Page 56 - Satan's Sly Game: The False Religion of People-Worship

SATAN'S SLY GAME:
THE FALSE RELIGION OF PEOPLE-WORSHIP

Abraham (pbuh) and the believers who were with him, who re-
mained determined in the face of those who criticized them. The
Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and his followers lived in a society
composed mostly of idolaters. But despite other humans' hostile
threats, they only feared Allah, and so reacted strongly to this
society's perverse leanings of. Allah describes this episode as fol-
lows:
You have an excellent example in Abraham and those
with him, when they said to their people, "We wash our
hands of you and all that you worship apart from Allah,
and we reject you. Between us and you there will be en-
mity and hatred for ever unless and until you believe in
Allah alone."... (Surat al-Mumtahana, 4)
In response, this idolatrous people decided to punish the
Prophet Abraham's (pbuh) determination. But despite this, the
Prophet Abraham (pbuh) continued determined in his attach-
ment to Allah. In return for this, Allah saved him from the op-
pression of these people:
He [Abraham] said, "Do you worship something you
have carved when Allah created both you and what you
do?" They said, "Build a pyre for him and fling him into
the blaze!" They tried to outwit him but We made them
the lowest. He said, "I am going towards my Lord; He
will be my guide." (Surat as-Saffat, 95-99)
But most people cannot muster the determination we see in
this example. Because their hearts are far from Allah, they do not
act according to their consciences. They cannot resist the igno-
rant mentality that says, "Everyone does it, so it must be right."
And in pure heedlessness from Allah, they live out their lives in

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