Author: Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him)
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (may Allah protect him)
Understanding the following points is essential for every Muslim, as the people of ignorance, including the People of the Book and the unlettered ones, used to act upon them. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) opposed their practices. In reality, the goodness of something becomes evident when it is compared to its opposite, as the true nature of things is often revealed by their contradictions. One of the most dangerous issues in this context is when the heart lacks faith in the guidance brought by the Prophet (peace be upon him), and worse still, when someone regards the religion of ignorance as good and believes in it. This represents the height of destruction, from which we seek Allah’s protection.
✿ Allah, the Exalted, says:
“And those who believe in falsehood and disbelieve in Allah – it is they who are the losers.”
(Surah Al-Ankabut: 52)
The people of ignorance used to associate righteous people with Allah in worship and supplication. They believed that honoring the righteous was something Allah approved of and that through this, they sought intercession with Allah. They thought that the righteous also considered it a good practice, as illustrated by the following verse:
✿ Allah, the Exalted, says in Surah Zumar:
“Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book in truth. So worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion. Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him [say], ‘We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.’ Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ.”
(Surah Az-Zumar: 3)
✿ Allah, the Exalted, also says:
“And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’”
(Surah Yunus: 18)
This was the main issue that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) opposed. He presented them with the pure concept of worship and made them aware that this is the religion of Allah, which alone is acceptable to Him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed them that anyone who practices these favored actions of the people of ignorance will have Paradise forbidden for them, and their abode will be Hell. This issue is so significant that it forms the foundation of the entire religion, distinguishing between Muslims and disbelievers. It is also the basis for enmity between the two groups and the reason why Jihad was initiated.
✿ Allah, the Exalted, says in Surah Baqarah:
“And fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief and worship of others besides Allah) and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 193)
Translated by: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadwi (may Allah protect him)
Understanding the following points is essential for every Muslim, as the people of ignorance, including the People of the Book and the unlettered ones, used to act upon them. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) opposed their practices. In reality, the goodness of something becomes evident when it is compared to its opposite, as the true nature of things is often revealed by their contradictions. One of the most dangerous issues in this context is when the heart lacks faith in the guidance brought by the Prophet (peace be upon him), and worse still, when someone regards the religion of ignorance as good and believes in it. This represents the height of destruction, from which we seek Allah’s protection.
✿ Allah, the Exalted, says:
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا بِاللَّـهِ أُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
“And those who believe in falsehood and disbelieve in Allah – it is they who are the losers.”
(Surah Al-Ankabut: 52)
The people of ignorance used to associate righteous people with Allah in worship and supplication. They believed that honoring the righteous was something Allah approved of and that through this, they sought intercession with Allah. They thought that the righteous also considered it a good practice, as illustrated by the following verse:
✿ Allah, the Exalted, says in Surah Zumar:
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّـهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ أَلَا لِلَّـهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَى إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
“Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book in truth. So worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion. Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him [say], ‘We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.’ Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ.”
(Surah Az-Zumar: 3)
✿ Allah, the Exalted, also says:
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّـهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَـؤُلَاءِ شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِنْدَ اللَّـهِ
“And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’”
(Surah Yunus: 18)
This was the main issue that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) opposed. He presented them with the pure concept of worship and made them aware that this is the religion of Allah, which alone is acceptable to Him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed them that anyone who practices these favored actions of the people of ignorance will have Paradise forbidden for them, and their abode will be Hell. This issue is so significant that it forms the foundation of the entire religion, distinguishing between Muslims and disbelievers. It is also the basis for enmity between the two groups and the reason why Jihad was initiated.
✿ Allah, the Exalted, says in Surah Baqarah:
وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّـهِ
“And fight them until there is no more fitnah (disbelief and worship of others besides Allah) and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 193)