Part 2

There is nothing like unto Him and He is All-Hearer, the All-Seer. (Ch.42:V.11) This Holy verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of the sight of Allah without any resemblance to others.

Likewise He (Azza Wa Jalla) also said, " To one whom I have created with Both My Hands". (Ch.38:V75)

And He also Said, "The Hand of Allah is over their hands". (Ch.48: V10)

This confirms two Hands for Allah, but there is no resemblance to them. This is the faith of all true believers, and was the faith of all the Prophets of Allah, from Noah, Abraham Moses and Jesus till the last of the Prophets Muhammad (Peace be upon him). It is not like as some people think that Allah is present here, there and everywhere. This is not true. Allah tells us that He is above the heavens, over His Throne.

These three aspects of Tauheed are included in the meaning of "LA ILAAHA ILLA ALLAH " (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah).

It is essential to follow Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him): "Wujub-AlIttiba" and it is part of Tauheed al Uluhiyya. (Peace be upon him) is Allah's Messenger, and this means, "None has the right to be followed after Allah's Book (the Quran), but Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him). See Quran Ch.59:V.7 and Ch.3:V.31.

SHIRK (ASSOCIATION OF OTHERS WITH ALLAH IN WORSHIP)

Shirk is divided into two categories:

1. Major Shirk 2. Minor Shirk

1. MAJOR SHIRK (MAJOR POLYTHEISM)

It necessitates the failure of deeds and remaining forever in the Hell-fire as per Qur'anic account.

"But if they have joined in worship others with Allah, what they used to do would have been of no benefit to them". Ch.6: V.88.

Allah says, "It is not for the Mushrikun (polytheist, idolaters, pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah), to maintain the Mosques of Allah (i.e. to pray and worship Allah therein, to look after their cleanliness and their building etc.,), while they witness against their own selves of disbelief. The works of such are in vain and in Fire shall they abide. Ch.9 V.17.

Whoever dies in a state of Shirk, will not be forgiven and will not be allowed into Paradise, pursuant to God saying, " Verily Allah forgives not (the sign of) setting up partners in worship with Him but He forgives, whom He Pleases, sins other than that." Ch.4: V.116 and Allah says: " Verily whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah then Allah Has Forbidden Paradise for him and the Fire will be his abode; and for the Thalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers." Ch.5: V.72. dead, praying to idols for help and for relief, pledging to them and offering animals for slaughter as a sign of obedience to them etc.,

2. MINOR SHIRK (MINOR POLYTHEISM)

It is the type proved by the texts of Quran and Sunnah to be called Shirk, but it is not categorized under Major Shirk. Such as, hypocrisy in some deeds, to swear by those other than Allah and saying Allah Will and so and so will, and the like.

Following are some pertinent Hadeeths of our Prophet (Peace be upon him).

"What I fear most for you is the Minor Shirk". When asked what is Minor Shirk, he said "Disguised Shirk". Reported by Mahmoud ibn Labeed al Ansari (RAL) and narrated by Imam Ahmed, AtTabrani, and Al-Bayhaqi.

"He who swore by something other than Allah shall be regarded as Mushrik." Reported by Umar ibn al-Khatab (RAL) and narrated by Ahmed.

'He who swore by other than Allah had fallen in Kufr or Shirk" reported by Ibn Umar (RAL) and narrated by Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi.

"Do not say Allah wills (ordains), and so and so (too) wills, but say that Allah wills (ordains), and then so and so wills." Reported by Huthayfah ibn al Yaman (RAL) and narrated by Abu Dawood.

This type of Shirk (i.e. Minor Shirk) does not necessitate apostasy of remaining in Hell fire, but it lacks the perfection of the obligatory Tauheed.

Disguised Shirk may fall into both types i.e. Major Shirk and minor Shirk. It may fall in the major Shirk such as 'the Shirk of hypocrites', because they conceal their bad faith and pretend to be Muslims to cover themselves.

Disguised Shirk may also fall in the category of minor Shirk such as "Riya", (to do good deeds or beautify them to be seen by men) as stated in the following hadith of Mahmoud ibn Labeed al Ansaari (RAL)

Its proof is the saying of Prophet (Peace be upon him). " May I tell you of what I fear very much, that might harm you more than Al-Masih aad-Dajjal?" (the False Messiah) The audience said, "Yes, Prophet of Allah". He said, "The disguised Shirk...when a man gets up to pray and strives to beautify his prayer, because people are looking at him." reported by Abi Sa'eed al Khudri and narrated by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad.

May Allah Grant us the success in escaping from these dangers.

TO WEAR A RING, TWINE, OR ANYTHING SIMILAR FOR PROTECTION FROM OR REMOVAL OF HARM OR AFFLICTION, IS AN ACT OF SHIRK

Allah the Almighty said: "Say: Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah, - if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm, or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy? Say: Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him those who trust (i.e. believers) must put their trust." (Ch 39:V38)

Imran bin Husain (r.a.) narrated: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) once saw a man with a brass ring on his hand and asked him, "What is this?" The man replied, "To overcome the weakness of old age." He said, "Remove it, for, it can only add to your weakness. Should death overtake you while you are wearing it, you would never succeed." [This hadith was recorded by Ahmad (bin Hanbal) (r.a.) with a good chain of narrators.]

He also recorded in a Marfu' hadith (tradition traced to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) himself): Uqbah bin Aamir (r.a.) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever wears a talisman or an amulet would never see his wish fulfilled by Allah. And whoever hangs a sea shell would never get peace and rest."

In another version the Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Whoever wears a talisman has committed Shirk (polytheism)."

Ibn Abi Hatim reported about Hudhaifah (r.a.): He saw a man with a piece of twine on his hand (as protection or cure from believe in Allah and still practice Shirk (polytheism)." (Ch12: V106).

Important issues of the Lesson It is strictly forbidden to wear rings, twines and the like seeking protection.

If, even the Companions had died wearing such a thing, they would not have succeeded (in the Hereafter). This is a confirmation to the statement of the companions that minor Shirk is greater (worse) than major sins.

Wearing any such adornment will not benefit this life. Indeed, it is harmful as was stated by the Prophet (Peace be upon him): "It will do nothing except increase weakness."

The intense disapproval and censure of who ever does such a deed.

The declaration that whoever attaches something to himself, will have that thing put in charge of him.

The declaration that whoever wears an amulet has committed Shirk.

Hudhaifah's recital of the Qur'anic verse is a clear proof that Companions used to recite the verse dealing with the major Shirk to condemn minor Shirk. Ibn Abbas (r.a.) did so, by reciting the verse from Surah Al-Baqarah. (Ch.2:V165)

Seeking cure from fever or relief from evil eye by using talisman, amulets etc. is Shirk. will not be granted by Allah and those who use shells will not get rest nor peace. That is, Allah has left them.

RUQA (INCANTATION), TALISMANS AND AMULETS

Narrated Abu Bashir Al-Ansari (r.a.): He was in the company of Allah's Messenger on one of his journeys. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) sent a messenger ordering: "There shall not remain any necklace of bowstring or any other kind of necklace round the necks of camels except it is cut off" (AlBukhari and Muslim).

Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.) narrated that he heard Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) saying: Ar-Ruqa, At-Tama'im and AtTiwalah are all acts of Shirk (Polytheism)." (Musnad Ahmad; Abu Dawood).

Ar-Ruqa or Al-Aza'im is the act of reciting incantations, charm etc. Those are allowed in which there is no trace of Shirk (polytheism). Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has permitted it in case of being bitten by poisonous insects or disturbed under the effect of an evil eye.

At-Tama'im is the act of putting an amulet around the necks of children to protect them from effects of evil eye. If the amulet contains the verse of the Quran or Allah's Name and Attribute then it is allowed by some predecessors (salaf) though equally disallowed by others too. Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.) was among those who disapproved it.

At-Tiwalah (bewitching) is something done by those who claim they can cause a woman to become more fond of her husband or vice-versa. "Whoever uses, attaches to himself or wears a talisman, will have that talisman put in charge of him." (Ahmad & Tirmidhi)

Ruwaifi' (r.a.) said that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said to him: "O Ruwaifi! it may be that you will live a longer time after me, so inform people that whoever ties a knot in his beard, places any string or cord around his neck (as a charm), or cleans himself (after toilet) with animal dung or bone, then Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has disowned him (has nothing to do with him)." (Ahmad)

Sa'id bin Jubair said: "Whoever cut an amulet or talisman from anyone, it would be equal to liberating a slave."

It was Waki' who recorded it, and he reported from Ibrahim Nakh'i that they used to dislike every type of amulet and talisman whether they contained the verse of Quran or anything else. [They were the companions of Abdullah bin Mas'ud (r.a.)].

Important issue of the Lesson All the three above-mentioned acts are considered of Shirk without exception.

WHOEVER SEEKS BLESSING THROUGH A TREE, A STONE, ETC.,

Allah the Most Exalted said: "Have you then considered Al-Lat and Al-Uzzah". And Manat (idols of the pagan Arabs) the other third? (Ch53: V19-20)

Al-Tirmidhi reported and declared as Sahih (sound), that Abu Waqid Al-Laithi (r.a.) said: We went out with Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) on the campaign to Hunain while we had just left disbelief (Kufr) for Islam. The Mushrikin had a Sidr (lotetree) that they would stay there and hang their arms(weapons) on, called Dhat Anwat. When we passed a Sidr, we asked, "O Messenger of Allah, won't you make for us another Dhat Anwat just like their Dhat Anwat?" Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said, "Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great)! By the one (Allah) Who holds my soul in His hand, verily these are the ways of earlier nations; You have said exactly as Bani Israel said to Musa (Peace be upon him) make for us a god just as their gods.' He said: "Verily you are a people who know not.' (Ch.7:V138 Certainly you will follow the ways of those who went before you.)

Important Issues of the Lesson The request by the companions (r.a.) (regarding a tree similar to Dhat Anwat). Their intention was to become closer to Allah by their act, as they thought He would like it.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) rejected their request by saying: "Allahu Akbar, these are the ways of earlier nations, thereby expressing the weightiness of the matter. their intended act, it is reasonable to assume that later generations (of much lesser status) are more likely to fall into ignorance.