Date : 09-08-2010

Question :

I am a mother of a student in the second grade. While teaching him, I noticed that the lesson about Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) included a text which says that idols are creatures that neither harm nor profit. Is it correct to describe idols as creatures? Aren't they made of stone and the stone is the created? Aren't they man-made ? How could we call what man made a creature? Could we call the computer, the refrigerator and the house creatures?

The Answer :

All praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and upon all his family and companions.



 Everything other than Allah is a creature whether it remained in its original shape, or not due to being made or transformed by man or else . The meaning of the word "creature" is not limited to what was first found in this universe, but covers all that was found-after it had never existed. Thus, it is a creature, whether man-made or else, and the created must have a creator. Religious texts reflected this maxim through The Words of Allah: “ When Allah hath Created you and what ye make ? “{Al-Safa`at/95-96}.



The same is also reflected in the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH): “Allah Created every maker and His making.” {Al-Bukhari,ch."Khalk Afaal Al-Ibaad"/pp.102}. In addition, This is a sound Hadith according to {Fattih Al-Barri, vol.13/pp.507} by Al-Hafiz Bin Hajar



Therefore, it is permissible to describe idols as creatures because they really are, and everything, other than Allah, is a creature. And Allah Knows Best