Iqtiḍāʾ al-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm - Ibn Taimiya - (2/303)

Iqtiḍāʾ al-Ṣirāṭ al-MustaqīmIbn Taimiya

the false gods, just as they blend sorcery with the veneration of the heavenly bodies. It is self-evident—indeed, axiomatic in the religion of Islam, and in the mission of every messenger—that such practices are forbidden polytheism. In fact, they rank among the gravest forms of shirk, against which the prophets were specifically sent to warn humankind. The address of Abraham, the intimate friend of the Most Merciful, peace be upon him, to his people concerned precisely this kind of idolatry.

Likewise, the Exalted has said:

“And thus We showed Abraham the dominion of the heavens and the earth so that he might be of those with sure faith.
When night fell over him, he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘I do not love that which sets.’
Then, when he saw the moon rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘If my Lord does not guide me, I shall surely be among the wayward people.’
Then, when he saw the sun rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord; this is greater.’ Yet when it set, he said, ‘O my people, I am innocent of what you associate with Allah.
Indeed, I have turned my face toward Him who created the heavens and the earth—uprightly—and I am not of the polytheists.’
His people disputed with him, whereupon he said, ‘Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? I do not fear what you associate with Him unless my Lord wills something. My Lord encompasses everything in knowledge; will you not then remember?
And how should I fear what you associate, while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He sent down no authority? Which of the two parties is worthier of security, if you only knew?
Those who believe and do not mix their faith with wrongdoing—they are the ones who will have security, and they are rightly guided.’
That was Our argument which We gave to Abraham against his people. We raise in rank whom We will. Truly, your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.” (Sūrat al-Anʿām, 6:75–83)

Abraham, peace be upon him, adopted this method because his people had taken the planets as deities: they would invoke them and seek their aid. Neither they nor any person of sound intellect believed that a planet had created the heavens and the earth; rather, they called upon those celestial bodies instead of Allah in accordance with the doctrine

(1) Surah al-Anʿam, verses 75–83. In the printed edition the verses are not reproduced in full; only the opening of verse 75 is cited, followed by the words “up to His saying: ‘Indeed your Lord is All-Knowing, All-Wise.’” The editor inverted the wording—the correct sequence is “All-Wise, All-Knowing” (Hakim ʿAlim); see 6:83. (2) MSS J and D read: “yaʿtaqidun” (they believe).

الطاغوت، كما يجمعون بين السحر ودعوة الكواكب، وهذا مما يعلم بالاضطرار من دين الإسلام - بل ودين جميع الرسل - أنه شرك محرم، بل هذا من أعظم أنواع الشرك الذي بعثت الرسل بالنهي عنه، ومخاطبة إبراهيم الخليل صلى الله عليه وسلم لقومه كانت في نحو هذا الشرك. وكذلك قوله تعالى {وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ - فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ - فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ - فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي هَذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ - إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِي وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ - وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ - الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ - وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَنْ نَشَاءُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ} [الأنعام: ٧٥ - ٨٣] (١) . فإن إبراهيم عليه السلام سلك هذه السبيل لأن قومه كانوا يتخذون الكواكب أربابا، يدعونها ويسألونها، ولم يكونوا هم ولا أحد من العقلاء يعتقد (٢) أن كوكبا من الكواكب خلق السماوات والأرض، وإنما كانوا يدعونها من دون الله على مذهب

(١) سورة الأنعام: الآيات ٧٥- ٨٣. وفي المطبوعة: لم يسرد الآيات إنما ذكر أول الآية ٧٥ من سورة الأنعام، ثم قال: إلى قوله: " إن ربك عليم حكيم"، وقد أخطأ في لفظ الآية، والصحيح "حكيم عليم" سورة الأنعام: الآية ٨٣. (٢) في (ج د) : يعتقدون.