The religion of Islam is based on submission to God and his worship alone. The verses of Quran and the life of prophet and his sayings collected in form of Hadith makes it quite clear that Islam does not support idol worship either of God or anyone else.
Holy Quran on Idol Worship
Idols are the work of Evil
O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful. 5:90
Abraham’s prayer to keep his progeny away from Idol Worship
And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said to his father, Ȃzar, “Do you take idols as gods? It is clear to me that you and your people are entirely misguided.” 6:74
˹Remember˺ when Abraham prayed, “My Lord! Make this city ˹of Mecca˺ secure, and keep me and my children away from the worship of idols. 14:35
He threatened, “How dare you reject my idols, O Abraham! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ˹to death˺. So be gone from me for a long time!”
Idols cannot create anything
Do they associate ˹with Allah˺ those ˹idols˺ which cannot create anything, but are in fact created; 7:191
But those ˹idols˺ they invoke besides Allah cannot create anything—they themselves are created. 16:20
Have you ˹O Prophet˺ not seen those who were given a portion of the Scriptures yet believe in idols and false gods and reassure the disbelievers that they are better guided than the believers? 4:51
We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people devoted to idols. They demanded, “O Moses! Make for us a god like their gods.” He replied, “Indeed, you are a people acting ignorantly! 7:138
Idols are built on lies
You worship besides Allah nothing but idols, simply creating lies ˹about them˺. Those you worship besides Allah certainly cannot give you any provision. So seek provision from Allah ˹alone˺, worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you will ˹all˺ be returned. 29:17
Shun Idols
Continue to˺ shun idols. 74:5
There the deviant will cry while disputing with their idols. 26:96
Then the idols will be hurled headlong into Hell, along with the deviant 26:94
˹Then he said to himself,˺ “By Allah! I will surely plot against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away.” 21:57
What about Black Stone and Kaba in Mecca?
Many non-Muslims claim that the act of Muslims revering black stone and kaba resembles idol worship. However, the following Hadith show that their worship is not intended at all. Many Hadith also indicate that Prophet tolerated certain pre-Islamic traditions of non-Muslim Meccans to avoid unnecessary conflicts and discords.
Status of Kaba
Abdullah ibn Umar reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, circling around the Ka’bah and saying, “How pure you are and how pure is your fragrance! How great you are and how great is your sanctity! By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the sanctity of the believer is greater to Allah than your sanctity, in his wealth, his life, and to assume nothing of him but good.” Sunan Ibn Mājah 3932 Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi (authentic due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani
It was narrated from Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: “Don’t you see that when your people (re)built the Kabah, they did not build it on all the foundations laid by Ibrahim, peace be upon him?” I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you not rebuild it on the foundation of Ihrahim, peace be upon him?” He said: “Were it not for the fact that your people have recently left disbelief (I would have done so).” Abdullah bin Umar said: “Aishah heard this from the Messenger of Allah, for I see that he would not touch the two corners facing Al-Hijr because the House not built on the foundations of Ihrahim, peace be upon him?” Sunan an-Nasa’i 2900 Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
It was narrated from Saeed bin Jubair that Ibn Abbas said: “Women used to circumambulate the Kabah naked, saying: ‘Today some, or all of it will appear And whatever appers I don’t make is permissible.’ Then the following was revealed: ‘O Children of Adam! Take your adornment to every Masjid.'” Sunan an-Nasa’i 2956 Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Status of Black Stone
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Sarjis said: I saw the bald one, meaning ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه), kiss the [Black) Stone and say: I am kissing you and I know that you are only a stone and cannot bring any benefit or ward off any harm, were it not that I saw the Messenger of Allah رضي الله عنه kiss you, I would not have kissed you. Musnad Ahmad 229 Grade: Its isnad is Sahih, al-Bukhari (1597) and Muslim (1270)
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin Sarjis said: “I saw the bald forehead of ‘Umar bin Khattab when he kissed the Black Stone and said: ‘I am kissing you, although I know that you are only a stone and you can neither cause harm nor bring benefit. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) kissing you, I would not have kissed you.’” Sunan Ibn Majah 2943 Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
It was narrated that `Abdullah bin Sarjis said: I saw the bald one – meaning `Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه)-kissing the Black Stone and saying. I know that you are only a stone, but I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) kiss you. Musnad Ahmad 361 Grade: Sahih (Darussalam), alBukhari (1597) and Muslim (1270)] (Darussalam)
Granth Sahib on Idol Worship
You worship stones and sit like a stork, pretending to be in Samaadhi…If you knew the nature of God, you would know that all of these beliefs and rituals are in vain.” (Guru Granth Sahib 470:16-18)
That stone idol, for which you tear off those leaves, that stone idol is lifeless.(Guru Granth Sahib 479-5)
Why worship gods and goddesses, O Siblings of Destiny? What can we ask of them? What can they give us? (Guru Granth Sahib 637-6)
The ignorant fools pick up stones and worship them. But when those stones themselves sink, who will carry you across?(Guru Granth Sahib 556-10)
Those who call a stone their god – their service is useless. Those who fall at the feet of a stone god, their work is wasted in vain. (Guru Granth Sahib 1160-5-6)
Also Read| Guru Nanak’s Teachings: Quotes from Guru Granth Sahib
Bhagavad Gita on Idol Worship & Demonic Views
येऽप्यन्यदेवता भक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विता: |
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय यजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् || 9:23||
O son of Kunti, even those devotees who faithfully worship other gods also worship Me. But they do so by the wrong method. Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9, Verse 23
Revile not those unto whom they pray beside Allah lest they wrongfully revile Allah through ignorance. Thus unto every nation have We made their deed seem fair. Then unto their Lord is their return, and He will tell them what they used to do. Holy Quran 6:108
अन्तवत्तु फलं तेषां तद्भवत्यल्पमेधसाम् |
देवान्देवयजो यान्ति मद्भक्ता यान्ति मामपि || 7:23||
But the fruit gained by these people of little understanding is perishable. Those who worship the celestial gods go to the celestial abodes, while My devotees come to Me. Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 7, Verse 23
Al-Quran 6.74-75 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father Azar, “Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people be in manifest error.” And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain in faith. (See also, Al-Quran 26:69-93)
Al-Quran 19:41-42 He was a man of truth and a prophet. He said to his father, Why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way?
Al-Quran 21:52-54 When he said to his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are devoted?” They said, “We found our father’s worshippers of them.” Abraham said, ‘Indeed, you and your fathers have been clearly misguided.’
मोघाशा मोघकर्माणो मोघज्ञाना विचेतस: |
राक्षसीमासुरीं चैव प्रकृतिं मोहिनीं श्रिता: || 9:12||
Bewildered by the material energy, such persons embrace demoniac and atheistic views. In that deluded state, their hopes for welfare are in vain, their fruitive actions are wasted, and their culture of knowledge is baffled. Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9, Verse 12
Those who call a stone their god – their service is useless. Those who fall at the feet of a stone god, their work is wasted in vain. (Guru Granth Sahib 1160-5-6).
Yet they have taken besides Him gods who cannot create anything but are themselves created. Nor can they protect or benefit themselves. Nor can they control life, death, or resurrection. Holy Quran 25:3
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिता: |
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययम् || 9:13||
But the great souls, who take shelter of My divine energy, O Parth, know Me, Lord Krishna, as the origin of all creation. They engage in My devotion with their minds fixed exclusively on Me. Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9, Verse 13
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds. The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You ˹alone˺ we worship and You ˹alone˺ we ask for help. Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray. Holy Quran 1-1-7
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां यतन्तश्च दृढव्रता: |
नमस्यन्तश्च मां भक्त्या नित्ययुक्ता उपासते || 9:14||
Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion. (Prabhubada Translation) Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9, Verse 14
Thus, great religious traditions discourage idol worship as a vain and futile ritual and rather ask believers to engage in exclusive worship of God alone.
