Polytheism And Ibrahim AS Before Becoming Monotheist
The verdict of Quran is very clear in this regard . Quran (6:74-75) is also pointing towards this fact. إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلّهِ حَنِيْفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ. شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ. وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِیْ الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِی الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِيْنَ. ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ حَنِيْفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ. “ [They should not attribute their superstitions to Abraham.] In reality, Abraham was an ummah [in his own self,] obedient to God and devoted and he was not from among the polytheists . He was grateful to His favours. God chose him and had guided him towards a straight path. We granted him goodness in this world also and in the Hereafter as well also he will be from among the righteous. [Then it is precisely because of this that] We sent this revelation to you: “Follow this way of Abraham who was fully devoted and was not among the polytheists . ” (Quran 16:120-123) وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيْمُ لِأَبِيْهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِىْ ضَلاَلٍ مُّبِيْنٍ (٧٤) وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيْمَ مَلَكُوْتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُوْقِنِيْنَ (٧٥) Narrate to them the incident of Abraham when he said to Azar, his father: “Have you made idols as your deities? I see you and your people in open error.” In this way, We would make Abraham observe the kingdom of the heavens and the earth so that he may conclusively convey the truth to his people and also become among those who have full conviction . (Quran 6:74-75) ( Excerpt from Al-Bayan: Javed Ahmed Ghamidi) (Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)