On a straight forward reading it seems that Quran rejects idol worship and looks at idol worshippers negatively. However, on careful reading it is understood that idol worship is of two types: one is when we see idol as a part of Allah or Brahmam and the other is when we see idol equal to Allah or Brahmam. As per our understanding Quran accepts idol as a part of Allah while rejects idol being equal to Allah. In this context we will discuss various verses of Quran and try to show that Quran does not reject idol when it is seen as a part of Allah.
- Verse: And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (Quran 9.5) (See also- Quran 9.28)
Comment: These mushriks are those who used to worship idols but did not believe in the power of Allah. Idolatry is of two types, one in which you consider the idol to be below Allah and the other in which you consider the idol equal to Allah. Hindu idol worship is in the category “below Allah.” It is not mushrik. Those Hindus who believe in the supreme power of Brahman or Allah along with idol worship are not mushriks.
- Verse: O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous. (Quran 9.123)
Verse: O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever does so among you – then it is those who are the wrongdoers. (Quran 9.23)
Comment: The basic message of the Quran is that Allah or Brahman is alone and is the only power. There is no other equal to Him. In this verse it is said that whoever denies the power of that single Brahman or Allah will be thrown into fire. This fire will be the fire of hell which the person will get after death, so if a Hindu believes in the power of Brahman or Allah, then this verse does not apply to him.
- Verse: O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah , if you should [truly] be believers. (Quran 5.57)
Comment: In this verse it is said that those who make fun of those who believe in Brahman or Allah and deny the power of Allah or Brahman should not be made friends because company has an impact. If we stay with such people, we will also start denying the power of Allah or Brahman, which will have bad consequences.
- Verse: If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madinah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little. (Quran 33.60) They will be cursed. They will be caught wherever they are found and killed brutally. (Quran 33.61)
Verse: Accursed wherever they are found, [being] seized and massacred completely. (Quran 33.61)
Comment: Rasul Mohammed lived in Medina. He used to preach that only Allah’s supreme power should be worshipped. But some people used to spread rumors against him. In this verse it was said that such rumor-spreaders should be killed wherever they are caught. This type of punishment is not accepted in Hinduism. According to Hindu religion, those who have different views have the right to attain Allah or Brahman according to their own views. Here the topic is political because Rasool Muhammad’s kingdom was in Medina, so it has been said that those who spoke against his kingdom should be considered traitors and killed. This verse should be seen in terms of the politics of Medina rather than in the context of religion.
- Verse: Allah has promised you much booty that you will take [in the future] and has hastened for you this [victory] and withheld the hands of people from you – that it may be a sign for the believers and [that] He may guide you to a straight path. (Quran 48.20)
Verse: And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord; then he turns away from them? Indeed We, from the criminals, will take retribution. (Quran 32.22)
Comment: Allah has promised you that you will get many riches or benefits. This is a statement said in a religious or spiritual context, where ‘riches’ means those things or properties which are obtained after some struggle or effort.
In Islam, the word Allah is used for both Brahman and God. In this verse it is said that God has promised you, the believers, a lot of wealth or benefits which will definitely come to fruition. God has ended the courage of those who stand against the believers so that they do not attack the believers.
It is also said here that God should guide you towards the straight path. In Hinduism, worship is done of incarnations and gods and through them Brahman is reached but in Islam it is said that Brahman should be worshipped directly. That is why it is said that he should guide you towards the straight path. This is a fundamental difference between Hinduism and Islam that Hinduism accepts the help of incarnations and gods to mediate between and through them achieves the objective of attaining Brahman whereas Islam advocates worshiping only Brahman or Allah directly.
- Verse: O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination. (Quran 66.9)
Verse: But We will surely cause those who disbelieve to taste a severe punishment, and We will surely recompense them for the worst of what they had been doing. (Quran 41.27)
Comment: Hindu religion has a detailed description of Hell [narak] where sinners are given various kinds of tortures. The same thing is said in this verse that those who have denied or earned wealth in wrong ways will be punished.
- Verse: Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. (Quran 9.111)
Comment: This verse states that Allah has purchased from the people of true faith their lives and property in exchange for a special reward. This reward is Paradise. It is the duty of these believers to struggle in the way of Allah, in which they fight others and sacrifice their lives. This verse reveals the spirit of sacrifice and faith of those who are ready to sacrifice everything for their religion and the commands of Allah. It is also said in Hinduism that God tests his devotee and takes away everything he has. He sees whether his faith in God remains intact even after losing his wealth and happiness. The same thing is said in this verse that those who follow the path of Allah give up their wealth and happiness.
- Verse: O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand. (Quran 8.65)
Comment: It is said here that a small number of honest and God-fearing people fight a large number of enemies and become victorious, that is, a religious warrior prevails over an irreligious warrior.
- Verse: Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. (Quran 9.29)
Verse: They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. (Quran 4.89)
Verse: Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts of a believing people (Quran 9.14)
Comment: This verse comments on Jews and Christians. It says that although they are the People of the Book, Muslims accept them in this view, but if they do not believe in Allah, do not believe in the Last Day and the words of the Prophet, do not follow the true religion, then despite being People of the Book, fight them, so despite being Jews and Christians. The main thing here is that the followers of a religion should not go by the outer appearance but should determine its status on the basis of its ideology.
The importance of this statement is that if the People of the Book do not believe in Allah, then fight them. It also means that those who are not People of the Book but have faith in Allah, believe in the Last Day and believe in the saints, follow the true religion, then their not believing in the Book should be ignored because the main thing is the person’s belief.