Page 26 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

24 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

are the partner-deities for whom you made such
claims?” Then they will have no recourse but to say:
“By Allah, our Lord, We were not idolaters.” See how
they lie against themselves and how what they invent-
ed has forsaken them. (Surat al-An‘am: 22-24)
Today’s unbelieving society is one of idolaters.
However, its members claim to be ideal Muslims. As far as
they are concerned, idolatry means prostrating to idols or
totems made of wood or stone. They think that putting
other deities before Allah only means worshipping lifeless,
three-dimensional forms. However, prostrating before
something or someone is a symbol of servitude. Even if a
person does not prostrate to them, he or she may be their
servant. To associate the attributes that belong to Allah
with anything or anyone else means that one is an idolater.
Allah is the only being worthy of worship. If people try
to please other beings besides Allah (e.g., trying to get oth-
ers to like them or trying to make them happy), they will be
putting them before Allah. Even by expecting help from
other beings, they take them as deities. If they decide to
live according to these other people’s rules, they have, in
effect, deified them. On the other hand, true believers do
not associate Allah with any of His creatures and do not
recognize any other Lord, teacher, friend, master, or deity
besides Allah. Surat al-Fatiha expresses this pure faith:
You alone do we worship. You alone do we ask for
help. (Surat al-Fatiha: 3-4)
Human beings are, by nature, inclined to believe in one
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o
y
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“
God and to live their lives according to this belief: “I only

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