Are polytheists the only people who have faith in inanimate idols?

Are polytheists the only people who have faith in inanimate idols? Or something else is the case. Polytheism vs. monotheism is the belief in illusory forces and their efficacy in the world of being and their worship against the Real Efficient, i. e., the One Sustainer. The monotheist does not view anything effective in the world except the One God and does not worship anything, neither the inanimate idols nor the animate ones, except Him.

The polytheists are the ones that view as effective other than God and obey other than Him; sometimes they worship objects, sometimes they obey the powerful, sometimes they are slaves to their own carnal desires and whims, and sometimes they are in the service of all three.[^4] From the Islamic viewpoint, all three types of polytheism are blameworthy, and to attain the reality of monotheism there is no other way than wiping ofolytheism in the strict sense of the word.

The remarkable point here is that the most dangerous type of polytheim is the third type, i. e., following the whims of carnal soul (vain desires). This type of polytheism is the source of obstacles to intellectual and emotional cognition, and the beginning of polytheism in the first and the second sense: (أفاريت من اتخذ إله هواه وأضله الله على علم وختم على سمعه وقلبه وجعل على بصره غشاوة فمن يهديه من بعد الله أفلا تذـّكرون) (Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire?

Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn guidance)?

Will ye not then receive admonition?) (al-Jathiyah: 23) Accordingly, the reverend Shaykh viewed the idol of nafs as extremely detrimental to monotheism and would say: "All troubles are regarding that grand idol that lies within yourself."[^5] Imam Khomeini (ra), the great ascetic and man of vision has also said: "The mother of all idols is the idol of your own nafs (carnal desires); unless this grand idol and powerful Satan is not shattered, there will be no way to Him-the High and the Most Exalted.

Lo and behold! This idol can hardly be shattered and this Satan can barely be tamed!"[^6] If man triumphs over such a grand idol, he has achieved the highest victories. Wrestle with your Nafs (Vain Desires)!