The Origins of Shirk [1] Al-Ibaanah Magazine , Issue No.3 – Dhul-Qa’dah 1416H /
April 1996
From that which has been established in the Sharee’ah (prescribed law) is that mankind
was – in the beginning – a single nation upn true Tawheed, 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, then Allaah sent prophets bringing good news and warnings.”
(Soorah Baqarah 2:213)
Ibn ‘Abbaas – radiallaahu ‘anhu – said: “Between Nooh (Noah) and Adam were ten generations,
all of them were upon Sharee’ah (law) of the truth, then they differed. So Allaah
sent prophets as bringers of good news and as warners.” [2]
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-worshipers.”
[3]
I 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
aayah (verse) falsifies this claim, as do the two following authentic hadith:
Firstly: His (the prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) 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 in worship with Me, that which I had
sent down no authority.” [4]
Secondly: His (the prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: “Every child is
born upon the Fitrah [5] but his parents make him a jew or a christian or a magian.
It is like the way an animal gives birth to a natural offspring. have you noticed
any born mutilated, before you mutilate them.”
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.” (Soorah ar-Rum 30:30)
[6]
After this clear explanation, it is of the upmost importance for the Muslim to know
how Shirk spread amongst the believers, after they were muwahhideen (people upon
Tawheed). Concerning the saying of Allaah – the most perfect – about the people
of Nooh:
“And they have said : You shall not forsake your gods, nor shall you forsake Wadd,
nor Suwaa’, nor Yaghooth, nor Ya’ooq, nor Nasr.” (Soorah Nooh 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 into their people to retreat and sit at their graves. Then Shaytaan
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 thereby follow them in righteous
conduct. Then Shaytaan 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 Nooh alayhis-salaam, 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 Soorah Nooh Ibn ‘Abbas relates: “Indeed these five
names of righteous men from the people of Nooh. When they died Shataan 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 worshiped these statues, until when they died and the purpose of the statues
was forgotten. Then (the next generation) began to worship them.”[7]
The likes of this has also been related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree and others, from
a number of the salaf (Pious Predecessors) – radiallaahu ‘anhum. In ad-Durral-Manthoor
(6/269): ‘Abdullaah ibn Humaid relates from Abu Muttahar, who said: Yazeed ibn al-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 worshiped. 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 Iblees 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 ilah (deity) to be worshiped besides Allaah. He then said
:” This was the first idol worshiped other than Allaah, and they called this idol
Wadd”[8]
Thus the wisdom of Allaah – the Blessed, the Most High – was fulfilled, when he sent
Muhammed sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as the final prophet and made his Sharee’ah
the completion of all 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 excessiveness
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, ignorance
is increasing, there are few sincere advisers ( to the truth) and shaytaan is co-operating
with men and jinn to misguide mankind and to take them away from the worship of
Allaah alone – the Blessed, the Most High.
FOOTNOTES:
1.Tahdheerus-Saajid min Ittikhaadhil-Quboori Masaajid (pp.101-106)
2.Related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree in his tafseer (4/275) and al-Haakim (2/546)
who said: “It is authentic according to the criterion of al-Bukhari.” Adh-Dhahabee
also agreed.
3.Al-Khawaakibud-Duraaree fee Tarteeb Musnadul-Imaam Ahmad’alaa Abwaabil-Bukhaaree
(6/212/1), still in manuscript form.
4.Related by Muslim (8/159) and Ahmad (4/162) from ‘Iyaadh ibn Himaar al-Mujaashi’ee
radiallaahu ‘anhu
5.[From the Editors] Ibn-al-Atheer said in an-Nihaayah (3/457): “Al-Fitr: means
to begin and create, and al-Fitrah is the condition resulting from it. The meaning
is that mankind were born upon a disposition and a nature which is ready to accept
the true Religion. So if he were to be left upon this, then he would continue upon
it. However, those who deviate from this do so due to following human weaknesses
and blind following of others…..” Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar said in Al-Fath (3/248):
“The people differ concerning what is meant by al-Fitrah and the most famous saying
is that it means Islaam. Ibn ‘abdul-Barr said: That is what was well known with
most of the salaf (pious predecessors), and the scholars of tafseer are agreed that
what is meant by the saying of Allaah – the Most High – “Allaah’s fitrah with which
He created mankind.” is Islaam
6.Related by Al-Bukhaaree (11/418) and Muslim (18/52)
7.Related by al-Bukhaaree (8/534)
8.Related by Ibn Abee Haatim also, as is in al-Kawaakibud-Duraaree (6/112/2) of
Ibn ‘Urwah al-Hanbalee, along with an isnaad which is Hasan, up to Abu Muttahar.
However, no biography could be found for him, neither in ad-Dawlaabee’s al-Kunaa
wal-Asmaa, nor Muslim’s al-Kunaa, nor anyone else . And the hidden defect here
is that he is from the Shee’ah, but his biography is not included in at-Toosee’s
al-Kunaa — from the index of Shee’ah narrators.