Back to Top

Logo Here

Date:23-09-22
   Basic Tenets of Faith        Shirk and its different forms        (Unity of) Divinity

The Danger in Worshipping other than Allaah

Question(11):

What is the ruling on directing any kind of worship to other than Allaah, The One free of all imperfections?

Answer:

The answer may be understood from what has preceeded where we said that Tawheed al-’Ibaadah is to single Allaah out with all worship. This means that nobody should give any share of worship to other than Allaah, The Most High. It is known, for example, that sacrificing (ath-Thabh) is a means by which a person draws nearer to Allaah, because Allaah has commanded it in His Saying:

(فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ) (الكوثر:2)
 
Therefore turn (your) in prayer to your Rabb and sacrifice [to Him only]. [Qur’aan, Sooarat al-Kawthar (108): 2].

And so each means of nearness to Allaah is an act of worship. So if a person sacrifices anything to other than Allaah out of veneration of the one for whom he sacrifices, and as an act of submission to him and a means of nearness to him, in the very same manner he venerates Allaah and seeks nearness to Him, then he is setting up rivals to Allaah, The One free of all imperfection, in worship (i.e. he is a Mushrik). And in that case, Allaah has made it clear that He has forbade al-Jannah for the Mushrik and his abode is the Fire of Hell. Accordingly, we say that what is done by some people from sacrificing for the graves of those whom they claim to be Awliyaa’ (friends of Allaah), is Shirk which takes the person out of the Religion. Our advice to those people is that they must repent to Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic, from what they have done. They should make their sacrifice for Allaah alone in the same manner they make their prayers and fasting for Allaah alone. If they do so, then their past sins will be forgiven as Allaah, The Most High, Said:

(قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ) (لأنفال:38)

Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease then their past will be forgiven (from disbelief). [Qur’aan, Soorat al-Anfaal (8):38].

Indeed Allaah will give them more than that. He will change their sins into good deeds, as Allaah, the Most High, Says:


: (وَالَّذِينَ لا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهاً آخَرَ وَلا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً) (يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً) (إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُوراً رَحِيماً) (الفرقان:68-70)
 
And those who invoke not any other Ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such life as Allaah has forbidden, except for a just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse, (nor)—and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; except those who repent and believe (in Tawheed), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is the One who is Oftforgiving, and Most Merciful. [Qur’aan, soorat al-Furqaan (25): 68-70].

So, my advice to those who seek nearness to the occupants of the graves by offering sacrifices for them, is to repent to Allaah, The Most High, from this action and to turn to Him. If they do so, then they shall receive the glad tidings of forgiveness from Allaah, The One who is Most Generous and who is Very Bountiful ( المنان: al-Man-naan). Indeed Allaah, The One free from all imperfection is pleased with the repentance of those who repent to Him.

Trending