2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

Scholars have discussed this topic and those who focus on the study of history and historical remnants opine that shirk occurred first prior to Tawheed. They support their claim by historical remnants they posses and engraved inscriptions that indicate that shirk preceded Tawheed. They also draw support from another source and that is they have found primitive tribes living in the midst of Africa far removed from civilization and centres of learning who remain practicing their pagan rituals. They claim that the stage of Tawheed occurs at the level of learning and civilization which only takes place after many transformations have taken place in their perceptions towards metaphysics and pagan rituals like belief in man and animals or a particular cosmic phenomena like the worship of the sun, moon, stars, rain, thunder and lightening, and finally what the polytheist Arabs were found worshipping, which is:

Statues from stone carved to resemble personalities like: Hubal and other idols for which it is claimed that Umar ibn Luhay brought to Makkah from Syria. Their opinion is a weak opinion. The strong and preferred opinion held by the majority of scholars is that Tawheed preceded shirk this is supported by a number of evidences along with practical realities.

Allah, when He sent Adam and Eve (PBUT) down from heaven to earth in which they then began reproducing the progeny of Adam (PBUH) increased. Allah the All Exalted then sent Messengers to each nation. The first appearance of shirk was in the people of Noah (PBUH).

2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

Sheikh Hafiz al-Hakami-may Allah show mercy on him-says:
“The first appearance of shirk, as is popularly held, took place in the people of Noah (PBUH). The children of Adam (PBUH) were on the religion of their father (PBUH) for an approximate period of twenty centuries. This is held by Ibn ‘Abbas and others in their explanation of Allah’s words:

كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا

))

فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْياً بَيْنَهُمْ فَهَدَى اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَا

[البَقَرَة:٢١٣]

((

اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. Allah by His Grace guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they differed. For Allah guided whom He will to a path that is straight. [2:213]

2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

And that is that the cursed Satan remained diligently persistent in his enmity of the children of Adam (PBUH) ever since their father existed in his clay form. When Allah breathed into him from his spirit and taught him the names of all things and ordered the Angels to prostrate to him for which they all prostrated except Iblis who arrogantly rejected becoming a non-believer saying:

[الإسرَاء: ٦١]

((

أَأَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِيناً

))

Iblis: He said, "Shall I bow down to one whom Thou didst create from clay?" [17:61]

[الحِجر: ٣٣١]

((

لَمْ أَكُنْ لِأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِنْ حَمَأٍ مَسْنُونٍ

))

(Iblis) said: "I am not one to prostrate myself to man, whom Thou didst create from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape." [15:33]

2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

When Allah asked him the reason for his refusal to prostrate and arrogance-for which Allah Knows best-Allah said to him: ((مَا مَنَعَكَ أَلَّا تَسْجُدَ إِذْ أَمَرْتُكَ))The arrogant villain replied proud of his constitution and criticising Allah’s Wisdom and Justice:

[الاٴعرَاف: ١٢]

((

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ

))

He said: "I am better than he: Thou didst create me from fire and him from clay." [7:12]

The Compeller then treated him with the opposite of what he had intended making him envious and clothing his arrogance with eternal disgrace for which there is no honour.

[الاٴعرَاف: ١٣]

((

قَالَ فَاهْبِطْ مِنْهَا فَمَا يَكُونُ لَكَ أَنْ تَتَكَبَّرَ فِيهَا فَاخْرُجْ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الصَّاغِرِينَ

))

((Allah)) said: "Get thee down from this: it is not for thee to be arrogant here: get out, for thou art of the meanest (of creatures)." [7:13]

2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

It followed that from among the devious plots of the devil according to what has been narrated to us by Allah the Magnificent is the temptation of man and his killing one another as is narrated to us in Soorah al-Ma’idah. When Adam (PBUH) died and left his son Seth in charge (PBUH) the aforementioned time lapsed in which people remained on the correct religious law.

Ibn Jarir -may Allah show mercy on him-narrated on Ibn Abbas ® said:
“Between Noah and Adam lapsed a period of twenty centuries in which everyone accorded to the correct religious law after which they differed, so Allah sent the Prophets with warnings and glad tidings.” Allah the All Exalted has narrated all this in detail in His Book.” Here ends his remarks.

“The matter differs according to the differences of man but the correct position is that it is natural; because it is established that the Prophet (SAW) said:

"Every child is born with a true faith of Islam”

But it may be the case that the natural disposition has been corrupted in which investigation then becomes necessary, but the origin of the matter is that such knowledge is naturally necessary.” Here ends his remarks.

2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

When Ibn Abi al-Iz al-Hanafi-may Allah show mercy on him-presented the Hadith regarding the natural disposition which is the Prophet’s (SAW) words:

Allah's Apostle said, "Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone) but his parents convert him to Judaism, Christianity or Magianism”

He said; “It is not that the meaning of this is that man is born naïve ignorant of Tawheed and shirk, as is claimed by some, by virtue of the preceding evidence and also by evidence of the Prophet’s (SAW) words for which he narrated on his Lord:
“My servants are created as pure monotheists (حنفاء) and it is the devils that corrupts them”

2.4 Which precedes the other: Tawheed of shirk?

Inherent in the previous Hadith is evidence that supports this as he (SAW) said:

“but his parents convert him to Judaism, Christianity or Magianism”

He (SAW) did not say: convert them to Islam. And in a narration: ((يولد على الملة)) “Born with a religion” and in yet another narration: ((على هذه الملة)) “on this religion” Here ends his remarks.