V1:108- The duty of guiding people to the reality of Tawhid and Shirk
- 3 years ago
108- The duty of guiding people to the reality of Tawhid and Shirk
Q: I live in a district inhabited by people who claim to be Muslims. They offer Salah (Prayer), pay Zakah (obligatory charity), observe Sawm (Fast) and they perform Hajj. However, they believe in the dead; they say that righteous dead people or shaykhs are intercessors with Allāh. They seek their blessings, ask for their help, vow to them, visit them, and travel to them. If you advise these people, they say that we should strive to get closer to these Awliya (pious people). They hate those who prevent or advise them against worshipping the dead and Awliya. What should we do? Should we leave them in the state that they are in? May Allāh reward you with the best.
A: This is a great calamity which occurs in many countries. It is obligatory that the scholars guide people to the reality of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allāh/monotheism) and the reality of Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship), so that these blinded laypeople know the falsity of their beliefs. If a person prays, performs Hajj, fasts and pays Zakah then worships anyone other than Allāh, this is sufficient to nullify their deeds. Allāh (Glorified be He) says: {But if they had joined in worship others with Allāh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.} He (Glorified be He) also says: {And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﷺ), as it was to those (Allāh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allāh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."} Making Dua`a' (supplication) to the dead, seeking their help, vowing to them and offering sacrifices for them is major Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship that takes a Muslim out of Islām). It contradicts Tawhid which is the core meaning of "La ilaha illa Allāh (there is no god but Allāh). " It also opposes the Ayahs (Qur`anic verses) that enjoin directing all worship purely to Allāh Alone: {You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).} Allāh (Exalted be He) also says: And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allāh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)) Allāh (Exalted be He) also says: {O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allāh) And: And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.} And: {So worship Allāh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allāh's sake only.} {Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allāh only.} And: {so invoke not anyone along with Allāh.} And: {And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allāh, any other ilah (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kāfirūn (the disbelievers in Allāh and in the Oneness of Allāh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful.} And: {Such is Allāh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmīr (the thin membrane over the date-stone).} {If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad ﷺ) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).} May He be Glorified and Exalted. Their calling upon the dead, or statues, or trees, or stones is described as Shirk. It is obligatory that these people are warned and advised. The scholars should warn and advise them until they comprehend and learn that what they are doing is null and void, and it is Shirk. Their Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj and their other deeds are nullified because of this, until they dedicate their worship to Allāh Alone. Allāh sent His Messenger (ﷺ) to mankind to free them from Shirk. He (ﷺ) resided in Makkah for ten years calling people to Tawhid and exhorting them to abandon supplication to and seeking help from the dead, or statues, or trees or stones. He (ﷺ) used to call out: O people say, 'La ilaha illa Allāh', and you will succeed. This was before Salah became obligatory, then Salah was enjoined and became obligatory in Makkah. He (ﷺ) remained in Makkah calling people to Tawhid, then he migrated to Madināh where he continued to call people to Allāh (Glorified and Exalted be He) and to Tawhid. It is obligatory upon you brother to continue advising and teaching these people in a wise, patient and kind manner in the hope that Allāh guides them through you. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Anyone who guides others to do something good...
Q: I live in a district inhabited by people who claim to be Muslims. They offer Salah (Prayer), pay Zakah (obligatory charity), observe Sawm (Fast) and they perform Hajj. However, they believe in the dead; they say that righteous dead people or shaykhs are intercessors with Allāh. They seek their blessings, ask for their help, vow to them, visit them, and travel to them. If you advise these people, they say that we should strive to get closer to these Awliya (pious people). They hate those who prevent or advise them against worshipping the dead and Awliya. What should we do? Should we leave them in the state that they are in? May Allāh reward you with the best.
A: This is a great calamity which occurs in many countries. It is obligatory that the scholars guide people to the reality of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allāh/monotheism) and the reality of Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship), so that these blinded laypeople know the falsity of their beliefs. If a person prays, performs Hajj, fasts and pays Zakah then worships anyone other than Allāh, this is sufficient to nullify their deeds. Allāh (Glorified be He) says: {But if they had joined in worship others with Allāh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.} He (Glorified be He) also says: {And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad ﷺ), as it was to those (Allāh's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allāh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."} Making Dua`a' (supplication) to the dead, seeking their help, vowing to them and offering sacrifices for them is major Shirk (associating others with Allāh in His Divinity or worship that takes a Muslim out of Islām). It contradicts Tawhid which is the core meaning of "La ilaha illa Allāh (there is no god but Allāh). " It also opposes the Ayahs (Qur`anic verses) that enjoin directing all worship purely to Allāh Alone: {You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).} Allāh (Exalted be He) also says: And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allāh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)) Allāh (Exalted be He) also says: {O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allāh) And: And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.} And: {So worship Allāh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allāh's sake only.} {Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allāh only.} And: {so invoke not anyone along with Allāh.} And: {And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allāh, any other ilah (god), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kāfirūn (the disbelievers in Allāh and in the Oneness of Allāh, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful.} And: {Such is Allāh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmīr (the thin membrane over the date-stone).} {If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad ﷺ) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).} May He be Glorified and Exalted. Their calling upon the dead, or statues, or trees, or stones is described as Shirk. It is obligatory that these people are warned and advised. The scholars should warn and advise them until they comprehend and learn that what they are doing is null and void, and it is Shirk. Their Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj and their other deeds are nullified because of this, until they dedicate their worship to Allāh Alone. Allāh sent His Messenger (ﷺ) to mankind to free them from Shirk. He (ﷺ) resided in Makkah for ten years calling people to Tawhid and exhorting them to abandon supplication to and seeking help from the dead, or statues, or trees or stones. He (ﷺ) used to call out: O people say, 'La ilaha illa Allāh', and you will succeed. This was before Salah became obligatory, then Salah was enjoined and became obligatory in Makkah. He (ﷺ) remained in Makkah calling people to Tawhid, then he migrated to Madināh where he continued to call people to Allāh (Glorified and Exalted be He) and to Tawhid. It is obligatory upon you brother to continue advising and teaching these people in a wise, patient and kind manner in the hope that Allāh guides them through you. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Anyone who guides others to do something good...