These are questions that I was asked in Safar 23, 1406 A.H. along with their answers:
Q: It is said that the early polytheists admitted that they worshipped their gods only to bring them near to Allah, and they were worshipping idols, so how can you declare those you call Quburiyyun i.e. grave worshippers, to be polytheists while they do not worship idols or claim that those idols are to be worshipped, but they only seek blessings through them?
A: Worship is not identified through people's views but is rather determined through Allah's (Glorified and Exalted be He) judgment. The early polytheists are divided into different categories, such as those who worshipped idols, those who worshipped prophets, those who worshipped righteous people, those who worshipped trees, those who worshipped stones, and those who worshipped other things. Thus, they are not on an equal level. However, Allah declared them all to be disbelievers until they enter His religion, and worship Him Alone. He (Exalted be He) says, Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords (gods). Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allâh's Will? (Tafsir AtTabarî). Thus, He declared those who worship the prophets and angels disbelievers if they do not submit to what is right. Besides, it is wellknown that
the people of AlTa'if worshipped AlLat, who was a righteous man. However, Allah declared them to be disbelievers until they entered Islam. Likewise, the Christians would worship the Messiah (Jesus) and his mother, while he was a Prophet and his mother was a Siddiqah [i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books], and in turn they (Christians) were declared disbelievers. The same applies to the Jews who worshipped their rabbis and their monks and worshipped 'Uzayr (Ezra) claiming that he was the son of the Lord, and in turn they became disbelievers. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in the Qur'an,
Say (O Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭ ﺳـﻠﻢ): "Call upon those besides Him whom you pretend [to be gods like angels, 'Isâ (Jesus), 'Uzair (Ezra), and others.]. They have neither the power to remove the adversity from you nor even to shift it from you to another person." Those whom they call upon [like ' Isâ (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), 'Uzair (Ezra), angel] desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allâh), as to which of them should be the nearest; and they [' Isâ (Jesus), 'Uzair (Ezra), angels and others] hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment.
Moreover, Allah (Exalted be He) informed about some polytheists saying that they would worship righteous persons seeking for themselves a means of access to their Lord, hoping for His Mercy, and fearing His Torment. He (Exalted be He) condemned their worship of other than Him, and indicated that they (those worshipped) had neither the power to remove the adversity from those who worshipped them, nor to shift it from them to other persons. Moreover, scholar of exegesis commented on this verse saying that it was revealed regarding the Messiah, his mother and 'Uzair, and also regarding every prophet or righteous person. In addition, Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it was revealed regarding human beings who would worship individuals from the Jinn, as the Jinn embraced Islam while those humans kept worshipping them.
In short, it was revealed regarding righteous persons and prophets, as Allah declared those who worship them to be disbelievers and informed that they have neither the power to remove adversity from those who worship them, nor to shift it from them to other persons. Allah (Exalted be He) says,
Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the datestone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them.
Hence, He called their invocation polytheism although they invoked them only because they (they thought) were intercessors, and not because they believed they had the power to remove adversity, bring a benefit, create, or sustain. Rather, Allah (Exalted be He) says about them that they admitted, We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh. and, These are our intercessors with Allâh. Yet, He declared them to be disbelievers because of such worship, even though they believed only that they (those worshipped) were intercessors and people near to Allah, without alleging that they could create, sustain, benefit, or harm.
Furthermore, Allah (Exalted be He) says, And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allâh, any other ilâh (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! AlKâfirûn (the disbelievers in Allâh and in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful. Thus, He called them disbelievers even though they worshipped them, not because they could benefit, harm, or independently bring benefit or remove harm, or create, but because they such worshippers alleged could bring them
nearer to Allah and intercede with Him on their behalf.
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, And who is more astray than one who calls on (invokes) besides Allâh,
such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them?
mankind are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping.
This generally applies to prophets, righteous persons, and others.
It means that all scholars have unanimously agreed that whoever worships other than Allah
(Exalted be He), whether it be an idol, a prophet, a righteous person, a jinni or anything else,
even if the worshipped being is a prophet or a righteous person. Indeed, this unanimity covers all scholars, and the evidence of this (judgment) from the sayings of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) and from the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are manifest, some of which are mentioned above. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is undoubtedly the Guide to
Q: What about the questioner's saying that such worshippers said that they worship them only to bring them near to Allah, acknowledging their worship of them, while the latter (group) claim that they do not worship them but only seek their blessings?
A: Answer: Consideration is given to facts and meaning and not to terms. Thus, if they say that they do not worship them but rather seek their blessings, it would not avail them as long as they assume the practice of the polytheists preceding them, even if they do not call it worship (as they call it seeking intercession or blessing of them). Seeking other than Allah and invoking the dead, the prophets, and the righteous, and offering sacrifices to them, prostrating to or calling for their help are all acts of worship, even if they call it service or anything else, since what count are facts and not names, as is explained above.
An example of this is the saying of the group who went out with the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Hunayn. When they saw the polytheists hanging their weapons on a lotusjujube, they said, "O Messenger of Allah, make Dhat Anwat (something like the tree) for us to hang things on it as they do". Then, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them, "Allah is the Greatest! By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, you have said (something) similar to what the Children of Israel said to Musa (Moses), 'Make for us an ilah (god) as they have alihah (gods)'".
Thus, he made the two statements equal to each other even though the latter said, "Make Dhat Anwat (something like the tree) for us to hang things on it", comparing their saying to that of the children of Israel, since what counts is the meaning and fact, not the mere term.