Explanation

by Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan Abu Waaqid al-Laythee t was amongst those who accepted Islam eight years after Hijrah. Dhaat Anwaat: Anwaat is the plural of 'nawt' and it means hanging i.e., something upon which things are hung. The disbelievers used to hang their weapons on it for blessing. Some Sahabah who had recently accepted Islam and had not understood tawhid completely said, 'O Messenger of Allah, appoint for us a Dhaat Anwat like they have a Dhaat Anwat.' This is the evil of blind-following and imitating. This is the - 54 - his Sahabah) and said, 'Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allah Akbar!' Allah's Messenger used to praise Allah or he would say, 'Subhan Allah!' whenever he liked something or he was amazed. (The Prophet then said) 'These are the ways…' i.e., (these are the) path that are followed by the people, some following the other. The reason that lead you to this (i.e., asking for Dhaat Anwaat - which is an act of Shirk) is following the paths of those who came before you and imitating the mushrikeen. You have said the like of what Bani Israeel said to Moosa. When Moosa u crossed the sea with Bani Israel and Allah drowned their enemies while they were looking. They passed by some mushrikeen who had occupied themselves with their idols, so they 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] Moosa rejected their saying and said, "Verily, these people will be destroyed for that which they engage in." [surah al-A'raaf (7): 139] i.e., (that which they are engaged in of) evil and falsehood. "all that they are doing is in vain." [surah al-A'raaf (7): 139] because it is Shirk, "He (Moosa) said, 'Should I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has given you superiority over the Aalameen." So, Moosa t rejected their saying like our Prophet r rejected the saying of his Sahabah - but neither the people of Moosa u nor the Companions of the Messenger r commit Shirk because when Bani Israel made this statement, they did not associate (partners with Allah) because they did not act upon it. Similarly, although the Sahabah asked for Shirk , i.e., Dhaat Anwaat, Allah saved them; they stepped back after they had been forbidden. (So) They had made this - 55 - were informed that it is Shirk they ceased and did not continue. If they had continued, they would have committed Shirk with Allah. So, the verse is a proof that there were people who worshiped the trees, because these mushrikeen had taken Dhaat Anwat (for worship). The Sahabah, in whose hearts knowledge was not firmly grounded, tried to imitate them, but Allah saved them through His Messenger. So, it is evident that there were people who sought blessings from trees and made Ukoof, which means to stay (in a place) for a period of time in order to seek nearness to it. So, this incident explains great issues; a) The danger of being ignorant of tawhid. He who does not know tawhid, he is likely to fall into Shirk without realizing it. So, it is required to understand tawhid and learn what opposes it, i.e., Shirk. One should learn these two issues so thoroughly that he acquires enough knowledge that can take him out of his ignorance especially at times when he sees other people committing Shirk, and he might consider it to be the truth because of his ignorance. So ignorance is dangerous, especially in issues of Aqeedah. b) This hadith explains the danger of imitating the mushrikeen that it might lead to Shirk. The Prophet r said, "Whosoever imitates a people is one of them." [Abu Dawood] so, it is not permissible to imitate the mushrikeen. c) Seeking blessings from the rocks, trees and buildings is Shirk - even if it is given a different name. It is Shirk because it is seeking blessing from other than Allah such as rocks, trees, graves and tombs - It is Shirk, even if it is given a different name. - 56 - Shaikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab writes, F OURTH