Page 104 - The Worst Slander: Idolatry

102 THE WORST SLANDER: IDOLATRY

faith and purity if he gives his thanks only to Allah.
The idolaters, however, attribute whatever blessings they
enjoy to entities and beings which are in reality merely
instruments in their creation by Allah, and place their hopes
in, and direct their gratitude toward them. Adopting igno-
rantly such false deities who have no independent power
and influence, they blind themselves to the fact that Allah
created these false deities and allows them to appear as
independent entities by willing that their actions occur. It is
both idolatry and also the height of ingratitude to forget
Allah, look for power and influence in His servants, and turn
to and thank them.
However, this does not mean that it is wrong for people
to thank each other. As long as they remember that Allah
performs the good deed in question and act out of that
awareness, they are still behaving correctly. Idolaters, on
the other hand, unwisely make concessions with regard to
faith and to Allah's approval for the sake of these false
deities (Surely Allah is beyond that). Allah reveals this in the
Qur'an:
(Abraham said to his people:) "Instead of Allah you wor-
ship only idols. You are inventing a lie. Those you wor-
ship besides Allah have no power to provide for you. So
seek your provision from Allah, worship Him, and give
thanks to Him. It is to Him you will be returned." (Surat
al-'Ankabut: 17)
Unlike idolaters, believers thank Allah alone and feel
gratitude only to Him. They turn to Him when they receive a
blessing, thank Him, and realize that what they receive is