Playing God

"All rights of this book are reserved for the publisher and the author. This copy is for reading purpose only. This copy cannot be uploaded on any website except those of the publisher and the author." Playing God: Misreading a Divine Practice 22 to gain momentum. Muhammad (sws) bore witness to the truth before all these three groups and refuted their evil beliefs. In the terminology of the Qur’ ā n (33:44-45), this is called shah ā dah . He revived various Abrahamic practices and rituals, cleansing them of various interpolations added by the polytheists, and delineating the basic truth of accountability in the Hereafter before God on the basis of a person’s deeds. The real debate with the Idolaters concerned their polytheistic beli efs an d religious innovations ( bid‘ ā t ). They were repea tedly ask ed to give up their religion of Idolatry since it had no grounds. Only the Almighty could have told them that He had associate d c ertain other deities with Himself. Without the sanctio n of the Almighty, they had no means to know such details for themselves. Consequently, when they claimed that polytheism was revealed to them by the Almighty Himself, the Qur’ ā n called this a vicious lie: F? 2 =vI@ ? +Xl n- +WI@ , BW3B ‹8 B @ R 4, 1 R F? +,a8 9 0 - ‚VI"1 ~ 2J ?- FC R HW! 1 R > k1 ~ 21 +2P7 )(|: z|( These are nothing but names which you have devised – you and your fathers – for which Allah has sent down no authority [whatsoever]. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire! – even though there has already come to them guidance from their Lord! (53:23) www.javedahm dghamidi.com www.al-mawrid.org