الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على رسوله الأمين، أما بعد:
Shirk is an extremely reprehensible act; Allah Almighty has expressed such disgust and dislike for shirk that perhaps no other reprehensible act has been condemned with such intensity. Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, has sent prophets and messengers to every nation, whose fundamental and primary message is the clear proclamation of Tawheed (monotheism) and the absolute condemnation of shirk. Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ﴾
“And indeed We sent to every nation a messenger (with the command): Worship Allah and avoid Taghut (false gods).” (That is, avoid shirk and Satan)
And He said:
﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ﴾
“And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me alone.”
Observe the beautiful mentions of various Prophets, peace be upon them, in the Holy Quran; you will find that every prophet calls to Tawheed and condemns shirk.
The Invitation of Noah (peace be upon him):
﴿لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ﴾
“We sent Noah to his people, and he said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.”
The Invitation of Hud (peace be upon him):
﴿وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۗ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ﴾
“And We sent to the people of ‘Aad their brother Hud. He said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.”
The Invitation of Salih (peace be upon him):
﴿وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا ۗ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ﴾
“And We sent to Thamud their brother Salih. He said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.”
The Invitation of Shu’ayb (peace be upon him):
﴿وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۗ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ﴾
“And We sent to Midian their brother Shu’ayb. He said: O my people! Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.”
The Invitation of Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
﴿وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاتَّقُوهُ﴾
“And when Abraham (peace be upon him) said to his people, ‘Worship Allah and fear Him.'”
And condemning polytheism, Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) said:
﴿إِنَّمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَانًا وَتَخْلُقُونَ إِفْكًا ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۖ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ﴾
“You worship idols besides Allah and fabricate falsehoods. (Listen!) Those whom you worship are certainly not the owners of your provision, so seek provision from Allah alone, worship Him, be grateful to Him, and to Him you will be returned.”
The Invitation of Yusuf (peace be upon him):
﴿يَا صَاحِبَيِ السِّجْنِ أَأَرْبَابٌ مُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ . مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ.﴾
“O my fellow prisoners! Which is better, many lords or one Allah, the Almighty, the Powerful? Besides Him, those whom you worship are only a few names which you and your forefathers have invented; Allah has not sent down any authority for them. Sovereignty belongs only to Allah. His command is that you worship none besides Him. This is the established religion, but most people do not know.”
The Invitation of Jesus (peace be upon him):
﴿وَقَالَ الْمَسِيحُ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ﴾
“And the Messiah (peace be upon him) said: O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Indeed, whoever associates others with Allah, Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge is the Fire, and there are no helpers for the wrongdoers.”
In short! The primary and central call of all the Prophets, peace be upon them, was the call to monotheism. They first called to monotheism and condemned polytheism with clear arguments and warned about its dangerous consequences.
Perhaps this is why almost every nation among whom a Prophet or Prophets, peace be upon them, were sent, and who claim faith in that Prophet, at least verbally claim monotheism and consider polytheism a great sin and reprehensible act.
Even the Jews and Christians, who in their false belief considered our master Uzair (peace be upon him) and our master Jesus (peace be upon him) as the sons of Allah (may Allah protect us), despite this most abominable belief, claimed faith in monotheism and denial of polytheism. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
﴿قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
“(O Prophet, peace be upon him) Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a word that is equitable between us and you—that we worship none but Allah and associate no partners with Him, and do not take one another as lords besides Allah.” But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting).”
Now see, the Quranic verse ﴿كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ﴾ clearly indicates that both groups of the People of the Book, i.e., Jews and Christians, claimed faith in verbal monotheism and disavowal of polytheism, while the Quran itself makes it clear that in their practical life they had fallen into the profound depths of polytheism. Allah Almighty said:
﴿اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾
“They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and also the Messiah, the son of Mary, while they were commanded only to worship Allah, who is alone, there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.”
From this, it is understood that despite their verbal claim of monotheism, they had fallen into polytheism. ﴿سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾ This is clear evidence of that.
Condemnation of Polytheism:
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, has condemned polytheism repeatedly in the Holy Quran. Consider the following verses:
﴿إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾
“Indeed, polytheism is a great injustice.”
What is the meaning of injustice? Allama Raghib Isfahani states:
«الظلم عنداهل اللغة وكثير من العلماء وضع الشيء فى غير موضعه المختص به إما بنقصان أو بزيادة ، واما بعدول عن وقته او مكانه»
“In the language and according to many scholars, injustice means to remove something from its proper place with harm or excess, or to place it in an inappropriate time or place.”
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has called polytheism “injustice.” Because the one who commits polytheism directs his worship and devotion, which is solely the right of Allah, towards someone other than Allah, this is “injustice,” and the doer is unjust.
Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾
“Allah does not like the wrongdoers.”
And He said: ﴿أَلَا لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ﴾
“Beware! The curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.”
And He said: ﴿وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا﴾
“And for the wrongdoers, He has prepared a painful punishment.”
The one who commits polytheism is also unjust; indeed, he is the greatest wrongdoer because he robs the right of Allah. Therefore, Allah neither loves nor likes the polytheist but curses him and distances him from His mercy. Allah has prepared a painful punishment for such wrongdoers.
There is no forgiveness for the polytheist
In hatred of shirk and its condemnation, Allah, Glorified and Exalted, said:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا﴾
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.”
Consider the vastness of Divine mercy, He said:
“My mercy encompasses all things.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
«إن الله تعالى خلق ، يوم خلق السموات والأرض مائة رحمة ، كل رحمة طباق مابين السماء والأرض ، فجعل منها فى الأرض رحمة فبها تعطف الوالدة على ولدها ، والوحش والطير بعضها على بعض، فإذا كان يوم القيمة ، أكملها بهذه الرحمة»
When Allah created the earth and the heavens, He created one hundred mercies. Each mercy would fill the space between the earth and the heavens. Then Allah placed one of those mercies on the earth. Because of that one mercy, a mother shows compassion to her child, and wild beasts and birds show kindness to one another. When the Day of Resurrection comes, Allah will combine His mercy (the remaining ninety-nine mercies) with that one mercy and complete it, and then He will have mercy on His servants with it. «يرحم بها عباده يوم القيامة»
Reflect on this one mercy! Its vastness cannot be counted. How many humans are there in the world, how many wild animals and other creatures, how many birds, and from the creation of the earth and heavens until today and then until the Day of Judgment, there will be countless. Yet we see that a mother always has compassion for her children, whether the mother is human, a bird, an animal, or even a wild beast, she has affectionate and tender feelings for her offspring. This is just one mercy that we cannot count. If one hundred mercies were gathered, what a shower of mercy that would be and how many people would be forgiven! And Allah loves His servants many times more than a mother does. But woe to the unfortunate one! The person who dies without repenting from shirk, Allah has clearly declared in the Holy Quran that forgiveness and pardon will not be granted to him. He will absolutely not be forgiven, and no mercy will be shown to him, even though the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
«لما خلق الله الخلق ، كتب فى كتاب فهو عنده فوق العرش: إن رحمتي تغلب غضبي»
When Allah created the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on the Throne: “My mercy prevails over My wrath.”
But in this immense mercy, there is no share for those who commit shirk. He is Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful), Ar-Raheem (The Most Compassionate), Al-Wadud (The Most Loving), Al-Ghafoor and Al-Ghaffar (The Forgiving and Oft-Forgiving), but in the Hereafter, for the polytheist, none of these attributes will apply!
Prohibition of Supplication for Forgiveness for a Polytheist:
Allah Almighty will not forgive or pardon one who dies without repenting from shirk (associating partners with Allah). Therefore, Allah Almighty has also forbidden supplication for forgiveness for them and said:
﴿مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ﴾
“It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were their near relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the Fire.”
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, sent the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as a mercy to all the worlds and said in the Holy Quran:
﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ﴾
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
Yet, despite this, Allah, Glorified and Exalted, forbade His Prophet ﷺ from supplicating for forgiveness for those who commit shirk. The occasion of revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul) of the above verse from Surah At-Tawbah is as follows: When Abu Talib (the Prophet’s uncle) was at the point of death, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to him. At that time, Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah were also present.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«أى عم قل لا إله إلا الله، أحاج بها عند الله»
“O my uncle! Say «لا اله الا الله» so that I may present your case before Allah.” Then Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said, “O Abu Talib! Will you abandon the religion of Abdul Muttalib?” (He died in that state.) Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
«لأستغفرن لك ما لم أنه عنك»
“I will surely continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am stopped concerning you.” Then this verse was revealed that it is not appropriate for the Prophet (ﷺ) and the believers to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are their relatives.
Although Abu Talib treated the Prophet ﷺ with great kindness, supported him greatly, endured extreme hardships and sufferings for his sake, and took enmity from his own people. Even when the polytheists of Mecca imposed a social boycott on the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Talib remained with him. Now consider! On one hand, the Prophet ﷺ is mercy to all the worlds, and on the other hand, his uncle had great love and kindness for him. Yet despite all these things, Allah forbade the Prophet ﷺ from supplicating for forgiveness for a polytheist. Similarly, Allah Almighty has forbidden all the believers from doing this, even if those who die upon shirk are their closest relatives or friends, their beloved children, a compassionate father, or a loving mother who shows great affection to her children. If they are involved in shirk, it is absolutely not permissible to pray for their forgiveness, because Allah Almighty has declared His command and unchangeable law that Paradise is forbidden and Hellfire is inevitable for the polytheist.
Paradise is forbidden for the polytheist
Allah Almighty said:
﴿إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ﴾
Whoever associates partners with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are no helpers for the wrongdoers.
From this blessed verse, the fate of every person who commits shirk is clear: Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his abode is Hell. No helper will save the polytheist from this, even if in this world he has chosen thousands of helpers and believes that these beloved ones of Allah will help him in the troubles and difficulties of the world, will fix his affairs, will improve his worldly life, and will also protect him in the Hereafter, intercede for him to grant forgiveness, free him from Hell, and take him to Paradise.
But Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has made His firm and decisive ruling clear in the Holy Quran that Paradise is forbidden for the polytheist and his abode is Hell. This shows that all these notions are mere illusions and false hopes of those who commit shirk. When Allah has made His law clear and has forbidden the believers in this world from praying for forgiveness for those who commit shirk, then how can the beloved and righteous servants of Allah intercede for those who associate partners with Allah and present a plea for their forgiveness before the Presence of the Eternal?
The Disassociation of the Righteous from the Polytheists
On the Day of Judgment, the Prophets, peace be upon them, and the righteous, may Allah have mercy on them, will also declare their disassociation from the polytheists. Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has presented a scene of this in the Holy Quran and said:
﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَٰهَيْنِ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا يَكُونُ لِي أَنْ أَقُولَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ ۚ إِن كُنتُ قُلْتُهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْتَهُ ۚ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ . مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ ۚ وَكُنتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِي كُنتَ أَنتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ . إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ.﴾
“And when Allah will say, ‘O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, “Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?”‘ He will say, ‘Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. I said not to them except what You commanded me—to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness. If You should punish them—indeed, they are Your servants; but if You forgive them—indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.'”
In these verses, Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has refuted the misunderstandings, misconceptions, and false hopes of the polytheists in a very eloquent manner. All Muslims agree that Allah, Glorified be His Majesty, has complete knowledge of all apparent and hidden matters, He is aware of every particle, and nothing is hidden from His knowledge. Despite this, what is the meaning and purpose of Allah asking, “O Jesus (peace be upon him), did you command them to worship you and your honored mother?” Upon reflection, it becomes clear that the millions of people who, in their excessive love for Sayyiduna Jesus (peace be upon him) and Lady Maryam (peace be upon her), elevated them from the status of servitude to the status of divinity, contrary to their teachings, were blinded by their love. Those people, by the testimony of these sacred personalities themselves, should realize and understand their clear mistake—that these were not their teachings, and how deeply mistaken they were.
And today, they declare their disassociation from us and are not ready to support us. Imagine! At this moment, how much regret, sorrow, and despair will such ignorant people face, who, blinded by their love, crossed all limits, and now those very ones are disassociated from us and bear witness against us. There will certainly be painful punishment, but this regret and sorrow will be like adding salt to wounds, intensifying their torment (may Allah protect us). It should be clear that this does not diminish the status of the Prophets, peace be upon them, and the righteous, because they had already condemned polytheism and warned of its consequences. Those who, completely neglecting their teachings, committed this error of their own accord are fully responsible and guilty of a sin for which Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, has clearly declared no forgiveness is possible. As for the statement of Sayyiduna Messiah (peace be upon him), “If You forgive them, indeed You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise,” this is not an intercession or recommendation for those polytheists but an expression of Allah’s authority, for He ﴿فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيۡدُ﴾.
Consider further verses on this matter, Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا مَكَانَكُمْ أَنتُمْ وَشُرَكَاؤُكُمْ ۚ فَزَيَّلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ شُرَكَاؤُهُم مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ . فَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ إِن كُنَّا عَنْ عِبَادَتِكُمْ لَغَافِلِينَ .﴾
“And [mention] the Day when We will gather them all together; then We will say to those who associated others with Allah, ‘Remain in your place, you and your ‘partners.’ ‘ Then We will separate them, and their ‘partners’ will say, ‘You did not worship us,’ and sufficient is Allah as a witness between us and you that we were of your worship unaware.'”
Also He said: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِن قِطْمِيرٍ . إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا دُعَاءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا مَا اسْتَجَابُوا لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ .﴾
“And those whom you invoke besides Allah do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know. And if you were to ask them, ‘Who created you?’ they would surely say, ‘Allah.’ So how are you deluded? And those you invoke besides Him do not possess for you [the power of] harm or benefit. But if they had any power, they would not be in the punishment [of Allah]. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will deny your association [with Him]. And none can inform you like [the One] Knowing.”
From these blessed verses, it is clearly understood that on the Day of Judgment, the polytheistic wrongdoers will have no helper, and the righteous people who were worshipped will also declare their disassociation, as mentioned in the Holy Quran regarding Sayyiduna Jesus (peace be upon him).
