for they are all created beings. Prophet Abraham—peace be upon him—argued this point with his people. When night fell and darkness settled, he saw a star; some of his folk used to worship the stars. He said, “This is my Lord.” Yet, as always, the star disappeared, and when it set he said, “I do not love those that set,” for the Lord never absents Himself from His servants.

Then, when he saw the moon rising, brighter than all the stars, he said, “This is my Lord.” But when it, too, set—vanished from sight—he declared, “If my Lord does not guide me, I shall surely be among the misguided.”

Next he turned to something even greater in their eyes: the sun, which they also worshipped. When he beheld the sun rising he said, “This is my Lord.” But when it sank beneath the horizon he openly proclaimed pure monotheism: “O my people, I am free of all that you associate with Him. I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth, devoting myself solely to Him, and I am not of the idolaters” (Q 6:78–79).

Thus: There is no deity but Allah; none is rightly worshipped except Allah, and everything worshipped apart from Him is false. Remarkably, those very idols that people adore will, on the Day of Resurrection, be gathered up and flung into Hell like stones are cast, and their worshippers will be hurled in with them: “Indeed, you and what you worship besides Allah are the fuel of Hell; you are bound to enter it. Had those been gods, they would never have entered it, and they will all abide therein forever” (Q 21:98–99). Yes—were these idols truly gods, would they ever be destined for the Fire?