Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Satan played with the idol-worshippers, adapting his scheme to each people according to their intellects. One faction he lured into worshipping the idols out of reverence for the dead whose likenesses had been fashioned—exactly what befell the people of Noah—and this motive predominates among the common run of polytheists. Their elites, however, made their idols in the images of the celestial bodies that, in their view, influence the universe; for those figures they erected temples, appointed custodians and attendants, and presented offerings. This practice has persisted in the world from ancient times to the present. The root of that doctrine lies with the idolatrous Sabeans, the people of Abraham, peace be upon him, whom he refuted in debate, shattering their arguments with knowledge and their idols with his own hand, whereupon they sought to distort his message.

Another group forged an idol for the moon, claiming that it deserved worship and that the governance of this lower world rested with it. A group worships fire—the Magians; another worships water. Some bow to animals: one faction venerates horses, another cattle. Others worship human beings, whether living or dead; some worship the jinn; others worship trees; and others worship the angels.” End quote.

Through this you understand Allah’s words: “Whoever associates others with Allah is like one who falls from the sky—birds snatch him away, or the wind sweeps him off to a distant place.” 1

And His words: “You are worshipping nothing but names you and your forefathers have coined; Allah has sent down no authority for them. Judgment belongs to Allah alone. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.” 2

And His words: “Allah sets forth a parable: a man belonging to multiple quarrelsome masters and another wholly devoted to one master—are the two alike in comparison?” 3

These idolaters, once they abandoned the worship of Allah alone—for which they were created and in which their happiness lies—were afflicted with the worship of devils, and their whims and passions scattered them, just as Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: