assalam 'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Allahumma Salli 'Ala Muhammad, Wa 'Ala Aali MUhammad. Kamaa Sallaita 'Ala Ibraaheem, Wa 'Ala Aali Ibraaheema Fil 'Aalameen, Innaka Hameedun Majeed. Wa Baarik 'Ala Muhammadin Wa Azwaajihee Wa Zurriyyatihee Kama Sallaita 'Ala Ibraaheem, Wa 'Ala Aali Ibraaheema Fil 'Aalameen. Innaka Hameedun Majeed.
In the early times, there were very Pious 5 men. They did a great Jihad to keep Muslims on the straight path, advising them from the true teachings of prophets. Later when these pious people died, Shaitan took his first step forward.
One generation has passed and he came and gave waswaas to do something to remember them. To draw their pictures so that later generations will remember them and will respect as the older generations respected.
Second generation passed away and he came again. Then said that just by drawing and keeping them in rooms will not help all the people. So asked them to make a statue for each one and keep at the gate of the town. So the respect will be more.
Later came the other generation to whom Shatan whispered to turn and salute of respect (not like the way army generals do though
) them as they are the ones who did that great Jihad to keep people on the straight path.
Then there came the generation who worshiped other things than Allah since the mankind was sent to earth. Sahatan whispered them to ask Allah through these idols of the pious people who lived in the time of their ancestors, and that is the best way to get their Du'as answered soon. They did it, and went to the statues when they had a calamity, and asked Allah through these "gods".
Allah says in the Quran about these 5 people whom they made idols and worshiped,
"And they have said (to each other), 'Abandon not your gods: Abandon neither Wadd nor Suwa', neither Yaguth nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr."(Surah Nooh, Verse 23).
Shatan is well experienced and he know how to lead people to astray. He will never come and say, "Hey so-and-so! This is the girl wishing to do Zina with you, so just do it!" But he will rather try to move forward both of them step by step. That is why Allah (subuhaanahu wata'aala) said in Quran,
"O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy." (Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 208).
Let us all ponder about the answer the Mushriks of Mecca given to Rasoolullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) when he called them to worship none but Allah. They said, "We are not worshiping them actually. But we are using these idols as a mediator to the almighty Allah, as we are sinners and cannot ask directly."
wassalam 'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh