IDOLATRY

 IDOLATRY ACCORDING TO THE QURAN

Many Muslims incorrectly assume that idol worship is restricted to worshipping statues or simply attributing other Allah’s with the Rab Almighty.

Although statue worship and attributing other forms of deities with Allah is NO DOUBT a form of idolatry, limiting it to this understanding is untenable from the Quran's perspective. 

Idol worship from the Quran's perspective can take many forms.

Here are some examples:

(1) ONE'S OWN EGO AND DESIRE AS AN IDOL

25. 43

"Have you seen him who takes his desires (passion, impulse, lust) (Arabic: Hawahu) for his God (Arabic: Illahahu)? Will you then be a protector over him?"

(2) INTERCESSORS AS IDOLS

10:18

“They serve, besides Allah, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say: "Do ye indeed inform Allah of something He knows not, in the heavens or on earth? Glory to Him! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!"

(3) WORSHIP OF DEAD SAINTS AND PROPHETS AS IDOLATRY

16.20-21

“Those whom they invoke besides Allah create nothing and are themselves created.  (They are things) dead, lifeless: nor do they know when they will be raised up”

18:102

“Do the Unbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors besides Me? Verily We have prepared Hell for the Unbelievers for (their) entertainment”

17.56-57

“Say: "Call on those - besides Him - whom you fancy: they have neither the power to remove your troubles from you nor to change them." Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Rab which of those who are nearest and they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath: for the Wrath of thy Lord is something to take heed of”

Prophets would never have allowed any form of idolatry and would have asked their followers to study the scripture instead.

3.79

“ It is not (possible) for any human that God should give him the Book and the wisdom and prophethood, then he should say to men: Be my servants rather than Allah's; but rather (he would say): Be worshippers of the Rab by virtue of your teaching the Book and your reading (it yourselves)”

3.80

“Nor would he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Rab and patrons. What! would he bid you to unbelief after ye have bowed your will (To God in Islam)?”

BUT PEOPLE CLAIM THEY ARE DOING NOTHING WRONG:

39:3

“ Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "WE ONLY SERVE THEM IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BRING US NEARER TO ALLAH." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful”

Even though whom they seek help from are only servants and created beings like them:

7.194

Indeed! those on whom you call beside Allah are slaves like you. Call on them now, and let them answer you, if ye are truthful!”

(4)  TAKING JINNS AS IDOLS

6.100

“Yet they make the Jinns equals with Allah, though Allah did create the Jinns; and they falsely, having no knowledge, attribute to Him sons and daughters. Praise and glory be to Him! (for He is) above what they attribute to Him!” 

(5)  PROPERTY, GOODS AND ASSETS AS IDOLS

18:34

“And he had fruit. And he said to his comrade, when he spoke with him: I am more than you in wealth, and stronger in respect of men”

 

And finally (from verses 34 to 44), he realised what he had done which amounted to nothing short of idol worship.

 

18:42

So his fruits (and enjoyment) were encompassed (with ruin), and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had (now) tumbled to pieces to its very foundations, and he could only say, "WOE IS ME! WOULD I had never ascribed partners to my Rab and Cherisher!"

 We clearly note how the man revelled in his wealth and status and thought that his bounty was beyond reproach. Rather than remembering His Rab who was his provider, he entered into a form of idolatry by directing his desire and worship towards his material wealth.

18:43-44 "Nor had he numbers to help him against God, nor was he able to deliver himself. There, the (only) protection comes from God, the True One. He is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success" 

(6)  HOLDING OTHER SOURCES OTHER THAN WHAT IS REVEALED AS IDOLS*

6:19. Say: "What thing is most weighty in evidence?" Say: "Allah is witness between me and you; This Quran has been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. Can you possibly bear witness that besides Allah there is another ilah?" Say: "Nay! I cannot bear witness!" Say: "But in truth He is the one Allah, and I truly am innocent of (your blasphemy of) joining others with Him”

 

68.36 “What is the matter with you? How judge ye?”

68.37 “Or have ye a book through which ye learn”

68.38 

“That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose?”

*(7)  RELIGIOUS LEADERS, SCHOLARS AND REVERED PERSONALITIES AS IDOLS*

9:31

“They have taken as LORDS BESIDE ALLAH THEIR RABBIS AND THEIR MONKS  and the Messiah son of Mary, when they were bidden to worship only One ALLAH. There is no ILAH save Him. Be He Glorified from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)!”