Blind Followings of Fathers
by Kashif Ahmed Shehzada

REACTION OF MANKIND TOWARDS THE MESSAGE OF ALLAH

Generally people maintain those beliefs in their lives which they have inherited from their parents and ancestors. They don't analyse those beliefs by reason nor intelligently or critically evaluate them. Many people take the faith of their ancestors to be the whole truth under the assumption that `How could our elders and loved one's be wrong?' They are also discouraged by their parents and
influentials to raise questions concerning religious beliefs and suggest blind following to their doctrines without proof.

The inherited faith has always caused a barrier in accepting the truth of Allah as the beliefs of ancestors are mostly at variance with the message of Allah. In all times the foremost reaction of people, when the truth and reality of Allah is made evident to them is that they found their fathers following something else and they will stick to their ancestral beliefs. The excuse that people give when they are told to follow Qur'an is the same and they prefer the blind following of the sect or cult in which they are born rather than personally consult the Qur'an for guidance:

"And when it is said to them:`Follow what Allah has revealed !' They say: `Nay ! We will
follow what we found our FATHERS following.' What ! Even though their fathers were void
of wisdom and guidance?" (2:170)

The faith of ancestors has always been a barrier in accepting the truth of Allah and the messengers
were given the the same argument.

Response to Noah (PBUH)

"....Never did we hear such a thing among our FATHERS of old." (23:24)

Response to Hood (PBUH)

"..Have you come to us that we may serve Allah alone and leave that which our FATHERS
served..?" (7:70)

Response to Salih (PBUH)

"..Do you forbid us that which our FATHERS served?.." (11:62)

Response to Shoaib (PBUH)

"O Shoaib, does your Salat order that we leave of that which our FATHERS served." (11:87)



Answer to Abraham's (PBUH) question

"They said:`Nay we but found our FATHERS doing thus what we do!" (26:74)

Joseph's (PBUH) reminder

"If not Him you serve nothing but names which you have named, you and your FATHERS.."
(12:40)

Response to Moses (PBUH) and Aaron (PBUH)

"..Never did we hear the like among our FATHERS of old!" (28:36)

Reaction to Muhammad (PBUH)

"..This is just a Man whose intention is to oppose you from that which your FATHERS
served.." (34:43)

The Qur'an strongly opposes the blind following of the faith of parents and ancestors. It invites
people to use their reasoning ability and intelligence in ascertaining the truth. (See
38:29,47:24,43:3,21:10) The Qur'an not only provides evidence for its claims (see 4:174,6:104) but also asks its opponents to provide sufficient proofs (see 21:24, 27:64, 2:111, 37:157).

Blind following of ancestors involves a person to accept their beliefs without question or sufficient
proof.The blind submission to ancestral beliefs is encouraged by Satan as his chief objective is to
keep Mankind away from the Qur'an:

"When they are told to follow what Allah has revealed,they say:`Nay we shall follow the ways
that we found our FATHERS following !' What ! Even if it is Satan beckoning them to the
penalty of the blazing (fire)? " (31:21)

Instead of taking guidance for all matters requiring guidance from the Book of Allah,people insist
upon copying the ways of their fathers:

" What! Have We given them a Book before this to which they are holding fast?" (43:21)

"Nay! They say:`We found our FATHERS following a certain way and we will guide ourselves
by their footsteps." (43:22)

"Just in the same manner, whenever We sent a Warner before you to any town, the wealthy
ones among them said:`Surely we found our FATHERS following a certain way and we will
certainly follow in their footsteps." (43:23)

By following the faith of their ancestors people get involved in worshipping those names and heroes
which exist in their ancestral traditions and don't serve Allah alone.Joseph (PBUH) also faced similar situations and he reminds...

"If not Him you serve nothing but names which you have named, you and your FATHERS,
--for which Allah has revealed no authority: The government is for none but Allah; He has
ordered that you be subservient to none but Him, that is the established Deen,(System of life)
but the majority of mankind do not know." (12:40)