Erasing the Accusation of Shirk

He would misguide the people with his whispers
One narration says that the idols originated from the pious of earlier
generations, which we have previously discussed and explained.
Imam Tabari, Hafidh Ibn Kathir and Muhammad bin Ishaq all write that
Iblis was ‘friends’ with the generation of Qabil and he commanded the
generation of Qabil to create idols, which they did! They would then hear
voices from the idols which in reality was Iblis. He told a particular portion
of Qabil’s generation to create idols in the image of Allah and His angels;
they would also hear Iblis speak from these idols and because the people
thought that angels were the daughters of Allah Azawajul (I seek shelter in
Allah!) they gave the idols the female names of ‘Uzza, Mannat and Lat.’
Furthermore, the polytheists used to make twaaf around the Kabah and
whenever they left Makkah they would always take a stone of Makkah to
represent the Kabah. They would take the stone and place it on the floor of
where they had traveled to and would circulate it (make twaaf). Sometimes
Iblis would enter the stone and speak. The stone would say “I am your
Lord!” The people would be extremely impressed and stunned that they then
started believing that this stone was god and began worshipping it. 27
This proves to us that humans would only worship something if it was
perceived to be extraordinary or supernatural, which would convince the
people that the stone is god. Otherwise it is very hard to believe that humans
can sit in front of stone which has no power and worship it. It is the voice of
the Iblis which entered the idols causing the people to believe the idols are
god.
AN INTERESTING INCIDENT
Once Makkah had been conquered by Muhamamd (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace), the Prophet of Allah commanded his companions to find
all the idols which were worshipped by the polytheists and destroy them.
The blessed Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sent Khalid
bin Walid ( may Allah be pleased with him) to destroy the idol, ‘Uzza’.
Khalid bin Walid went and found this particular idol and broke it into two
pieces. He then went back to the Prophet to inform him the job was done.
However, the Prophet commanded him to go back again and destroy the idol
27 See Tarikh Tabari, Tarikh Ibn kathir, Sirat al-nabi, Muhammad bin Ishaq, Talbis Iblis, Ibn al-Jawzi and
kitab al-asnaam, al-Kalbi.
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