By QASIM RASHID
The terrorist organization known as Daesh generally posits four arguments to justify their destruction of idols, ancient sites, and ancient temples. First, Daesh claims that because Prophet Abraham (pbuh) destroyed idols, Muslims are required to destroy idols. Next, Daesh argues that idol destruction is required because the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered Jabir Abdullah al-Bajalirz to destroy a house in Yemen filled with idols. Third, Daesh destroys idols because the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) removed idols from the Kabah. Finally, Daesh cites a Hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) allegedly mandated the destruction of all idols and graves.
Before demonstrating why each point Daesh posits is meritless, it is necessary to establish that in forming its conclusions, Daesh consistently violates the most basic principles of Islamic jurisprudence. In Islam, the Qur’an is the primary and final authority—no Hadith can supersede the Qur’an. The Hadith must then be interpreted in accordance with the Qur’an, never vice versa. Accordingly, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) himself clarified, “Whenever a Hadith is presented to you in my name, verify it with the Qur’an. If it agrees with the Qur’an, accept it, and if it is in conflict, discard it.” He additionally instructed, “There is no doubt that, there will be Ahadith coming after me, claiming that I have said things. So you must test those Hadith from the Qur’an. If it is really according to the Qur’an only then accept it, otherwise reject it.” And finally, Hazrat Salamarz relates that, “I heard the Prophet (pbuh) saying, “Whoever (intentionally) ascribes to me what I have not said then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire.” Daesh, instead, consistently accepts Hadith as superior to the Qur’an, or ignores the Qur’an altogether. This flawed methodology Daesh uses leads to flawed and distorted conclusions on Islam.
Based on the aforementioned foundational rules of Islamic jurisprudence, it is explicitly clear that Islam mandates universal freedom of conscience for all humanity. The Qur’an addresses disbelief, idolatry, and apostasy more than 150 times but never once prescribes or permits any worldly punishment whatsoever. The majority of these verses were revealed after the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) migrated to Medina. This demonstrates that even as Muslims came to worldly power, universal freedom of conscience remained inviolable. This Qur’anic premise of freedom necessarily extends to idol worshipers—otherwise it is not universal. The Qur’an in Surah 2, Verse 257 cannot on the one hand declare without exception that “There shall be no compulsion in religion,” and then subsequently provide an exception—yet this is what Daesh unwarrantedly claims.
The first Daesh argument on destroying idols, can be refuted through re-evaluating Daesh’s reference to Verse 21:58–68, which relates the story of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and the idols he broke. Daesh misrepresents the purpose of this story. First, the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) demonstrated that a god that does not speak is no god at all. Instead, God speaks to His creation, answers prayers, and shall always reveal Himself to those who seek him. Idols, on the contrary, do not and cannot speak. Second, at a time when idolatry was widespread, the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) exemplified how destroying the idols of his own family did not harm him. This is critical. The Prophet Abraham (pbuh) did not destroy idols belonging to others—only those of his own home and family. The Prophet Abraham (pbuh) destroyed his own property. Thus, rather than enforce himself on others, as Daesh insists, the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) led by example to demonstrate personal reformation. Therefore, contrary to the acts of Daesh, the Prophet Abraham’s (pbuh) example in the Qur’an categorically rejects destroying idols belonging to others. Not only destroying, but the Qur’an goes much further, and in Verse 6:109 forbids Muslims from even insulting that which others worship, “And revile not those whom they call upon beside Allah, lest they, out of spite, revile Allah in their ignorance.” Far from destroying idols, Muslims must show respect to the faith of others, even if they vehemently disagree with them.
Next, Daesh claims that it is permissible to destroy idols because the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ordered Jabir Abdullah al-Bajalirz to destroy a house in Yemen because it was full of idols. Daesh’s argument once again falters. History records that this house, known as Dhul Khalasa, was erected by a cult to serve the same role as the Holy Kabah. This outpost of Dhul Khalasa was ultimately destroyed not because they were idolaters, but because they neither accepted a peace treaty from the Muslims nor stopped their insurgency. Indeed, the Qur’an in Verse 9:4 specifically commands Muslims to protect those idolaters: “with whom you have entered into a treaty and who have not subsequently failed you in anything nor aided anyone against you. So fulfil to these the treaty you have made with them.” Thus, the Qur’an itself categorically rejects Daesh’s claim that Dhul Khalasa was destroyed because it was a house of idolatry. Instead, this was a secular decision to stop an uprising by a group that refused peace and threatened instability in the state.
Third, Daesh attempts to justify destroying idols because the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) removed idols from the Kabah upon the victory at Mecca. The refutation of this justification takes us back to the Prophet Abraham (pbuh). The Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and his son the Prophet Ismael (pbuh) built the Kabah for the purpose of worshiping God’s unity, and this remained its long-standing use for thousands of years. Upon the victory of Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) offered amnesty to the entire city. Even known critic of Islam Stanley Lane-Poole writes, “The day of Muhammad’s greatest triumph over his enemies was also the day of his grandest victory over himself. He freely forgave the Quraysh all the years of sorrow and cruel scorn to which they had inflicted him, and gave an amnesty to the whole population of Mecca.” In doing so, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) took three significant actions. First, he restored the Kabah back to its monotheistic purpose for which it was built and functioned for thousands of years. Second, he removed the idols left there by idol worshipers. Of significance, these idols did not belong to any particular people or persons. Rather, they occupied a space that was simply not theirs to occupy. This is further evidenced by the third point—the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) continued to permit idol worshipers to worship their idols in their own homes and in their own temples. For example, the wife of an idolater named Ikrama sought amnesty for him on the condition that he may remain an idolater. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) granted the amnesty and permitted Ikrama to re-enter Mecca and live as an idolater. It was this magnanimous example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that inspired Ikrama to later accept Islam of his own free will. Indeed, it is this example of Muhammad’s (pbuh) magnanimity that Daesh completely misses. If Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) truly intended to set the precedent that Muslims must destroy all idols everywhere, he would have done so upon becoming the de facto ruler of Arabia. He not only refused to do this, but actively protected freedom of conscience for Christians, Jews, atheists, and idol worshipers on the single condition that they recognize universal freedom of conscience for all humanity, just as the Qur’an itself mandated.
Finally, Daesh cites the following Hadith to justify destruction of idols: Abul Hayyaj reported: Ali ibn Abi Talibrz said to him: “Shall I not send you on a mission as the Messenger (pbuh) of Allah sent me? Do not leave an image without effacing it and do not leave an elevated grave without leveling it.” Once again, Daesh censors the truth of the matter. In this Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) provided moral guidance to Ali, who later became the fourth caliph (khalifa), on how Muslims should maintain their own graves going forward. As the Arabs of the time were willingly leaving idolatry, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) necessarily provided them with moral training on proper Muslim burials. Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi (1116–1201) elaborates on this Hadith that, “This tradition is interpreted to mean what the Arabs used to do when exalting graves with beautiful structures and tall buildings.” Ancient Arab idolaters often built elaborate tombs and worshiped their dead. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) provided guidance on proper Islamic burials to put an end to the former idolatrous practice among Arab Muslims, and further admonished Ali to stop Muslims from engaging in idolatrous customs. Thus, contrary to Daesh’s meritless interpretation of this Hadith, no record exists of Muslims ravaging lands to destroy idols and graves belonging to non-Muslims. Indeed, if Islam mandated that all idols everywhere must be destroyed, then the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would have been the first to do so. Instead the Prophet’s (pbuh) acts were in exact accordance with Surah 22, Verse 41 of the Qur’an, which commands Muslims to protect all houses of worship, mentioning mosques last.
And yet, the above four repudiations notwithstanding, Islam’s guarantee to idolaters of universal freedom of conscience extended well beyond the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The Muslim empire expanded to Egypt during the caliphate of Umar. Yet, the massive sphynx idols to this day remain unharmed by Muslim hands. In Jerusalem, rather than further destroy the already devastated Temple Mount, Caliph Umar spent Muslim funds to restore it. Likewise, when Iraq fell under Caliph Umar’s rule, he granted his protection to the ancient temples and statues that idolaters worshiped. This precedent ensured that these temples and statues remained standing for the next 1,400 years. Though none of the idols Daesh has destroyed were currently being worshiped, Caliph Umar’s precedent well establishes that no permission exists to destroy them at all. It is further well-established in the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) rules of war that even in the heat of battle, destruction of property, homes, and places of worship is impermissible, just as the taking of innocent life (i.e. anyone not offensively attacking to kill Muslims) is forbidden. Daesh violates each of these foundational Islamic principles. As the Caliph and worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba, said in 2015:
“For more than 1,400 years these cities were preserved and protected by successive Muslim rulers and governments and yet now the extremists claim to have destroyed them in Islam’s name. This can only be branded as an extreme cruelty and a transgression of Islam’s teachings. No true Muslim could ever comprehend acting in this way.”
At most it is reasonable to conclude that Islam permits Muslims to destroy their own idols, figuratively and literally—but never to impose their faith on others. This is precisely the example the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) set forth, the example that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) re-established, the example that the four rightly guided caliphs understood and practiced, and the example that all Muslims for 1,400 years have embraced, which Daesh, in their utter ignorance, have chosen to disregard.
It is finally worth noting that Daesh’s heinous acts extend to Muslims as well. They have shamelessly destroyed Shi’a and Sunni mosques and shrines, killedAhmadis, and mass murdered scores of minority groups such as the Yazidi. Daesh is not interested in upholding Islam or helping Muslims—their actions prove the exact opposite. No matter how vehemently Daesh claims otherwise, the facts demonstrate that Islam champions universal freedom of conscience for all human beings—including for idolaters.
