Did the early polytheists not make images except for the purpose of glorification?
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The questioner : In the past, could it be that the polytheists did not make images except for the purpose of glorification?
The Shaykh : No, it is not so. I will give an example of this. Islam has forbidden it. The question here is for the professor: perhaps the early polytheists did not make images except to glorify them and worship them besides Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We answered in the negative, stating that the early polytheists are the predecessors of the polytheists present today. Just as these people make images of both types, as we mentioned, those early ones also made images of both types. This is especially true since images came to the Arabs from the lands of the non-Arabs and the Persians. Therefore, the Arabs, up until that man whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) saw...
The student : 'Amr ibn Luhayy al-Khuzai'i.
The Shaykh : 'Amr, yes. 'Amr ibn what?
The student : Luhayy al-Khuzai'i.
The Shaykh : Luhayy al-Khuzai'i. The Messenger (peace be upon him) saw him being tortured in the Fire because he was the first to introduce idols to the lands of the Arabs. The Arabs, before this man, were upon the oneness of Allah (tawhid) that they received from their grandfather Ibrahim (peace be upon him). It appears that he visited these lands, the lands of the Romans at that time, and found them upon the religion of the Christians. The making of idols for their gods and objects of worship besides Allah had prevailed over them. So he introduced idols to the lands of the Arabs. This was his recompense: he was tortured with a specific punishment, distinct from those who followed him in his misguidance in the worship of idols. The Arabs had these idols of both types: the type that is worshipped besides Allah, and the other type that is used to adorn houses. The greatest proof of this is what the hadith will indicate, which the author will cite, pointing to its cause. Unfortunately, he did not address the cause. We will mention the cause there, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : No, it is not so. I will give an example of this. Islam has forbidden it. The question here is for the professor: perhaps the early polytheists did not make images except to glorify them and worship them besides Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We answered in the negative, stating that the early polytheists are the predecessors of the polytheists present today. Just as these people make images of both types, as we mentioned, those early ones also made images of both types. This is especially true since images came to the Arabs from the lands of the non-Arabs and the Persians. Therefore, the Arabs, up until that man whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) saw...
The student : 'Amr ibn Luhayy al-Khuzai'i.
The Shaykh : 'Amr, yes. 'Amr ibn what?
The student : Luhayy al-Khuzai'i.
The Shaykh : Luhayy al-Khuzai'i. The Messenger (peace be upon him) saw him being tortured in the Fire because he was the first to introduce idols to the lands of the Arabs. The Arabs, before this man, were upon the oneness of Allah (tawhid) that they received from their grandfather Ibrahim (peace be upon him). It appears that he visited these lands, the lands of the Romans at that time, and found them upon the religion of the Christians. The making of idols for their gods and objects of worship besides Allah had prevailed over them. So he introduced idols to the lands of the Arabs. This was his recompense: he was tortured with a specific punishment, distinct from those who followed him in his misguidance in the worship of idols. The Arabs had these idols of both types: the type that is worshipped besides Allah, and the other type that is used to adorn houses. The greatest proof of this is what the hadith will indicate, which the author will cite, pointing to its cause. Unfortunately, he did not address the cause. We will mention the cause there, if Allah wills.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.