Culture and traditions have a biding effect on people of any community. It would not be wrong to say that man is enslaved to these in varying degrees of adoption. Talking of faith, clinging to traditions passed on from ancestors play a great part in shaping the direction of man. Before we move forward with the subject of the post today, let us clearly understand what are traditions:
Tradition are beliefs and practices passed down over generations. It can include: Rituals, Religious practices and Social norms. It is more specific to religious beliefs and often tied to heritage and identity.
Now let us share the 5th verse of Surah 38. Saad (The Arabic letter Saad) which is relevant to the radiations, more specifically to the people of Makkah at the advent of Islam and also to people even today who worship more than one gods even today.
Al-Qurʾān Verse: Surah Ṣād (38:5)
أَجَعَلَ ٱلْـَٔالِهَةَ إِلَـٰهًۭا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌۭ
“Has he made all the gods into one God? Indeed, this is something astonishing!”
Context (Why was this verse revealed?)
This is a Makkan verse, revealed when the Prophet ﷺ called the Quraysh to Tawḥīd (absolute oneness of Allah). At that time the Arabs worshipped many idols. In fact each tribe had its own gods and own system of belief. Connecting the traditions of the Arabs of the time, they had a strong belief in worshipping of idols, taking them as their gods.
So the reaction of the Quraysh, the leading tribe of the Makkah, was obvious when the Prophet ﷺ said: Worship only ONE God. They responded (as in this verse): “You’re turning all our gods into one? That’s unbelievable!” This was a natural rebuttal for no prophet had come to them before and their belief in a deity, though they still called it Allah in Arabi, they looked towards their idols as if they were connecting with a deity which was far superior. Yet when worshipping, they had the image of their idols in their minds, and not an obscured and hidden imagination of a deity unseen by them.
Apparent (Ẓāhir) Meaning of the Verse 5
When Prophet ﷺ asked the polytheists of Makkah to worship One True God - Al Wahid, the were simply shocked, for they have been since time immemorial emotionally attached to traditions and multiple deities. In fact they have had countless gods represented into the shape of idols and for them believing in One God which too was unseen was rather puzzling. Thus, obviously they could not comprehend a change and lose powers to the new found belief and faith calling them to abandon the faith of their forefathers.
Eminent Muslim scholar Yusuf Ali in response to the rejection of Monotheistic message of Islam notes: And what is the offence of the Messenger of Unity? That he has made all their fantastic gods disappear; that in place of chaos he has brought harmony; that in place of conflict he brings peace! It is a wonderful thing, but not in the sarcastic sense in which the Unbelievers scoff at it!
Another Muslim scholar of present times Javed Ahmad Ghamidi explains: They said this to incite people against him by contending that he was denying the divinity of the beings which were regarded sacred by them and worshipped.
Muhammad Asad explains the polytheist reaction in these very words: Divorced from its purely historical background, this criticism acquires a timeless significance, and may be thus paraphrased: "Does the claim that all creative powers and qualities are inherent exclusively in what they conceive as 'one God'?" - a paraphrase which illustrates the tendency of many people to attribute a decisive influence on human life - and, hence, a quasi-divine status - to a variety of fortuitous phenomena or circumstances (like wealth, "luck", social position, etc.) rather than to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence, in all observable nature, of God's unique existence.
Deeper Meaning (Wisdom)
- Human resistance to pure monotheism
- Polytheists often prefer tangible, multiple intermediaries, instead of One unseen, absolute God.
- This is because Tawḥīd demands full submission to One god which entails no تقسيم (division) of authority.
- Simplicity feels “strange”
- Ironically Tawḥīd is simple to follow. But for the polytheists, it felt too radical to abandon all their gods and turn to a Deity that was unseen and could not be replicated into an idol.
- This happens because Truth usually feels “strange” when society is used to falsehood or is disoriented.
Connection to Trinity (Christian Theology)
The same mindset is of the people who have faith inn trinity. And the verse above is equally applicable to the followers of Trinity for they too believe in more than One God. Let us connect this verse conceptually:
- What is the Trinity? In Christianity (as developed historically), God is understood as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. . That is Three “persons” in one essence.
- Qur’anic Perspective
- On the contrary, Al Qur’an consistently emphasizes "Absolute oneness without division."
- The 112nd Surah Al-Ikhlas spells the concept of One God clearly and explicitly: “He is Allah, One”
- This is also augmented in the 171st verse of Surah 4. An-Nisa: “Do not say ‘Three’… Allah is only One God”
- Key Theological Differences
- Tawḥīd: God is One, Indivisible and Unique as mentioned in Surah Ash-Shura (42:11): “There is nothing like Him.”
Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Waahid (in Arabic: ٱلْوَٰحِدُ), the One and only God. There is no alternative. He is the sole originator from which all has arisen. He has no partners or relationships. None is equal to Him.
- Trinity: God is One essence in Three persons. That is Unity with internal distinction
* For detailed account on Islamic concept of Monotheism and Christian's concept of Trinity, please refer to our earlier posts:
How 38:5 relates conceptually
While 38:5 is about Arab polytheists, the underlying principle applies to all people struggle with "Accepting absolute unity of God" - Whether Many gods (polytheism) or complex formulations (like Trinity)
Important Clarification
As mentioned before, The Quraysh, the rich and power clan of Makkah, who believed in Multiple separate gods, while the concept of Trinity (in Christian theology) claims one God, but in three persons. Although both faiths they are not identical concepts - But differ from pure Tawḥīd - which is worship of One True God, Muslims call Allah, without any associated and an imaginary of Him.
Relevance Today
- People still resist pure Tawḥīd Today still like to prefer intermediaries, like saints, to. connect to God.
- Cultural attachment Just like Quraysh, many a people still follow what they have inherited from their forefathers.
- Intellectual discomfort While Pure oneness is simple and absolute, yet humans often Complicate the belief systems and try to connect to God not directly but through idols are associating partners with Him for "better access."
Core Message of the Verse
Here, the real issue is not logic. In fact it is the traditional attachment, stubbornness to change due to egoist mindset and traditions.
This verse thus poses a question: Why does pure truth feel strange to people? The answer is very simple: Because pure truth removes control, need for intermediaries and it is for this very reason the polytheists rejected monotheism, and those following Trinity. For this very reason, both polytheism and Trinity contrast with absolute divine unity in Islam.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Disclaimer: This post has been published for education purpose only giving out a comparative view point. It does not in any way infringe on the beliefs and traditions of people belonging to different faith. For further study on the subject, more research may be carried out for those wanting more on the subject.
You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 38 Ṣād - the letter ص already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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