Major Polytheism in Islam

Major Polytheism

• Major polytheism is associating a partner with Allah in his lordship, divinity, or names & attributes.
• It's considered the greatest sin as it compares the perfect creator (Allah) with imperfect creations.
• Two types of major polytheism:
  • Apparent: Visible acts of worship to idols, graves, or deceased individuals.
  • Hidden: Individuals claiming Islam outwardly but inwardly worshipping other gods or disbelieving.
• Divisions of major polytheism include:
  • Belief: Believing someone besides Allah controls creation, the unseen, or forgives sins.
  • Speech: Calling on others for help or mocking Allah's attributes.
  • Deeds: Performing acts of worship for someone other than Allah.
• Polytheism is the greatest sin because:
  • There's no forgiveness (unless repented).
  • It contradicts the purpose of creation (Jinn and humans were created for worship).
  • It nullifies good deeds.
  • It leads to hellfire.

Pre-Islamic Polytheism

• Before the Prophet, many practiced polytheism, worshipping idols, some distorted forms of Christianity and Judaism, fire, planets, or had no religion.

Prophet's Role in Eliminating Polytheism

• The Prophet guided people from darkness to light by destroying idols, prohibiting polytheism, and stopping ways leading to it, encouraging worship of the one true God (Allah).

Polytheism Today

• Polytheism still exists today—people can worship idols, animals, individuals, visit soothsayers, fortune tellers or magicians.

Musa (Moses) (PBUH):

• One of the most admired messengers
• Spoke with Allah directly
• Endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and the Torah
• Among his greatest miracles: splitting the sea with his staff, and his hand becoming white and shining without any flaw when he took it out of his shirt.
• Allah communicated directly with Musa. (Surah An-Nisa 164)
• Musa's mother saved him from being killed by placing him in a box in the river.
• The Torah was revealed to Musa as guidance for the Israelites.
• Musa's story emphasizes patience, obedience to Allah, reliance on Him, and staying true to our faith.
• In Egypt, Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites by killing male infants while keeping females alive; Egyptians worshipped Pharaoh instead of Allah.
• Musa's wife (Asiya) was able to nurse a child and Musa is able to return to his mother during his adoption period.

Companions of the Prophet

• The Prophet's companions were chosen by Allah.
• They were the best of creation after the Prophet.
• They had pure hearts and profound knowledge.
• Allah and the Prophets praised their virtues in the Quran and Hadith (narrations).
• They played a crucial role in preserving the Quran by memorization and writing; they also learned and applied the Quranic teachings.
• They recorded and taught the Prophet's life and actions (Sunnah).
• They conveyed knowledge to future generations.
• Insulting the companions is forbidden per Hadith.