Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The foremost message of all the Prophets and Messengers (alayhimus-salam) has always been that none should be associated with Allah; all the heavenly scriptures are in complete agreement on this matter.
In many verses of the Noble Qur’an, polytheism (shirk) is refuted in very clear and well-argued words.
If these were to be quoted, an entire volume could be compiled.
But, alas, just as with other communities, many ignorant Muslims have also been led astray by Satan and have fallen into polytheism.
He deceived them in the name of reverence and love for the elders, and they too began to say, just like the polytheists of Makkah:
﴿مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى﴾ (Az-Zumar: 3)
“We do not worship them except that they may bring us nearer to Allah.”
We only acknowledge these elders so that they may bring us closer to God; they are our intermediaries, and by worshipping them, we attain God.
This is the deception of Satan which has always been a cause of misguidance and deviation for polytheistic nations.
Today, at the shrines of many elders, ignorant Muslims perform all those acts which an idolater performs before an idol.
They mention their names in every situation, call upon them for help.
“Ya Ghawth, Ya Ali,” etc., have become their regular invocations.
As far as the explanations of the Qur’an and Sunnah are concerned, such people are openly committing shirk, and for the polytheists, Allah has made Paradise forbidden.
The doctrine of tawhid (monotheism) that Islam has presented in no way grants legitimacy to such superstitions.
May Allah grant guidance to such so-called Muslims.
Amin.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In this hadith, there is mention of a demand from Allah Ta’ala upon man while he was still in the loins of Adam (alayhis salam).
The relevance to the chapter heading is that, at the very time of the creation of the children of Adam, it was said to them that they must not associate anyone with Allah Ta’ala, because this is an unforgivable crime, and every sin other than shirk (associating partners with Allah) can be forgiven.
The statement of Allah Ta’ala is:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ﴾
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (an-Nisa: 48)

➋
The matter that was demanded from man while he was in the loins of Adam is mentioned in this noble verse:
﴿وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَا﴾
“And when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their loins—their descendants and made them testify about themselves, [saying], ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes, indeed! We testify.’” (al-A’raf: 172)
In any case, a person should never associate anyone with Allah in any way, because Paradise is forbidden for the polytheist (mushrik).