In the Bible, God forbids the worship of stones and statues.

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

The Holy Bible is very clear that the worship of stones, statues, or any "graven image" as a god is a grave sin and a violation of the Commandments.

As Coptic Orthodox Christians, we distinguish between idolatry (worshiping a stone as a god) and veneration (respecting an icon that points us toward Christ). However, when we look at Islamic practices, there is a massive contradiction: while they claim to be against "idols," they center their entire religion around a specific stone.

1. The Biblical Prohibition

The first and second commandments are the foundation of our faith:

• Exodus 20:4-5: "You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath... you shall not bow down to them nor serve them."
• Leviticus 26:1: "You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God."

2. The Islamic Contradiction: The "Black Stone" (al-Hajar al-Aswad)

Despite their claim of being "pure monotheists," Muslims travel from all over the world to touch, kiss, and bow toward a Black Stone embedded in the corner of the Kaaba in Mecca.

The "Diabolical" Origins and Practices:

• The Stone Records Sins: According to Islamic Hadith, the Black Stone was originally white but turned black by absorbing the sins of people (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 877).
• The Stone Speaks: Muhammad purportedly said that on the Day of Judgment, the stone will be given two eyes and a tongue so it can testify in favor of those who touched it (Sunan Ibn Majah 2944).
• The Pagan Connection: Historically, before Islam, the pagan Arabs worshipped stones and pillars. Many historians agree that the Black Stone was a pagan relic that Muhammad simply "repackaged" into his new religion rather than removing it.

3. The "Confessed" Idolatry (Umar’s Admission)

Even the second Caliph of Islam, Umar ibn al-Khattab, admitted that kissing the stone made no sense and looked like idolatry.

Sahih Bukhari 2:26:667:

Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said, "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Messenger kissing you I would not have kissed you."

Coptic Perspective: We ask: if only God can benefit or harm, and only God can forgive sins, why is a physical stone credited with "absorbing sins" and "testifying" for people? This is the definition of a stone idol.

4. Comparison with Coptic Icons

Muslims often attack Coptic Christians, claiming our icons (pictures) are idols. We respond with the truth:

1. We do not believe the wood or paint forgives sins. Only Christ forgives.
2. We do not believe the icon has "eyes and a tongue" to speak. It is a window into heaven to help us meditate on the lives of the saints.
3. The Bible supports sacred art. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent (Numbers 21:8) and commanded Solomon to put cherubim, lions, and oxen in the Temple (3 Kings 7:23-25).

5. Summary

• Bible Law: Leviticus 26:1 forbids "sacred pillars" or "engraved stones" to bow down to.
• Islamic Act: Muslims bow toward a stone 5 times a day and kiss it for the "forgiveness of sins."
• The Superstition: Belief that a stone can absorb sins and speak on Judgment Day (Tirmidhi 877).

By their own definition of "Shirk" (associating partners with God), the veneration of the Black Stone is a remnant of pagan stone-worship. The Coptic Church remains the true "Orthodox" path, worshiping God in spirit and truth, not by bowing to a rock in the desert.