Importance of Showing Muslim Unity Against Polytheism
This is according to Hani Chitchian, a member of the Quran and Etrat School of the University of Tehran, speaking in the 37th (final) session in a series on Surah At-Tawbah. Following are excerpts from his remarks in the session:
One of the ways to disavow polytheism is to declare it to all Muslims and use the opportunity of Hajj rituals for this purpose: “A proclamation from Allah and His Messenger, to the people on the day of the Grand Pilgrimage; 'Allah rejects, and His Messenger (rejects) the idolaters.” (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 3)
This is a call that should be told to everyone on the day of Hajj. Here, the people are the Muslim community, but they are called "Al-Nas". Maybe we need to tell the whole world, all eight billion people, that God and His Messenger have nothing to do with polytheism, and this is something that we don't pay enough attention to.
The important point of this verse is the phrase "Hajj Akbar", which shows that declaring our hatred of polytheism is one of the goals of Hajj. During Hajj, Muslims should have a common stance against polytheism. Even if we are not in Hajj, we should make this declaration, and when other countries see the Hajj ceremony, they should hear that we all agree to fight against polytheism.
Verse 28 of the Surah is also about polytheism: “Believers, the idolaters are unclean. Do not let them approach the Sacred Mosque after this year. If you fear poverty, Allah, if He wills, will enrich you through His bounty. He is Knowing, Wise.”
Worshipping idols not the only form of polytheism
Polytheism equals impurity, that is, being away from purity, which has both legal and intellectual aspects. Polytheism is worse than dirt, it is more polluted than any pollution. “Fight those who neither believe in Allah nor the Last Day, who do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and do not embrace the religion of the truth, being among those who have been given the Book (Bible and the Torah), until they pay tribute out of hand and have been humiliated.” (verse 29)
The verse talks about polytheism. But the main point is that we must oppose any movement that does not want God's religion to be established. This verse is very clear and does not need explanation. Worshipping idols is certainly polytheism, but polytheism is not only worshipping idols.
The third point is that the struggle of the Islamic government against the system of polytheism should continue until polytheism is eliminated from the world. Note that the issue is eliminating polytheism, not killing polytheists. Therefore, we should also create a chance for polytheists to repent. This struggle includes cultural, social, economic, political and military actions.
