مشرکین عرب کے دعوی حنیفیت کی حقیقت اور اس کا رد
THE REALITY OF THE ARAB POLYTHEISTS' CLAIM TO HANIFIYYAH AND ITS REFUTATION
Abstract
Before the advent of Islam, Arab society was engulfed in a state of intellectual and doctrinal confusion. On one hand, there were faint memories of the ancient Abrahamic teachings, and on the other, there prevailed the overwhelming darkness of polytheism, ignorance, idolatry, and superstitions. In such a milieu, certain Arab tribes and their religious leaders claimed to be Hanif—true followers of the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him). They asserted that their beliefs and mode of worship represented the true Abrahamic tradition, maintaining that their idolatry was merely a means of seeking nearness to God, rather than the essence of worship itself.This claim stands in stark contradiction to the teachings of the Qur’an, and is baseless both historically and theologically. The Qur’an categorically rejects the polytheists’ claim to Hanifiyyah on numerous occasions and clarifies the monotheistic creed of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), which leaves no room whatsoever for associating partners with Allah.
This article is written in pursuit of exposing this intellectual fallacy. It aims to examine, in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and authentic historical evidence, the reality behind the polytheists' claim to Hanifiyyah. The goal is to refute their false premises and demonstrate that true Hanifiyyah is defined by pure monotheism and complete disavowal of shirk (polytheism). It will also be established that the religion of the pre-Islamic polytheists was not the religion of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), but a corrupted version tainted by self-invented rituals and false beliefs.This critical analysis will draw not only upon the Qur’an and Hadith, but also delve into historical sources, pre-Islamic relics, and the religious and social traditions of Arab society. It will make clear to readers that the polytheists’ claim to Abrahamic legacy was nothing more than an illusion—devoid of any truth or authenticity.
