F Oundation

Allah's Messenger came to a people who differed in their object of worship; some worshiped the Angels while others worshiped the Prophets and pious, also there were those who worshiped stones and trees and some worshiped the sun and the moon, but the Prophet did not differentiate between them. - 39 - by Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan The Third Foundation is that the Messenger r was sent to a people, who were mushrikeen, amongst them were those who worshiped Angels, and those who worshiped the sun and the moon whilst others worshiped the awliya and righteous. It is from the evil of Shirk that its doers cannot unite upon any matter, as opposed to the Muwahhideen, whose Lord is One, "… Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible? That which you worship Allah besides Him are names which you have named (forged)…" [surah Yusuf (12): 39-40] So, from the negative aspects of Shirk and its futility is that its people differ in their objects of worship, they cannot unite under any regulation because they do not follow any rule. They follow their - 40 - differences increase. "Allah puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master. Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allah! But most of them know not." [surah az-Zumar (39): 29] So, he who worships Allah alone is like a slave who serves one person only, who is pleased with him. The servant knows his master's aspiration and demands, and is pleased to serve him. But the mushrik is like the one who has numerous masters. He does not know whom to please; each one has his desire and each one has his own demand and each one has his own interest. Each one wants that the slave comes to him and therefore, Allah said, "Allah puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners disputing with one another." [surah az-Zumar (39): 29] meaning he is owned by many people, and he does not know whom to please. So, this similitude mentioned by Allah is that of a mushrik and a muwahhid. The mushrikeen differ in their worships, and the Messenger fought them and did not differentiate between them. He r fought the idol worshipers, the Jews and the Christians, he r fought the fireworshipers, he fought all the mushrikeen, he also fought those who worshiped Angels, and also those who worshiped the Awliya and the righteous, he did not differentiate between them. - 41 - worships idols is not like the one who worship a righteous man or an Angel, because the former worships stones and trees, he worships inanimate objects whereas the latter worships a pious person, and a wali of Allah is not like the idol.' By this (false justification) they seek (to prove) that the ruling concerning a grave-worshiper today is different from (the ruling concerning) those who worshiped the idols. So he (who worships the engraved) should not be declared a disbeliever, and this act of his should not be considered an act of Shirk and it should not be permissible to fight him. We say that the Prophet r did not differentiate between them, rather he considered all of them to be mushrikeen and he permitted fighting them. There were those who worshiped Eesa u and Eesa is a Prophet of Allah, yet he fought them. The Jews worshiped Uzair, who was from their Prophets or their righteous men, the Prophet fought them, he r did not differentiate between them. (Consequently) There is no distinction with regards to Shirk, whether one worships a righteous person or an idol or stones or trees, because (the definition of) shirk is, 'worshiping other than Allah, whoever it might be.' Therefore Allah says, "Worship Allah and do not associate anything (Shai'a) with Him." [surah an-Nisa (4): 36] The word ''Shai'a (i.e., anything)" is mentioned in the context of negation and it comprises everything, it includes everyone who is made an associate with Allah; Angels, Prophets, righteous, pious, stones and trees. - 42 - Shaikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab writes, The proof is the Saying of Allah, "Fight them until there is no more Fitnah (i.e., Shirk) until the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone." [surah al-Anfal (8): 39]