Abraham and the idols
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Just so you know, this is source of my current problems
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szo_949-_Yg
I would never have watched it except I've started going to women's study group again with my friends. I don't know if I can attend again though since this has really rocked my world in a bad way. '( Just for the record (and I know this will sound horrible) I hate that sheikh. His whole way of presenting Islam disgusts me. He's so high and mighty - like the disbelievers are such a joke. The thing is, I may not agree with the disbelievers when it comes to religion - but I like them! There are some great non-Muslims out there, doing great things....and I don't think that becuase they think differently to me that they are a joke.
I freakin' hated this video....nearly had an aneurism watching it. sigh
But he did point out the Abraham/idols thing and now I have to deal with that.
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San that was my original question - why? The answer I've been given seems to be because they threatened to burn him (I think?).
Did they really all smash idols? Did I manage to miss that - entirely possible I suppose since I missed the bit about Abraham. I mean, I've read the whole Quran but it doesn't always all sink in - I can't take it all in that easily.Or are you speaking metaphorically?
Because I don't see what physical smashing would have to do much of the time with bringing people to true Islam. To me that is like bringing people to Islam by the sword. I understand when people have no rights and/or are being attacked. To me that is the time for physical action - demonstrations, attacks, self-protection. But otherwise? It seems wrong to me.
So can someone tell did Abraham smash the idols because his rights were being smashed? Or because he was in danger?
From my understanding Abraham smashed the idols to show the idolaters how foolish there idol worship was. He wanted to show them from a logical perceptive how stupid it was to worship(and idolize) what you and I create.
However make no mistake, no true prophet or true messenger would willfully try to force someone to believe in Islam.
God says in the Quran,2256 There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been made clear from the wrong way. Whoever rejects the transgressors, and acknowledges God, has grasped the firm branch that will never break. God is Hearer, Knower.
We are given the freedom to choose. This means that no one including messengers of God and prophets of God can spread God's religion by the sword or through force. This is also true for cases where parents have children. For example, if i had children I can't force them to believe in the Quran and God Signs. They themselves must come to this understanding. I am not responsible for what you believe and you are not responsible for what i believe. Every person is responsible for his or her own belief. All we can do is admonish one another through discourse.
Peace,
Kevin -
From my understanding Abraham smashed the idols to show the idolaters how foolish there idol worship was. He wanted to show them from a logical perceptive how stupid it was to worship(and idolize) what you and I create.
But please, please, please someone tell me/show me how that was showing thm "from a logical perspective how stupid" their actions were. If you can, that is what I need.
However make no mistake, no true prophet or true messenger would willfully try to force someone to believe in Islam.
God says in the Quran,2256 There is no compulsion in the system; the proper way has been made clear from the wrong way. Whoever rejects the transgressors, and acknowledges God, has grasped the firm branch that will never break. God is Hearer, Knower.
Yes. That's right, it does say there is NO COMPULSION. So what was the purpose of destroying property that didn't belong to him? To make a point? Again, what point? What point is demonstrated when we go and destroy something important from another religion?
We are given the freedom to choose. This means that no one including messengers of God and prophets of God can spread God's religion by the sword or through force. This is also true for cases where parents have children. For example, if i had children I can't force them to believe in the Quran and God Signs. They themselves must come to this understanding. I am not responsible for what you believe and you are not responsible for what i believe. Every person is responsible for his or her own belief. All we can do is admonish one another through discourse.
Peace,
KevinThank you and yes I totally agree. I guess I just don't understand how this really important Prophet's behaviour fits with that.
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But please, please, please someone tell me/show me how that was showing thm "from a logical perspective how stupid" their actions were. If you can, that is what I need.
But you have read the story in AQ right? ???
Smash em all, except the biggest one, when the idolaters return, tell them to ask the biggest one who did it etc.
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Dear Rana,
I must admit that what Abraham did in my view was sort of risky. Also you are 100% right .There can hardly be any point in destroying someone else?s property. But even so he was genuinely trying to show to his people that what they were doing was wrong. Hence the purpose of not breaking the biggest idol. You can say that it was a sort of tactic that he used to trigger there brains to think.For example
2162 They said, "Did you do this to our gods O Abraham?"
2163 He said, "It was the biggest one of them here who did it, so ask them, if they do speak!"
2164 So they turned and said to themselves "It is indeed ourselves who have been wicked!" (Thinking begins )
2165 Then they reverted to their old ideas "You know that they do not speak!" (Tactic worked only momentarily. "Let's burn Abraham" >D )Abraham didn't break the idols out of hate or malice. He did it only to help them contemplate seriously on there beliefs. Yes he did pull a prank on his people. However in God's eye what Abraham's people did was FAR more worse.
Peace,
Kevin. -
Because I don't see what physical smashing would have to do much of the time with bringing people to true Islam. To me that is like bringing people to Islam by the sword. I understand when people have no rights and/or are being attacked. To me that is the time for physical action - demonstrations, attacks, self-protection. But otherwise? It seems wrong to me.
Now you're equating Abraham's actions to 'islam by the sword'?! ??? When did he attack anyone?! He was ATTACKED, which is a point you continuously ignore. First idols were pork, now idols are people? Seriously? This is silly.
I am sorry but this is obviously an issue of seeing what you want to see and ignoring the rest because a prophet wasn't deemed as nice and sweet as you want him to be, or some sheikih (with SHADY in his name!) found a way to abuse the quran. I am sorry to be blunt, but I think you're reading the wrong book, to be honest. Non-muslims doesn't equate to a disbeliever, by the way. And nowhere in the quran are you allowed to "befriend" disbelievers. If you've read the quran, you'd know there is some strong language about disbelievers.
Earlier you mentioned 'reason', I see none in your objections, only emotionally based responses. How can we 'logically' show you anything when you refuse to be logical yourself?!
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But you have read the story in AQ right? ???
Smash em all, except the biggest one, when the idolaters return, tell them to ask the biggest one who did it etc.
Yeah I know. And there is an ayah whre they actually say they understand or believe or something but then they continue to carry on with idolatry. 2164
Alright so Quran does suggest that on some level it had effect. I just find it a really odd way to make a point, in particular given that we are not supposed to force someone. Since you can't get inside someones head to implant a belief then that would always be through force, coercion etc I would think.
Also I think what is confusing the issue here (for me) is that most idols are not worshipped as though they can do anything anyway. They tend to be more of a "focus" when praying & meditating. Christians might revere the statues 'becuase' to them they're in the likeness of God but I've never met one who though that a statue 'was' God. Nor a Buddhist. I don't know much about Hindu practices. Maybe my lack of knowledge about what they practiced is a problem.
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Abraham didn't break the idols out of hate or malice. He did it only to help them contemplate seriously on there beliefs. Yes he did pull a prank on his people. However in God's eye what Abraham's people did was FAR more worse.
Peace,
Kevin.Hehe Kevin, yeah I just referred to that ayah in my last post. I can see (or I assume) that 2164 was like a seed sprouting even if they then go on to do more wrong. I appreciated your post - the way you described it is a more comfortable way for me to think about it at the moment )
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Or are you speaking metaphorically?
In cases other than Abraham's (where it is both literal and figurative), yes.
Because I don't see what physical smashing would have to do much of the time with bringing people to true Islam. To me that is like bringing people to Islam by the sword. I understand when people have no rights and/or are being attacked. To me that is the time for physical action - demonstrations, attacks, self-protection. But otherwise? It seems wrong to me.
So can someone tell did Abraham smash the idols because his rights were being smashed? Or because he was in danger?
You don't think that it was his people who were actually in danger (that was only perceived by Abraham at the moment)?
If you want to get a glimpse of Abraham's actual method for "bringing people to true Islam", then passages about how he built a House and maintain it with his family should be much more interesting to you.
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Peace
Rana, I think perhaps your discomfort with the story is because you're seeing it as a matter of religious freedom. It's important to distinguish between someone who has an erroneous concept of God i.e. praying to Jesus, and being a mushrik in the quranic sense. Here's a few verses regarding shirk
5/82 Surely you will find strongest (of) the people (in) enmity to those who believe, (are) the liberty-takers and those who are polytheists ;
The mushriks are the ones who have enmity for the believers. This is not just a mere dislike for believers, but an active opposition to their ethos and works.
6/121 And do not consume of that (which) naught has been mentioned (the) name of Allah upon it, and indeed it (is) a grave disobedience. And indeed, the devils surely inspire to their allies so that they dispute with you, and if you obeyed them, indeed, you (are) surely polytheists .
Note here that the devils inspire people to consume (this goes beyond food food, it's the things we consume in life) that which Allah's essence/name has not been mentioned. We're told that if we join/obey these devils and men, we have become mushriks. So the mushrik is one who disputes, opposes and violates things that Allah has approved.
6/137 And likewise, made pleasing to many of the polytheists - (is) killing (of) their children - (by) their partners, so that they may ruin them and make confusing upon them their obligation . And if willed, Allah, naught (would) they have done so. So leave them and what they invent.
Here, we see that those partners the mushriks associate with Allah not only inspire them to kill their children, but provide justification for the crime and make it seem pleasing. The "idols" here confuse the people regarding the deen, they corrupt it so that what is bad is made to seem good and vice versa.
From my understanding, the mushrik is not merely someone who bows to an idol and gives it food everyday, rather the mushrik is one who corrupts the system of humanity and confuses people into acting immorally by raising institutions and ideologies (idols) as authorities. Perhaps the IMF or NATO qualify for this...?
Ibrahim was fighting shirk in his community, not the mere adulation of statues. Note that the statues would have been the front for the shirk. We know that the people of Ibrahim were violating universal justice (the deen) because they attempted to burn Ibrahim alive. It is clear he was opposing an utterly corrupt social system.
With this in mind, how do I understand his actions? I believe his actions were definitely civil disobedience. There's no need to hide from it and it is nothing to be ashamed of. He definitely broke the rules of his corrupt society. But it had nothing to do with religious freedom or trying to convert anyone. He was fighting corruption and immorality and he smashed the idols because they represented the head of the snake. And thus demonstrated to the people that the idols (the institution that spawned the corruption) they had associated with Allah had no authority and the evil ideologies that originated from them should be stopped.
If the people of Ibrahim were living moral, peaceful lives but simply bowing to idols everyday, then smashing the statues would have been questionable. But as shown by 6/121 and 6/137, the idols were the institution that caused criminality and evil.
Hope that helps.
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In cases other than Abraham's (where it is both literal and figurative), yes.
You don't think that it was his people who were actually in danger (that was only perceived by Abraham at the moment)?
If you want to get a glimpse of Abraham's actual method for "bringing people to true Islam", then passages about how he built a House and maintain it with his family should be much more interesting to you.
Salaam San. Yes maybe it was...though that wasn't made clear in the video I had the misfortune to be subjected to or if it was it was drowned out by all the anti-polytheist crap. I would like to read more about the house but a couple of days ago when I re-read all the Abraham parts in Quran I didn't find that. Do you have a reference? If not it's ok I'll try to find it this afternoon. Thanks )
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Peace Mushu - it does help! Thank you )
I did see it a matter of religious freedom - you're right there! And I take that very seriously because I know it's easy to dump on those who have different beliefs to us. I'm not talking about having an opionion, we all are different to each other, but rather when we act to make life difficult or even unbearable for another group because we soooo desperately believe we are right. How can anyone be that sure that they are willing to force that upon others? I guess Abraham may have had that knowledge because he was in contact with God (via iphone of course lol) but what about everyone else? Can we prove the existence of God? No. So I alway have this feeling that it's better to do what we do and if God wants people to see the truth and be drawn to the truth then it will happen.
That video and the way it presented the story was really confronting for me. I wonder how many ill deeds have been done because a person looked at that story and used it wrongly. )
"It is clear he was opposing an utterly corrupt social system. With this in mind, how do I understand his actions? I believe his actions were definitely civil disobedience."
I see your point and I am not against civil disobedience per se - there is a definitely a time and place for it. I have to go out now but I'll look at those passages you noted further this afternoon.
)
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Salaam San. Yes maybe it was...though that wasn't made clear in the video I had the misfortune to be subjected to or if it was it was drowned out by all the anti-polytheist crap. I would like to read more about the house but a couple of days ago when I re-read all the Abraham parts in Quran I didn't find that. Do you have a reference? If not it's ok I'll try to find it this afternoon. Thanks )
I think you can start with these verses. It will be a good exercise to question certain terms as they are traditionally understood/translated. You're on the right track by questioning the motives and reasons.
2124-127
395-97
1435-37
2226-29It is only my opinion, but I see what Abraham did with his former people as "showing the darkness", while what he did for the rest of his life was "showing the light". Prior to the burning incident, he was in the "exposing" mode that so many religious evangelists (up to this day) take precedent from. If they're smarter, they'd choose to take example from his latter mode (a much more inviting one), which takes lifelong commitment.
The video you've watched is no accident (well, nothing is). That you chose to respond to it might actually mean something important to you later. (
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peace
Could someone please explain to me why Abraham broke idols which were not his into tiny pieces?
Quran 2158 So he broke them into pieces except for the biggest of them, so that they may turn to him.
Thank you.
Peace,
Some points to consider in order to understand this episode of the story of ibraheem.
1-Ibraheem was still a teenager or a young adult when he broke the idols. He was impulsive and wasn't acting in a godly way.
2- Like Moossa when he killed unjustly a person (to defend one of his friends), not every action of the prophets mentionned in al-quran can be considered as good. They were only humans, and certainely they did some wrongs.
3- In this story, one can see the danger of idolatry. You can see that ibraheem's father did not even try to defend his own son from the fire, and for simply having broken some stone statues. This shows how confused and dangerous are the minds of the idolaters...
I hope this helps.
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This story reminds me of a film I saw.
I forgot the title, but the story is about a guy stumbling
On a pair of glasses that made him see the truth
This truth was hidden to all people by a big
Transmiting antenna.
By destroying it he made the truth apear to everyone -
Peace be upon you,
Do not take stories you can NEVER verify because you were not there as literal. The fruit is in the message. Idols are a mental thing. God is the seer, who itself cannot be seen. God is No Thing. So matter cannot be formed in anyway to represent ANTI Matter.
Its not about the smashing of statues...its about the smashing of the wrong ideas.
What is it that you devote the majority of your time thinking about? Money? Women?
Or do you spend more time thinking about "what is the correct thing to do in any situation"? How can I correct my incorrect behaviors? etc
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peace
Could someone please explain to me why Abraham broke idols which were not his into tiny pieces?
Quran 2158 So he broke them into pieces except for the biggest of them, so that they may turn to him.
Thank you.
It was a dialectic genius move!!
The objective was to prove his point by applying back the same fallacious reasoning to the one proposing it.
I regard Abraham was one of the earliest example of a 'critical thinker'...
The way it goes is the following..
- Broke the idols except the biggest of it..
- Propose a statement to the people that "it was the biggest idol who broke the other idols due to jealousy".
- The people shall responds "no way! it's illogical! the idol cannot do anything, let alone broke the other idols!".
- Gotcha! Then why the f$@k you keep worshiping it!! you said it yourself they cannot do anything!
Yet the religious sectarians responded with anger due to Abraham's "blasphemy" and "heretical insult" to the gods.. and with justification of "avoiding the wrath of the gods due to this horrible blasphemy".. they burned him alive at the stake...
Something just doesn't change up until today isn't it?
?The reason religious beliefs need protection from ridicule is that they are ridiculous"
-- Blasphemy day's slogan contestSalam / Peace
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Peace all,
Peace be upon you,
Do not take stories you can NEVER verify because you were not there as literal. The fruit is in the message. Idols are a mental thing. God is the seer, who itself cannot be seen. God is No Thing. So matter cannot be formed in anyway to represent ANTI Matter.
Its not about the smashing of statues...its about the smashing of the wrong ideas.
What is it that you devote the majority of your time thinking about? Money? Women?
Or do you spend more time thinking about "what is the correct thing to do in any situation"? How can I correct my incorrect behaviors? etc
I think that this is an reasoning and that too many people get caught up in the stories rather than the message.
Shabbir Tafseer
37 (The Book He has sent down, bears an important Principle.) He is the One Who has
revealed to you (O Prophet) the scripture. In it some verses are literal, while some
verses are allegorical. The verses that pertain to Permanent Values have been
presented literally. These verses, Muhkamat, are the essence of the Divine law.
But abstract phenomena, some historical events, and the World of the Unseen
are described in similes, metaphors and allegories (Mutashaabihaat) for your
understanding. But those who are given to crookedness in their hearts pursue
the allegories and try to give them literal meanings, thus creating dissension of
thought. None encompasses their final meaning (of such as the Essence of God,
His Throne, His Hand, His Book of Decrees, the exact mode of revelation on the
heart of the Messengers, the Eternity) but God. Those who are well founded in
knowledge understand why the allegories have been used and they keep learning
from them. They proclaim the belief that the entire Book is from their Lord. As
the human knowledge evolves, more and more allegories will unfold their literal
meaning. But only the men and women of understanding will bear this fact
in mind. -
Peace be upon you,
None knows their meaning but God....and one day you must come to know that you are God. We are Divine Beings. We are God's, and to God's we are returning. We are Divine in potential, the same way a brand new baby has the potential for Calculus and Trigonometry, so is the humans divine potential. It must be nurtured! and that is what "religion" (tying back) is all about. It is behavior shaping so we can manifest a Divine response in life. There is no part of a message from God that is useless and that we are not meant to understand. If you think so then you might as well cut those parts out.
