THE ORIGINAL WORSHIPPERS
By Abu Adeeba & Abu Abdur Rahman
INTRODUCTION
Allaah has given
humans the faculty of reason. With this we ponder the great mysteries of
the world, are prompted to ask questions, whilst seeking to determine
the answers. The inquisitive mind has constantly sought answers to the
most profound aspects of life, a habit not unknown to Allaah since it is
He who instilled within man such curiosity.
In the Holy Qur'an,
Allaah is constantly engaging the human mind with questions and queries,
prompting them not just to formulate questions, but to ask the right
ones. Such is the profundity of this approach that it forces the human
mind to develop in a way that leads towards Truth through the process of
eliminating the irrelevant and extraneous thoughts and pursuits.
Allaah encourages
His servants to think and use their intelligence:
"Will
they not then use their intellect?" (Qur'an 2:44; 6:32; 12:109;
21:10; 21:67; 23:80; 28:60)
"Will they
then not think deeply?" (Qur'an 30:8)
"Will they
then not consider the Qur'an with deep deliberation?" (Qur'an
4:82)
"Indeed in that
are signs for people who reason (think/use their intelligence)."
(Qur'an
13:4)
"Verily,
the worst of all living creatures with Allaah are the deaf and the dumb,
who do not use their intellect."
(Qur'an 8:22)
One question that
many have asked is:
How and what were
our ancestors worshipping?
Was it similar to how we are worshipping or different?
Others have asked a
more precise question:
What was the
religion of the first humans?
A final revelatory
guidance from Allaah needs to cater for these curiosities and answer
them for two main reasons. Firstly, satisfying the curiosity and
developing confidence and steadfastness in the worshipper. Secondly,
eliminating the onset of frustration brought about through doubts and
confusion in response to the absence of a satisfactory answer. The answer
to these questions not only provides a coherent and consistent story,
but also holds the key to unearthing the inherent inconsistencies found
in the historical myths formulated by the errant religions.
For instance, if it
can be determined that God revealed for the first humans a particular
religious doctrine; it stands to reason, thus, that any aberration from
this original guidance through the invention of non-revelatory doctrines
must be errant especially if this aberration is contradictory.
In this short
article, insha'Allaah (God-Willing), we intend to firstly present
the historical model of worship and creed, giving emphasis over its
consistency in relation to the purpose set for all human beings to
fulfil as well as the call of the true Prophets and Messengers.
Once again, our
contention will be that such consistency is completely absent in
Sikhism. From this we shall raise probing questions, which are vital in
determining the validity of religious pluralism. We shall also
demonstrate the confusion that arises for one who has no access to the
type of religious doctrine the first human beings were upon.
THE HISTORICAL MODEL OF ISLAAM
"And
We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur'an) as an
exposition of everything - a guidance, a mercy, and glad
tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allaah
as Muslims)." (Qur'an 16:89)
One of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (Allaah's peace
and blessings be upon him), Abu Dharr said:
"When the Messenger of
Allaah left us (passed away) there was not a bird that flies
but he had informed us (of something) about it."
If he taught his people something by way of knowledge
concerning birds, then one can only imagine, if he was a
Messenger of guidance to lead them "from out of the
darkness (of false worship) into the light (of Islaam)",
what knowledge he must have left in relation to the more
significant and impactful aspects of life, concerning both
this world and the hereafter.
A
Muslims faith in the Truth of Islaam is strengthened knowing
that nothing is left to chance, no stone is left unturned,
and the Creator has provided answers for all aspects of life
right down to the smallest most intricate details, which
will assist in the further nurturing of one's consciousness
of Allaah.
The following is an excerpted explanation given by the great
scholar of Islaam Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-deen al-Albaani
describing what the first human beings were upon and the
subsequent events that followed:
From that
which has been established in the Sharee'ah (Holy
Islamic Law) is that mankind was - in the beginning - a
single nation upon true Tawheed (to single out Allaah
for all forms of worship),
then
Shirk (directing any part or form of worship, or
anything else that is solely the right of Allaah, to other
than Allaah) gradually overcame them. The basis for this is
the saying of Allaah - the Most Blessed, the Most High:
"Mankind
was one Ummah (nation), then Allaah sent prophets bringing
good news and warnings." (Qur'an 2:213)
Ibn 'Abbaas
[one of the great scholars from the companions of the
Prophet] said:
"Between Noah
and Adam were ten generations, all of them were upon
Sharee'ah (Holy Islamic Law) of the truth, then they
differed. So Allaah sent Prophets as bringers of good news
(paradise, etc.) and as warners (Hell-Fire, etc.)."
Ibn 'Urwah
al-Hanbalee (d.837 H) said:
"This saying
refutes those historians from the People of the Book who
claim that Qaabil (Cain) and his sons were
fire-worshippers."
I (Al-Albaani)
say: In it is also a refutation of some of the philosophers
and atheists who claim that the (natural) basis of man is
Shirk, and that Tawheed evolved in man! The
preceding verse falsifies this claim, as do the two
following authentic hadeeth:
Firstly:
His (Allaah's peace and blessings be upon him)
saying that he related from his Lord (Allaah): "I created
all my servants upon the true Religion (upon Tawheed,
free from Shirk). Then the devils came to them and
led them astray from their true Religion. They made unlawful
to people that which I had made lawful for them, and they
commanded them to associate partners in worship with Me, for
which I had sent down no authority."
Secondly:
His (Muhammad) saying: "Every child is born upon the
fitrah
but his parents
make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian..." Abu Hurayrah
said: Recite if you wish: "Allaah's fitrah with which
He created mankind. There is to be no change to the creation
(Religion) of Allaah." (Qur'an 30:30)
After this
clear explanation, it is of the utmost importance for the
Muslim to know how Shirk spread amongst the
believers, whilst they were muwahhideen (people upon
Tawheed). Concerning the saying of Allaah - the most
perfect - about the people of Noah:
"And
they have said: You shall not abandon your gods, nor shall
you abandon Wadd, nor Suwaa', nor Yaghooth, nor Ya'ooq, nor
Nasr." (Qur'an 71:23)
It has been
related by a group from the Salaf (Pious
Predecessors),
in many
narrations, that these five deities were righteous
worshippers. However, when they died, Shaytaan
(Satan) whispered to their people to retreat and sit at
their graves. Then Satan whispered to those who came after
them that they should take them as idols, beautifying to
them the idea that you will be reminded of them and, thus,
follow them in righteous conduct. Then Satan suggested to
the third generation that they should worship these idols
besides Allaah - the Most High - and he whispered to them
that this is what their forefathers used to do! So Allaah
sent to them Noah (peace be upon him), commanding
them to worship Allaah alone. However none responded to his
call except a few. Allaah - the Mighty and Majestic -
related this whole incident in chapter called Noah (chapter
71 from the Qur'an).
Ibn 'Abbaas
relates:
"Indeed these
five names of righteous men from the people of Noah. When
they died Satan whispered to their people to make statues of
them and to place these statues in their places of gathering
as a reminder of them, so they did this. However, none from
amongst them worshipped these statues, until when they died
and the purpose of the statues was forgotten. Then (the
next generations) began to worship them."
The likes of
this has also been related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree and
others, from a number of the Salaf (Pious
Predecessors).
In ad-Durral-Manthoor
(6/269):
'Abdullaah
Ibn Humayd relates from Abu Muttahar, who said: Yazeed
Ibnul-Muhallab was mentioned to Abu Ja'far al-Baaqir
(d.11H), so he said: He was killed at the place where
another besides Allaah was first worshipped. Then he
mentioned Wadd and said: "Wadd was a Muslim man who was
loved by his people. When he died, the people began to
gather around his grave in the land of Baabil
(Babel), lamenting and mourning. So when Iblees
(Satan) saw them mourning and lamenting over him, he took
the form of a man and came to them, saying: I see that you
are mourning and lamenting over him. So why don't you make a
picture of him (i.e. a statue) and place it in your places
of gatherings so that you maybe reminded of him. So they
said: "Yes"
and they made a picture of him and put in their place of
gathering, which reminded them of him. When Satan saw how
they were (excessively) remembering him, he said: "Why
doesn't every man amongst you make a similar picture to keep
in your own houses, so that you can be (constantly) reminded
of him." So they all said "Yes." So each household made a
picture of him, which they adored and venerated and which
constantly reminded them of him. Abu Ja'far said: "Those
from the later generation saw what the (previous generation)
had done and considered that...to the extent that they took
him as an ilaah (deity) to be worshipped besides
Allaah. He then said: "This was the first idol worshipped
other than Allaah, and they called this idol Wadd."
Thus, the
wisdom of Allaah - the Blessed, the Most High - was
fulfilled, when He sent Muhammad (Allaah's peace
and blessings be upon him) as the final Prophet and made
his Sharee'ah (Holy Islamic Law) the completion of
all previous divinely Prescribed Laws, in that He prohibited
all means and avenues by which people may fall into Shirk
- which is the greatest of sins. For this reason, building
shrines over graves and intending to specifically travel to
them, taking them as places of festivity and gathering and
swearing an oath by the inmate of a grave; have all been
prohibited. All of these lead to extremism and lead to the
worship of other than Allaah - the Most High. This being the
case, even more so in an age in which knowledge is
diminishing and ignorance is increasing, there are few
sincere advisors (to the truth) and Satan is co-operating
with men and jinn to misguide mankind and take them away
from the worship of Allaah alone - the Blessed, the Most
High.
To summerise:
-
The first
generation of humans were upon Tawheed (singling
out Allaah for all forms of worship), which is the
intended purpose for all humans to fulfill.
-
They were upon
this for ten long generations; amongst them were five
righteous worshippers. Following the death of these five
worshippers, Satan approached the mourning generation
convincing them to erect statues as a means of reminder.
-
The generations
thereafter, upon forgetting the original reason for
their forefathers erecting the idols, were again
approached by Satan who eventually drove the final nail
in the coffin by convincing them that their forefathers
worshipped these idols, thus, they should follow suit.
-
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
(d.751H) said:
Allaah the Exalted informed that the purpose and affair
of creation was to know His Names and to worship Him
alone, without associates so that the people could
become trustworthy (qist), and this is the
justice ('adl) by which the heavens and the earth
are established, as Allaah the Exalted said:
"We have already sent our messengers with clear
evidences and sent down with them the Book and the
balance that the people may maintain their affairs in
justice.'' (Qur'an 57:25)
So Allaah - the Glorified - informed that he sent His
messengers and revealed His books to re-establish the
people upon fairness (qist) and that is justice ('adl).
And from the greatest fairness is Tawheed
(singling out Allaah for all forms of worship), and it
is the head of justice, and its maintainer, and Shirk
(opposite of Tawheed) is injustice, as Allaah the
Exalted said:
"Verily Shirk is the greatest injustice."
(Qur'an 31:13)
So Shirk is the greatest injustice and Tawheed
is the best form of justice.
Sincerity (ikhlaas) is that all of his actions,
statements, intentions, and desires are made purely for
Allaah (alone), and this is the pure Religion (Millatul-Hanafiyyah)
that Allaah commanded all of His servants with, and
nothing other than it will be accepted from any of them,
and this is the reality of Islaam. Allaah the Exalted
said:
"And whosoever seeks other than Islaam as a
religion, then it will never be accepted from him. And
in the Hereafter, he will be from amongst the losers."
(Qur'an 3:85)
And this is the Religion of Abraham (peace be upon
him) and whoever dislikes it is foolish.
Hence, the purpose for all human beings is consistent with
and exactly the same as the first generation of people, i.e.
worship Allaah upon Tawheed and completely eschew the
greatest sin - Shirk. This purpose will never
change.
A
Sikh will see from this explanation how consistent and
straightforward the historical account is.
WHAT DOES SIKHISM SAY?
Due to the lack of clarity and detail in Sri Guru Granth
Sahib, many Sikhs in a confused and dazed state have
unfortunately jumped on the band wagon of evolution
(macro-evolution). Some have even gone so far as to extend
verses from Sri Guru Granth Sahib in their desperate
attempt to justify the validity of this mathematically
impossible theory.
Although this is not the place for an in depth discussion of
the absurdities of the Darwinian theory, including its
various off-shoots, what we wish to highlight here is the
extent to which people will go to find answers, when clear
and coherent revelatory answers are absent, to satisfy and
fit their contrived world-view.
Other Sikhs seem not to care. To them, the beginning has no
consequence to their present life. We find this position
irresponsible since evolution is being pushed in an attempt
to eradicate the belief in God, replacing it instead with
the idea that things evolve through random selection without
the influence of a Divine Transcendent Will. In this
respect, Sikhism and Islaam are on equal grounds in that
they believe the universe has an origin with an all-Wise
Creator.
CONCLUSION
There is a verse in Sri
Guru Granth Sahib that sheds light on a type of
evolution the early humans may have gone through:
"kaachae
bhaaddae saaj nivaajae anthar joth samaaee.
jaisaa likhath likhiaa dhhur karathai ham thaisee kirath
kamaaee.
man than thhaap keeaa sabh apanaa eaeho aavan jaanaa.
jin dheeaa so chith n aavai mohi andhh lapattaanaa
He created and adorned the earthen vessels (human bodies)
and infused His Light within them. As is the destiny
pre-ordained by the Creator, so are the deeds we do.
The human began to
believe that the mind and body were all his own; this is the
cause of his coming (births) and going (rebirths).
He does not think of the One who gave him these; he is
blind, entangled in emotional attachment."
(SGGS, p882)
Let us examine the above
verse more closely:
Q1: According to
Sikhi, what were the first progenitors upon?
A) One religion.
B) Given freedom to choose
more than one religion?
A1:
A) If
the answer is A, then this original religion is the religion
of Truth. Any aberration from this via a man-invented
non-revelatory religion must be deemed false and rejected.
One would also have to reject the idea that Allaah wanted
diversity since two mutually exclusive religious beliefs,
which includes the concept of God, His worship and/or the
purpose of life, cannot both be true at the same time.
B) If
the answer is B, would it be just on the part of God to
create humankind and provide them with religions that
differed? It would seem more reasonable, to maintain unity
and sustained harmony of thought and actions, if God
revealed just one religion with all necessary means for
correct guidance.
C) If
the answer is not known then how will we be able to
understand a clear, coherent and consistent historical model
of humankind's purpose in life, beginning with the very
first people and ending with the last?
In Islaam the purpose is clear, coherent, consistent and
non-contradictory.
Q2:
From the aforementioned verse, when did the cycle of
birth-rebirth begin and what was the initial reason behind
man acquiring this free-thinking aberration?
A2:
A) It
is evident from the verse that this aberration must have
occurred after a period of time since "human[s]
began to believe that the mind and body were all his
own". Thus, prior to this deviation, humankind did not
have complete control over their mind and body; therefore,
there was no reason for the process of birth-rebirth to
begin. Hence, a different process must have preceded this.
B) What
was the process that preceded birth-rebirth? Could it have
been the understanding Allaah originally taught Adam and Eve
and their children before the invention of the birth-rebirth
and reincarnation-transmigration notion, i.e. this is man's
only life swiftly followed by a Day of Judgement?
It becomes apparent how
important it is to have clear answers. The above is merely
the beginning of head-scratching when answers are absent.
We pray this has opened the
eyes of those who hold to either the inconsistent and
contradictory notion of there being more than one religion
of Truth all of which leads to God's salvation/ grace, or
the proposition that it is unimportant to know what
religious doctrine and worship our ancestors were upon.
For a further brief read on
the contradictory concept of 'Religious Pluralism' please
read:
The Contradiction known as Religious Pluralism
All this confusion will not be found with the Muslims.
Alhamdulilaah (praise be to Allaah) who has given us
clarity; thus, only a very ignorant and arrogant Muslim, who
commits intellectual suicide by discarding the clear and
emphatic revelatory proofs of the Shari'ah (Holy Islamic
Law), would affirm such a grandiose theory.
BACK TO TOP
| 
