the idols: slaughtering them in front of the idol as an offering, even though those children were dear to them.
This was true of the Arabs themselves during the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, despite their deep attachment to having male offspring due to their conflicts and their well-known stance and regarding having females in that time—{'Whenever one of them is given the good news of a baby girl, his face grows gloomy, as he suppresses his rage'}[An-Nahl 16:58]. Due to his great feelings of love for his son, a person might believe that his sons would be the best offering he could present to that piece of wood or stone he considered a god, which was made of either rock, wood, or something else: He might take his son and slaughter him with a knife, as a sacrifice for that idol! This is why Allah says, {'Lost indeed are those who have murdered their own children foolishly out of ignorance'}[Al-An'am 6:140]. They reached such a level of misguidance: {'Likewise, the pagans’ evil associates have made it appealing to them to kill their own children, only leading to their destruction as well as confusion in their faith'}[Al-An'am 6:137].
The Holy Quran describes to us their level of attachment and fanaticism in Allah's saying, {'The elite among them went forth saying, “Carry on, and stand firm in devotion to your gods. This is truly a thing designed [against you]'}[Sad 38:6], and they said about the Messenger of Allah, {'He would have almost led us astray from our gods, had we not been so devoted to them'}[Al-Furqan 25:42]. This means that they used to become more enraged for their idols than you would be as a Muslim for Allah, for your faith, and for your sacred sanctities if your affiliation to faith is not strong. This is the result of misguidance, and that is why Ibrahim (PBUH) said, {'I truly see that you and your people are entirely misguided.'}
That is enough for today. Allah willing, we will continue our discussion in the next lecture.
We ask Allah (Glory be to Him) to grant us success in seeking what pleases Him. O Allah! Have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory. You are the Hearer of Prayer!
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
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