Pillars of Tawheed

Tahweed means to make something one (singular and unique). And this can not be accomplished except by a Negation and Affirmation, both together. So mankind can not fulfill the concept of tawheed unless they testify that non has the right to be worshipped except Allah.  By this we negate the worship of anything other than Allah, and affirm worship for him alone.

This can be more clearly understood from the testification of faith (shahada), ‘la ilaha ilaa Allah’ 

‘la ilaha’ means there’s nothing that has the right to be worshipped. This is a Negation for whatever else is worshipped alongside Allah.

‘illa Allah’ means except Allah. This is an Affirmation that he alone is the one that deserves to be worshipped.

and likewise from the ayat of Quran:

“And remember when Ibrahim said to his father and his people: ‘I am totally free from everything that you worship, except for the one who crated me” (zukhruf:26-27)

“I am totally free of everything that you worship”, Negation.

“Except for the one who created me” , Affirmation.

 “O people of the scripture, come to a word that is just between us and you, that we will single out Allah with all worship and not worship anything besides him, and will disassociate ourselves from everything that is worshipped besides him” (3:64)

“that we single out Allah with all worship”, Affirmation.

“and will not worship anything besides him”, Negation.

So in order to to fulfill tawheed, we must Negate the worship of everything and anything other than Allah, and Affirm that he alone is the one that deserves to be worshipped.

[Source: A Gift for the Intellects in Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Islam, by Skaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab, Explained by Skaykh Ubaid Al-Jabiree. Publisher: Salafi Publications]

Conditions of Ibadah (Worship)

We have been created for one purpose, and one purpose only, and that is to worship Allah alone. So we need to be sure it is correct.

For worship to be correct, it has to fulfill two conditions:

1) It has to be sincerely for the sake of Allah

Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“the reward of actions depends upon the intentions, and every person will have the reward for that which he has intended. Thus, he who’s migration was for Allah and his messenger, his migration was for Allah and his messenger, and he whose migration was for some worldy benefit or take the hand of a woman in marriage, his migration was for that which he migrated” (Bukhari, Muslim)

So every action has an intention, so you will only get the reward according to what your intention was. So if you did it for other than the sake of Allah it will be rejected. So it has to be in agreement with ‘la ilaha ilaAllah’ (there’s non worthy of worship except Allah)

2) It has to be in accordance with the Sunnah of Allahs Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) said:

“whoever innovates into this affair of ours that which is not from it shall have it rejected. ” (Bukhari and Muslim).

in another narration of Muslim:

” whoever does an action that is not from this affair of ours will have it rejected.”

It shouldn’t oppose, add or remove anything from the manner in which the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) performed it. If it isn’t in accordance with the sunnah of the prophet(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) it will be rejected, even if the individual had a good intention. Due to the testification, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’, which entails that one worships Allah only with what the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)  prescribed.

Listen to:

http://www.tawheedfirst.com/the-two-conditions-of-worship-abu-hafsah-kashiff-khan/

Understanding Intercession (Waseelah)

Many Muslims today don’t understand the reality and types of intercession. Which is why you find many of them falling into shirk, such  as calling upon others with Allah (in matters which only Allah can fulfill), with the claim that they are using them as intermediaries to get closer to Allah. Allah said:

“And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not nor benefit them. And they say: ‘these are our intercessors before Allah.'” (10:18)

“And those who take protectors besides him say: ‘we only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah’ Verily Allah will judge between them    Concerning that which they differ in. Verily, Allah does not guide he who is a liar, a disbeliever.” (39:3)

So Allah clarifies that seeking nearness to him in this way is disbelief, even if they didn’t claim that these (intermediaries) have the ability to create and sustain. This is the same disbelief that the polytheists at the time of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to commit, making the exact same claim:

“we only worship them so that they mat bring us closer to Allah” (39:3)

“these are our intercessors before Allah” (10:18)

Intercession has conditions and restrictions and is of two types.

Negated Intercession

This is when intercession is sought without allah’s permission, for no one can intercede  for anyone before Allah without his permission. Even the  prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) cannot intercede for anyone without the permission of Allah. On the day of judgement he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will fall prostrate before his lord, supplicate to him and praise him, and remain in that state until it is said to him: “Lift up your head and speak, for it will be heard, and intercede, for it will be granted” (Bukhari)

So only after being given permission on the day of judgement will the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) be able to intercede. If that’s the case with the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), then what about those less than him whom the people call upon.

 Affirmed Intercession

The intercession that is sought from Allah. For it to be correct:

1)The intercessor must have been granted the honour of being able to intercede (by Allah). Allah says:

“Who is it that will intercede in his presence except with his permission” (2:255)

So no one can attempt to intercede until after they have been granted the permission to intercede by Allah, this is even the case with the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

2) The one who is interceded for is the one whom Allah is pleased with His statements and actions. Allah said:

“And they cannot intercede except for him with who he is pleased” (21:28)

and he said:

“There will be no friend or intercessor for the zalimun (polytheists and wrong doers) that will be given heed to.” (40:18)

So Allah clarifies that the people who have committed shirk have nullified their eligibility to receive intercession. As Allah is not pleased with those who commit shirk. So those who commit such acts of shirk (such as calling upon other than Allah) in reality have brought more harm upon themselves, it hasn’t benefitted them at all. The only thing that can benefit them is to repent to Allah, being firm upon tawheed, worshipping Allah alone, and staying far away from shirk. As Allah must be pleased with the one who is being interceded for.

This is what is meant by saying ‘La Ilaaha illaaAllah’ (there’s none that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah). One should single out Allah alone when worshipping,   Supplicationg, sacrificing, fearing, and hoping. And one should stay far away from making partners with Allah, whether that be the prophet, angel, jinn or anything else. This is the religion of Allah.

To summarise:

Negated Intercession: That which is (1) sought without Allahs permission or (2) done on behalf of someone who comitts shirk with Allah (Mushrik).

Affirmed Intercession: That which (1) occurs after recieving Allahs permission and  (2) which is done on behalf of those who single out Allah with worship (Muwahhid).

[Source : Explanation of the Four Rules Regarding Shirk, by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab. Publisher: al-Ibaanah]

To Call Upon or Invoke Other than Allah is Shirk

Allah said in the Quran:

“so, call you ( O Muhammad and the believers) upon Allah, making your worship pure for him alone” (40:14)

and he said :

“And the mosques are for Allah (alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allah” (72:18)

and he said:

“and who is more astray than the one who calls (invokes) besides Allah, such as will not answer him till the day of resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls to them? And when mankind are gathered (on the day of resurrection), they (false deities)    will become enemies to them and deny their worshipping” (46:5-6)

and he said:

” So invoke not with Allah another ilah (god) lest you be of those who receive punishment” (26:213)

and he said:

“and invoke not besides Allah, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you, but if you did so, you shall certainly be one of the zalimun (polytheists and wrong doers). And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but he, and if he intends any good for you, there is none who can repel his favour which he causes it to reach whosoever of his slaves he wills. And he is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (10:106-107)

From this it is clear that du’a (invocation) is an act of worship, and therefore should not be directed to other than Allah.

It should be understood that the above verses refer to invoking (making dua to) other than Allah in matters which only Allah has the ability to carry out, whether the person being invoked is alive or dead. As for asking a living person for help in that which has the ability of then that is not considered shirk, such as asking someone for food or a glass of water. So whoever invokes someone other than Allah, in matters that only Allah has the ability to fulfill, then he has committed shirk, regardless of whether the person being invoked is a prophet or so called righteous person.

Unfortunatly many Muslims today fall into this practise of calling upon other than Allah. They believe that the ones being invoked hold a higher status with Allah due to their religious devotion and righteous actions so claim to be using them as an intermediary between themselves and Allah. This is the same as what the disbelievers used to say in the time of the prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). And Allah speaks about this in the Quran:

“and those who take protectors besides him say: ‘we only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah’ Verily Allah will judge between them concerning that which they differ in. Verily, Allah does not guide he who is a liar, a disbeliever” (39:3)

So Allah calls them liars and disbelievers, which shows that there worship of them under the pretense that they are trying to get close to Allah is disbelief and apostasy.

and Allah says: “and they worship besides Allah things that harm them not nor benifit them. And they say: ‘these are our intercessors before Allah.'” (10:18)

Every worshipper should understand that there is no intermediary between him and Allah when worshipping him or asking him. All he has to do is ask Allah directly. This is why Allah says:

“and when my slaves ask you (o Muhammad) concerning me, then answer them, I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on me”  (2:186)

Fear of Shirk

Allah said:

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but he forgives except that (anything else) to whom he pleases. “ (4:48,116)

So no matter what sins a person has committed, murder, fornication, gambling stealing, lying, Allah can forgive those sins. But if someone commits shirk (associates partners with Allah) it will not be Forgiven.

and he said:

“This is the guidance of Allah with which he guides whosoever he wills of his slaves. But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benifit to them,” (6:88)

From this we see that no matter what deeds a person may have done, prayed five times a day, fasted every Ramadan, hajj, umrah, gave lots of charity. If they are someone who commits shirk it will not benefit them.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“Whoever dies while ascribing partners to Allah, enters the hell-fire.” (Bukhari)

and he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam said) said:

“Whoever meets Allah (on the day of judgement) not having associated anyone with him (in worship), shall enter paradise; And whoever meets him having committed shirk in any way will enter the hell-fire.” (Muslim)

Reality of Barelwis – Seeking Aid From Awliyaa

Worship is a comprehensive term that incorporates everything that Allaah loves and is pleased with from the statements and actions, both inward and outward.

Thus there are many different types of worship and when something is considered worship It is not permissible to be directed to other than Allah.

Dua (invocation, supplication) is one of the greatest forms of worship and has thus been dealt with extensively in the Quran in refutation of those who worship others besides Allah.

“so call you (oh Muhammad and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah alone, making (your) worship pure for him (alone)” (40:41)

“and the mosques are for Allah (alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allah” (72:18)

“and invoke not along with Allah another ilah ( god, deity), lest you be among those who receive punishment” (26:213)

“and who is more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allah, such as will not answer him till the day of resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them. And when mankind are gathered (on the day of resurrection), they (false deities)will become enemies for them and deny their worshipping” (46:6)

It should be understood that the above verses refer to invoking (making dua to) other than Allah in matters which only Allah has the ability to carry out, whether the person being invoked is alive or dead. As for asking a living person for help in that which has the ability of then that is not considered shirk, such as asking someone for food or a glass of water. So whoever invokes someone other than Allah, in matters that only Allah has the ability to fulfill, then he has committed shirk, regardless of whether the person being invoked is a prophet or so called righteous person.

Calling upon other than Allah is a common practise with the Barelwis, because the Barelwi folk-religion is founded upon veneration of the saints, the dead and righteous figures, upon the belief that they will solicit and win their intercession if they invoke them and venerate them, coupled with the belief that there is no way to salvation and reaching Allaah except through these intermediaries who are in effect the gateways to salvation to them. This is the most evil suspicion about Allaah, in that no-one can approach Him directly and must work through intermediaries if he hopes to ever achieve salvation. There is no doubt that this goes against the Quran, Sunnah, the way of the companions and is tantamount to shirk.

As for their argument that they believe only Allah has the power and control and they deny all power and control for those whom they invoke and call upon, then how can it be shirk?

The answer to this is what is found in the Quran.

“and if you were to ask them: ‘who has created the heavens  and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon?’ They will surely reply ‘ Allah’. How then are you deviating (as polytheists and disbelievers)?” (29:61)

“If you were to ask them : ‘who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and gives life there with to the earth after it’s death?’ They will surely reply, ‘Allah’. Say, ‘all the praise and thanks be to Allah!’ Nay! Most of them have no sense” (29:63)

And if they believe that those whom they call upon besides Allah have something of power and control, then this is also falsified in the Quran and by the prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

“Say (oh Muhammad): ‘I invoke only my lord (Allah alone), and I associate  non as partners along with him”. Say:’it is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the right path.’ Say ( Oh Muhammad): ‘ none can protect me from Allah’s punishment, nor should I find refuge except I him'” (72:20-22)

The prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said:

“I cannot avail you with Allah anything” (Bukhari)

And if they claim that they invoke them as a means to seeking their intercession then this is also wrong and falsified in the Quran. Take a look at https://islamnotts.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/understanding-intercession/

Seeking Help from Someone who is Dead or Absent

Q: Is seeking help from someone who is absent or dead considered an act of major Kufr (disbelief)?

A: Yes, seeking help from someone who is dead or absent is considered an act of major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and doing so puts the doer outside the fold of Islam, for Allah (Glorified be He) says (what means), “And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allâh, any other ilâh (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kâfirûn (the disbelievers in Allâh and in the Oneness of Allâh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful.” Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says, “Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the date-stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).”

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan

`Abdul-Razzaq `Afify

`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

[Source: http://alifta.com/Fatawa/FatawaChapters.aspx?View=Page&BookID=7&PageID=34&back=true&languagename=en ]

Types of Shirk

First: Major Shirk (Shirk al-Akbar)

Which Allah does not forgive. Allah says:

“this is the guidance of Allah with which he guides whosoever he wills of his slaves. But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them” (Al-Anam:88)

“it is not for the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the oneness of Allah), to maintain the masjid of Allah (i.e. To pray and worship Allah therein, to look after the cleanliness and the building, etc), while they witness against their own selves disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in hell they shall abide” (at-Tawbah:17)

The one who associates others with Allah and dies on this shirk will not be forgiven and jannah (paradise) is forbidden to him, as Allah, the Most Mighty and Honoured says:

” Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but he forgives except that anything else to whom he pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” (An-Nisan:48)

“verily, whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden paradise for him, and the fire will be his abode. And for the zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there will be no helpers” (Al-Maidah:72)

Asking the dead or idols for help, slaughtering for them and making vows to them are examples of major shirk.

Second: Minor Shirk (Shirk Al-Asghar)

which is stated In the Quran and Sunnah but is not the same as Major Shirk. Riya (showing off), and swearing by other than Allah are examples of Minor Shirk. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“of which I fear for you the most is Minor Shirk.” When he was asked what it was, he said, “Riya”

and he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said:

“he who swears by other than Allah commits minor shirk”

This kind of shirk does not necessarily lead to disbelief from islam or an eternal stay in hell. It negates however the completeness of faith.

Third: Hidden Shirk

The prophet (sallalahu alayhi wasallam) said:

“Shall I not inform you of which I fear more for you than I fear of the Anti-Christ? They said, ‘yes, o messenger of Allah’, and he said, “the hidden Shirk, where one beautifies the way of praying only because another one is looking at him”

Alternatively Shirk could be divided into two kinds, Major and Minor. In this case the hidden shirk encompasses both the Major and Minor kinds depending upon the act committed. It is Major if it is the same as the Shirk of the hypocrites who hiss their false beliefs while showing off islam out of fear. It is Minor if it is the same as Riya (showing off).

[Source: Important Lessons for the Muslim Ummah, by Skaykh Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz]

Meaning of La ilaha IllaAllah (Shahada)

The disbelievers in the time of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to affirm the oneness of Allah in his lordship (tawheed at-ruboobiyah), that he was the creator, sustainer, giver of life, causer of death and administrator of all affairs, however this did not enter them into the fold of islam.

Unfortunately today you still have some ignorant Muslims who also think that this definition of the shahada (la illaha IllaAllah) is sufficient.

From this we understand that declaring the shahada (la ilaha IllaAllah) doesn’t only consist of confirming allah’s lordship, and likewise shirk does not only consist of associating partners with Allah in his lordship. Very few from the creation ever associated partners with Allah in his lordship. No one claims that there is someone else that creates and gives life and causes death Along with Allah. So if someone affirms that Allah is my lord, creator and sustainer it is not sufficient.

This is why Allah says:

“and if you (O Muhammad) were to ask them: ‘who created the heavens and the earth’. They would surely say Allah. ” (Luqman:25)

and he says:

“say: who is The Lord of the seven heavens, and The Lord of the great throne? They will say Allah ” (al-mu’minoon:86-87)

So the polytheists (those who worship others with Allah) used to affirm this. Allah says:

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘who provides for you from the sky and the earth?, or who owns the hearing and the sight? And who brings out the living from the dead, and the dead from the living? And who administers the affairs?’They will surely say: ‘allah.’ Say: ‘Will you then not be dutiful to him?'” ( Yoonus:31)

Meaning, so since you acknowledge all of this, won’t you be dutiful to him, by avoiding associating partners with him, and return to the truth and worship him alone.

So despite affirming all this for Allah, it did not help them as the prophet still fought against them. This was because they used to worship false gods besides Allah. And they understood that this testification would require them to forsake their idols and statues, which is why they said as Allah informed us:

“has he made the gods all into one god. Verily this is a strange thing” (38:5)

So the testification means to direct all worship to Allah alone and believe that he is the one that deserves to be worshipped apart from others.

This is the correct meaning of the shahada, that ‘there is non worthy of worship in truth except Allah‘, that is what the prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and all the other prophets called the people to.

As for saying ”la ilaha illa Allah’ means there is no creator, sustainer, administer of all affairs except Allah then this is false and incorrect.

So it’s essential that all Muslims have the correct understanding of ‘La ilaha illa Allah’, that nothing is worthy of being worshipped in truth except Allah, since many Muslims today don’t understand this very important matter.

[Source: Explanation of the Four Rules Regarding Shirk, By Skaykhul-Islam  Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab. Publisher: Al-Ibaanah]

Understanding Intercession

Many Muslims today don’t understand the reality and types of intercession. Which is why you find many of them falling into shirk, such  as calling upon others with Allah (in matters which only Allah can fulfill), with the claim that they are using them as intermediaries to get closer to Allah. Allah said:

“And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not nor benefit them. And they say: ‘these are our intercessors before Allah.'” (10:18)

“And those who take protectors besides him say: ‘we only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah’ Verily Allah will judge between them    Concerning that which they differ in. Verily, Allah does not guide he who is a liar, a disbeliever.” (39:3)

So Allah clarifies that seeking nearness to him in this way is disbelief, even if they didn’t claim that these (intermediaries) have the ability to create and sustain. This is the same disbelief that the polytheists at the time of the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to commit, making the exact same claim:

“we only worship them so that they mat bring us closer to Allah” (39:3)

“these are our intercessors before Allah” (10:18)

Intercession has conditions and restrictions and is of two types.

Negated Intercession

This is when intercession is sought without allah’s permission, for no one can intercede  for anyone before Allah without his permission. Even the  prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) cannot intercede for anyone without the permission of Allah. On the day of judgement he (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will fall prostrate before his lord, supplicate to him and praise him, and remain in that state until it is said to him: “Lift up your head and speak, for it will be heard, and intercede, for it will be granted” (Bukhari)

So only after being given permission on the day of judgement will the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) be able to intercede. If that’s the case with the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), then what about those less than him whom the people call upon.

 Affirmed Intercession

The intercession that is sought from Allah. For it to be correct:

1)The intercessor must have been granted the honour of being able to intercede (by Allah). Allah says:

“Who is it that will intercede in his presence except with his permission” (2:255)

So no one can attempt to intercede until after they have been granted the permission to intercede by Allah, this is even the case with the prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

2) The one who is interceded for is the one whom Allah is pleased with His statements and actions. Allah said:

“And they cannot intercede except for him with who he is pleased” (21:28)

and he said:

“There will be no friend or intercessor for the zalimun (polytheists and wrong doers) that will be given heed to.” (40:18)

So Allah clarifies that the people who have committed shirk have nullified their eligibility to receive intercession. As Allah is not pleased with those who commit shirk. So those who commit such acts of shirk (such as calling upon other than Allah) in reality have brought more harm upon themselves, it hasn’t benefitted them at all. The only thing that can benefit them is to repent to Allah, being firm upon tawheed, worshipping Allah alone, and staying far away from shirk. As Allah must be pleased with the one who is being interceded for.

This is what is meant by saying ‘La Ilaaha illaaAllah’ (there’s none that deserves to be worshipped in truth except Allah). One should single out Allah alone when worshipping,   Supplicationg, sacrificing, fearing, and hoping. And one should stay far away from making partners with Allah, whether that be the prophet, angel, jinn or anything else. This is the religion of Allah.

To summarise:

Negated Intercession: That which is (1) sought without Allahs permission or (2) done on behalf of someone who comitts shirk with Allah (Mushrik).

Affirmed Intercession: That which (1) occurs after recieving Allahs permission and  (2) which is done on behalf of those who single out Allah with worship (Muwahhid).

[Source : Explanation of the Four Rules Regarding Shirk, by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab. Publisher: al-Ibaanah]