The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were very reluctant to do anything that might have been from the remnants of the pre-Islamic era, and they thus refrained from many things until Allah revealed rulings regarding them, such as the case that was reported in the book of Imaam Al-Bukhari where Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that they would refrain from trade during the season of pilgrimage whilst in the state of Ihraam because it was their practice before Islam, and they feared that it might be a sin to do it, until Allah revealed the permission to do so.

In the book of Imaam Muslim Mu'aawiyah ibn al-Hakam, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “While I was praying with the Messenger of Allah a man in the congregation sneezed (and said: 'Al-Hamdulillaah'). So I said: 'Yarhamukallaah' (i.e., 'May Allah have mercy on you'). The people then began glaring at me, so I said: ‘Woe be upon me! Why is it that you stare at me?’ They began to strike their hands on their thighs, and when I saw them urging me to observe silence (I became angry) but said nothing. Afterwards, when the Messenger of Allah had finished the prayer - and I declare that neither before him nor after him have I seen a leader who gave better instruction than he, for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom - I swear that he did not scold, beat or revile me, but said: “Talking to people is not fitting during the prayer, for it consists of glorifying Allah, declaring his Greatness and recitation of the Quran, or words to that effect.”

I said: 'O messenger of Allah! I was until recently living a pre-Islamic life, but Allah has brought Islam to us; among us are men who have recourse to fortune tellers.' He said: “Do not have recourse to them.” I said: 'There are men (among us) who believe in omens.' He said: “That is something which they find in their hearts, but let that not prevent them (from freedom of action).” I said: ‘Among us there are men who draw lines.’ He replied: “There were prophets who drew lines (i.e., as a way of predicting the future, which was a miracle of Allah), so if they can do it as they did, then that is allowable (i.e., these men of your tribe could never have the ability of the prophets, so in effect, it is impermissible).”

I had a maid-servant who tended my goats by the side of Uhud and Jawwaniyyah. One day I happened to pass that way and found that a wolf had carried a goat from my flock, and being from the posterity of Aadam, I felt as sorry as any other human being would, so I slapped her. Afterwards, I went to the messenger of Allah and felt (this act of mine) as something grievous; I said after informing him about what happened: 'O Messenger of Allah! Should I not grant her freedom?' He said: “Bring her to me.” So I brought her to him. He asked her: “Where is Allah?” She replied: 'He is above the heaven.' He asked: “Who am I?” She replied: 'You are the messenger of Allah.' He then said to me: “Free her, for she is a believing woman.”"

Imaam At-Tirmithi reported that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said: “Allah the Almighty has removed from you the arrogance of the pre-Islamic era and your boasting about your forefathers, who are the fuel of the Hellfire; people are either pious believers or miserable sinners; all people go back to Aadam and Aadam was created from clay. Let those who boast about their fathers refrain from doing so, or they will become lower in the scale of Allah than roaches, who move filth with their noses.”

Reminding people that they originate from Aadam, peace be upon him, and that he was created from clay, is to tell them that one whose case is such has no right to be boastful or arrogant.

The Prophet used to correct the mistakes of his companions whenever they would err and would direct them to the right path, as in the story mentioned in the book of Imaam An-Nasaa’i where Mus’ab ibn Sa’d, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that his father said: “Once we were discussing certain matters and I had just recently left my pre-Islamic life, and so I swore by the idols Al-Laat and Al-‘Uzzaa; so some other companions told me that I had associated with Allah and committed apostasy, and that I should inform the Prophet so that he would instruct me what to do. So I went to the Prophet who instructed me to: “…Say: 'Laa Ilaaha Illallaah Wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahoo' (i.e., 'None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone without partners') thrice, and seek refuge in Allah from Satan thrice, then blow a damp blow to your left side thrice, and never repeat this (oath that you took) ever again.”

The pre-Islamic era is also called the state of ignorance because people did not have any knowledge regarding the truth then, and because during those times people’s practice was detrimental to their Hereafter due to their ignorance of the truth.

In our time, this is manifested in the way some people dress to resemble the disbelievers; music and other evils; imitating the disbelievers in general; women not adhering to the Hijab (i.e., Islamic attire for women); intermixing between men and women and so on. All these are matters that people must refrain from and banish.

Banishing pre-Islamic remnants – I