Daily news nowadays contain report on crimes committed by people against other people. The worst of these may be rape and murder. These are not only crimes that damage the victims’ lives permanently but these are crimes that also harm the society as a whole. Islam also recognizes these two crimes as very heinous that they warrant the death penalty to any proven offender.
As a whole, Islamic legislation of criminal laws is all meant to protect the religion, life, property, honor, and intellect of individuals in the society whether they are Muslims or not. The Shari’ah or Islamic law has been criticized for its harsh laws against the criminals but it has only been harsh because of the harshness they did to the victims. The Shari’ah has been criticized as being inhumane to the criminals but few people realize that it is the mercy of the Shari’ah to the victims of crimes that make its punishment so harsh on the criminals so as to set a deterrent, thus protecting the society in the process.
Islam does not only protect the physical aspect of man’s existence in the world. Islam is also trying to preserve the spiritual well-being of each individual by letting man know the will of its Creator. Allah said in the Quran, “We have sent to all nations, messengers to tell the people to worship Allah and avoid worshipping other gods.” Quran 16:36.
Allah sent a succession of prophets and messengers starting from Adam and ending with Prophet Muhammad to deliver the message of Allah to all humans. This verse tells us that the prophets and messengers have been sent not only to uphold morals but also to teach people to avoid the greatest sin of All – worshipping other gods other than Allah.
Shirk or polytheism, the greatest sin, is the direct opposite of Tawheed or monotheism, the message of the prophets.
CRIME AGAINST THE GREATEST VICTIM
At first glance, worshipping the cow, elephant or a statue of Jesus or Mary is never heinous in comparison to rape and murder. Any believing Christian, for example, may acquiesce to the fact that indeed worshipping animals is polytheism but they sadly see it as benign and never to the level of rape and murder.
They may even see that worshipping gods other than Allah is indeed a great disrespect against Allah but most simply dismiss it because Allah could not really be bothered by all this in His greatness. But nothing is farther from the truth. Allah’s glory may not be diminished by polytheism but this is surely something that He does not take lightly.
It is because worshipping other gods other than the creator, sustainer, and maintainer of all that exists is indeed a grave sin that we could only gauge in heinousness by comparing it to the greatness of Allah. Rape and murder are great sins because they violate the sanctity of a human being in its life and chastity but sadly nobody stops to reflect on the heinousness of worshipping other gods besides Allah by looking at the greatness of the God and Lord whose rights are being violated everytime we worship other gods besides Him. Allah said in the Quran, “Surely, disbelievers are those who said: “Allah is the third of the three in a Trinity.” But there is no god, none who has the right to be worshipped but One God. And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them. Quran 5:73
To be direct to point, even the Bible, in the Ten Commandments have these written as the first and second commandments which are all prohibiting us to worship other gods other than Allah. The first commandment says, “You shall have no other gods besides Me.” The second commandment also has a commandment to the same effect that says, “You shall not make any idols.”
Nobody or nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah. Worship, as mentioned here denotes every kind of worship such as praising, praying, and sacrifice. By praising other gods, we are thanking others when are supposed to be thanking Him alone as He is our sole Creator, Maintainer, and Sustainer. By praying to other gods, we are asking those that were themselves created to do anything for us. When we sacrifice or give offerings to other than Allah, we are giving these to something or someone who shall not benefit from it because these shall never reach them. Believing in omens, good luck and bad luck, and other forms of superstitions are all, in fact, different forms of attributing Allah’s divine powers into things, events or even animals by attributing the coming of good or evil in their presence or happening.
EFFECTS OF POLYTHEISM
Polytheism is the only unforgivable sin. Allah said, “Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives anything else to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” Quran 4:48
Polytheism also destroys good deeds. Allah said, “And verily, it has been revealed to you and to those who were before you, if you associate with Allah surely, will become worthless your deeds and you will surely be among the losers.” Quran 39:65.
Allah ultimately made Hellfire for the sinners, criminals, and polytheist who did not repent before dying. Allah said, “And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead men from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy your brief life! But certainly, your destination is the Hellfire!’” Quran 14:30
REPENTANCE FROM POLYTHEISM
What if one wants to repent from worshipping other gods into worshipping Allah alone. This is very easy as Allah said in the Quran, “Say: ‘O ‘My slaves who have transgressed against themselves by committing evil deeds and sins! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful’”Quran 39:53
