Re: Destroying Idols
What i have said is that isis have committed a publicity stunt, and they’ll get either the good for that or the punishment - where as the Muslims believe in removal and detraction away from idols and false no2, no3 gods [polytheism]
Some of the early Muslims [Sahaba] used to laugh at their past beliefs regarding idols once they had become Muslim and the Muslims since then have removed idols from their midst without much fuss. So what we have done is removed insignificant statues which were worshipped unfortunately.
These statues that isis have smashed are also insignificant. This applies to their status, and anyone who smashes them. They have smashed something insignificant so chill is what i am saying
I do not know if these statues were ever a focus of a peoples worship, or if they were just statues. either way it does not make much of a difference to their significance once destroyed
To answer these questions or to go near to finding the answers, we will need people to participate and give inputs
“My question remains how come these idols remained for hundreds of years in muslim countries, why demolish them now?..”
Good Question. I cant answer your question but we can work towards finding an answer. There is two elements here, why Muslims never destroyed these statues and why were they demolished now by isis
terminology that we may use
Idol - in my opinion is something which is taken as encroaching upon the Siffats of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, either as no2 ilah [Astagfirullah] or as a thing holding a non given (dhati/zaati) power
Statue - does not necessarily mean shirk but it can be a mould. statues of living objects are forbidden in Islam, and I assume symbols of kufr [non living objects] too
I am not aware whether these statues destroyed were idols or just statues - I certainly assume nobody these days worshipped them. So they were meaningless other then possibly a ‘work’ of the people of the past, an artefact
To get an answer or close to an answer we would need to establish whether if we must search for and destroy these statues, if being worshipped makes a difference to their ruling, if there is any islamic allowance for their preservation.
a) Is it permissible to destroy statues of idols made by previous peoples? 1) yes 2) no
b) Must we search for and destroy these statues? 1) yes 2) no
c) if being worshipped or taken as deities makes a difference? 1) yes 2) no
d) is there any islamic allowance for their preservation? 1) yes 2) no
The answer to these questions will go some way towards answering your question
**“..Have we become better muslims or intolerant over a period of time?..”
**We have become both over tolerant and on other aspects intolerant over time
“…Since most of you have agreed that there’s no room for idols in muslim society, would you guys support non muslims demolishing mosques in their countries?..”
No, I would not support them to do that in their own countries because the Earth belongs to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala [and His Messenger SallAllahu Alaihi wa Ahlihi wa Sallam]
The non muslims have rights, but its not equal rights.
**“..Or tolerance is only expected from them?..”
**On this issue of statues and idols. We can do whatever in our lands right? ok so we break the statue [nobody cares], and if we are going to break their idol - let them come talk to us. If they bring both heart and mind with them they’ll break the idols themselves
Will you see it as a mark of equality and tolerance if they say “we will not allow you to worship One Allah without associating any partners with Him if you do not maintain our idols in your land?”