Polytheism | Polytheism Definition and Religions Facts

Divine Care and Training

Polytheism | Polytheism Definition and Religions Facts – The Prophet (PBUH) never practiced any act of Shirk (Polytheism) even in the days when he was not yet invested as prophet. Once the Quraysh invited him to partake of a meal which was an offering to the idols: the animal whose meat was served was slaughtered in the name of an idol.

The Prophet (PBUH) refused to eat that food. He had started denouncing the practice of idol worship before he was invested as prophet and forbade those who trusted him from indulging in it. (Mustadrik Hakim, 3: 216. M’ojam Kabeer Tabrani, 5: 88.)

When the Prophet (PBUH) was born, Makkah was the hub of idol worship. In the K’aba itself, 360 idols were installed. An additional point of superiority that the family of the Prophet (PBUH) enjoyed was that they were the caretakers and key bearers of K’aba. Inspite of it, the Prophet (PBUH) did not ever bow his head in front of an idol, nor did he ever participate in any rite of ignorance.

In order to uphold their position of privilege, the Quraysh had made it a rule that they did not go, like other pilgrims, to Arafat on the occasion of Hajj. They had also made a rule that the pilgrims coming from outside should either adopt the dress of the Quraysh or perform the Tawaaf (going round the K’aba seven times) naked. That is why performing of Tawaaf naked had become quite common. But the Prophet (PBUH) never supported his family in such matters. (Bukhari.)

Polytheism | Polytheism Definition – In Arabia of the time, storytelling was a popular pastime. At night people used to gather at a place after finishing their day’s work and listened to a professional’s narration with great interest. In his boyhood days, the Prophet (PBUH) had also once wanted to attend one such gathering. While on the way, he stopped for a while to watch a marriage celebration, where he was overcome by sleep.

When he woke up, it was morning already. One more time the same incident happened. Twice only, during his forty years of age, he tried to attend such a gathering, but each time he was saved from participating in an engagement like that which did not match his ultimate mission: (Al-Rouzul Anaf Suhaili, 1: 112) “Your position is above such engagements.”

Invested as Prophet :

Polytheism | Polytheism Definition and Religions Facts – As the time of Hazrat Muhammad’s appointment as Prophet came close, he (pbuh) developed an increasing desire to stay in seclusion. He used to take water and Sattu (flour to be used as food) and retire to a cave on Mount Hira, which was an uninhabited place and was several miles from Makkah.

There he remained engaged in acts of worship, which included Zikr (remembrance of Allah) and reflection on the divine signs. He stayed in seclusion there until his stock of water and food lasted. Now the Prophet (PBUH) used to have dreams, which were so true that what he saw in a dream at night appeared in reality in the day.

One day when the Prophet (PBUH) was in the Cave of Hira, an angel appeared to him. He told him, “Read.” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “I am unlettered.” Upon it the angel took him within the fold of his arms and embraced him so hard that he felt exhausted. The angel left him then and said again, “Read.”

The Prophet (PBUH) replied again, “I am not formally educated.” He took him again in his arms and held him tight with a great force and then released. The third time he asked him, “Read.” The Prophet (PBUH) gave him the same reply. The angel then recited these verses (which now form a part of a chapter in the Qur`an):

(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
“Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists).
He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood).
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He has taught man that which he knew not.” [Al-‘Alaq: 1-5]
The Prophet (PBUH) returned home soon after this incident, lay in his bed, and asked his wife Khadija® to cover him with some cloth. When he overcame the feeling of shock, he told his wife that he had witnessed things threatening to his life. His wife offered consolation to him by saying: “Why should you fear anything? I see that you are kind to your relatives, speak truth, support widows, orphans, and the helpless, host guests, and sympathize with sufferers. Allah will never let an affliction befall you.” But then Khadija herself felt the need to be assured that her husband was not in danger. So she took the Prophet (PBUH) to her cousin, Warqa bin Nawfal, who knew the Ibrani (Hebrew) language and was a scholar of Tawrayt (the Torah) and Injeel (the Gospel). (According to Islamic traditions, Tawrayt and Injeel were divine books revealed to Prophet Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus Christ), respectively, may Allah’s blessings be on them, but they are no more available to the world.)At the behest of Khadija, the Prophet (PBUH) narrated to Warqa the event of the Angel Jibrail’s coming to him and his conversation with him. Warqa immediately spoke out that it was the same Angel which used to come down to Hazrat Musa (Prophet Moses) to bring to him the divine message. Warqa wished that he were alive when the Prophet (PBUH) would be forced to leave his hometown. The Prophet (PBUH) inquired in surprise if he would be forced out of town. Warqa replied in the affirmative and explained that whoever had called his people to a divine message was met with enmity at the beginning. He said that he wished to remain alive until the time of the Prophet’s emigration (Hijrah) so that he could be of service to him. ( Sahih Bukhari, Badaul Wahi, and Muslim, Kitabul Iman, Badaul Wahi.

It is also stated that the age of our Prophet (PBUH) was 40 at the time) One day the Angel Jibrail led the Prophet (PBUH) to the edge of the Cave where he made Wudhu (ablution performed in the Islamic way) in front of him. The Prophet (PBUH) also made Wudhu in the same way and then both of them offered Salah (Prayers performed in the Islamic way) together. The Angel Jibrail led the Salah. (Al-Ansaab lil Balazari, 1: 111)

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