The Incident of Dhat Anwat

“"O Messenger of Allah! Make a Dhat Anwat for us as they have a Dhat Anwat.' The Prophet (s.a.w) said: "Subhan Allah! This is like what Musa's people said: Make for us a god like their gods. By the One in Whose is my soul! You shall follow the way of those who were before you."”

“We went forth with the apostle to Hunayn fresh from paganism. The heathen Quraysh and other Arabs had a great green tree called Dhatu Anwat to which they used to come every year and hang their weapons on it and sacrifice beside it and devote themselves to it for a day. As we were going with the apostle we saw a great lote tree and we called out to the apostle from the sides of the way, 'Make us a tree to hang things on such as they have.' He said, 'Allah akbar! By Him who holds my life in His hand, you have said what Moses' people said to him: "Make us a god even as they have gods." ' He said, 'You are an ignorant people. You would follow the customs of those who were before you.'”