Ayats that are about Polytheists but are used against the wrong people
There are ayats in the Qur’an that are aimed at Meccan polytheists and/or disbelievers but in this day and age, some ignorants use them against believers of the religion.
Surah Baqarah 2:170
When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they reply, “No! We ˹only˺ follow what we found our forefathers practicing.” ˹Would they still do so,˺ even if their forefathers had ˹absolutely˺ no understanding or guidance?
This ayat is aimed at the polytheists and disbelievers. It criticises them for rejecting the truth because they want to follow their ancestors in disbelief and idol worship. This ayat was revealed after a group of Jews refused to follow the truth instead wanting to remain in disbelief.
Surah Al-An'am 6:116
"'O Prophet!˺ If you were to obey most of those on earth, they would lead you away from Allah’s Way. They follow nothing but assumptions and do nothing but lie.
This ayat is aimed the majority of the people on earth which happened to be disbelievers at the time. This is true in times of today. For example, the Muslim population is newly 2 billion and the world is population is 7-8 billion. Therefore, the majority are disbelievers. In those times, Islam was smaller in numbers and the majority of the were disbelievers.
Surah Al Zumar 39:3
Indeed, sincere devotion is due ˹only˺ to Allah. As for those who take other lords besides Him, ˹saying,˺ “We worship them only so they may bring us closer to Allah,” surely Allah will judge between all regarding what they differed about. Allah certainly does not guide whoever persists in lying and disbelief.
This ayat is aimed at the Meccan polytheists, who would worship idols claiming that they will bring them closer to Allah. The idols were in the face of angels. They thought that worshipping them would allow the angels to intercede with Allah to help them. This ayat is a condemnation for them and all polytheists who do the same. If someone was to go to the grave of the Prophet ﷺ and ask for intercession, then provided he knows that the Prophet ﷺ is the intermediary and only Allah can accept the intercession then it can't be considered as worship like the polytheists did. This is seen as a way to get closer to Allah like someone reading the Qur’an , giving charity , etc.
Surah Tawbah 9:31
They have taken their rabbis and monks as well as the Messiah, son of Mary, as lords besides Allah, even though they were commanded to worship none but One God. There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. Glorified is He above what they associate ˹with Him˺!
This ayat is aimed at Christian and Jews. After this ayat was revealed, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ said "but Jews and Christians do not worship their rabbis and monks!" , ﷺ replied “Do the rabbis and monks not forbid the permissible and permit the forbidden, and they obey them?”. The companion said "yes they so". The Prophet then concluded that "this is how they worship them". Their rabbis and monks don't forbid them to avoid things that are forbidden and allow them to do bad things. They still obeyed them. As for Muslims who trust proper scholars the same cannot be said as those scholars told people to do good and avoid evil according to guidelines to the best of their ability and also, In the Qur’an it has many verses that says to obey Allah and His Messenger and proper scholars did this so trusting them is fine.
Surah Kafirun 109:1-6
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O you disbelievers!
I do not worship what you worship,
nor do you worship what I worship.
I will never worship what you worship,
nor will you ever worship what I worship.
You have your way, and I have my Way.”
This surah is about the Meccan polytheists in particular. The polytheists asked the Prophet ﷺ to worship their idols in return they claimed that they would be Muslim. Then then this surah was revealed.
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