Al-Irshad ila Sahih al-Itiqad - Salih Al-Fawzan - (62)

Al-Irshad ila Sahih al-ItiqadSalih Al-Fawzan

—the very same objection put forward by the idolaters of this ummah.

Among their specious arguments are the following:

First: An argument that is virtually shared by every faction of polytheists across the nations—namely, the appeal to what their fathers and forefathers practiced and the claim that they have simply inherited this creed generation after generation.

Allah, Exalted be He, says about them: “In this way, whenever We sent a warner to any town before you, its affluent people would say, ‘We found our fathers following a tradition, and we are following in their footsteps.’” 1

This is the refuge of those who cannot furnish evidence for their claim—a groundless plea that carries no weight in genuine debate. The forefathers they imitate were not upon guidance, and whoever is in such a state is not to be followed or taken as an example. Allah, Most High, answers them: “(The warner) said, ‘Even if I were to bring you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?’” 2; and He says: “Even though their fathers understood nothing and were not guided?” 3; and: “Even though their fathers were devoid of reason and were not guided?” 4

Imitating one’s fathers is praiseworthy only when they themselves are upon the truth, as Allah relates of Joseph—peace be upon him—who said: “I have followed the faith of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; it is not for us to associate anything with Allah.” 5 And He, Glorified be He, says: “As for those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith, We shall unite their descendants with them.” 6

This plea of “following the ways of our fathers,” when those fathers were astray, is deeply rooted in the hearts of the idolaters, and with it they confront the calls of the prophets—peace be upon them. Thus, when Noah said to his people, “My people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Will you not then fear Him?” the leaders of those who disbelieved among his people replied, “This man is only a human being like yourselves who wants to gain superiority over you. Had Allah willed, He would surely have sent down angels. We have never heard of such a thing among our earliest fathers.” 7

(1) Surah al-Zukhruf, 23. (2) Surah al-Zukhruf, 24. (3) Surah al-Maida, 104. (4) Surah al-Baqara, 170. (5) Surah Yusuf, 38. (6) Surah at-Tur, 21. (7) Surah al-Muminun, 23–24.

ما أدلى به مشركو هذه الأمة. ومن هذه الشبه: أولاً: شبهة تكاد تكون مشتركة بين طوائف المشركين في مختلف الأمم، وهي: شبهة الاحتجاج بما كان عليه الآباء والأجداد، وأنهم ورثوا هذه العقيدة خلفا عن سلف. كما قال - الله تعالى - عنهم: ﴿وَكَذَلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ إِلاّ قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ﴾ ١. وهذه حجة يلجأ إليها من يعجز عن إقامة الدليل على دعواه، وهي حجة داحضة، لا يقام لها وزن في سوق المناظرة؛ فإن هؤلاء الآباء الذين قلدوهم ليسوا على هدى، ومن كان كذلك؛ لا تجوز متابعته والاقتداء به؛ قال تعالى ردّاً عليهم: ﴿قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَهْدَى مِمَّا وَجَدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ﴾ ٢وقال تعالى: ﴿أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئاً وَلا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾ ٣وقال: ﴿أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئاً وَلا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾ ٤. وإنما يكون الاقتداء بالآباء محمودًا إذا كانوا على حق؛ كما قال تعالى عن يوسف ﵇؛ أنه قال: ﴿وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ﴾ ٥، وقال تعالى: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ﴾ ٦. وشبهة الاحتجاج بما كان عليه الآباء الضالون متغلغلة في نفوس المشركين، يقابلون بها دعوات الأنبياء عليهم الصلاة والسلام: فقوم نوح لما قال لهم نوح: ﴿يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلا تَتَّقُونَ فَقَالَ الْمَلأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ مَا هَذَا إِلاّ بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لأَنْزَلَ مَلائِكَةً مَا سَمِعْنَا بِهَذَا فِي آبَائِنَا الأُوَّلِينَ﴾ ٧.

١ سورة الزخرف، الآية: ٢٣. ٢ سورة الزخرف، الآية: ٢٤. ٣ سورة المائدة، الآية: ١٠٤. ٤سورة البقرة، الآية: ١٧٠. ٥سورة يوسف، الآية: ٣٨. ٦سورة الطور، الآية: ٢١ ٧سورة المؤمنين، الآيتان: ٢٣ ـ ٢٤.