Approaching the West — Page 166
A pproaching the West—166 them. ’ He said, ‘Then, you as well as your fathers have indeed been in manifest error. ’ (21: 52-54) The handmade images of God were broken by Abraham, and he argued with his people to prove emptiness of their religious tradition, saying, … Do you then worship, instead of All ā h that which cannot profit you at all, nor harm you? (21:67) The Holy Qur’ ā n also takes a serious note of the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. The Third Commandment prohibits taking the name of God in vain. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. (Exodus 20:7, Deuteronomy 5:11) The Holy Qur’ ā n makes a special reference to this commandment explaining that truly vain is all that which prohibits one from righteousness. It is a great violation of God’s sacred name when used for acts of injustice and transgression. And make not All ā h a target of your oaths that you may thereby abstain from doing good and acting righteously and making peace between men. And All ā h is All-Hearing, All- Knowing. (2:225)