Question: It is said that the early polytheists admitted that they worshipped their gods only to bring them closer to Allah, and they worshipped idols. How do you judge those you call “grave worshippers” as polytheists, when they do not worship idols, nor do they claim to worship them, but rather seek blessings?
Answer: Worship is not defined by people’s opinions but by the judgment of Allah. The early polytheists had various objects of worship: some worshipped idols, some worshipped prophets, some worshipped righteous people, some worshipped trees and stones, and others worshipped different things. They were not all the same, yet Allah declared them all disbelievers until they entered into the religion of Allah and worshipped Him alone. Allah says: “Nor would he order you to take the angels and prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted?” (Aal Imran: 80). Thus, those who worshipped prophets and angels were considered disbelievers if they did not follow the truth.
It is known that the people of Taif worshipped Al-Lat, who was a righteous man, yet Allah declared them disbelievers until they embraced Islam, and the Prophet May God bless him and grant him peace fought them until they entered Islam. Similarly, Christians worship Christ and his mother, and Christ is a prophet, and his mother is a truthful woman, yet they are disbelievers for that. Likewise, the Jews worshipped their rabbis and monks and worshipped Ezra, claiming he was the son of Allah, and they are disbelievers for that. Allah says in the Quran: “Say, ‘Call upon those you claim [as gods] besides Him; they do not possess the ability to remove adversity from you or [even] shift it.’” (Al-Isra: 56-57). Allah informs us that some polytheists worship righteous people who seek means to their Lord, hope for His mercy, and fear His punishment, yet He denounces their worship of them besides Allah, stating that they do not have the power to remove harm from their worshippers or shift it.
Scholars of Tafsir (exegesis) have said that this verse was revealed concerning Christ, his mother, Ezra, and every righteous person or prophet. Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “It was revealed concerning people from among humans who worshipped people from among the jinn; the jinn embraced Islam, but the humans continued to worship them.” Thus, the verse was revealed concerning righteous people and prophets, and Allah declared their worshippers disbelievers for that, informing that they do not have the power to remove harm from their worshippers or shift it.
Allah also says: “That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke besides Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed. If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Acquainted [with all matters].” (Fatir: 13-14). He called their invocation of them shirk (polytheism), even though they only invoked them as intercessors, not because they believed they had the power to harm or benefit, create, or provide sustenance. Allah says about them: “We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.” (Az-Zumar: 3) and “These are our intercessors with Allah.” (Yunus: 18). Thus, He declared them disbelievers for that, even though they only believed them to be intercessors and mediators, not creators or providers.
Allah also says: “And whoever invokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.” (Al-Mu’minun: 117). He called them disbelievers even though they did not worship them because they believed they could harm or benefit independently, but because they believed they brought them closer to Allah and interceded for them with Him.
And Allah, the Exalted, said: “And who is more astray than one who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware. And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.” (Al-Ahqaf: 5-6). This applies to prophets, righteous people, and others. The point is that all scholars unanimously agree that whoever worships anything other than Allah—be it an idol, a prophet, a righteous person, a jinn, or anything else—is an absolute disbeliever, even if the worshipped being is a prophet or a righteous person. This is the consensus of all scholars, and the evidence for this from the words of Allah, the Almighty, and His Messenger May God bless him and grant him peace is clear, as some of it has been mentioned earlier. And Allah, the Exalted, is the source of success.
