MUSLIM SERMON - DESTROYING NON-MUSLIM ARCHAEOLOGY

 

حكومة طالبان وكسر الأوثان

 

 

Summary


1)     The mission of messengers is to establish Islaamic monotheim.
2)     Demolishing idols is one of thegreatest obligations in Islaam.
3)     How to establish disbelief in Taaghoot (any thing worshiped other than Allaah).
4)     Evidences on the obligation of demolishing idols.
5)     Muslim conquerors demolishing idols through the history.
6)     Thos condeming breaking the idols are ignoring the corruption caused by the enimies of Islaam.
7)     Doubts regarding the issue of breaking the idols

 
First Khutbah

Allaah sent the messengers to call for Islaamic monotheism and unification of Allaah and to warn humanity against polytheism, and worshiping idols.

 

Allaah says which means: "And verily we have sent among every nation a messenger, proclaiming: ‘Worship Allaah alone and avoid Taghoot"(all false deities)’. Do not worship Taghoot beside Allaah"(Al-Nahl: 36).

 

He also says which means: "And we did not send any messenger before you, (O Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) but we revealed to him saying: La ilaha illa Ana [None has the right to be worshiped but I (Allaah)]. So worship Me (Alone and none else)"(Al-Anbiyaa': 25). With that came the message of the seal of all messengers sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam.

 

Therefore, Allaah spread Islaamic monotheism through him sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam and demolished the fortress of polytheism; exterminated and eradicated its effects through him. People, in the course of time, through the centuries, drifted away from their faith and their religion and became ignorant about many of the issues of Islaamic monotheism. So much so, that the tenets of the religion of Islaamic monotheism became an issue of discussion and subject to negotiation. This is not very surprising, because the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Islaam started as strange thing and it will return as a strange thing as it started".

 

Among the strangest things that have happened in our time is the disapproval of some Muslims to the rule of breaking and demolishing of idols. However, it is a rule from Allaah and a way of the Prophets from the time of Ibraaheem. It is something that is thrilling and satisfying to the people of Islaamic monotheism. At the same time, it is something that displeases and annoys the people of polytheism, who may be from the worshippers of idols or the followers and preservers of so called traditions.

           

By Allaah, the followers of Islaamic monotheism will not doubt that such an action is among the great ways of coming closer to Allaah and a form of obedience to Him.

 

This was the reason for which the Prophets and Messengers were sent. To defend Islaamic monotheism is among the greatest and the best ways that the servant can get closer to his Lord. It is one of the most honorable ways a person can spend his time and use his life. We never thought that a time will come when we will need to prove with evidences that destroying, breaking and demolishing idols and the den of polytheism is among the greatest duties of the religion, but as they say: "We are in the time of strange things". We ask for Allaah's help and guidance.

 

The incident of the demolition of the idols is the subject of discussion by the international and local media these days. Many countries, cultural institutions, organizations, and committees have called for meetings all around the world for this matter. Most of them are headed by UNESCO, which is a part of the United Nations claiming to preserve the creativity of human civilization and human traditions.

 

The opinions of all these people is of no consequence nor does it carry any weight, because the rulings on Islamic issues are extracted only from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah or the way of the Messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam. What brings sadness is the opinion of some people who are considered to be of people of knowledge when they say: "Statues that were made by people before Islaam are of a tradition and a historical heritage and an artifact of history for that nation. So we should not demolish them, break them, consider them a prohibited, forbidden or an outrageous thing, and an evil that needs to be changed. Rather, it should be considered as a sign of the favor and bounty of Allaah upon the Ummah, for His having guided them to Islaam and freed them from the slavery to idols."

 

O Muslims, Allaah sent Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam to break and demolish all idols. He commanded him, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, to disbelieve in Taaghoot, which are all false objects of worship, and to disassociate himself from polytheists and polytheism. He commanded him not to worship anyone or anything but Allaah alone with no partners.

 

This was the message and the basis of the message for all the Prophets sent by Allaah. Allaah says which means: "And we certainly sent unto every nation a messenger saying, Worship Allaah and avoid Taaghoot", (Taaghoot is all false objects of worship) (An-Nahl: 36). 

 

Avoiding and disbelieving in Taaghoot means removing all rivals and all idols, and hating and feeling enmity towards them, destroying and demolishing them. So, do those who try to prevent the destruction of all idols fulfill Islaamic monotheism?

 

Therefore disbelieving in all that is worshiped besides Allaah is to wage war against these Tawaagheet - these false objects that are worshiped, who, the people of disbelief invite to, in the name of culture and civilization and under the pretext of preserving precious, ancient monuments.

 

Al Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: "It is neither lawful nor legal Islaamically to leave untouched, the places of polytheism and the false objects of worship, while having the ability of destroying it and demolishing it, even for one single day. For it is the symbol of disbelief and polytheism and it is the greatest forbidden action".

 

Therefore, it is not legal Islaamically to leave it untouched and unchanged with the ability of changing it. This is also the ruling for shrines that are built over graves, which some people treat as idols or Tawaagheet, and worship besides Allaah. Also, rocks and stones that people go to kiss, glorify, get blessings from or offer vows to have the same ruling. It is not legal to either leave untouched or maintain any of these with the capacity of obliterating it. A lot of these are given status like the ranks of Al Laat, Al 'Uzza or Manaat - the idols that were worshiped during the time of the polytheists of Quraish - and perhaps some of them are greater in evil.

 

Al Imaam Muslim, may Allaah have mercy on him, narrated in his authentic book that 'Amr Ibn Abassah said: "I said to the messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam: With what did Allaah send you? He said: "Strengthening kinship and breaking idols and that no one is worshiped but Allaah, with no partners".

 

In another authentic Hadeeth, Abu Al-Hayyaaj, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that 'Ali may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Should I send you with what the messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam sent me with?  (To) not keep any idol, but to demolish it and any grave, raised above the ground, but to level it".

 

In another narration in the book of Al Imaam Ahmad he said: "To demolish all idols" and in another narration: "To tarnish all idols", and He sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallamImaam Muslim and Bukhaari. When the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam conquered Makkah, there were 360 idols around the Ka’bah. He then started smashing and crushing the idols with his bow and reciting the verse, which means: "And say truth has come and falsehood has departed, indeed   falsehood is ever bound to depart" (Al Israa’: 81). Allaah says which means: "Say the truth has come and falsehood can neither begin nor repeat"(Saba’: 49) meaning, can neither begin anything nor repeat it, i.e. it is abolished, and the idols started falling on their faces. did this himself with his hands as mentioned in the book of

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam tore a rug that had pictures on it until he destroyed it.(Bukhaari) Moreover, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam  sent brigades to different parts of the peninsula on missions to break idols. He sent a brigade under the leadership of Khaalid Ibn Waleed, may Allaah be please be pleased with him, to destroy Al 'Uzza, which was an idol, that Quraish use to glorify. Therefore, he broke it and destroyed it. He sent another brigade to break Manaat. He sent a brigade under the leadership of Amr Ibn Al'aas, may Allaah be pleased with him, to Suwaa', the idol of Huthayl. 'Amr, may Allaah be pleased with him, broke it with his hand. He sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam sent also 'Ali Abi Taalib to the idol of Taa'if that was called Al Fuls and that was an idol engraved in one of the mountains of that tribe. He sent another unit to demolish Al Laat. These three idols Al 'Uzza, Al Laat, Al Manaat, were the greatest and most important idols for the Arabs at that time.

 

Allaah says which means: "So have you considered Al Laat, and Al-'Uzza and Manaat the other third" (An-Najm: 19-20). It did not concern the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam that the Arabs would gather against him. He destroyed and demolished all of them, and did not leave any traces of them.

 

He sent another task force under Jareer Ibn 'Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, as mentioned in the books of Al Bukhaari and Al Maghaazi. Jareer said: 'The messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: "Relieve me and spear me the trouble of Thulkhalasaha", he said: "I took of with 150 horsemen and we destroyed it and broke it and exterminated all that we found around it".

 

The story of Thaqeef is well known. When they asked the Messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam to keep their Taaghiyah, their idol, Al Laat untouched and not to destroy it for three years, he refused. They kept negotiating, decreasing it a year by a year, but he kept refusing until they started asking him month by month, until they reduced it to one month, i.e. to keep it untouched for only one month, but he refused. He sent Abu Sufiyan, Ibn Harb, and Al Mugheera Ibn Shu'bah, may Allaah be pleased with them, to crush it. They did so with a huge crowd surrounding them.

 

Ibn Al-Qayim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said regarding the rulings extracted from the story of the delegation of Thaqeef: "Of the rulings of destroying and demolishing the locations or stations of polytheism that are used as houses for the Tawaagheet, the false objects that are worshiped: Destroying and demolishing them are more beloved to Allaah and His messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam and more beneficial to Islaam and Muslims, then destroying bars and brothels."

 

Therefore, the shrines built over graves that are worshiped besides Allaah, and its owners or dwellers who are considered as Lords besides Allaah, are not allowed to be left untouched in Islaam and must be demolished and destroyed.

 

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam also sent Atufayl Ibn 'Amr Ad-Dawsi, may Allaah be pleased with him, to the idol of the tribe of Daws, which was called Thul-kaffayn, and he burnt it.

 

After the battle of Tabook, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam sent Khaalid Ibn Waleed, may Allaah be pleased with him, to pull down the idol 'Wat'. He fought the people worshiping it until he was able to demolish it.

O Muslims this is the guidance and the way of the Messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, the leader of the monotheists, and the story of all the idols of the pagans and polytheists. After him came the righteous Salaf from the companions, may Allaah be pleased with him, and the Taabi'een and the kings, righteous people and Mujaahideensallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam and his way in these matters. - sincere believers who followed the footsteps of the Prophet

 

In the book of Mu'jam Al-Buldaan, which is a book on the history of countries and cities, it mentions that 'Abdurrahman Ibn Shamurah Ibn Habeeb, in the time of 'Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, had victory in the side of Sajistaan. Then he headed toward Adowaar and he surrounded them in the mountain of Az-Zoon. On the top of this mountain, was an idol made of gold, he himself went and cut its hand, and the rest of the Muslim army broke it and tore it into pieces. Then after that the leader and fighter Mahmood Al-Ghaznawi came at the end of the 4th Century. Al Hafidh Ibn Katheer described him saying: "The great King, the Mujaahid, the Conqueror, the Warlord, he use to love scholars and in particular the scholars of Hadeeth. He used to love the people of righteousness, and those who were committed to the faith. When he conquered India he broke their biggest idol that was called Somnaat. That was in the year 416 of Hijra".

 

Ibn Al-Jawzi mentioned in the book Talbees Iblees, that the people of Balkh had an idol that was built by the tribe of Banu Shahar, and when Islaam was spread, the people of Balkh themselves destroyed it.

 

Similar is the case of Al-Imaam Sheikh Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhaab, may Allaah have mercy on him, when he destroyed and demolished the idols in his time in the Arabian Peninsula. It is a very famous and well-known event.

 

So after this, which people dare to express doubts regarding this divine law and way of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam with weak excuses that this modern reality has dictated upon them, so they can agree with the civilization of the Kuffaar (the disbelievers)? They forget, or are unaware, that they are acting in accordance to the will and intention of the Kuffaar.

 

This suspicion and doubt that is being propagated through different means of the media, is nothing but a betrayal, so that the message of Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam would not be fulfilled and carried out.  Allaah says in the Qur'aan, which means: "So do not be an assistant to the disbelievers"(Al-Qasas: 86). He also says which means: "And do not be for the deceitful an advocate"(An-Nisaa’: 105). Also, which means: "And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves"(An-Nisaa’: 107).

 

O Muslims, the entire world feigned sadness and they condemned and tried to stop the breaking of the idols, with the excuse of protecting cultural and educational artifacts.

 

We wonder where the people of the world were when the hateful Serbs destroyed the mosques in Kosovo, demolishing them completely. They were ancient and historical mosques. Some of them go back as far as the early centuries of Islaam.

 

Where is the UNESCO, the international Organization of United Nations, when the Jews of Israel profanely tear down the mosques of Muslims in Jerusalem on a daily basis, as well as the ancient mosques under the protection of International Organizations, registered as an International Culture or Cultural Remains? The UNESCO is supposed to be protecting and preserving mosques that go back to the first Century of Islaam.

 

Where were they, when the Jews stole the ancient monument from Jerusalem and Arihaa in the south part of Lebanon in the period of the occupation? The Jews intentionally shelled and bombarded the ancient monuments of Lebanon, the Catholic and the Islaamic monuments in Ba Albak the southern villages, while the guards of the United States, and United Nations were watching.

 

The European World, the people who initiated and established the regulations to protect ancient monuments of humanity, were the same people who stole the Eastern ancient monuments during the occupation of these lands. Till today, many countries such as Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon and Jordan, are still requesting and demanding that European countries return their ancient monuments that were stolen from their countries, in the time of their occupation.

 

The West and the "civilized" world, in the time of their occupation of different countries, did not only steal the cultural possessions or ancient monuments but they eradicated the population of these countries. They stole their dignity killed them and turned them into nations that are sold in auctions, just like their ancient monuments were sold in auctions.

 

Why did UNESCO not become disturbed over the seizure of Holy and Divine belongings of the Muslims in Jerusalem, the mosques of Kosovo and the mosques of India that were demolished and destroyed? What about the mosques of Kashmir, Chechnya and Albania? All of these were enlisted in the register of the UNESCO to be international ancient monuments.

 

The mosque of Al Babri of India still lives in our hearts. The Hindus burnt it and destroyed it. It was an ancient mosque that was built three Centuries ago. It was three hundred years old and a house of Allah. The Aathaan was called in it and the congregational prayers were performed in it. The Lord of the heavens and earth was worshiped in it, and we never heard a complaint from those who claim to preserve human monuments.

 

What we hear these days regarding the destruction of the idols of the polytheists, is the excuse that they are an ancient monument for humanity that they are of ancient civilization. but we did not hear any complaining from UNESCO and the United Nations regarding the thousands of people that were killed in different Muslim countries, like the Philippines, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chechnya, and, currently, Indonesia.

 

Let alone the people of Palestine, that are still being crushed day and night and not a single sunset goes by but tens of people lose their family members. So how strange it is the actions of these disbeliveers - the enemies of Allaah! The enemies of humanity condemn the destruction of these stones and idols, but they do not condemn the killing of thousands of Muslims. Where was UNESCO when Muhammad Durra was killed? We did not hear a single statement or complaint in those days. Or is it that idols are more precious and valuable for the UNESCO than Muhammad Durra?

 

We ask Allaah to liberate the Ummah of Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam quickly and to give victory to the people of Islaamic monotheism and to unite their word and unify their ranks.

 

O Allaah, show us the truth and make us recognize it. Bless us by guiding us to it. Show us falsehood, and make us recognize it, and bless us and enable us to avoid it.
 
Second Khutbah

Of the doubts that are created these days, which some common people who do not have enough knowledge or awareness might accept, is the claim that the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, entered some countries that had idols in them and left them untouched and did not break them.

 

They conquered Egypt and other countries and in it there were idols and they left them, like the idol of Abul Haul (The Sphinx) and others.

 

The answer to this doubt is that these idols from the time of the pre-Islaamic paganism that the Muslims came upon while conquering, were certainly destroyed and demolished. No one doubts this as a Muslim who recognizes and realizes the rank of the companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, and their level of practice of Islaamic monotheism, and the level of hatred to polytheism and its people.

 

The proof of this is that they used to follow the footsteps of Mustafa sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam precisely, in everything they did. In his lifetime, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam sent them, as we said earlier, to destroy different idols and demolish them. Therefore, there is no doubt that they did this. Just as they spread Islamic monotheism, so we are sure that they destroyed the thousands of idols of Tawaagheet, the false objects that were being worshipped besides Allaah, in the different countries that they conquered.

 

Not only this, but they destroyed books that had rules or concepts in them that were not in accordance to Islaam or against Islaam, as Ibn Khaldoon mentioned in his introduction. He said: "When the land of the Persians was conquered, they found many books in it. Sa'd Ibn Waqaas wrote a letter to Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab asking him what he must do regarding these books. So 'Umar replied back saying: 'Throw them all in the water. If there is any guidance in them, Allaah has given us better guidance than it and if there is misguidance in them then Allaah  will protect us from it'. So, Sa'd threw them all in water."

 

In another narration, all of the books were destroyed in fire and none of that was conveyed to us. So, if they practiced such a practice with books, what do we think they would have done with idols or things that were worshiped by people?

 

As for the idols and statues that the Muslims left in some of the countries that they conquered, they are of three categories:

 

               1.         What was inside the churches, temples, and places of worship of the people who the Muslims had an agreement with, on the condition that none of the idols would be exposed to the public. This conditions was the condition of 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, with the People of the Book, and was later known as the "Condition of 'Umar", may Allaah be pleased with him.

 

               2.         The idols were so strong and well built that they were unable to destroy, demolish, or remove them, like the great idols that were engraved in mountains or big rocks where they were unable to destroy or deface them.

 

Ibn Khaldoon mentioned in his introduction: "Great statues were built not by only one nation in one period but by nation after nation and through different periods until they were completed. Many great buildings and huge statues remain where people were unable to either destroy or deface them, though destroying and demolishing is a lot easier than building. He then gave two examples: Firstly, Ar-Rasheed intended to destroy and demolish the mansion of Qisra of the Persians. He gathered people with axes and he set fire to it and poured vinegar on top of it, but he was unable to destroy it.

 

Secondly: Al-Ma'moon tried to demolish the pyramids of Egypt and he gathered many people to do it but he was unsuccessful.

 

                     3.         The idols or statues that were underground, covered up with sand and did not   appear until long after the conquest by the Muslims.

 

Just like many of statues of the Pharaohs of Egypt, the temple of Abu Sumbul, in Egypt, which is one of the greatest temples of the Pharaohs, was covered up with sand with its statues up until a century and a half ago. Most of the idols or statues that are in the museums of Egypt in our time were not discovered till recently.

 

Al-Maqreezi, may Allaah have mercy on him, mentioned when he was talking about the history of Egypt that Abul Haul (The Sphinx), which is the big statue in the shape of a lion, was submerged in sand and could not be seen by people except for its head and neck. Maqreezi who was alive in the ninth century of Hijrah witnessed this. Al-Zarkali was asked about the pyramids and Abul Haul of Egypt and others and whether the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam saw them when they entered Egypt he said: "Most of them were submerged and covered by sand, in particular Abul Haul".

 

So it is not true to claim that these idols and statues were left untouched by the people who lived in the best centuries, may Allaah be pleased with them, because they were the most ardent to adhere to the principles of Islaamic monotheism and the removal of polytheism and its signs.


O Our Lord let not our hearts deviate after you have guided us, and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed you are The Bestower.

 

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