Part 3

The negation of this act is in the meanings of "There is no true God except Allah", which is subtle (Hidden), and this was not perceived by them.

Shirk is of two types, i.e. major and minor because the Companions were not turned apostate due to their request alone.

It is essential to put an end to all possible ways leading to Shirk (polytheism) and to prohibit any resemblance of people of ignorance (disbelieves).

The Prophet (pbuh) expressed the general tendency of mankind by saying: "These are the ways".

In every place where Allah has censured the Jews and Christians in the Quran He has also warned us against those deeds.

The one who has moved from falsehood (i.e. became Muslim) and get accustomed to certain beliefs or habits is not totally safe from having remnants of these habits, as is evidenced in the Companions' words "and we had just left disbelief (Kufr)."

SLAUGHTERING FOR OTHER THAN ALLAH

Allah the Exalted said: "Say : Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslim." (Ch.6: V162-163)

"Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)". (Ch.108:V2)

Ali bin Abi Talib said "Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) informed me about four Judgments (of Allah):

1. Allah's curse is upon the one who slaughters (devoting his sacrifice) anything other than to Allah;

2. Allah's curse is upon the one who curses his own parents;

3. Allah's curse is upon the one who shelters heretic (who has brought a Bid'ah in religion);

4. Allah's curse is upon the one who alters the landmarks (who changes boundary lines)."

Ahmed reports that Tariq bin Shihab narrated that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: "A man entered Paradise because of a fly, and a man entered Hell-fire because of a fly. The Companions asked, "How was that possible O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Two men passed by the people who had an idol by which they would not allow anyone to pass without making sacrifice to it. They ordered one man to make a sacrifice. He said., 'I have nothing to present as an offering.' The people told him, 'Sacrifice something, even if it be a fly.' So he presented a fly (to their Idol). They opened the way for him, 'Sacrifice something.' He said, 'I will never sacrifice anything to any other than Allah, Most Majestic and Glorious.' So they struck his throat and killed him, and so he entered Paradise."

Important issues of the Lesson The curse on those who sacrifice to any other than Allah.

A Curse is upon those who curse their parents (by cursing others' parents and in turn, the latter curses his parents).

Cursed is the person who shelters the heretic (Muhdith) in religion. That is, a person innovates something that is necessarily only Allah's right to do and then seeks shelter with someone who assists him in it.

A Curse is upon him who unjustly alters the landmark, i.e. the boundaries that differentiate one person's land from his neighbor's, and changes them to encroach upon that land or obstruct it.

The simple but tremendous story of the fly.

The person who presented a fly to the idol went to Hell though not intending to do such an act (beforehand). Indeed, he did it to save himself from the threat of idolaters.

Knowing how hated Shirk is to the hearts of the believers in the case of the man who was patient in facing execution and did not give-in to their demand in spite of the fact that they only demanded an external act from him.

The man who went to Hell-fire was a Muslim. If he had been a disbeliever (Kafir), the Prophet (Peace be upon him) would not have said: "He went to Hell merely for a fly." than the laces of your shoes and the Hell-fire is likewise."

The action of the heart crucial, even among the idol worshippers.

TO VOW OTHER THAN ALLAH IS AN ACT OF SHIRK

Allah the Most Exalted said: "They (are those who) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be Widespread." (Ch.76: V7)

"And whatever you spend for Charity (for Allah's cause) or whatever vow you make, be sure Allah knows it all." (Ch.2: V270)

Narrated 'Aisha (r.a.) that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever vows that he will be obedient to Allah, he should be obedient to Him, and whoever made a vow that he will disobey Allah, he should not disobey Him." (Al-Bukhari)

Important issues of the Lesson • Fulfillment of the vow is obligatory. Since making a vow is an act of worship to Allah, then directing a vow to other than Allah is committing Shirk. Any vow, if based on disobedience (to Allah the Almighty) is not permissible to keep or carry out.

TO SEEK REFUGE FROM OTHER THAN ALLAH IS

Allah the Most Exalted said: "And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the male Jinns, but they (Jinns) increased them (mankind) in sin and disbelief." (Ch.72: V.6)

Khawlah bint Hakim (Ra) said, I heard Allah's Messenger (pbuh) say: "Whoever goes into a dwelling and says (while entering it): 'I seek refuge in Allah's perfect words from the evil (of those creatures) which He created', no harm shall befall him until he departs from that place." (Reported by Muslim)

Important issues of the Lesson Seeking refuge from other than Allah is a form of Shirk (Polytheism).

Though it is possible that one can achieve some worldly benefit from a thing such as prevention of harm or evil, or gaining some advantage or good, it does not mean that it (dependence on such) is not Shirk.

The scholars use this hadith to prove that Allah's Words are not created beings because to seek refuge in created things is Shirk.

The superiority of this invocation despite its being short.

TO SEEK HELP FROM OTHER THAN ALLAH (ISTIGHATHA) OR TO INVOKE OTHER THAN HIM IS AN ACT OF SHIRK

Allah the Most Exalted said:

"And invoke not beside Allah any that will neither profit you nor hurt you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Thalimoon (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 Favours which he causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He wills. And He is the Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." (Ch.10: V.106-107).

"You worship besides Allah only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allah have no power to give you provision, so seek your provision from Allah (alone) and worship Him (alone) and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back." (Ch.29: V17)

"And who is more astray than 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 is gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become enemies for them and will deny their worship of them." (Ch.46: V.5-6)

"Is not He Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him; and who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations? Is there any god with Allah? Little is that you remember!" (27:62)

At-Tabarani narrates with his Isnad (chain of the narrators): During the days of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) there was believers) said, "Come (support) with us while we appeal to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) for assistance against this hypocrite." The Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied, "Verily, no one should seek to me for assistance. Indeed, it is Allah Who is to be sought for assistance and help."

Important issues of the Lesson It is greater Shirk to call upon any one other than Allah.

Even the most pious person, if he calls for help from other than Allah, only for the gratification of someone else, he will become one of the Thalimoon (wrongdoers, polytheists).

Calling others for help besides Allah is of no benefit in this world and it leads to disbelief (Kufr).

Requests for sustenance and provision should not be done other than from Allah, just as Paradise can be requested from none other than Him.

There is none more misguided than the one who calls on other than Allah.

To whom the call is made (besides Allah) everyone is unaware of the supplication of the caller; he knows nothing about it.

The call will be the cause for anger and enmity of the one called towards the caller.

The call is regarded as worship of the one called upon.

The one called upon will deny and reject this act of worship towards him (on the Day of Judgment). This is why such a supplicant is the most astray of the people. one in distress other than Allah. That is why, even they themselves call upon Him in times of extreme difficulty with utmost religious sincerity.

THE CONDEMNATION OF THE ONE WHO WORSHIPS ALLAH AT THE GRAVE OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND HOW THIS EQUATES TO THE WORSHIP OF MAN

In the Sahihain (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim), Aisha (r.a.) reported: "Umm Salamah mentioned to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) that in Abyssinia she saw a church full of pictures and statues. He (Peace be upon him) said: "When a righteous man or pious worshipper among them dies they build a place of worship over his grave and set up all kinds of pictures and statues. They are the worst of all creatures before Allah. They combine the two evils; worshipping at the graves and making graven images and statues."

Also mentioned in Al-Bukhari and Muslim, that 'Aisha (r.a.) narrated: "When death approached Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) he began to draw a piece of cloth (bed sheet) over his face, (sometimes covering and sometimes removing because of distress). He (Peace be upon him) said in that state: "Allah's curse be upon the Jews and the Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship", and warned the people about their actions. Had there not been any fear of making the Prophet's grave a place of worship, his (Peace be upon him) grave would have been as open as the graves of his Companions (r.a.)."

Muslim reported from Jundub bin Abdallah (r.a.) who narrated: I heard the Prophet (Peace be upon him) say only five days before his death: "I am free and clear towards Allah of having any of you as my Khalil (specially close friend). Verily, Allah has taken me as His Khalil just as He had taken Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) as a Khalil. (If not for this) I would have taken Abu Bakr (r.a.) as a Khalil. Beware of those who preceded before worship, I forbid you to do so."

He (Peace be upon him) forbade this at the end of his life. After this [prohibition of taking graves as Masjid (place of worship)], he cursed anyone who did any such deed within this context. Prayer at the graves is one of these deeds, even if no Masjid has been built. This is the meaning of his (Peace be upon him) words "He feared (his grave) would be taken as a Masjid". The Companions never built any places of worship around his grave. Any place which is intended for prayer or where prayer is performed has indeed been taken as a Masjid.

Just as the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "The whole earth has been made for me a Masjid and it is pure and clean."

Ahmad has reported a good Sanad that Ibn Mas'ud (r.a.) narrated in a Marfu' hadith "The Most evil men are those upon whom the (signs of) Hour (of Resurrection) comes while they are still alive, and those who take graves as places of worship (Masaajid)". [Abu Hatim in his Sahih also reported this.]