VI. The Message of False Religions

VI. The Message of False Religions

False religions, on the other hand, all teach the worship of creation (Paganism) in one way or another. Some religions call to idolatry indirectly while proclaiming Allah‘s unity, while others openly call to the worship of other gods besides Allah or along with Allah, instead of calling to the worship of Allah alone (pure Monotheism). Idolatry is the greatest sin that a human

being can commit because it diverts worship from the Creator to His creation. It necessarily implies elevating the creation to the status of Allah and thus equating creation with Him. This explains why idolatry is the greatest sin a human being can commit. One who dies in a state of idolatry has sealed his or her fate in the next life. Allah states in the Qur‘an:

Verily, Allah will not forgive joining partners with Him, but He may forgive sins less than that for whomsoever He wishes. (Qur‘an 4: 48 & 116)

Humans should not worship other than Allah because it makes no sense to worship the creation which is weak in nature and neglect the Creator who controls this creation and the whole universe! Not only is this act

misdirected and futile, it is a manifestation of ungratefulness to the One who created everything. Allah says in the Qur‘an:

Do they attribute to Me partners who created nothing, but are themselves created? They can neither help others nor can they help themselves.

And if you call them to guidance they will not follow you. It is the same for you whether you call them or you keep silent. Certainly, those whom you call upon besides Allah are slaves like yourselves. So call upon them and let them answer you if you are truthful. Do they have feet with which they walk, hands with which they hold, eyes with which they see? Or do they have ears with which they hear? (Qur‘an 7: 191-195)

Some idol worshippers try to justify what they are doing by saying, ―We treat idols as mediators and intercessors between us and Allah.‖ This belief is based on the false comparison between Allah and kings, who often operate using mediators between them and their people. This is an incorrect belief because Allah does not need mediators between Him and people. He hears and knows everything, and can respond directly to all the needs of His creation. In hundreds of Qur‘anic verses, Allah invites humans to have a direct relationship with Him without any

mediator or intercessor, and He prohibits them from worshipping anything other than Him under any circumstances

The idea of having different deities (idols and statues) as intermediates and mere ―channels‖ is as old as time. Many non-Muslims before the time of the Prophet Muhammad claimed that they believed in Allah as the Creator and Sustainer; however, they said that they merely used idols as a means of drawing closer to Allah or as a means of having prayers answered. This is still a common practice amongst many people today; they say they believe in one God, yet they maintain their reliance upon statues, superstitions and other symbols (or traditions) as a way to worship and invoke God for their needs

Allah rejects their claims, saying that when they are in trouble, whom do they call? They call none other than Allah. This is evidence that the concept of intercessors between a human being and God is false and of no benefit.

Allah says that anyone who attributes deity to others with Him will be left with that other entity on the Day of Judgment, calling to that entity for help. Common sense dictates that this, in fact, is the very reason why these entities are assigned by human beings in the first place. The person has a false hope that this entity will somehow

be able to help him when needed. But this is of no avail because the entities themselves will disassociate from the person on the Day of Judgment (when one is in need of most help). It will be asked of these people:

Where are those whom you used to invoke and worship besides Allah? [They will reply:] They have vanished and deserted us. And they will bear witness against themselves, that they were disbelievers. (Qur‘an 7: 37)

Allah says:

Say [O Muhammad]: Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allah, they possess not even the weight of an atom—either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor is there for Him any supporter from among them. (Qur‘an 34: 22)

So if these other entities ―control not even the weight of an atom‖, how can they help the one who worshipped them? Moreover, Allah points out the simple fact that,

…those whom you call upon besides Allah cannot help you nor can they help themselves. (Qur‘an 7: 197)

Allah, the Most Wise, did not prescribe religious beliefs and rites for people that would affect the direct

relationship between Himself and humans, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, baptism, confession, or belief in man as a saviour or an intermediary. This further emphasizes that the truth can be found by anyone, regardless of his place and time. Indeed, this personal relationship between Allah and His creation is proof of Allah‘s very existence