Disassociation from Polytheism and Polytheists

26/08/2015| IslamWeb

One of the unequivocal duties that are explicitly stated in the texts of the Quran and the authentic Prophetic Ahadeeth (narrations) is the obligation of disassociation from polytheism and the polytheists. Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone"- ….} [Quran 60:4]

Ibn Katheer commented on this verse saying,

(when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you...'') meaning, `we disbelieve in your religion and way,' (and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever) meaning, `Animosity and enmity have appeared between us and you from now on and as long as you remain on your disbelief, we will always disown you and hate you,'(until you believe in Allah alone,) meaning, `unless, and until, you worship Allah Alone without partners and disbelieve in the idols and rivals that you worship besides Him.'

The rituals of Hajj reinforce this meaning, as the Prophet acted contrary to the polytheists in standing at ‘Arafah and leaving it, as well as leaving Muzdalifah, and said: “Our way is different from the way of the polytheists and the pagans.”

Al-Miswar ibn Makhramah said, “The Messenger of Allah delivered a Khutbah at ‘Arafah; he praised Allah, and glorified Him, then said: 'The polytheists and the pagans used to start moving from this place with the sunset until the sun comes over the peaks of the mountains like turbans over the heads of men, but our way is different from theirs. They also used to leave Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam at sunrise, when the sun comes over the peaks of the mountains like turbans over the heads of men, but our way is different from theirs.'”

This is a great lesson in hating the practices of the polytheists and disassociation from them, their acts, way of worship, behavior, and manners. Hence, whoever behaves like the polytheists in worship, manners, appearance, clothes, and so on, has certainly not benefitted from this lesson, because disassociation from the polytheists necessitates refraining from imitating them and deliberately behaving contrary to them.