Seventeen

Prophet Muhammed and The Breaking of Idols

Why `Allah' for God?
Why do Muslims call the creator `Allah' in Arabic which is a foreign language? Isn't it enough that everybody gives him the name in their mother tongue? Like the Keralites calling him `Daivam', `Ishwaran' etc.
Allah is the name that denotes the power that has created and sustained everything in this universe. Other words from other languages like Daivom, Ishwaran, God, Khuda, can also be used to introduce the creator. However, the most suitable word to denote this power which is unique and which is neutral gender wise is `Allah'. This Arabic noun word has no plural or gender difference. So there is no equivalent translation in any language for the word Allah. It is untranslatable. Words like Daivam, God, Khuda in other languages are translations of the Arabic word `Ilah'; and not of Allah. The word god has the plural form `gods' and feminine gender `goddess' like `daivam' has the forms of `daivangal' and `devi'. It is the same with other languages also. The word `god' has no serious implications of the word `Allah'. The word Allah is beyond such usage, and it has no number or gender. So for representing the nature of the Creator, the most suitable word is `Allah'. A word was essential to introduce the creator to the whole humanity, and as the most suitable word for it was `Allah' it was finally decided through the last messenger of God. However, except for prayers and other fixed forms of worship, it is not necessary that one must use Allah, to introduce or to address the creator. One may use the names in native or other world languages.
Breaking of the Idol
Like the Hindus of India, the Arabs of Makkah were idol worshippers, and Ka'aba was an ancient temple where idols were consecrated. When Muhammad got political power, he destroyed the idols with force. What do you say?
No religion in the world has ever accepted the concept of polytheism or exhorted idol worship. Hinduism is also not different. In the beginning, Hindus were not idol worshippers. It was a later introduction. The renowned Vedic scholars and Hindu reformers have clearly said it. Regarding this the views of Sri Dayananda Saraswathi is explained by K. Gokulanandan thus: "The result of worshipping any matter other than God will be mere sadness. God has several names, and they are all synonyms for the same power. God is the cause in itself omnipresent, eternal and everlasting. From the verses in the Yajur veda like ''Aja Eka Path'' (Yajur 34-53) and `Saparyagay Chyashramakayma' (Yajur 40-8) Dayanada has pointed out that god would not take birth. So the concept of re-incarnation and the stories spread by the Vaishnavas based on the incarnation theory are made up. Hence the verses in the Bhagavat Gita 4-7
Yada yada hi Dharmasya
Glanirhavathi Bharatha !
Abhyuthanamadharmasya
Thadathmanam Srijamyaham
are unacceptable. God, with His infinite qualities and other deeds, has no need to incarnate in order to kill Kamsa, Ravana and their likes. Those are fools who think that just to kill an insignificant person God has to take the form of birth and death. ''Service to the parents, teachers and guests is the worship of God - and not the worship of stone''.
''Four thousand and four hundred verses of the Mahabharatha are written by Vyasa. His Disciples added five thousand and six hundred verses. So the real Mahabharatha has only ten thousand verses, and the rest are later interpolations. The astrologers and exorcists deceive the fools. Heavenly bodies are inanimate objects, and hence they can become neither angry nor sad. All people who predict future from the planets, stars, astrology, position of the sun, auspicious moments are deceivers. They practise their deception in the garb of mathematics and astronomy. Those people are also fools who have faith in black magic, techniques of temptation, destruction etc...
"According to the Yajurveda 32-33 the phenomenon of the universe cannot create any statue. The Vedic people were not idol worshippers. The Jains built the statues of their Theerthangaras, and idol worship emerged in India in imitation of the Jains. Instead of doing the right deed at the right time, the people who believe that wishes will be fulfilled, and God's grace will be acquired through idol worship, are simply wasting their time and resources. The priests of temples deceive the devotees and rob them of their money.
''By worshipping the inanimate stone the power of the mind is wasted, and like the stone the mind becomes incapable of thinking freely'' (Gokulanandan K - Modern Indian History; (Malayalam) Gen. Editor Dr. C. Viswanathan Nair, University Books Publications, Calicut, Page 58)
In the beginning the Arabs of Makkah were also not idol worshippers.
The habitation in Makkah, which was infertile and uninhabited, began with the emergence of prophet Ibrahim and his family. Everybody knows that they were believers in One God and strong opponents of the idol worship.
The Ka'aba was built by prophet Ibrahim and his son prophet Ismail, and it was built for the worship of the One God. It was the first house built on earth for the worship of the God ''The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings'' (3:96).
It was Amru bin Luayyu, the head of Khuza'a clan, who installed an idol in the Ka'aba for the first time. He installed the idol `Hubal' which was brought from Muab. The idols of Iswaf and Naila were also installed in the Ka'aba. Hence the Ka'aba, which was originally built for the worship of One God, became the house of idols. During the prophet's life there were more than three hundred idols. After his prophethood at the age of forty, Prophet Muhammad lived in Makkah for thirteen years. During this period he very strongly created awareness among his people against idol worship. At the same time he left the idols in the Ka'aba untouched. The Ka'aba was built by his forefather prophet Ibrahim for the worship of the One God. Gradually Makkah came under Islam and all the natives adopted the faith. Consequently, there was no one to worship these idols. Even the leaders who formerly had supported idol worship and other evil practices became the close followers of the prophet. It was only then that the prophet removed idols from the Ka'aba and cleaned it. It was Abu Sufyan, after his conversion to the new faith, who broke the idol `Manatha' and removed it from the Ka'aba. Before the conversion Abu Sufyan had strongly argued for idol worship and he was in the forefront of battle against the prophet. Another idol `Uzza' was broken by Khalid bin Valeed, who had participated in many a battle against the prophet. So those who broke the idols and cleaned Ka'aba were the one-time idol worshippers from Makkah. By doing so they restored Ka'aba to its former state. It must be mentioned here that the custodian of Ka'abas, after the removal of the idols, was Usman Ibn Talha. He was also the custodian of the key before idols were broken and removed. One can imagine this person's change of mind and strong belief. If one continues even after idols were broken, in the same position which he had held before, the change of faith and his conviction must be total. It must also be remembered that the prophet first of all moved the idols from people's minds through an ideological revolution and then he made them remove the idols with their own hands. There was no one left to worship them anymore.
Islam has strictly ordered the worship of one God and very strongly prohibited idol worship. Still it doesn't allow anyone to revile or laugh at any object that others worship.
''Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides God'' (6:108)
In matters of faith and worship no compulsion or use of force is allowed. Everyone is free to choose their path. The believers' obligation is only to distinguish and show the paths of right and wrong, truth and falsehood.
''Say, ''the Truth is from your Lord'': Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject (it)'' (18:29).
''There is no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from the error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trust worthy hand-hold that never breaks. And God heareth and knoweth all things'' (2:256).