Page 75 - Passivity in Religion

The Characteristics of the Passive

drowning Pharaoh in it; again they strayed from the true path, and
began to imitate those who were ignorant of the religion. When
they saw the idol worship of these people, their desire to imitate
them was so strong that they showed the temerity and moral de-
pravity to ask Prophet Musa (as) to shape such an idol for them.
The Qur'an tells us of this episode:
… They came upon some people who were devoting them-
selves to some idols which they had. They said, "Musa,
give us a god just as these people have gods." He said, "You
are indeed an ignorant people. What these people are doing
is destined for destruction. What they are doing is purpose-
less." He said, "Should I seek something other than Allah
as a god for you when He has favored you over all other be-
ings?" Remember when We rescued you from Pharaoh's
people who were inflicting an evil punishment on you,
killing your sons and letting your women live. In that there
was a terrible trial from your Lord. (Surat al-A'raf, 138-141)
When those of weak faith saw the others worshipping idols, it
was enough to lure them away from the true path, and to result in
an inclination in them towards this perverted belief. Throughout
history there have been those who chose to remain passive, having
fallen under the influence of suggestions intended to make them
abandon religious morality.
In verse 14 of Surat al-Ahzab, Allah tells us how they are prone
to rebellion.
If they had been overrun from every side, and had then
been asked to revert to disbelief, they would have done so
and hesitated very little about it.
In another verse, Allah says, "… Each time they are returned
to corruption they are overwhelmed by it…" (Surat an-Nisa', 91).
At heart of their propensity for rebellion lies their vulnerability
to the intimations of Satan. As Allah reveals, in the 3rd verse of

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