- Published: January 12, 2022
- Updated: January 12, 2022
- University / College: University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
- Language: English
- Downloads: 4
The Evils of Idolatry According to Surrah 10In Islamic culture, Allah is believed to be the Creator of all things. According to Surrah 10, “ Allah conceives Creation, then renews it” (Surrah 10: 34). This understanding ultimately leads to the reason why idolatry is considered to be evil: Allah is the true Lord and any idol that is supposedly worshipped is nothing. The book of Surrah presents the case of idolatry in the form of a dialogue. One side represents the followers of Allah while the other represents the idolaters. Using this dialogue, the book of Surrah exposes the problems with idolatry. The dialogue opens with “.
.. their idols will say to them: “ It was not us that you worshipped. Allah is our all-sufficient witness.
We were unaware of your worship” (Surrah 10: 28). From this, it is established that the one being worshipped by the idolaters is none else but Allah. Such an assertion deems idolatry as something unnecessary as all worship to any god will be directed to Allah. Following that argument is the assertion of Allah’s power and kindness. Speaking through the Koran, Allah tells followers to say “ Who provides for you, from heaven and earth? Who has endowed you with sight and hearing? Who brings forth the living from the dead, and the dead from the living? Who ordains all things?” (Surrah 10: 30), asserting Allah’s generosity for the followers. Allah’s generosity and his power of Creation is given validity in the end by establishing that the Koran itself is made by Allah (Surrah 10: 37).
Idols are the ones telling their followers that worshipping them gives no merit as it is not them, but Allah who is responsible for everything. The problem of idolatry according to the book of Surrah can be summed up to falsehood and, to an extent, impracticality. Because Allah is the true Lord who provides for all, it should follow that idolaters must give what is due to Allah. At the same time, it is pointless to partake in idolatry as all worship is directed to Allah. After all, the Koran says that it is the idols themselves who will tell their idolaters of their misdeeds (Surrah 10: 28).
ReferencesThe Koran. (N. J. Dawood, Trans.
). (1990) London: Penguin Books.
