How idolatry began through honoring ancestors

📖Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhāri 4920
‘Ata’ reported: Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “All of the idols among the people of Noah appeared among the Arabs later. They were the names of righteous men among the people of Noah. When they passed away, Satan inspired in their people to build statues in the places they used to sit and name them by their names. They did so and they were not worshiped until the first generation passed away and knowledge was lost; then they were worshiped.”

This hadith explains how idols appeared in Arabia:

• The Arabs inherited the names and statues of righteous people from the people of Noah.
• Originally, these statues were not worshiped; they were merely memorials.
• Over time, as knowledge of true monotheism faded, Satan inspired people to turn these statues into objects of worship.
• “Satan inspired” means humans were misled by whispers of Iblis, gradually corrupting innocent practices into shirk (associating partners with Allah).
• This shows how false practices can spread through generations and how ignorance enables Satan’s influence.

Qur’anic Context:

📖Quran 16:36
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], “Worship Allah and avoid false gods.” Then among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error became justified.

• The phrase “error became justified” refers to those who knowingly crossed all limits, rejecting guidance despite clear messengers and warnings.
• These people allowed false practices and idol worship to become accepted in their communities over time.
• It demonstrates that persistent disobedience and ignorance can normalize falsehood, making it appear justified in the eyes of those who follow it blindly.
  
  Quran 7:186
  Whoever Allah sends astray – there is no guide for him. And He leaves them in their transgression, wandering blindly.

  This verse highlights that when individuals or communities persist in their rebellion and disobedience, Allah allows them to continue in their misguided state, leading them further astray.

📖Quran 7:25
O Children of Adam, We have sent down to you clothing to cover yourselves and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness — that is best. That is from Allah’s guidance so that you may remember.

📖Quran 114:4-6
From the evil of the whisperer who withdraws,
Who whispers in the breasts of mankind,
Of jinn and mankind.

Explanation:

• This verse seeks protection from the evil whispers that enter the hearts of humans.
• The “whisperer” came from Iblis and humans who pass the evil guidance.
• Hadith connection: The Hadith about the idols of Noah’s people shows that humans, inspired by Iblis tnen they mislead others. They teach or show evil practices, and others follow by their own choice, thus also falling into the category of Satan in their actions.
• Clarification: Satan is not just a mythical figure; any human who knowingly disobeys Allah and misleads others is doing for Iblis.
• Evil often spreads through human choice, amplified by whispers and deception, rather than being purely external.

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According to Islamic teachings, messengers and prophets were sent by Allah from the earliest generations, but the Qur’an does not provide a full list of all pre-Noah messengers:

1. Adam ﷺ – Considered the first prophet. He was taught by Allah and tasked to guide his children in monotheism.
2. Descendants of Adam – While the Qur’an does not name all individuals, it confirms that Allah sent guidance to people in every generation.
   • Quran 16:36: “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid false gods.’ Then among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error became justified.”
3. Prophet Idris ﷺ – Mentioned in the Qur’an as a man of truth and a prophet. He taught righteousness, knowledge, and worship of Allah, guiding his people to monotheism.
   • Quran 19:56: “And mention Idris in the Book; indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.
4. Idolatry before Noah ﷺ – There is no evidence of widespread idol worship immediately after Adam. Idolatry started to emerge gradually over generations as people abandoned divine guidance and followed Satan’s whispers.

For example:

📖Quran 71:23
They said, ‘Do not abandon your gods, nor abandon Wadd, nor Suwa’, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya’uq, nor Nasr.

Explanation:

• These were names of idols that people worshiped after Noah’s people.
• The Qur’an indicates that false gods appeared among nations after righteous men passed away, and people followed Satan’s whispers.
• This aligns with the Hadith reporting that the Arabs later built statues of righteous men from Noah’s people, which were then misused as idols.

Summary:

• Adam ﷺ was the first messenger, and others like Idris ﷺ came after him, though most names are not mentioned in the Qur’an.
• Idolatry did not exist in the earliest generations; it developed gradually before the time of Noah ﷺ.

Pre-Noah Messengers (known or inferred from Islamic tradition):

1. Adam ﷺ
2. Seth (Shith) ﷺ – according to some scholars
3. Idris ﷺ
4. Other unnamed messengers sent to various communities