Part 2

I always remember the hadeeth in al-Saheehayn, which speaks of the man who said:

'When I die, burn me and crush (my bones), then scatter me in the sea, for by Allah (G), if Allah (G) grasps hold of me He will punish me as He has not punished anyone else in the world.' They did that, and Allah (G) said: 'What made you do what you did?' He said: 'Fear of You.' And He forgave him.'

This man doubted the power of Allah (G) and doubted that He would restore him if his remains were scattered; rather he believed that he would not be resurrected, which is kufr according to the consensus of the Muslims. But he was ignorant and did not know about that; however, he was a believer who feared that Allah (G) would punish him, so He forgave him because of that.

One who is qualified to engage in ijtihaad and who bases his incorrect notion on some misinterpretation of some text but is sincere in his keenness to follow the Messenger (N) is even more deserving of forgiveness than such a person.

[Based on Khaatimah al-Qawaa'id al-Muthla by Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (W)]

Because the matter of takfeer is so serious, and mistakes therein are so grave, the seeker of knowledge, especially if he is a beginner, should refrain from indulging in that, and he should focus on acquiring beneficial knowledge that will set his own affairs straight in this world and the Hereafter.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan on the Excuse of Ignorance9

Question: What is your opinion in regards to the statement of the one who says: Indeed one who commits shirk and kufr is not declared to be an unbeliever, except after him having knowledge of the affair in its entirety?

Answer: If the likes of this person is ignorant, due to him residing in a land which is cut off and nothing has reached him, then he is excused [for his ignorance]. As for the one who lives in the land of the Muslims, hearing the Qur'aan, hearing the Ahadeeth, hearing the speech of the people of knowledge [Scholars], then this one is not excused with ignorance; since the proof has been established upon him.10

9 Taken from http://www.fatwaislam.com/fis/index.cfm?scn=fd&ID=368 10 Silsilatu sharhir-Rasaail, p117.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Setting Up Partners in the Worship of Allah, the Most High

Allah, the Most High, says:

"Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives whatever is less than that, to whomever He wills. And whoever sets up partners with Allah, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin."1

And He, the Most High, says:

And He, the Most High, says:

"…And whoever sets up partners with Allah has indeed strayed far away." [Soorah An-Nisa' 4:116]

"…Verily, whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), then Allah has forbidden paradise to him, and his final abode will be the Fire. And the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers, polytheists) will have no helpers."2

From this (shirk) is offering a sacrifice (Dhabh) for other than Allah (G), like the one who sacrifices to the Jinn or to (the one in) the grave.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem (In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

The author (W) starts his book with Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem as it is in the Qur'aan and as the Messenger of Allah (N) used to do when he wrote letters. It is preferred to start with it whenever writing a letter, as found in Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, regarding the letter the Messenger (N) wrote to Heraqil3. Imam An Nawawi (W) said:

"In this hadeeth [when the Messenger (N) wrote to Heraqil], there is proof that it is preferred to start the letter with Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem even if the letter's recipient is a non-Muslim."

Know that the Nullifiers of Islam are ten.

The author (W) now brings up the verb 'know' as an imperative, attracting the attention of the reader so he will understands the importance of learning these nullifiers and avoids falling into them. The Nullifiers of Islam are the actions that ruin one's faith and lead to a lost of good deeds and a final abode in the Hell-fire. The Nullifiers of Islam could be less or more than ten. Some scholars have counted the Nullifiers of Islam to be ninety and others up to four hundred, but the theme is based on the following ten.

The First Nullifier: Setting Up Partners in the Worship of Allah, the Most High. Allah, the Most High, says: "Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives whatever is less than that, to whomever He wills. And whoever sets up partners with Allah, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin." And He, the Most High, says: "…Verily, whoever sets up partners with Allah (in worship), then Allah has forbidden paradise to him, and his final

2 Soorah Al-Ma'idah' 5:72 3 Saheeh Bukhaaree, Volume 8, Book 74, Hadeeth Number 277. Also see Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 6 for details.

abode will be the Fire. And the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers, polytheists) will have no helpers." From this (shirk) is offering a sacrifice (Dhabh) for other than Allah (G), like the one who sacrifices to the Jinn or to (the one in) the grave.

The author (W) starts the nullifiers with shirk (polytheism) for two reasons. Firstly, because many people are falling into this great sin. Allah (G) says:

"And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him (committing shirk)"4

Secondly, because Allah (G) does not forgive this sin if one dies while practicing it. Allah (G) says:

"Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives whatever is less than that, to whomever He wills."5

The Messenger of Allah (N) also defined shirk (polytheism) to be the greatest sin made by man. Abdullah Bin Mas'aud (S) narrated:

"I asked the Messenger of Allah (N), 'Which sin is the gravest in the eye of Allah (G)?' He (N) replied: 'that you associate a partner with Allah (G) [despite the fact] that He has created you.' He (the reporter) said, 'I told him [the Prophet (N)], 'Verily it is indeed grave.' He (the reporter) said, 'I asked him what the next (gravest sin) was.' He [the Prophet (N)] replied, 'That you kill your child out of fear that he shall join you in food.' He (the reporter) said, 'I asked (him) what the next (gravest sin) was.' He [the Prophet (N)] said, 'Then (the next gravest sin) is that you commit adultery with the wife of your neighbour'".6

Abdur-Rahman Bin Abu Bakra narrated that his father (S) said:

"We were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (N) and he (N) said: 'Should I not inform you about the most grievous of the grave sins?' The Prophet (N) repeated it three times and then said, 'Associating anyone with Allah (G), disobedience to parents, false testimony or false utterance.' The Prophet (N) was

4 Soorah Yusuf 12:106 5 Soorah An-Nisa' 4:48 6 Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 0156

reclining, then he sat up and he repeated it so many times that we wished that he should become silent".7

Abu Hurairah (S) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (N) said:

"Avoid the seven obnoxious things." It was said (by the hearers), "What are they, Messenger of Allah (N)?" He (the Prophet N) replied; "Associating anything with Allah (G), magic, killing of one whom Allah (G) has declared inviolate without a just cause, consuming the property of an orphan, and consuming of usury, turning back when the army advances, and slandering chaste women who are believers, but unwary".8

Shirk (polytheism) is defined as "holding false gods as equals with Allah (G) in His Attributes (Characteristics)". Or one could say shirk (polytheism) is "devoting or awarding any act of worship to others than Allah (G)".

Falling into shirk (polytheism) can be practiced in many ways. Abdullah Bin Mas'aud (S) narrated, the Messenger of Allah (N) said:

"Shirk (polytheism) is of seventy-some types".9

This hadeeth means that falling into shirk (polytheism) could happen in many ways and not only by practicing one violation of Tawheed (monotheism), as many people mistakenly believe. Shirk could be practiced by associating others with Allah (G) in His Ulooheeyah (the duties of the creation to the Creator. i.e. to supplicate Him, praying to Him, etc), Ruboobeeyah (the duties of the Creator to the creation i.e. to create them, give them provision, etc) or Names and Attributes.

Associating others with Allah (G) in His Ulooheeyah is by praying to others, supplicating to them, prostrating before them, slaughtering in their name, seeking their help in things which only Allah (G) can do, calling on them in their absence or devoting any type of worship to others than Allah (G). Associating others with Allah (G) in His Ruboobeeyah is by ascribing to any of the creation management or control of the universe to others. For example: believing that someone or something can create or resurrect as only can Allah (G). Or believing that someone or something can bring down the rain. Associating others with Allah (G) in His Names is by calling someone by any of the Names of Allah (G), such as naming someone Allah, Ar-Rahman or Al-Khaliq (The Creator). Associating others with Allah (G) in His Attributes is to equate the creation with The Creator in His Attributes, such as believing that a certain person knows the future.

7 Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 0158 8 Saheeh Bukhaaree, Volume 4, Book51, Hadeeth Number 028 and Volume 8, Book 82, Hadeeth Number 840; Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 0161 9 Reported by Al-Ba'zar

There are two types of shirk (polytheism). Major shirk (As-shirk Al-Akbar) and Minor shirk (As-shirk Al-Asgar). Some scholars add a third kind, which is the Unseen Shirk (As-shirk Al-Khafy), but it is actually included in within the second type:

A: Major shirk Major shirk consists of many types, but all fall under the following four major types:

1. Shirk of Love (Shirk Al-Mahabah): This type means to love a creation as you love Allah (G), or even more so. Allah (G) says in the Qur'aan:

"And of mankind are some who take [for worship] others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else)".10

Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (W) said:

"Whosoever loves a creation equal to his love to Allah (G), he is a Mushrik (polytheist); and there must be a difference between loving for the sake of Allah (G) and loving with Allah (G)". 11

Many people who claim to be Muslim have fallen into this type of shirk (polytheism) by loving their leaders, or awleeya (plural of walee, [a pious Muslim]), as they love Allah (G), or even more so. When you ask one of them to take a false oath by Allah (G) [swearing in Allah (G) while lying] they will. But when you request from them to take a false oath by their walee, they refuse. This is Shirk (polytheism) of Love.

"A part of Shirk (polytheism) of Love; is loving a creation equal to loving Allah (G). This is a part of shirk (polytheism) of which Allah (G) will not forgive (if someone dies on it). It is the type of shirk (polytheism) of which Allah (G) says:

10 Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:165 11 Fatawa Shaykh al-Islam; Volume 15: Page 49

'And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else)'.12

Those involved in this shirk (polytheism) will say to their gods when they are in the Hell-fire as stated in the Qur'aan: