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Prophet Ibraaheem and the breaking of the Idols

All perfect praise is due to Allaah; I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger; may Allaah exalt his mention, as well as his family and all his companions.

Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The people of Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, worshipped stars and made idols of them as they saw them. They designated a certain scent, seal and a special type of wealth for each of their idols. This was widespread during the era of Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, the father of monotheism. This is why he, may Allaah exalt his mention, said to his people (which means): “What do you worship? Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allaah you desire? Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?” [Aal ‘Imraan: 159]. The story of Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, is mentioned in different places in the Qur’aan in which he rebuked them from worshipping idols. Some of the forms of Shirk (i.e. associating with Allaah) originated from them worshipping the sun, stars, the moon, and others of which they made idols. Another form originated from them worshipping Jinn and angels. In other words, they did not worship the stones themselves, but rather what they resembled for them” [End of quote].

Imaam Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said about the people of Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention: “They used to worship seven stars, and would celebrate their worship and offer sacrifices for them. The only ones who did not partake in these celebrations were Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, his wife, and his nephew Prophet Lout, may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah used Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, to eradicate this evil as he was guided to monotheism since a young age, then Allaah sent him as a Messenger and took him as His intimate friend” [End of quote].

Allaah informs us about the story of Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, saying:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَ * إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنْتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ * قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ * قَالَ لَقَدْ كُنتُمْ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ * قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا بِالْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنْتَ مِنْ اللَّاعِبِينَ * قَالَ بَل رَبُّكُمْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ مِنْ الشَّاهِدِينَ * وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ * فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَاذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ * قَالُوا مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنْ الظَّالِمِينَ * قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا فَتًى يَذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ * قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَى أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ * قَالُوا أَأَنْتَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ * قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِنْ كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ * فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمْ الظَّالِمُونَ * ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَؤُلَاءِ يَنطِقُونَ * قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ * أُفٍّ لَكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ * قَالُوا حَرِّقُوهُ وَانصُرُوا آلِهَتَكُمْ إِنْ كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ * قُلْنَا يَانَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ * وَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ الْأَخْسَرِينَ

Which means: “And We had certainly given Ibraaheem his sound judgment before and We were of him well-Knowing. When he said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are devoted (i.e. in worship)?” They said, “We found our fathers worshippers of them.” He said, “You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error.” They said, “Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?” He said, ‘[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth Who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify. And [I swear] by Allaah, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away.” So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them that they might return to it [and question]. They said, “Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers.” They said, “We heard a young man mention them who is called Ibraaheem.’ They said, “Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify (to what they had heard him say and to witness what will be done to him as punishment).” They said, “Have you done this to our gods, O Ibraaheem?’ He said, “Rather, this- the largest of them-did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak.” So they returned to [blaming] themselves and said [to each other], “Indeed, you are the wrongdoers.” Then they reversed themselves (After first admitting their error, they were seized by pride), [saying], “You have already known that these do not speak!” He said, “Then do you worship instead of Allaah that which does not benefit you stall or harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allaah (this is an exclamation of anger and displeasure). Then will you not use reason?” They said, “Burn him and support your gods — if you are to act.” We [i.e. Allaah] said, ‘O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibraaheem.” And they intended for him a plan [i.e. harm], but We made them the greatest losers.” [Al-Anbiyaa’: 51-70].

Imaam Al-Qurtubi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said that the saying of Allaah (which means): “And We had certainly given Ibraaheem his sound judgment before” means before prophethood, while Shaykh As-Sa’di, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said that it means before the message of Prophets Muhammad and Moosaa, may Allaah exalt their mention.

The saying of Allaah (which means): “and We were of him well-Knowing” means that We knew that he was worthy of this sound judgment.

The common answer of the disbelievers whose argument is always weak and baseless is that they are following the footsteps of their forefathers. This is why he, may Allaah exalt his mention, said to them as Allaah informs us (what means): “You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error.” That is, you and your forefathers have one thing in common, which is being in manifest error and upon misguidance.

After he rebuked them and proved their misguidance to them, they expressed their surprise to the words he is saying, as they never heard it before. To reconfirm his words, he again informed them that his Lord and their Lord and the Lord of their idols is One, that is Allaah.

He, may Allaah exalt his mention, provided them with a rational evidence which their minds can perceive and can not argue about. The one related to their minds is that everyone knows, including those who were debating, that the Lord is The One Who created everything, angels, jinn, the heavens, the earth, humans and so on, and that He is The One Who manages all affairs. Thus all creatures are under His control, and these creatures have no power and can cause neither harm nor benefit and they have no control over life and death. Therefore, no one with a sound mind would accept to worship a creature who is controlled and has no power to benefit himself, let alone benefit others.

To further prove his point and that these worshipped idols are helpless and are not worthy of being worshipped, he, may Allaah exalt his mention, openly promised to plan against their idols when they go to celebrate their usual festival.

He, may Allaah exalt his mention, did not settle for breaking them but rather demolished them into fragments in order to further prove to them how helpless and powerless their idols are, and thus establish proof against them.

In another chapter the same story is addressed, but gives the details of how he demolished the idols, Allaah says:

فَرَاغَ إِلَى آلِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ * مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنطِقُونَ * فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ * فَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَيْهِ يَزِفُّونَ * قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ * وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

Which means: “Then he (rapidly) turned to their gods and said, “Do you not eat (i.e. Consume the offerings placed before you)? What is [wrong] with you that you do not speak? And he turned upon them a blow with [his] right hand. Then they [i.e. the people] came toward him, hastening. He said, “Do you worship that which you [yourselves] carve. While Allaah created you and that which you do?” [As-Saaffaat: 91-96].

Shaykh As-Sa’di, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said regarding the saying of Allaah (which means): “And he turned upon them a blow with [his] right hand”: “He, may Allaah exalt his mention, started beating the idols strongly until he demolished them and made them small fragments, except the largest idol” [End of quote].

His people rushed to him in an attempt to attack him for what has happened to their idols, but he tricked them, as in the verses of chapter Al-Anbiyaa’ to make them believe that the largest of the idols was the one who demolished the rest of them.

The reason they immediately rushed to him, was because he, may Allaah exalt his mention, made his opinion of their idols clear and he did so openly, and thus people knew that if anyone would do such an act it would be him.

When they became certain that he indeed was the one who did that, they commanded that he be brought in front of all the people. They wanted everyone to see the consequence of the one who breaks the idols. This was the ultimate goal of Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, as he wanted to prove the falsity and helplessness of their idols in public and show them that these idols can not even protect their own selves, let alone benefit them or protect them from evil.

Going back to the story in chapter Al-Anbiyaa’; when they asked whether or not he was the one who demolished the idols, he, may Allaah exalt his mention, said that it was the largest one who did it. The reason he said so, was to establish evidence against them and prove to them how feeble these idols are.

Then he suggested that they should ask the largest one who was not demolished about what happened and who demolished them. He was only trying to establish that these idols are incapable, and thus are not worthy of being Lords to be worshipped.

When they went back to ask the idol, they came back to their senses and woke up from their heedlessness, they realized that this stone idol will not be able to tell them anything. They then between themselves, admitted to the incapability of these idols and that they were wrong but their pride stopped them from adhering to his words, may Allaah exalt his mention.

They could not find any answer to reply with to Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, except to say that these idols can not talk, which made their position even worse and weaker. At this point, Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, confronted them with the question saying (what means): “Uff to you (An exclamation of anger and displeasure) and to what you worship instead of Allaah. Then will you not use reason?”

Meaning, how can you insist not to use reason and not to realize the deep misguidance you are in; this is something that only arrogant people would do. Thus he left no room for argument after this for them and the mater became clear at that point and they were speechless.

As the case is with falsehood and its followers, when they are defeated and when evidence is established against them, they immediately resort to the use of force and tyranny.

Again Allaah supported Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention; when they attempted to execute him in the worse and most vulgar manner, by burning him alive, Allaah rescued him from this huge fire and commanded it to be coolness and safety for him, and thus he, may Allaah exalt his mention, walked out from the fire unharmed, and his people were the losers.

Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, did not seek help from anyone during this severe situation, nor did he beg for their forgiveness and pardon. Rather he turned to Allaah, The only One Who can support and help during traumatic situations. Ibn `Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “When (Prophet) Ibraaheem (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: “Hasbunallaah Wa Ni’mal-Wakeel (Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us).’’ So did the Messenger of Allaah Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, when he was told: “A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them”. But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: “ Hasbunallaah Wa Ni’mal-Wakeel (Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us)”. [Al-Bukhaari].

The following are but some of the many benefits one can extract from this great story:

· The followers of the truth are stronger than the followers of falsehood who outnumber them by far because they have the support of Allaah.

· The permissibility of demolishing idols, as Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, did. `Amr Ibn `Abasah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, responded to his inquiry about the things with which Allaah Has sent him, saying: “He sent me to strengthen the ties of kinship, to destroy idols so that Allaah alone should be worshipped and nothing should be associated with Him” [Muslim].

· The one who takes refuge with Allaah and seeks His support will not be forsaken by Allaah.

· The followers of falsehood do not perceive evil as so because they are used to it. Despite them knowing and believing that their idols could not benefit them or harm them, yet they insisted on worshipping them.

· The enemies of Allaah in all places and times have the same attitude.

· Things may loose their effects with the Will of Allaah, as the fire lost its heating effect.

· Every follower of falsehood resorts to the use of power and force when the evidences are established against him. After Prophet Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention, proved to them how helpless and useless their idols were, and they saw this with their own eyes, they threw him into the fire. Likewise was the case with Prophet Moosaa, may Allaah exalt his mention, with Pharaoh who threatened to imprison him and kill him.

From islamav.com