Explanation

by Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan In this (verse) is a proof that there are mushrikeen who worship the stones and trees. His Saying, "Have you considered" is a rhetoric question, which means inform Me. And it is from the aspect of rejection and rebuke. 'Laat' - without a shaddah on the letter Ta - is the name of an idol in Taa'if. It was a sculptured rock that was built upon a building. It was covered with curtains resembling the Ka'bah and around it was a courtyard with a custodian. The disbelievers used to worship it instead of Allah and it belonged to Thaqeef (a tribe) and other tribes who were with them, they venerated this rock. - 51 - the name of a righteous man who used to twist gruel and feed the pilgrims. When this man died, they built a building upon his grave and hung curtains on it, and began worshiping it instead of Allah - this is Laat. Al-Uzza is a kind of tree in a date canyon between Makkah and Taaif, around it were buildings and curtains and custodians. In it were Shayateen who used to speak to the people. The ignorant used to think that the trees were themselves talking to them or it was the building built by them that was talking to them - although it were the Shayateen talking to them in order misguide them from the path of Allah. This idol belonged to the Quraysh and the people of Makkah and those around them. Manaat was a big rock which was in a place near mount Qudayd between Makkah and Madinah. It was venerated by the Khuza'ah, Aws and Khazraj. They used to wear their Ihraam on their way to Hajj, and they used to worship it instead of Allah. These were the three biggest idols of the Arabs. Allah said, "Have you considered al-Laat and al-Uzza. And al-Manaat," meaning did they enrich you? Did they benefit you? Did they give you victory? Did they create you, provide for you, give you life and death? What did you find with them? This (form of rhetoric question is) a rejection of (their action) and an admonition to the minds so that it returns to its senses. Verily, these are rocks and trees and there is no benefit or harm in them. They are merely a creation (of Allah). - 52 - Makkah, he sent Mugheerah ibn Shu'bah and Abu Sufyan ibn Harb to Laat in Taaif and they both demolished it upon the orders of Allah's Messenger. The Prophet r sent Khalid ibn Waleed to Uzza. Khalid demolished it, chopped off the trees and killed the female jinn that used to speak to the people and misguide them. The Prophet r sent Ali ibn Abi Talib to Manat and Ali demolished it completely. So if these idols could not save themselves, how could they save its people and its worshipers, "Have you considered al-Laat and al-Uzza. And Manaat," Where are they now? Did they benefit you? Could they save themselves from the soldiers of Allah or the army of the Muwahhideed (believers in tawhid)? In this is a proof that there were those who worshipped the trees and stones, rather these were the three biggest idols, which Allah wiped out from existence and it did not even defend its own-self or benefit its people. The Messenger of Allah fought them but their idols could not save them. So, by this the Shaikh proved that there were those who worshiped the rocks and the trees. Subhan Allah! Intelligent humans worshiping inanimate trees and rocks, which have no intelligence, motion or life! Where is the intelligence of the people? Far removed is Allah from what they say. - 53 - Shaikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab writes, The hadith of Abu Waaqid al-Laythee who said, 'We departed with the Prophet r to Hunain and we had recently left Kufr. The mushrikeen used to have a tree which they used to devote themselves to and hang their weapons upon, they used to call it, 'Dhaat Anwaat.' We passed by a tree and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, appoint for us a Dhaat Anwat like they have a Dhaat Anwat.' He said, 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar! By the One is whose Hand is my soul, these are the ways. The like of what you have said is like what Bani Israeel said to Moosa, 'Make for us a god as they have gods.' He said, 'Verily, you are an ignorant people.' [surah al-A'raaf (7): 138] [at-Tirmidhee]