I am a non-Muslim who is
very much interested in Islam. I have been trying to do
research on my own.
However, I came upon some information that I found rather
disturbing.
It is regarding the Kaaba and the origin of Islam. I was told
that Abraham and Ishmael removed all the idols from the Kaaba,
but there was one in particular who's name meant "diety".
I read that this is where the name "Allah" came
from and that this diety was the pagan Moon god.
His symbol is the crescent moon and Ramadhan is scheduled
around lunar activity. I would like an answer to whether or
not such a religion existed and is Islam really connected to
this pagan practice?
Praise be to
Allaah.
Welcome to a lady who is seeking the true religion and is
interested in Islam. We ask Allaah to show you the truth and
help you to follow it, and to protect you from Shaytaan and
his doubts, and the misguidance of the enemies of Islam.
Before I answer your question, I would like to remind you
that the way to find out the truth about a religion is to
refer to its authentic sources, which in the case of Islam
means the Qur’aan, which is the Word of Allaah, and the
Sunnah, which is the words of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), to
whom Allaah sent Revelation.
One of the mistakes made by some of those who investigate
Islam is to refer to sources that are not authentic or
material written by those who have ulterior motives and who
are enemies of Islam spreading lies about it, to put people
off and lead them astray from the Way of Allaah.
Turning to your question about the Ka’bah, and Ibraaheem
and Ismaa’eel (upon whom be peace), it is very strange to
say that they removed all the idols from the Ka’bah except
one. This contradicts the historical facts, and does not make
sense, because it is known that Ibraaheem and Ismaa’eel
were the ones who built the Ka’bah, on the command of
Allaah – how could they then have taken idols out of it?
How could there have been any idols in it when they were
supervising its construction and maintenance by remembering
Allaah and calling people to perform Tawaaf around it and
come on pilgrimage to it only for the sake of Allaah? The
idols came many years afterwards, when some of the Arabs
travelled to the kaafir lands outside the Arabian Peninsula
and brought back idols, some of which were placed around the
Ka’bah. Then the mushrikeen added more idols until there
were 360 of them around the Ka’bah. This remained the case
until Allaah sent Muhammad ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
This was the dawning of the light of Tawheed which drove out
the darkness of idolatry. Through him, Allaah defeated the
mushrikeen; he broke the idols and purified the Sacred House,
thus restoring the Ka’bah to the pure worship of the One
God, as it had been at the time of his forefather Ibraaheem,
the Friend (Khaleel) of Allaah.
There follows an account of the building of the Ancient
House, from the Qur’aan and the Ahaadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). We
will begin by quoting from the Qur’aan, where Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"And (remember) when Ibraaheem said: ‘My Lord,
make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its
people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allaah and the
Last Day.’ He (Allaah) answered, ‘As for him who
disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a while,
then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, and worst
indeed is that destination!’
And (remember) when Ibraaheem and (his son) Ismaa’eel were
raising the foundations of the House (the Ka’bah), (saying):
‘Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are
the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’
‘Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our
offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our
manaasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage –Hajj and ‘Umrah),
and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts
repentance, the Most Merciful.
‘Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who
shall recite unto them Your Verses and instruct them in the
Book and al-Hikmah (full knowledge of the Islamic laws and
jurisprudence or wisdom or Prophethood, etc.), and sanctify
them. Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."
[al-Baqarah 2:126-129]
"And (remember) when We showed Ibraaheem the site of
the (Sacred) House, (saying): ‘Associate not anything (in
worship) with Me, and sanctify My House for those who
circumambulate it, and those who stand up for prayer, and
those who bow (submit themselves with humility and obedience
to Allaah), and make prostration (in prayer, etc.)’
And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come
to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from
every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform
Hajj)."
[al-Hajj 22:26-27]
As regards the story of the construction of the Ka’bah in
the Sunnah, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him)
narrated the story of Haajar, the wife of Ibraaheem and the
mother of his son Ismaa’eel. In his report, he said:
"… Ibraaheem brought her and her son Ismaa’eel,
while she was still breast-feeding him, and left them in a
place near the Ka’bah (meaning near the place where the Ka’bah
was later built) under a tree on the spot of Zamzam (meaning
the place where Zamzam later appeared), at the highest place
in the mosque. In those days there was no-one in Makkah nor
was there any water. So he left them there and placed near
them a leather bag containing some dates, and a water-skin
containing some water, then he set off for home. Ismaa’eel’s
mother followed him and said: ‘O Ibraaheem, where are you
going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person
whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?’
She said this many times, but he did not look back at her.
Then she asked him, ‘Has Allaah commanded you to do this?’
He said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Then He will not forsake us,’
and returned, while Ibraaheem went on his way. When he
reached al-Thaaniyah, where they could not see him, he turned
to face the Ka’bah, raised his hands and offered the
supplication: ‘O Our Lord! I have made some of my
offspring dwell in an uncultivable valley, by Your Sacred
House in order, O Our Lord, that they may perform al-Salaat (iqaamat
al-salaat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards
them, and (O Allaah) provide them with fruits so that they
may give thanks.’ [Ibraaheem 14:37]
Ismaa’eel’s mother went on suckling Ismaa’eel and
drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the
water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her
child also became thirsty. She started looking at him tossing
in agony; she left him because she could not endure looking
at him, and found that the mountain of al-Safaa’ was the
nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and
started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see
somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended
from al-Safaa’ and when she reached the valley, she tucked
up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress
and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached the
mountain of al-Marwa, where she stood and started looking,
expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She
repeated that (running between al-Safaa’ and al-Marwa)
seven times." Ibn ‘Abbaas said: "The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
‘This is the origin of the tradition of al-Sa’ee (the
walking) of people between them (al-Safaa’ and al-Marwa).’
When she reached al-Marwa (for the last time), she heard a
voice and she made herself quiet and listened attentively.
She heard the voice again and said, ‘O (whoever you may be)!
You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to
help me?’ And behold! She saw an angel at the place of
Zamzam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till
water flowed from that place. She started to make something
like a basin around it, using her hands in this way, and
started filling her water-skin with water from her hands, and
the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it."
The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
added: "May Allaah bestow mercy on Ismaa’eel’s
mother! Had she let the Zamzam (flow without trying to
control it) (or had she not scooped from that water) (to fill
her water-skin), Zamzam would have been a stream flowing on
the surface of the earth." The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
further added: "Then she drank (water) and suckled her
child. The angels said to her: ‘Don’t be afraid of being
forsaken, for this is the House of Allaah which will be built
by this boy and his father, and Allaah never forsakes His
people.’ The House at that time was on a high place
resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to
its right and left. She lived in that way until some people
from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by
her and her child, as they (the Jurhum people) were coming
through the way of Kadaa’. They stopped and stayed in the
lower part of Makkah where they saw a bird that had the habit
of flying around water and not leaving it. They said, ‘This
bird must be flying around water, although we know that there
is no water in this valley.’ They sent one or two
messengers who discovered the source of water, and returned
to inform them about it. So, they all came (towards the water)."
The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
added: "Ismaa’eel’s mother was sitting near the
water. They asked her, ‘Do you allow us to stay with you?’
She replied, ‘Yes, but you will have no right to possess
the water.’ They agreed to that." The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
further added: "Ismaa’eel’s mother was pleased with
the whole situation, as she used to love to enjoy the company
of the people. So, they settled there, and later on they sent
for their families who came and settled with them so that
some families became permanent residents there. The child (Ismaa’eel)
grew up and learnt Arabic from them, and (his virtues) caused
them to love and admire him as he grew up. When he reached
the age of puberty, they made him marry a woman from amongst
them. After Ismaa’eel’s mother had died, Ibraaheem came
after Ismaa’eel’s marriage in order to see his family
that he had left before … Then Ibraaheem came and saw Ismaa’eel
under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw
Ibraaheem, he stood up to welcome him and they greeted one
another as a father greets his son or a son greets his father.
Ibraaheem said, ‘O Ismaa’eel, Allaah has given me an
order.’ Ismaa’eel said: ‘Do what your Lord has ordered
you to do.’ Ibraaheem asked, ‘Will you help me?’ Ismaa’eel
said, ‘I will help you.’ Ibraaheem said, ‘Allaah has
ordered me to build a house here,’ pointing to a hillock
higher than the land surrounding it." The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
added: "Then they raised the foundations of the House (Ka’bah).
Ismaa’eel brought the stones and Ibraaheem was building,
and when the walls became high, Ismaa’eel brought this
stone and put it for Ibraaheem, who stood on it and carried
on building, while Ismaa’eel was handing him the stones,
and both of them were saying: ‘Our Lord! Accept (this
service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’
[al-Baqarah 2:127]. The Prophet ﷺ (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
added, "Then both of them went on building and going
around the Ka’bah saying, ‘Our Lord! Accept (this service)
from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.’"
(Saheeh al-Bukhaari,
3113)
Having outlined the historical details of the building of the
Ka’bah, we move on to the idea mentioned in your question
that the name of Allaah was derived from the name of an idol.
This is an extremely odd idea. How can the name of the
Creator, the Evolver, the First, the Almighty, the Compellor
be derived from the name of a created idol that could neither
benefit nor harm anyone?
Allaah says, rebuking the mushrikeen (polytheists) (interpretation
of the meaning): "Yet they have taken besides Him
other gods that created nothing but are themselves created,
and possess neither hurt nor benefit for themselves, and
possess no power (of causing) death, nor (of giving) life,
nor of raising the dead." [al-Furqaan 25:3]
"You worship besides Allaah only idols, and you only
invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides
Allaah have no power to give you provision, so seek your
provision from Allaah (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and
be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back."
[al-‘Ankaboot 29:17]
Allaah describes how Ibraaheem (upon whom be peace) rebuked
his father and his people for worshipping idols (interpretation
of the meaning):
"When he said to his father: ‘O my father! Why do
you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail
you in anything?" [Maryam 19:42]
"And recite to them the story of Ibraaheem, when he
said to his father and his people: ‘What do you worship?’
They said: ‘We worship idols, and to them we are ever
devoted.’ He said, ‘Do they hear you, when you call (on
them)? Or do they benefit you or do they harm (you)?’ They
said, ‘Nay, but we found our fathers doing so.’ He said,
‘Do you observe that which you have been worshipping, - you
and your ancient fathers? – Verily! They are enemies to me,
save the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (makind, jinn and everything
that exists), Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me."
[Al-Shu’araa’ 26:69-78]
Concerning Ibraaheem’s destruction of his people’s idols,
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Then he turned to their gods and said, ‘Will you
not eat (of the offering before you)? What is the matter with
you that you speak not?’ Then he turned upon them, striking
(them) with (his) right hand. Then they (the worshippers of
idols) came towards him, hastening. He said, ‘Worship you
that which you (yourselves) carve? While Allaah has created
you and what you make?’" [al-Saaffaat 37:91-96]
After reading all this, how can it be said that Ibraaheem
left one idol near the Ka’bah, and that the name of Allaah
is derived from the name of an idol? Do you know what "Allaah"
means and where this name is derived from?
The blessed name "Allaah" is derived from the
Arabic verb alaha/ya’lahu/ma’looh [the root of which is
the three letters alif, laam, haa’]. This verb includes the
meaning of love as well as worship. Allaah, may He be
glorified and exalted, is the One Who is loved, glorified and
feared by the believers, and they put their hope in Him.
As regards to your last question, about whether Islam has
anything to do with the worship of idols or heavenly bodies,
this is a strange matter indeed. Islam proclaimed the
absolute unity of Allaah (Tawheed) and taught that He Alone
is to be worshipped, with no partners or associates. Islam
came to fight idolatry and put an end to it, so how can it
possibly be connected to idol-worship?
Perhaps you have read in the Qur’aan the story of the
hoopoe who believed only in Allaah; he knew Who his Lord was,
and denounced the worship of stars and planets. Allaah says,
relating how His Prophet Sulaymaan (upon whom be peace)
conveyed the story to the queen of Yemen at that time (interpretation
of the meaning):
"[The hoopoe said] ‘… and I have come to you
from Saba’ (Sheba) with true news. I found a woman ruling
over them, and she has been given all things that could be
possessed by any ruler of the earth, and she has a great
throne. I found her and her people worshipping the sun
instead of Allaah, and Shaytaan has made their deeds fair-seeming
to them, and has barred them from (Allaah’s) Way, so they
have no guidance, so that they do not worship (prostrate
before) Allaah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the
heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what
you reveal. Allaah, none has the right to be worshipped but
He, the Lord of the Supreme Throne!" [al-Naml 27:22-26]
There is also the story of how Ibraaheem rebuked his people
for worshipping heavenly bodies, the sun and moon, which
Allaah has told us in Soorat al-An’aam (the sixth soorah).
The fast of Ramadaan is not connected to the moon because we
worship the moon, but because the Lord of the moon has made
it a marker of time for us, by which we may organize our
worship and other affairs. So we look for the new moon of
Ramadaan so that we may worship Allaah Alone by fasting, and
we look for the new moon of the following month to mark the
end of this annual act of worship. We also look for the
timings of Hajj and other acts of worship in a similar way.
We hope that this has helped you understand anything that was
not clear to you before. Note that this is a serious issue,
and it is not something to be taken lightly. The only
religion with Allaah is Islam, which He has chosen for His
slaves, and He will not accept any other religion. Come and
join the religion of truth, and follow what your Lord has
revealed.
Allaah is with the believers.