Logic of Ibrahim's (pbuh) Smashing of Idols?
Question:
Ibrahim broke the idols into pieces to make idol worshipers realize powerlessness of their idol. i could not understand what logic is in it. if some one dares Muslims by damaging their mosques or (God forbid) Kabah to prove that if their God does exist, He should come to rescue it?( and some people did damage Kabah but no harm came to them e.g. Hajjaj), what point can we have then?
secondly, can any Muslim following the example of Ibrahim in smashing idols too make idol worshipers realize fault of their beliefs?
Answer:
ٍEvents need to be seen within contexts and with their details. A quick look at the relevant verses reveals that what Ibrahim (pbuh) did was not to make idol worshipers 'realise' that their idols were powerless. It was to invite them to get back to their conscious and admit the wrong beliefs that they knowingly held. This is why when Ibrahim (pbuh) made the argument for them they all admitted their fault in their heart before returning again to their own attitude of arrogance and rejection. The verses are as follows:
قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَٰذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ
He (Ibrahim) said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should (be able to) speak." (21:63)
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
So they returned to themselves and said (to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers." (21:64)
ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَىٰ رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ يَنطِقُونَ
Then they reversed themselves, (saying), "You have already known that these do not speak!" (21:65)
قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ
He said, "Then do you worship instead of God that which does not benefit you at all or harm you? (21:66)
It is clear from the above that people of Ibrahim (pbuh) had made impression that their idols were capable of doing things and in particular protecting themselves. What Ibrahim (pbuh) did was to bring them a perfect situation for a reality check. It did not make them leave their wrong beliefs and attitudes but it certainly shook them and gave them a fair chance for repenting.
In view of the above your comparison with attacking mosques or Ka'bah is not correct. First, Muslims do not worship mosques or Ka'bah. Second, there may be individuals with different opinion but the general and official belief of Muslims overall is not that God will protect mosques or Ka'bah come what may. As you correctly wrote these places have been destroyed before. Therefore if a person attacks these places he is not daring Muslims at all. Muslims have no claims about any divine physical protections for these places.
You wrote: "can any Muslim following the example of Ibrahim in smashing idols too make idol worshipers realize fault of their beliefs?"
If smashing idols at our time can make idol worshipers realize their fault, then in principle I do not see any problems in helping them realize this. The problem however is that at our time we may categorize some people as idol worshipers while they are not really in that category. Also, I am not aware of any idol worshiper at our time who claims that his idols can protect themselves. Attacking their idols therefore does not prove any points to them except that the attacker is devoid from any sense of ethics, rationality and wisdom.
You did not refer to it explicitly but just to remain clear and to avoid any confusions, based on the above, there is no logic and no right for any Muslim to attack the statues of Buddha under the illusion of following the example of Ibrahim (pbuh). What Ibrahim (pbuh) did has nothing to do with this.
------------
July 2013
Ibrahim broke the idols into pieces to make idol worshipers realize powerlessness of their idol. i could not understand what logic is in it. if some one dares Muslims by damaging their mosques or (God forbid) Kabah to prove that if their God does exist, He should come to rescue it?( and some people did damage Kabah but no harm came to them e.g. Hajjaj), what point can we have then?
secondly, can any Muslim following the example of Ibrahim in smashing idols too make idol worshipers realize fault of their beliefs?
Answer:
ٍEvents need to be seen within contexts and with their details. A quick look at the relevant verses reveals that what Ibrahim (pbuh) did was not to make idol worshipers 'realise' that their idols were powerless. It was to invite them to get back to their conscious and admit the wrong beliefs that they knowingly held. This is why when Ibrahim (pbuh) made the argument for them they all admitted their fault in their heart before returning again to their own attitude of arrogance and rejection. The verses are as follows:
قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَٰذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ
He (Ibrahim) said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should (be able to) speak." (21:63)
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
So they returned to themselves and said (to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers." (21:64)
ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَىٰ رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ يَنطِقُونَ
Then they reversed themselves, (saying), "You have already known that these do not speak!" (21:65)
قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ
He said, "Then do you worship instead of God that which does not benefit you at all or harm you? (21:66)
It is clear from the above that people of Ibrahim (pbuh) had made impression that their idols were capable of doing things and in particular protecting themselves. What Ibrahim (pbuh) did was to bring them a perfect situation for a reality check. It did not make them leave their wrong beliefs and attitudes but it certainly shook them and gave them a fair chance for repenting.
In view of the above your comparison with attacking mosques or Ka'bah is not correct. First, Muslims do not worship mosques or Ka'bah. Second, there may be individuals with different opinion but the general and official belief of Muslims overall is not that God will protect mosques or Ka'bah come what may. As you correctly wrote these places have been destroyed before. Therefore if a person attacks these places he is not daring Muslims at all. Muslims have no claims about any divine physical protections for these places.
You wrote: "can any Muslim following the example of Ibrahim in smashing idols too make idol worshipers realize fault of their beliefs?"
If smashing idols at our time can make idol worshipers realize their fault, then in principle I do not see any problems in helping them realize this. The problem however is that at our time we may categorize some people as idol worshipers while they are not really in that category. Also, I am not aware of any idol worshiper at our time who claims that his idols can protect themselves. Attacking their idols therefore does not prove any points to them except that the attacker is devoid from any sense of ethics, rationality and wisdom.
You did not refer to it explicitly but just to remain clear and to avoid any confusions, based on the above, there is no logic and no right for any Muslim to attack the statues of Buddha under the illusion of following the example of Ibrahim (pbuh). What Ibrahim (pbuh) did has nothing to do with this.
------------
July 2013
