Creed of Abraham

This detailed exploration of the term "millat Ibrahim" within the Quran emphasizes the critical distinction between "millat" (creed) and "deen" (religion). It highlights how a misinterpretation of the term "millat" can lead to the adoption of non-Quranic practices.

Definition of "Millat"

The Quran defines "millat" as a creed, which represents a belief system or ideology, rather than a complete religion with prescribed rituals and practices.

Supporting Evidence:

• "Then We inspired you to follow the millat of Abraham. He was a monotheist and was not one of the mushrikeen." (16:123)

  • The repeated emphasis on monotheism and rejection of shirk (associating partners with God) as Abraham's "millat" demonstrates its focus on core belief rather than rituals.

• Joseph states, "I have followed the millat of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is not for us to associate anything with God." (12:38)

  • Joseph's statement explicitly ties "millat" to monotheism and the rejection of shirk, aligning with the Quranic definition of the term.

Misinterpretation of "Millat" as Religion

Some interpret "millat" to mean "deen," which leads to the erroneous belief that following Abraham’s millat requires adhering to specific rituals or practices supposedly given to him. This interpretation conflicts with Quranic principles, as:

• "Shall I seek other than God as a source of law, when He has revealed to you this Book fully detailed?" (6:114)

• "We did not leave anything out of the Book." (6:38)

These verses confirm that the Quran contains all necessary details for religious guidance, leaving no need to seek practices or rituals outside its text.

Examples of Non-Quranic Practices Attributed to Abraham

The text lists several rituals claimed to be part of Abraham’s "millat" but lacking Quranic evidence:

1. Stoning During Hajj: Not mentioned in the Quran; stoning is associated with idol worshippers in the Quran (e.g., 11:91).
2. 2.5% Zakat Rate: The Quran does not specify a fixed rate, emphasizing personal discretion (e.g., 2:267).
3. Five daily prayers: The Quran names three Salāt and specific times for those Salāt (24:58, 11:114, 17:78).
4. 24434 Rak’ah format: The Quran does not detail specific cycles or formats for Salāt.
5. Friday Sermon: No explicit Quranic command for a sermon during congregational prayer.

By attributing these practices to Abraham without Quranic evidence, proponents contradict the principle of following "the Quran alone."

Evidence from Other Verses

Atheism as a "Millat":

• "I have abandoned the millat of a people who do not believe in God." (12:37)

  • This verse describes atheism as a "millat," reinforcing that the term refers to a creed or belief system, not a set of rituals.

Jews and Christians:

• "Neither the Jews nor the Christians will approve of you until you follow their millat." (2:120)

• God distinguishes between the man-made "millat" of Jews and Christians and the divine "deen" (Islam). Their millat includes fabricated doctrines and creeds, such as:

• For Jews: Upholding the Talmud alongside the Torah.

• For Christians: Belief in the Trinity, Atonement, and other post-biblical doctrines.

Implications of Following Man-Made Creeds

The text underscores how deviations from the Quran lead to practices and beliefs unauthorized by God. For example:

• Judaism and Christianity are not Quranic terms but represent human constructs developed after Moses and Jesus, respectively.
• These creeds incorporate additions that deviate from the original monotheistic message of submission to God (Islam).

Key Takeaways

1. Millat Ibrahim in the Quran refers to Abraham's creed of pure monotheism and rejection of shirk.
2. The Quran provides all necessary religious details, leaving no need for external sources.
3. Misinterpreting "millat" as "religion" leads to the adoption of rituals and practices unsupported by the Quran.
4. Believers should adhere to Quranic guidance, maintaining the principle of following "the Quran alone."

The Quran commands believers to follow the "millat" of Abraham, which is defined as monotheism and the rejection of associating partners with God. This command is not an endorsement to adopt non-Quranic rituals or practices attributed to Abraham. The Quran emphasizes its own sufficiency as the sole source of religious guidance, warning against deviations rooted in human interpretations and man-made creeds.

Are We Accountable to Abraham’s Practices?

Evidence That Rituals Preceded the Quran

Verses like 21:73 highlight that certain practices such as Salāt (prayer) and Zakāh (charity) were revealed to Abraham and his followers. However, the Quran does not provide explicit details of Abraham’s rituals.

The Quran as the Final Authority

• "We brought down to you the Book (Quran) with truth, confirming what came before it of the Scripture and superseding it." (5:48)
  • Key Points:
    1. The Quran confirms and supersedes previous scriptures.
    2. Each people were given their unique set of laws and rituals.
    3. Accountability is limited to what was revealed to each group in their time.

Different Laws and Rites

• "For every nation, We have appointed a 'mansakan' (rite) they are to observe." (22:67)
  • Distinguishes between laws/methods (Shirāʾa wa-Minhāj) and rituals (Mansakan), showing variability across communities.
  • The Quranic rites for Muslims are explicitly defined and independent of those practiced by Abraham.

The Danger of Following Inherited Practices Without Quranic Authority

• "Follow what God has brought down (Quran)... Even if their fathers did not understand anything and were not guided?" (2:170)
  • Critiques blind adherence to ancestral practices not authorized by the Quran.
• 22:71: Denounces following rules or rites without divine authorization as idolatry.

Significance for Modern Believers

• Believers are instructed to adhere strictly to Quranic injunctions.
• Inherited rituals or beliefs attributed to Abraham are only valid if explicitly endorsed by the Quran.

Accountability to Scriptures

• Verses in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:44-49) reinforce the principle of accountability only to one's own scripture:
  • Israelites were judged by the Torah. (5:44)
  • Christians were judged by the Injeel. (5:47)
  • Muslims are judged by the Quran, which supersedes earlier scriptures. (5:48)

Quran as the Sole Criterion for Accountability

• "It (Quran) is a Reminder for you and your people, and you will all be questioned." (43:44)
• The Quran asserts that accountability on Judgement Day will pertain exclusively to what has been revealed in the Quran.

Inheritance of Religious Practices is Prohibited

• “Follow what God has brought down.” (2:170)
• Reliance on inherited rituals, even if presumed to originate from Abraham, is against Quranic instructions.

Accountability for Each Nation

• “Every nation will be called to its Book.” (45:28)
• Judgement will be based on the scripture revealed to each nation, reaffirming that the Quran is the sole criterion for this ummah.

Preservation of Abrahamic Practices

• No Quranic evidence supports the claim that religious practices from Abraham's time were preserved or practiced at the time of Muhammad:
  • Rituals of previous communities were corrupted (4:46, 3:78).
  • Salāt was lost across generations (19:59).
  • Practices at the Kaʿbah during Muhammad's time were described as “whistling and clapping” (8:35), indicating corruption.

Universal Acceptance is Not a Valid Criterion

• “If you were to obey the majority of those in the earth, they will mislead you away from the path of God.” (6:116)
• The Quran warns against following the majority, as they often rely on conjecture rather than divine guidance.

The Implications for Muhammad

• Muhammad was instructed to wait for the full revelation of the Quran and not rush its completion (20:114, 75:16-18). This indicates that he was not accountable for practices until all details were revealed to him in the Quran.

Conclusion

The Quran provides a clear and complete framework for religious practices. It rejects reliance on:

• Inherited traditions.
• Universal acceptance.
• Practices outside Quranic authorization.