Seerat un Nabi ﷺ Episode 8

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Seerat un Nabi ﷺ

In reality, the Mushrikeen of Makkah and Arabia did not consider these idols to be the true God. They believed that Allah alone is the only true deity. They considered these idols as intercessors in the court of Allah, and they venerated and worshipped these idols with the belief that they would bring them closer to Allah. Secondly, they believed that these idols possessed some of the divine attributes, powers and strengths, but nevertheless, they still considered Allah as the true Provider and Owner. In fact, a Mushrik is one who believes in Allah and then associates partners with Him in His Being, Attributes, or Worship.

As a result of these polytheistic beliefs, the Mushrikeen of Makkah became badly afflicted with superstition. They would take good and bad omens from everything, and to avoid bad omens, they would seek the services of soothsayers (Kahins). In this way, the business of soothsayers with their charms, spells, and amulets was flourishing. The soothsayers claimed to have control over Jinns and ghosts and would tell people false and true news of the unseen. Drowned in Shirk and idol worship, these Arabs were extremely ritualistic, and a long chain of ignorant customs and rituals was prevalent among them.

Historians have also mentioned some very ridiculous aspects of their idol worship and superstition. For example, when going on a journey, they would put a stone in their pocket. On the way, if they found another better stone, they would throw away the first "god" from their pocket and start worshipping the new "god."

If they forgot to take a stone with them at the time of departure, then at whatever stop they halted on the way, they would search for four stones from there. They would make a stove out of three, and make the fourth their deity. If they could not find stones anywhere, they would collect a heap of soil and pebbles, pour goat's milk over it, and then prostrate before it.

The taste for idol worship was not limited to stones only. Idols of wood and clay were also made. Once, the tribe of Banu Hanifa started worshipping a heap of dates. Meanwhile, a famine struck. When they found nothing else to eat, they all together ate up their "god" and finished it.

Thus, the Kaaba, which is the oldest and most sacred house of Allah on earth, had become a den of Shirk and misguidance at the hands of the polytheists. The people of Makkah had around three hundred and sixty (360) large and small idols installed in the Haram of the Kaaba, with the most important among them being Lat, Manat, Uzza, and Hubal. The Arabs both worshipped them and offered sacrifices to them. During the days of Hajj, these scenes of disbelief and misguidance would increase even more, when pilgrims coming for Hajj would perform Tawaf of the Kaaba naked. Dice would be thrown for divination in front of the idols, and vows would be made.

In short, Satanism had reached its peak on the land of Arabia, and the Arab nation had reached a level of debasement in Shirk and misguidance beyond which there was no lower level. Now it was time for Allah's Attribute of Mercy. So, by creating His Beloved ﷺ among these very polytheists, He struck such a powerful blow to the idol of Shirk and Kufr that the lamps of Tawheed and Oneness were lit in every corner of the earth - never to be extinguished!

In the next episode, a brief mention of other religions prevalent in the land of Arabia at the time of the birth of the Prophet ﷺ will be made... InshaAllah.

[To be continued,