Forefatherism And Ancestral Worship

Forefatherism And Ancestral Worship

And when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our forefathers doing." Even though their forefathers understood nothing, nor were they guided? – Quran 2:170 

Forefatherism occurs when the veneration of forefathers manifests as ancestral worship in any society. The institutionalization of forefatherism has impacted all world cultures. The honorific mantra of "following our forefathers" is actually antediluvian, which has been the foundational basis of forefatherism. Based on historicity and exegesis of the Islamic tradition, idolatry foundations were inadvertently laid around the time of Prophet Idris (Enoch), and manifested during the era of Prophet Nuh (Noah). Forefatherism, in the form of ancestral worship, manifested in prevalence, and Nuh was faced with eradicating the embodiment of venerated men as statues, instituted during the era of his predecessor – Idris. 

According to some narrations, including The Book of Idols by Arab historian Hisham Ibn al-Kalbi, documented oral traditions elucidated the events that led to the establishment of idol worship in earlier times. The pith of the narration is about the death of five men, who were deemed righteous by the community. Following the deaths, some of their relatives were grief-stricken, and people of that community decided to build five honorific statues to venerate these dead men. As time went by, the veneration of these five men metamorphosed into forefatherism-oriented ancestral worship. From an exegetical analysis of Islamic historicity, that metamorphosis was a satanic plot that was seeded centuries before its manifestation. In the Islamic context, Satan means "the accursed" – whose primary goal is to mislead mankind in totality. The satanic modus operandi is to play the long game – the long con (borrowing from the confidence trickster's parlance). This particular plot was crucial, so the long game had to be deployed stealthily. If the satanic advice of building idols for the primary purpose of deification and deity worship had been presented initially, it would have been summarily rejected, because that particular generation in history, were somewhat preoccupied with the worship of God. However, the satanic plot of deity worship was not intended for that earlier generation that erected the statues, rather, the targeted plot was actually intended for later generations.  

Notably, one of the stories about Nuh in the Quran mentions five deities – Wadd, Suwa', Yaghuth, Ya'uq, and Nasr: 

Noah said, "My Lord, indeed they have disobeyed me and followed him whose wealth and children will not increase him except in loss. And they conspired an immense conspiracy. And said, 'Never leave your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr‘. – Quran 71:21-23 

Through these series of narrated historical events, the aforementioned forefathers were transmogrified into deities. Consequently, Nuh became the first prophet to conspicuously deal with idolaters who had totally abandoned the worship of God. Furthermore, it must be emphasized that the idolatry issue laid its roots at that particular time in early history and has existed with mankind ever since. From that point onward, every culture gradually developed with its autochthonal peculiarities, which often includes mythological figures and deities firmly rooted in forefatherism. 

A classic example of a society rooted in forefatherism with various idolatry manifestations, is the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his people. Whilst growing up, Ibrahim was surrounded by idols, primarily because his father was a sculptor and trader of idols. Ibrahim sometimes argued with his father about the idols. His father, like all the idolaters, endorsed their idolatry practices, based on the archetypal justification of continuing the legacy of their ancestors. For Ibrahim, it did not make any sense to him that people would call upon and worship idols that were man-made. So, Ibrahim often mocked the idols and by extension the people who believed in and worshipped the idols. 

And recite to them the story of Ibrahim (Abraham). When he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?" They said: "We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted." He said: "Do they hear you, when you call (on them)? "Or do they benefit you or do they harm (you)?" They said: "Nay, but we found our fathers doing so." – Quran 26:69-74 

One of the spectacular incidents that brought Ibrahim to prominence was when he publicly ridiculed the idolaters, during one of their pagan festivals. Ibrahim devised a plan to avoid attending the idolatry ceremony and waited at the temple that housed their gods. Whilst alone in the temple, Ibrahim mockingly asked the idols if they would not eat the offerings before them and why they did not speak. Obviously not expecting a response, Ibrahim defaced all idols, but one in particular – the biggest idol. When the idolaters came to discover what had happened to their pantheon, they were apoplectic with rage. Completely infuriated by the act, the people wondered who would be so daring to commit an unprecedented sacrilege. 

Unsurprisingly, Ibrahim was summoned because of his antecedents of mocking the idols. After Ibrahim was confronted about the sacrilegious crime against the idols, he displayed not just courage, but uncommon wisdom. Ibrahim told the people to ask the biggest of their self-manufactured idols what happened to the other idols, since it was the only one left unscathed. Knowing full well it was impossible to question an idol, the folly of the idolaters became apparent, and they felt really slighted. Ibrahim's deft action with the idols exposed their compounded inanity, self-inflicted complicity and the futility of idol worship in general. The story of Ibrahim is well-documented in the Quran: The Prophets (Quran 21:51-67).  

Ibrahim triumphed over many challenges in his lifetime and his experience became an epitome of rectitude – a unique person and prophet emulated and extolled globally.

Historically, all civilizations, without exception, had their beliefs and traditions built around some revered autochthonous ancestry, mythology, deities or pantheon. Whilst legends based on legendary figures exist across all cultural spectrums, certain beliefs and traditions that manifest as cultural mores can be appreciated as euhemeristic oriented veneration, deification or ancestral worship. In certain instances, some autochthonous beliefs still exist, whilst others have been infused through syncretization. For instance, the deity named Baal was common amongst Semitic traditions, particularly in Canaan, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia – Babylonia, with variations that included Ba'al, Ba'l, Baalim and Bel. Baal, like many other autochthonous deities, had, as part of their traditions, human sacrificial practices. Interestingly, Baal was notably mentioned in the Quran: 

And indeed, Elias was from among the messengers, When he said to his people, "Will you not fear Allah ? Do you call upon Ba'l and leave the best of creators - Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?" – Quran 37:123-126 

The specificity of Baal symbolises all autochthonic deities that have been justified through forefatherism across the globe. Critically, a thought-provoking question was asked in the above verse of the Quran that ought to make a discerning mind ponder on its profound meaning – “Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?” 

Fundamentally, were your first forefathers lords unto themselves or they had a Lord? If your first forefathers existed, then how did they come into existence, and who created them? Furthermore, what is the point of worshipping these forefathers incapable of creating themselves? Essentially, if any group of people or society, choose to take their ancestor as lords and worship their forefathers, then what about the forefathers before them, and the forefathers before them? Continuing this precursory pattern will surely terminate at an initial forefather, who was certainly created by The Creator.  Respecting cultural traditions is one thing; however, such practices should not elevate ancestral reverence to the level of worship, especially not as a substitute for The Creator.

Excerpt from pgs 13-18 of P.R.I.S.M: Primal Religious Instruction Serving Mankind by M.B.O Owolowo ©️