Part 21

Those that love their treasure and the creatures they follow in preference to the love of Allah and His Messenger will suffer accordingly from wrong and polytheism. Hence, Allah makes them adhere to what they love, as in the hadith where He says: “Is it not just of Me to appoint every man among you what he used to be appointed to in the world?” Also, it is confirmed in a/-Sahih that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Every community should follow what they used to worship. Thus, whoever used to worship the sun should follow the sun; whoever used to worship the moon should follow the moon; whoever used to worship tyrant rulers should follow their tyrant rulers; and Christ was made to appear to the Christians; likewise ‘Uzayr was made to appear to the Jews. Thus, every community follows what they used to worship, and this community would continue to have its

* Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Ayyad ibn Mas‘tid, Abu ‘Ali (-187 A.H.), was a trustworthy scholar of hadith bom in Samarqand. [Kitab al-Iman MZ, p. 89.]

hypocrites.” This will be explained later. Indeed, those are the people of the major polytheism.

Those who are slaves of treasure they own or of men they obey will be punished in a manner less severe than that of the polytheists. Indeed, they will be punished either in the courtyards of Resurrection or in Hell. Whoever loves anything other than Allah will be punished by means of it. Allah says: “Oh, you who believe! Spend out of [the bounties] We have provided for you, before the Day comes when no bargaining [will avail], nor friendship, nor intercession. Those unbelievers are the wrongdoers” (2:254). That is, absolute unbelief is the absolute wrong. Hence, unbelievers and wrongdoers have no one to intercede for them on the Day of Judgment. Intercession is also precluded in the following verses of the Qur’an. Allah says: “Warn them of the Day that is [ever] drawing near, when their hearts will [come] right up to their throats to choke [them]; no intimate friend nor intercessor will the wrongdoers have who could be listened to. Allah knows of [the tricks] that deceive with the eyes, and all that the hearts [of men] conceal” (40:18-19); and Allah says: “Then they will be thrown headlong into the [Fire], they and those straying in Evil, and all the hosts of Iblis together. They will say, when they are quarreling therein: ‘By Allah, we were truly in error, manifested when we held you as equal with the Lord of the Worlds, and our seducers were only those who were steeped in guilt; now, we have none to intercede [for us], nor a single friend to feel [for us]; now, if we only had a chance of return, we shall truly be among those who believe!’” (26:94-102). In the above-mentioned verse, the phrase “we held you as equal” does not mean that they [polytheists] make what they worship equal to Allah in every respect. For none of Adam’s sons claim such a thing. None of the unbelievers claim that in this world there are two identical Creators. Even the dualist ‘Zoroastrians’ who speak of two origins, ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ agree that it is better to worship the light than the evil darkness, which deserves to be condemned and cursed. They also differ over whether darkness is eternal or temporal. Hence, they do not consider light and darkness to be equal. Likewise are the Arab polytheists, who agree on the fact that their gods do not share with Allah in the creation of the heavens and the earth. However, they acknowledge that Allah created the heavens, the earth, and what is between them, as indicated in many verses of the Qur’4n. Allah says: “If indeed you ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon [to His Law], they will certainly reply, ‘Allah.’ How are they then deluded away

WRONG: ITS KINDS AND MEANING 87

{from the truth]? Allah enlarges the sustenance [which He gives] to whichever of His servants He pleases; and He [similarly] grants by [strict] measure [as He pleases]: for Allah has full knowledge of all things. And if indeed you ask them who it is that sends down rain from the sky, and gives life therewith to the earth after its death, they will certainly reply, ‘Allah!’ Say: ‘Praise be to Allah!’ But most of them do not understand” (29:61-63). He also says: “If you were to question them, ‘Who created the heavens and the earth?’ they would be sure to reply, ‘They were created by [Him], the Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge’; [Yes, the same that] has made for you the earth [like a carpet] spread out, and has made for you roads [and channels] therein, in order that you may find guidance [on the way]; that sends down [from time to time] rain from the sky in due measure; and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will you be raised [from the dead]; that has created pairs in all things, and has made for you ships and cattle on which you ride in order that you may sit firm and square on their backs, and when so seated you may celebrate the [kind] favor of your Lord, and say: ‘Glory to Him Who has subjected these to our [use], for we could never have accomplished this [by ourselves], and to our Lord, surely, must we turn

It is worth mentioning here that the characteristics of the words of Allah are not the complete response of the unbelievers. Allah says: “Say: ‘To whom belong the earth and all beings therein? [Say] if you know!’ They will say to Allah: ‘Yet will you not receive admonition?’ Say: ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne [of Glory] Supreme?’ They will say: ‘They belong to Allah ...’” (23:84-87). Allah also says: “Say: Can you see yourselves, if the punishment of Allah come upon you, or the Hour [that you dread], would you then call upon other than Allah? [Reply] if you are truthful! No, on Him would you call, and if it be His Will, He would remove [the distress] which occasioned your call upon Him, and you would forget [the false gods] which you join with Him!” (6:40-41) and: “. . . [Who] is better? Allah or the false gods they associate [with Him]? Or Who has created the heavens and the earth, and Who sends you down rain from the sky? Yes, with it We cause to grow well-planted orchards full of beauty and delight: it is not in your power to cause the growth of the trees in them. [Can there be another] god besides Allah? No, they are a people who swerve from justice. Or, Who has made the earth firm to live on; made rivers in its midst; set thereon mountains immovable; and made a separating bar between the two bodies of

flowing water? Can there be another god besides Allah? No, but most of them do not know ” (27:59-61). This is a question which assumes a negative reply. The answer will certainly be: there is no god but Allah who does this.

Any of the interpreters of the Qur’4n who say that what is meant by the abovementioned verse, “Is there another god besides Allah?” are mistaken. For they used to have other gods besides Allah, as indicated in the following sayings of Allah: “. .. Can you possibly bear witness that besides Allah there is another god? Say: ‘No! I cannot bear witness! . . .”” (6:19). Allah also says: “. . . The deities, other than Allah, whom they invoked, did not profit them...” (11:101) and: “Has he made [all] the gods into one god? Truly this is a wonderful thing” (38:5). Indeed, they admit that their deities do not share with Allah either in the creation of the heavens and the earth nor in the creation of any other thing. But they used to take them for intercessors and mediators, as Allah says: “They worship, besides Allah, things that neither hurt them nor profit them, and they say: ‘These are our intercessors with Allah . . .”” (10:18); and: “It would not be reasonable of me if I did not serve Him Who created me, and to Whom you shall [all] be brought back. Shall I take [other] gods besides Him? If [Allah] Most Gracious should intend some adversity for me, of no use whatever will be their intercession for me, nor can they deliver me” (36:22-23); and: “Give this warning to those in whose [hearts] is the fear that they will be brought (to Judgment) before their Lord; except for Him they will have no protector nor intercessor . . .” (6:51); and: “It is Allah Who has created the heavens and the earth, and all between them, in six Days, and is firmly established on the Throne [of authority]: you have none, besides Him, to protect or intercede [for you]: Will you not then receive admonition?” (32:4); and: “Say: [Oh, Muhammad] Call upon other [gods] whom you fancy, besides Allah: they have no power, not the weight of an atom, in the heavens or on earth: no [sort of] share have they therein, nor are any of them a helper to Allah. No intercession can avail in His Presence, except for those from whom He has granted permission . . .” (34:22-23). Hence He denies that anyone besides Him possesses power or even a portion of power, or acts as His protector. Nothing remains except intercession, which is not beneficial except for those to whom Allah has granted permission, as illustrated in the following verses. Allah says: “. .. Who is there who can intercede in His presence except as He allows

. .?” (2:255); and He, the Exalted, said about the Angels: “. . . They offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable except for him with whom He is

WRONG: ITS KINDS AND MEANING 89

pleased . . .” (21:28). Allah says: “And there are many Angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and pleases” (53:26).

Thus, even this intercession, which the polytheists think they will be offered, will be ruled out on the Day of Judgmentas it is in the Qur?an. The Prophet (pbuh) was told that [on the Day of Judgment] he would bow down to Allah and praise Him, and would not ask first for intercession. When he prostrated and praised his Lord with praises that Allah Himself bestowed upon him, then it would be said to him: “Oh, Muhammad! Raise your head, and you will be heard; ask and it will be granted; intercede and intercession will be granted.” Then the Prophet said: “Oh, Lord of my people, but that a limit would be set for him.” He [the Prophet] would make them enter Paradise. He [the Prophet] returned then and prostrated himself. He then did the same thing a second and third time. Abu Hurayrah asked: “Who enjoys the greatest share of your intercession on the Day of Judgment?” Upon this the Prophet answered: “He who says there is no god but Allah with a sincere heart.” It follows that intercession will not be granted, except with Allah's permission, to those who are sincere. It will not be granted to anyone who associates anything with Him. Indeed, it will not be granted except with His own permission. Surely Allah will show favor to those who are sincere and believe in the oneness of Allah. He [Allah] will forgive them through the intercession of the Prophet (pbuh) who was kindly permitted to intercede, in order to honor Him and obtain the praiseworthy position which inspires the envy of both leaders and followers. Just as he [the Prophet] used to pray for them, this was indeed his intercession on their behalf. Indeed, Allah kindly responded to his prayer and intercession.