The Islamic Gods Unveiled Pt. 2

Additional Proof that Islam is Repackaged Arab Paganism

In this section (https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/the-islamic-gods-unveiled-pt-1/), I am going to set out to prove that, instead of completely eradicating all elements of idolatry, Muhammad actually replaced the three goddesses of the pagan tribe he was reared in with three gods of his own. Keep in mind the evidence I presented in the first part where I document how the pagans viewed their idols as intercessors that they hoped would bring them closer to Allah. As the following verse puts it:

Now, surely, sincere obedience is due to Allah (alone) and (as for) those who take guardians besides Him, (saying), We do not serve them save that they may make us nearer to Allah, surely Allah will judge between them in that in which they differ; surely Allah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful. S. 39:3 Shakir

With the foregoing in view, I shall now show that this is precisely what Muhammad has done, namely, erected false gods/idols in the place of the ones served by the pagans before him for the express purpose of bringing Muslims closer to his lord.

1. Muhammad

According to the hadith collections, Muhammad reportedly taught that he would be permitted to intercede for his followers, and on the basis of his intercession deliver some of them out of hell itself.

Muhammad even went as far as to claim that his intercession would be for those Muslims who committed major acts of wickedness such as adultery and theft!

Narrated ‘Imran bin Husain: The Prophet said, “Some people will be taken out of the Fire through the intercession of Muhammad they will enter Paradise and will be called Al-Jahannamiyin (the Hell Fire people).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 571 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=76&translator=1&start=0&number=571)

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet said: My intercession will be for those of my people who have committed major sins. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 40, Number 4721 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=40&translator=3&start=0&number=4721)

Muhammad further taught his followers to invoke him in their prayers:

3578. ‘Uthman bin Hunaif narrated that a blind man came to the Prophet and said to him: “Supplicate to Allah to heal me.” He said: “If you wish, I will supplicate for you, and if you wish, you can be patient, for that is better for you.” He said: “Then supplicate to him.” He said: “So he ordered him to performWudu’and to make his Wudu’ complete, and to supplicate with this supplication: ‘O Allah, I ask You and turn towards You by Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. Indeed, I have turned to my Lord, BY MEANS OF YOU, concerning this need of mine, so that it can be resolved, So Allah so accept HIS INTERCESSION for me (Allahumma Inni As’aluka WA MUHAMMADIN Nabi-Ir-Rahmati Tawajjahtu Bika Ila Rabbi Fi Hajati Hadhihi Lituqda Li, Allahumma FASHAFFI‘HU Fiya).’” (SAHIH)

[He said]: This Hadith is Hasan SAHIH Gharib, we do not know of it except through this route, as a narration of Abu Ja‘far, and he is someone other than Al-Khatmi, [and Uthman bin Hunaif is the brother of Sahl bin Hunaif] (English Translation of Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi: Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu ‘Eisa Mohammad Ibn ‘Eisa At-Tirmidhi, translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA), ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 6, From Hadith No. 3291 to 3956, Various Narrations On The Chapters Of Supplications, Chapter 118, p. 283 http://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/48/209; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Here is a different version of this same hadith:

1385. It was narrated from ‘Uthman bin Hunaif that a blind man came to the Prophet and said to him: “Pray to Allah to heal me.” He said: “If you wish to store your reward for the Hereafter, that is better, or if you wish, I will supplicate for you.” He said: “Supplicate.” He said: “So he told him to perform ablution and do it well, and to pray twoRak’ah, and to say this supplication: “Allahumma inni as’aluka wa atawajjahu ilaika BI-MUHAMMADIN NABIYYIR-RAHMA.YA MUHAMMADU inni qad tawajjahtu bika ila rabbi fi hajati hadhihi Lituqda. Allahumma FASHAFFI‘HU fiya(O Allah, I ask of You and I turn my face towards You BY VIRTUE OF THE INTERCESSION OF MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET OF MERCY. O MUHAMMAD, I have turned to my Lord BY VIRTUE OF YOUR INTERCESSION concerning this need of mine, so that it may be met. O Allah, accept HIS INTERCESSION concerning me)”. (SAHIH) (English Translation of Sunan Ibn Majah: Compiled by Imam Muhammad Bin Yazeed Ibn Majah Al-Qazwini, Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA) [Darussalam Publications and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], Volume 2, From Hadith no. 803 to 1782, 5. The Chapters Of Establishing The Prayer And The Sunnah Regarding Them, Chapter 189. What Was Narrated Concerning Prayer At Times Of Need, pp. 329-330 http://sunnah.com/urn/1287330; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Since invocations/supplications are said to be the very essence of what worship is,

296. The excellence of supplication

712. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said, “Nothing is dearer to Allah than supplication.”

713. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet said, “The noblest ACT OF WORSHIP is supplication.”

714. An-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported that the Prophet said, “Supplication IS WORSHIP.” Then he recited, “Call on Me and I will answer you.” (Aisha Bewley, Al-Adab al-Mufrad al-Bukhari, XXX. Supplication http://bewley.virtualave.net/adab4.html#supplicate; capital and underline emphasis ours)

This means that Muslims are directing their worship to a finite, mortal, sinful human being!

Therefore, Muhammad turned himself into an idol just like the idols worshiped by the pagans that came before him.

2. The Quran

Muhammad proclaimed that the Quran itself will serve as an intercessor for all those that have recited it:

Abu Umama said he heard Allah’s Messenger say: Recite the Qur’an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqara and Surah Al ‘Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Surah al-Baqara, for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it. (Mu’awiya said: It has been conveyed to me that here Batala means magicians.) (Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1757: http://searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=004&translator=2&start=0&number=1645)

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr:

Allah’s Messenger said, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an SAYS, ‘I HAVE KEPT HIM AWAY from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted.”

Bayhaqi transmitted it in Shu’ab al-Iman. (Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi, Hadith Number 1963: http://www.oocities.org/tirmidhihadith/page4.html; see also the following English version of this same hadith: http://www.alim.org/library/hadith/TIR/612; bold and capital emphasis ours)

Isn’t it ironic that Muhammad taught that individual surahs will appear as birds interceding for Muslims when the pagans believed the same thing about the three goddesses, whom Muhammad likened to high flying cranes?

We are even told that the Quran will appear in the form of a pale white man:

It was narrated that Buraydah said: I heard the Prophet say: “The Qur’an will meet its companion on the Day of Resurrection when his grave is opened for him, IN THE FORM OF A PALE MAN. IT WILL SAY TO HIM, ‘Do you recognize me?’ He will say: ‘I do not recognize you.’ IT WILL SAY: ‘I am your companion the Qur’an, who kept you thirsty on hot days and kept you awake at night. Every merchant benefits from his business and today you will benefit from your good deeds.’ He will be given dominion in his right hand and eternity in his left, and there will be placed on his head a crown of dignity, and his parents will be clothed with priceless garments the like of which have never been seen in this world. They will say: ‘Why have we been clothed with this?’ It will be said: ‘Because your son used to recite Qur’an.’ Then it will be said to him: ‘Recite and ascend in the degrees of Paradise,’ and he will continue to ascend so long as he recites, either at a fast pace or a slow pace.”

Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (394) and Ibn Maajah in al-Sunan (3781); classed as hasan by al-Busayri in al-Zawaa’id and by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (2829).

Here is the English translation of Ibn Majah’s version of this report:

3781. It was narrated from Ibn Buraidah that his father told that the Messenger of Allah said: “The Qur’an will come on the Day of Resurrection, LIKE A PALE MAN, AND WILL SAY: ‘I am the one that kept you awake at night and made you thirsty during the day.’” (Hasan) (English Translation of Sunan Ibn Majah – Compiled by Imam Muhammad Bin Yazeed Ibn Majah Al-Qazwini, From Hadith No. 3657 to 4341, Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Canada), final review by Abu Khaliyl (USA), [Darussalam Publications and Distributors, First Edition: June 2007], Volume 5, Chapters on Etiquette, Chapter 52. The Rewards Associated With Qur’an, pp. 68-69 https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah/33/126; capital emphasis ours)

To top it off, Muhammad actually believed that the Quran and its individual surahs pray to Allah and worship him as their very Lord!

Khalid b. Ma‘dan said: RECITE THE RESCUER, which is A.L.M. The sending down,³ for I have heard that a man who had committed many sins used to recite it and nothing else. It spread its wings over him AND SAID, ‘MY LORD, forgive him, for he often used to RECITE ME;’ so the Lord Most High MADE IT AN INTERCESSOR for him and said, ‘Record for him a good deed and raise him a degree in place of every sin.’ Khalid said: IT WILL DISPUTE on behalf of the one who RECITES IT when he is in the grave SAYING, ‘O God, if I am a part of Thy Book, make me AN INTERCESSOR for him; but if I am not a part of Thy Book, blot me out of it.’ It will be like a bird putting its wing on him, IT WILL INTERCEDE for him and will protect him from the punishment in the grave. He said the same about ‘Blessed is He.’⁴ Khalid did not go to sleep at night till he had recited them. Ta’us said they were given sixty virtues more than any other sura in the Qur’an. Darimi transmitted.”

3. Qur’an, xxxii.

4. Qur’an, lxvii. (Mishkat Al-Masabih, English Translation With Explanatory Notes by Dr. James Robson [Sh. Muhammad Ashraf Publishers, Booksellers & Exporters, Lahore-Pakistan, Reprint 1990], Volume II, Book VIII. The Excellent Qualities of the Qur’an, Chapter I, p. 459; bold and capital emphasis ours)

Seeing that the pagans likened the three daughters of Allah to high flying cranes that intercede for them, and seeing that Muhammad taught that individual chapters of the Quran will appear as flocks of birds that fly to Allah for the purpose of interceding for Muslims, pray tell, what the difference is between these two beliefs?

 3. The Black Stone

If it couldn’t any more shocking (in fact, disturbing), Muhammad went as far as to command the veneration of an inanimate black stone, which happens to be one of the stones idolized by the Arab pagans in Mecca!

To top it off, Muhammad claimed that the black stone would come to life for the express purpose of interceding for all those who reverence it!

2944. Sa’d b. Jubairis reported to have said, “I heard Ibn ‘Abbas saying that Allah’s Messenger said, “This Stone must come on the Day of Resurrection and it will have two eyes to see with and a tongue to talk with bearing witness for him who caressed it with Truth (Islam).”

Grade: Hasan (Darussalam) (Sunan Ibn-I-Majah (Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. Yazid Ibn-I-Maja Al-Qazwini), English version by Muhammad Tufail Ansari [Kazi Publications, Lahore (Pakistan), 1st edition 1995], Volume IV, Chapter NO. XVII: Caressing The (Black) Stone (Fixed in a Wall of Ka’ba), pp. 244-245 https://sunnah.com/urn/1279740; bold and underline emphasis ours)

And:

9 The Book on Hajj

(113) Chapter: What Has Been Related About The Black Stone

Ibn Abbas narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said about the (Black) Stone: “By Allah! Allah will raise it on the Day of Resurrection with two eyes by which it sees and a tongue that it speaks with, testifying to whoever touched it in truth.”

Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 961

In-book reference: Book 9, Hadith 155

English translation: Vol. 2, Book 4, Hadith 961 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/9/155)

Finally:

It is Sunnah to perform certain acts in tawaf as given below:

Facing the Black Stone at the start of the tawaf while uttering a takbir (Allahu-Akbar), and a tahlil (La ilaha illahlah), and raising one’s hands as they are raised in prayers, and if possible touching it with both hands and kissing it quietly, or placing one’s cheek on it. Otherwise, one may touch it with one’s hand and kiss the hand, or touch it with something, and then kiss it, or if even that is not possible, one may just point to it with a stick, etc. as is mentioned in some of the ahadith given below.

Ibn ‘Umar said: “Allah’s Messenger faced the Black Stone, touched it, and then placed his lips on it and wept for a long time.” ‘Umar also wept for a long time. The Prophet said: ‘O ‘Umar, this is the place where one should shed tears.” (Reported by Al-Hakim, who considers it a sound hadith with a sound chain of authorities)

It is reported by Ibn ‘Abbas that ‘Umar bent down towards the Black Stone and said: “By Allah! I know that you are A MERE STONE, and if I had not seen my beloved Prophet kissing you and touching you I would have never done so.” The Qur’an says: “You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct).”‘ (Qur’an 33.32) This was reported by Ahmad and others in slightly different words.

Nafi’ said, “I have seen Ibn ‘Umar touching the Black Stone with his hand, and then kissing his hand and saying: ‘Ever since I saw the Prophet doing this, I have never failed to do that.”’ (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

Sowayd bin Ghaflah said: “I have seen ‘Umar kissing the Black Stone and touching it.” He further said: “I know that the Prophet was especially very particular about it.” (Muslim)

Ibn ‘Umar reported that Allah’s Messenger used to come to Ka’bah, touch the Black Stone and then say: Bismillahi wallahu akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.)” (Ahmad)

Muslim has reported on the authority of Abu Tufail that he said: “I have seen the Prophet making tawaf around the Ka’bah and touching it with a stick and then kissing the stick.”

Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Daw’ud reported that ‘Umar approached the Black Stone and kissed it. Then he said: “I know that you are A MERE STONE that can neither harm nor do any good. If I had not seen the Prophet kissing you, I would have never kissed you.”

Al-Khatabi said: “This shows that abiding by the Sunnah of the Prophet is binding, regardless of whether or not we understand its reason or the wisdom behind it.”

Such information devolves obligation on all those whom it reaches, even if they may not fully comprehend its significance. It is known, however, that kissing the Black Stone signifies respect for it, recognition of our obligation toward it, and using it as a means of seeking Allah’s blessings. Indeed Allah has preferred some stones over others, as He preferred some countries and cities, days and nights, and months over others. The underlying spirit of all this is unquestioning submission to Allah.

In some ahadith which say that “the Black Stone is Allah’s right hand on earth,” we do find, however, a plausible rationale and justification for this statement. In other words whosoever touches the Black Stone he pledges allegiance to Allah, as it were, by giving his hand into the hand of Allah, just as some followers do pledge their fealty to their kings and masters, by kissing and shaking hands with them.

Al-Muhallib said: “The hadith of ‘Umar refutes the assertions of those who say that ‘The Black Stone is Allah’s right hand on earth wherewith He shakes the hands of His slaves.’” God forbid that we should ascribe any physical organs to Allah [sic]. The commandment to kiss the Black Stone is meant to test and to demonstrate palpably as to who obeys and submits. It may be compared with the command to Iblis to bow to Adam.

We have no definite evidence, however, to believe that any of the stones used in building the Ka’bah originally (by Ibrahim and Isma’il), is still in existence today excepting the Black Stone. (Sayyid Saabiq, Fiqh-Us-Sunnah, Volume 5: Tawaf or Circumambulation around Ka’bah, Number 74b http://www.alim.org/library/hadith/fiq/FQS/5/74; bold, capital, and italicized underline emphasis ours)

Muhammad further taught that the black stone was sent down from paradise white as snow and became black from the sins of all those that worshiped it:

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet said:

“The Black Stone is from Paradise.”

Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2935

In-book reference: Book 24, Hadith 0

English translation: Vol. 3, Book 24, Hadith 2938 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/urn/1081020)

And:

9 The Book on Hajj

(49) Chapter: What Has Been Related About The Virtues Of The Black Stone, Its Corner, And The Maqam

Ibn Abbas narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “The Black Stone descended from the Paradise, and it was more white than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam.”

Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 877

In-book reference: Book 9, Hadith 70

English translation: Vol. 2, Book 4, Hadith 877 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/9/70; underline emphasis ours)

9 The Book on Hajj

(49) Chapter: What Has Been Related About The Virtues Of The Black Stone, Its Corner, And The Maqam

Ibn Abbas narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “The Black Stone descended from the Paradise, and it was more white than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam.”

Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 877

In-book reference: Book 9, Hadith 70

English translation: Vol. 2, Book 4, Hadith 877 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/9/70; underline emphasis ours)

The implication here is that the black stone absorbs(ed) the sins of its worshipers, and therefore functions as a savior of sorts, one which makes expiation for the sins of those that venerate it.

Suffice it to say, such veneration is strongly condemned not just in the Quran and ahadith (albeit, inconsistently), but also in God’s true Word, the Holy Bible.

For instance, God’s revelation expressly prohibits true believers from bowing down to and kissing objects such as stones:

“And God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.’” Exodus 20:1-6

“Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 26:1

“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18

“if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.” Job 31:26-28

God even commanded his people to destroy such objects:

“The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, ‘Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their sacred stones and cast images, and demolish all their high places. You are to take possession of the land and settle in it because I have given you the land to possess.’” Numbers 33:50-53

And yet, instead of destroying the black stone, Muhammad kept this pagan relic in order to venerate it, something that is an abomination to the true God of Abraham.

There you have it, folks. Muhammad, the Quran, and the black stone have replaced the three daughters of Allah by becoming intercessors and idols that Muslims are to venerate and/or turn to for the express purpose of bringing them closer to Allah.

In other words, Islam has replaced the three idol goddesses of the pagan Arabs with three idols of its own, namely, Muhammad, the Quran, and the black stone. After all, since the latter three are venerated and looked to as intercessors that bring Muslims closer to their lord, can anyone tell us how different this is from the pagans’ veneration of al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat, the three daughters of Allah?

The only difference that we can see is that Muhammad denied that he, the Quran and the black stone are the offspring of Allah, in the same way that the pagans believed that their three goddesses were. Yet apart from that difference, everything else is basically identical.

Moreover, recall that one of the reasons Muhammad gave for rejecting mediation of the idols of the pagans is that their intercession implies that Allah doesn’t know everything, and is therefore in need of mediators to inform him of the plight of his creatures:

And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say: “Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?” Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him! S. 10:18 Hilali-Khan

In light of Muhammad’s teaching that he, the Quran and the black stone will all act as intercessors on behalf of Muslims, this means that this argument can now be leveled against him. I.e., Muhammad’s lord cannot be omniscient but must be ignorant, which explains why he needs Muhammad, the Quran, and the black stone to mediate before him.

So much for Islam being the purest form of monotheism, being the one religion that has eradicated all idolatrous practices and veneration.

Source: https://answeringislamblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/04/the-islamic-gods-unveiled-pt-2/

IHS