This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book The Search for Truth.
[الدعاء هو العبادة] Dua (i.e., calling out) is worship.
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Witr, Bab al-Dua:1479], [Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Tafsir, (Bab wa Man) Surah Al-Mu’min:3372,3247,2969
It is understood that dua is worship, therefore, supplicating to anyone other than Allah is their worship and this is shirk. For this reason, Allah Almighty said:
[وَّاَنَّ الۡمَسٰجِدَ لِلّٰہِ فَلَا تَدۡعُوۡا مَعَ اللّٰہِ اَحَدًا]
And the mosques are for Allah (alone), so do not call upon anyone along with Allah.
Reference: Al-Jinn:72
And in another place He said:
[قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّیۡ وَ لَاۤ اُشۡرِکُ بِہٖۤ اَحَدًا]،[ قُلۡ اِنِّیۡ لَاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لَکُمۡ ضَرًّا وَّ لَا رَشَدًا]
[Say, I only call upon my Lord and I do not associate anyone with Him], [Say, indeed I do not have power to harm you or to bring you benefit]
Reference: Al-Jinn:21,20
From these verses, it is understood that mosques are built for the worship of Allah, and only He should be called upon in them. If anyone else is called upon along with Him, it is shirk. However, despite such clear verses, polytheistic phrases are displayed in Muslim mosques. Words like Ya Rasul Allah, Ya Hassan, Ya Hussain, Ya Ali, Ya Ghaus-e-Azam, etc., are called out. Whereas these matters pertain to shirk and are not permissible according to any trustworthy scholar, as is clear from the previous statements.
The polytheists of Mecca who performed acts in the name of worship (that is) considering beings other than Allah as owners of supernatural powers and calling upon them in difficulties, calamities, and pain, making vows in their names, slaughtering animals to seek their nearness, asking for intercession from them, sitting in seclusion at graves and shrines, serving them, etc., Allah Almighty has termed these as shirk (polytheism). And even our Muslims who recite the Kalima commit such acts, from which avoidance is extremely necessary, and it is the duty of the scholars to forbid the public from such matters.
Nowadays, on common buses, wagons, cars, and rickshaws, it is written: Noorani Noor ... Har Bala Door
This belief is also held by Christians. One day, (Mubashir Rabbani) himself saw written behind a rickshaw:
Yasoo Noor
Har Bala Door
Cut Da Museetaan,
Man Da Zaroor
The number of this rickshaw is 5070-LXC. That is, Christians also hold the belief that Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) is light. Every calamity and trouble is removed by his name. He removes our difficulties and hardships and listens to our calls in pain and sorrow, although the One who listens to and accepts prayers in pain and sorrow is Allah, the One without any partner. Allah Almighty says:
[وَ اِذَا سَاَلَکَ عِبَادِیۡ عَنِّیۡ فَاِنِّیۡ قَرِیۡبٌ ؕ اُجِیۡبُ دَعۡوَۃَ الدَّاعِ اِذَا دَعَانِ ۙ فَلۡیَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لِیۡ وَ لۡیُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِیۡ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡشُدُوۡنَ]
And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be guided.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:186
See also:
Reference: An-Naml:62
But those who recite the Kalima abandoned Islamic beliefs and believed in others besides Allah. They declared their own spiritual guides and fakirs as the ones who remove every difficulty and calamity, and Christians hold this same belief about our master Jesus (peace be upon him).
Therefore, for the purpose of reforming our brothers, we have clarified in this book that salvation depends on the belief in the Oneness of God (Tawheed). This message was conveyed by all the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon them. Just as worshiping false deities and devils is polytheism, similarly, worshiping the Prophets and Messengers, angels, jinn and humans, trees and stones, etc., is also polytheism. The polytheists of Mecca, who considered Allah Almighty as the Creator, Owner, Provider, Beneficial and Harmful, the One who brings the ship to shore, etc., Allah declared them polytheists because they regarded, besides Allah, the Prophets, saints, angels, jinn, and idols as possessing supreme powers and authority. They would call upon them in difficulties, needs, and sufferings. Allah, the One and Only without partner, has refuted this belief in numerous places in the Quran, some of which we have included in this book.
If even today a person recites the declaration of faith but considers anyone other than Allah as the possessor and controller of supernatural powers and calls upon them in difficulties, calamities, needs, and necessities, and venerates deceased chosen personalities as Ghaus-e-Azam, Ganj Bakhsh, Data, Faiz Alam, Faryad Ras, offers vows and sacrifices in their names, and thinks of them as fulfillers of wishes and controllers of affairs, and accepts the authority of halal and haram in anyone other than Allah, then by obeying the polytheists, he becomes a polytheist. His acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, zakat, and jihad become null, useless, and wasted. He should repent from this belief, understand pure monotheism, and act upon it. Because if there is no sincerity in the belief of Tawheed, there will be no salvation on the Day of Judgment, nor will he be deserving of the intercession of the Noble Prophet ﷺ. Without correct beliefs and righteous deeds, there will be no deliverance. The Noble Prophet ﷺ instructed his beloved daughter Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra رضي الله عنها and others: [لا أُغْنِي عَنْكِ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا] "I will not be of any benefit to you before Allah."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Tafsir, Chapter (And warn your nearest kindred): 4771, 2753
Similarly, this narration is also reported in
Reference: Sunan Nasai:3677], [Sunan Darimi:2632], [Musnad Abu Awana:1/95
, etc. Therefore, all Muslim brothers should correct their faith and continue performing righteous deeds.The meaning of Tawheed is that Allah Almighty is One, He has no partner, He alone is the owner and controller of the entire universe, the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Creator of everything, the Provider, the Greatest Helper, the Rescuer, the Bestower, the Source of Blessings, the Nurturer of servants, worthy of vows and sacrifices, deserving of thanks and supplication, the fulfiller of needs, the Reliever of difficulties, the One who mends what is broken, the Owner of the Kingdom, the Sovereign Lawgiver, the Commander, the Owner of life and death, the Owner of benefit and harm, self-sufficient and the Manager of affairs. When He is the Creator and Owner of everything, then He alone is worthy of worship. Worship should be directed only to Allah Almighty. No one else should be worshipped besides Him. Worship of anyone other than Allah should be rejected.
I pray in the exalted presence of Allah, the Owner of the Great Throne, that He be your guardian in this world and the Hereafter, bless you forever, and include you among those who, when they receive a blessing, give thanks; when afflicted with trials, show patience; and whenever they commit a sin, seek forgiveness from Allah. Indeed, these three states are signs of success.
May Allah grant you the ability to obey Him. Keep firmly in mind that the nation of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) means that you worship Allah with complete sincerity and love. He has commanded all people to do so, as the Almighty says: [وَ مَا خَلَقۡتُ الۡجِنَّ وَ الۡاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡنِ]
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
Reference: Adh-Dhariyat:56
When you realize that Allah Almighty has created you solely for His worship, you should also know that worship without monotheism will not be considered worship, just as prayer cannot be imagined without ablution.
The moment shirk (associating partners with Allah) enters into worship, the worship becomes invalid, just as ablution is broken by the release of air during ablution. Allah Almighty says:
[مَا کَانَ لِلۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ اَنۡ یَّعۡمُرُوۡا مَسٰجِدَ اللّٰہِ شٰہِدِیۡنَ عَلٰۤی اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ بِالۡکُفۡرِ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ حَبِطَتۡ اَعۡمَالُہُمۡ ۚۖ وَ فِی النَّارِ ہُمۡ خٰلِدُوۡنَ]
The polytheists do not have the right to maintain the mosques of Allah while bearing witness to their own disbelief. They are the ones whose deeds have become worthless, and they will abide eternally in the Fire.
Reference: At-Tawbah:17
You must have understood by now that the mixture of polytheism corrupts worship. Polytheism is such a curse that by committing it, all righteous deeds are wasted. And it makes the polytheist deserving of eternal Hell. Therefore, it is a very important issue about which it is extremely necessary to acquire complete knowledge so that you can avoid its trap. Accordingly, the Mercy to the Worlds ﷺ came to them and invited them to the declaration of the Oneness of God (Kalima Tawheed). It should also be remembered that ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، is not merely a verbal acknowledgment but its meaning and implication are intended. Even the ignorant knew that by Kalima Tawheed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ meant that the relationship should be only with Allah Almighty, and the denial and disassociation from all those who are worshipped besides Him should be expressed. And foremost among this is calling upon none other than Allah. Therefore, when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told them to say ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،،, they said: [اَجَعَلَ الۡاٰلِہَۃَ اِلٰـہًا وَّاحِدًا ۚ اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَشَیۡءٌ عُجَابٌ] "Has He made one God in place of so many gods? This is a very strange thing."
Reference: p.5
When you realize that even an ignorant disbeliever understood the Kalima Tawheed well, it is surprising that a person who claims to be a Muslim does not know the interpretation of the Kalima Tawheed as well as the ignorant disbeliever did. Rather, he thinks that merely uttering the words without understanding the heartfelt belief and meaning is sufficient. Among them, the most educated and wise person thinks that the meaning of ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، is that the Creator, Provider, and the one who manages the universe is only Allah Almighty.
Such a person has no goodness or virtue, and the ignorant disbelievers know the meaning of ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، better than him. When you have understood my above remarks and also understood well the shirk about which Allah Almighty says: [اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَغۡفِرُ اَنۡ یُّشۡرَکَ بِہٖ وَ یَغۡفِرُ مَا دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ]
Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives anything else whoever He wills.
Reference: An-Nisa:48
Also, the religion of Allah Almighty was understood, which was brought by the noble Prophets (peace be upon them), without which Allah Almighty will not accept any other religion. It was also understood that the majority of people are unaware and ignorant of this religion, so two benefits emerged from this information:
[1] The benefit is: There should be happiness and joy in the grace and mercy of Allah Almighty. As the divine command states:
[قُلۡ بِفَضۡلِ اللّٰہِ وَ بِرَحۡمَتِہٖ فَبِذٰلِکَ فَلۡیَفۡرَحُوۡا ؕ ہُوَ خَیۡرٌ مِّمَّا یَجۡمَعُوۡنَ]
Say, "This is by the grace of Allah and His mercy; so let them rejoice in it. It is better than what they accumulate."
Reference: Yunus:58
Benefit: To develop fear and apprehension of Allah Almighty's grasp, because when you realize that sometimes a person unconsciously utters something that causes him to be declared a disbeliever. And due to ignorance, he is not considered excused; moreover, sometimes he speaks with the thought that this will bring him closer to Allah Almighty, as the polytheists used to think.
Especially remember the story of some righteous and knowledgeable people from the people of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), whom Allah Almighty mentions, saying that they said to Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) [اجۡعَلۡ لَّنَاۤ اِلٰـہًا کَمَا لَہُمۡ اٰلِـہَۃٌ]: "These are the gods of the people; make for us a god like them."
Reference: Al-A'raf:138
At that time, a great fear will arise in your heart, and the desire will also arise to avoid matters that pose the risk of falling into polytheism. Also remember that Allah Almighty, by His special wisdom and consideration, appointed enemies for every prophet sent to invite to monotheism, as Allah Almighty has said: [وَ کَذٰلِکَ جَعَلۡنَا لِکُلِّ نَبِیٍّ عَدُوًّا شَیٰطِیۡنَ الۡاِنۡسِ وَ الۡجِنِّ یُوۡحِیۡ بَعۡضُہُمۡ اِلٰی بَعۡضٍ زُخۡرُفَ الۡقَوۡلِ غُرُوۡرًا]
And thus We made the devils (Satan) allies to those who disbelieve, and they constantly insert falsehoods into each other's hearts to deceive.
Reference: Al-An'am:112
Sometimes the enemies of monotheism are also equipped with knowledge, skills, books, and arguments, as the Divine command states: [فَلَمَّا جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَرِحُوۡا بِمَا عِنۡدَہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡعِلۡمِ]
And when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they ridiculed the knowledge they had.
Reference: Al-Mu’min:83
When you have understood this and also realized that in the way of Allah Almighty, knowledgeable, eloquent, and argument-armed enemies are sitting to obstruct you, it becomes obligatory upon you to learn the knowledge of religion which will be your weapon, with which you can confront these devils, whose leader and chief said in the court of Allah Almighty:
[قَالَ فَبِمَاۤ اَغۡوَیۡتَنِیۡ لَاَقۡعُدَنَّ لَہُمۡ صِرَاطَکَ الۡمُسۡتَقِیۡمَ]،[ ثُمَّ لَاٰتِیَنَّہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَیۡنِ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہِمۡ وَ عَنۡ اَیۡمَانِہِمۡ وَ عَنۡ شَمَآئِلِہِمۡ ؕ وَ لَا تَجِدُ اَکۡثَرَہُمۡ شٰکِرِیۡنَ]
[He said, "Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path."] [Then I will come at them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful."]
Reference: Al-A'raf:17,16
But when you turn towards Allah Almighty and reflect upon the Quranic arguments, then there is absolutely no need to grieve or worry because:
[Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.]
Reference: An-Nisa:76
An ordinary monotheist is heavier than a thousand scholars of the polytheists, as Allah Almighty says: [وَاِنَّ جُنۡدَنَا لَہُمُ الۡغٰلِبُوۡنَ] Surely Our army will be victorious.
Reference: As-Saffat:137
It has been proven that Allah's army is dominant through arguments and speech, just as He is dominant through the sword and spear. The danger lies on the monotheist who goes on the path of jihad without weapons. Allah Almighty has bestowed a great favor upon us by revealing the clear Book, in which everything has been explained. It contains guidance, mercy, and glad tidings for the Muslims. Whatever argument the false worshippers bring, the Holy Quran contains its refutation, as Allah Almighty says: [وَ لَا یَاۡتُوۡنَکَ بِمَثَلٍ اِلَّا جِئۡنٰکَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اَحۡسَنَ تَفۡسِیۡرًا]
And those who bring you (O Muhammad) an argument, We bring you the truth and the best explanation.
Reference: Al-Furqan:33
Some commentators have said that this noble verse includes every argument that the people of falsehood will bring until the Day of Judgment.
Regarding shirk, Allah Almighty has clearly stated: Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives anything else whoever He wills.
Reference: An-Nisa:48
Every Muslim should keep in mind that the Kalima of Tawheed (i.e.)،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، is the boundary between disbelief and Islam. This is the word of piety and the firmest handhold. And regarding this Kalima of Tawheed, it is stated: [وَ جَعَلَہَا کَلِمَۃًۢ بَاقِیَۃً فِیۡ عَقِبِہٖ لَعَلَّہُمۡ یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ] And this is the word they left behind for their descendants so that they might return (to Allah).
Reference: Az-Zukhruf:28
A mere verbal declaration of the Kalima of Tawheed holds no meaning because the hypocrites also verbally declared it, performed prayers, and gave charity, yet they will be in Hell [اسفل السافلین].
The declaration of the Kalima Tawheed will only be beneficial when there is love and understanding of it in the heart (i.e., comprehension) and there is love and brotherhood with the people of faith. And this love will not be complete until there is enmity and hostility towards the opponents of the Kalima Tawheed, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: [مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ خَالِصًا مِّنْ قَلْبِهِ] Whoever sincerely
Reference: "La ilaha illallah"
declares it.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Riqaq, Chapter on the Description of Paradise and Hell: 6570
In one narration, these words are mentioned:
[من قال لا إله إلا الله وكفر بما يعبد من دون الله ] Whoever declares ،،لا إله إلا الله،، and denies all those who are worshipped besides Allah.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the Command to Fight People Until They Say... etc.: 23
Besides, there are also Prophetic hadiths in the authentic books that indicate the ignorance and misguidance of those who only verbally affirm the Kalima of Tawhid. It should be particularly noted that the Kalima of Tawhid contains both negation and affirmation. All creation except Allah Almighty, including the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Jibreel (peace be upon him), as well as the saints and righteous of the Ummah, are negated from divinity. And only Allah Almighty is affirmed as the true deity. After understanding this, one should contemplate the divinity which Allah Almighty has exclusively reserved for Himself and has negated from all creation, including the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Jibreel (peace be upon him). It is stated that not even the smallest attribute of divinity exists in them, and this is the very divinity which the common people call ،،سر،، and wilayah. They say that the meaning of ،،الہ،، is a wali (saint) in whom there is no secret or ،،سر،،. In other words, such a wali is also called a faqir and a sheikh. Some people also call them ،السید،. There is a belief regarding the Awliya Allah that Allah Almighty has granted some of His saints a special status so that people may incline towards them, place their hopes in them, call upon them, seek refuge from them, and make them an intermediary between themselves and Me.
So the polytheists of our era consider these saints as an intermediary between themselves and Allah, and the Arab polytheists used to call them ،،الہ،،. And in reality, an intermediary is called ،،الہ،،. Therefore, a person's declaration of the oneness of Allah ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، is a denial and negation of the intermediary. This matter will become clear by understanding the fundamental principles which Allah Almighty has mentioned in the Holy Quran:
First Principle:
Keep this well in mind that those disbelievers against whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fought wars, and whose killing, looting of wealth, and taking their children as slaves and women as concubines was permitted, were believers in the Oneness of Lordship (Tawhid al-Rububiyyah). Tawhid al-Rububiyyah is the belief that the Creator, the Provider, the Giver of life, the Cause of death, and the One who manages the affairs of the universe is only Allah Almighty. They acknowledged that Allah Almighty is the Creator and Provider, the Giver of life and death, and the One who manages all matters of the universe. Despite accepting all this, they were not considered within the fold of Islam. As evidence, consider this statement of Allah Almighty:
[قُلۡ مَنۡ یَّرۡزُقُکُمۡ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ اَمَّنۡ یَّمۡلِکُ السَّمۡعَ وَ الۡاَبۡصَارَ وَ مَنۡ یُّخۡرِجُ الۡحَیَّ مِنَ الۡمَیِّتِ وَ یُخۡرِجُ الۡمَیِّتَ مِنَ الۡحَیِّ وَ مَنۡ یُّدَبِّرُ الۡاَمۡرَ ؕ فَسَیَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اللّٰہُ ۚ فَقُلۡ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوۡنَ]
(Ask them) who provides sustenance to you in the heavens and the earth, or who is the owner of your ears and eyes? And who brings forth the living from the dead, and brings forth the dead from the living? And who manages the affairs of the world? They will quickly say, Allah. So say, then why do you not fear Him?
Reference: Yunus:31
Reflect upon the above divine command, that the matters mentioned in the noble verse were all acknowledged and accepted by the disbelieving Arabs. They also gave charity and alms, performed Hajj and Umrah, and besides that, they worshipped as well. And out of fear and reverence for Allah Almighty, they refrained from some prohibitions. Yet Allah Almighty did not admit them into Islam, nor did He consider their lives and wealth safe.
Despite the above good deeds, Allah Almighty declared them disbelievers, permitted their killing, and the confiscation of their wealth. This is because they did not acknowledge the oneness of Allah in worship. The oneness of worship (Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah) means that a person holds the belief that no one should be called upon or hoped from except Allah. No one other than Allah should be worshipped, no one other than Allah should be supplicated to, no animal should be sacrificed for anyone other than Allah, neither for any close angel nor for any prophet or messenger. Therefore, whoever supplicates to anyone other than Allah, or sacrifices animals for anyone other than Allah, or offers vows and gifts in the name of anyone other than Allah, has no connection with Islam.
Dear Readers: They should not forget that the Arab polytheists against whom the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fought used to call upon the righteous, such as the angels, Sayyiduna Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, Uzair عليه السلام, and other noble saints, etc. They also acknowledged that Allah is the Creator, the Provider, and the One who manages and governs the universe, yet they were still declared disbelievers.
Second Principle:
If a polytheist says that we know and believe that Allah Almighty is the Provider, Creator, and Manager of affairs. But these righteous people whom we call upon, and in whose names we make vows and offerings, and at whose graves we plead, we consider them only and only as our intercessors with Allah Almighty, and nothing more. Otherwise, our belief is that the Creator, Owner, and the order and management of the universe is solely under the control and possession of Allah Almighty. To such a person, respond that Abu Jahl and his companions had the same belief because they used to call upon Sayyiduna Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, Sayyiduna Uzair (Ezra) عليه السلام, angels, and other noble saints and said the same thing that these beings are our intercessors with Allah Almighty and nothing more. The polytheists say that we turn towards the graves of the righteous and call upon them so that they bring us closer to Allah; through their intercession and closeness, we ask everything from Allah Almighty and want nothing from them. The evidence for their belief is found in this noble verse of the Holy Quran:
[وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اَوۡلِیَآءَ ۘ مَا نَعۡبُدُہُمۡ اِلَّا لِیُقَرِّبُوۡنَاۤ اِلَی اللّٰہِ زُلۡفٰی ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَحۡکُمُ بَیۡنَہُمۡ فِیۡ مَا ہُمۡ فِیۡہِ یَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ ہُوَ کٰذِبٌ کَفَّارٌ]
And those who have taken others as allies besides Allah say, "We only worship them so that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is a liar and ungrateful.
Reference: Az-Zumar:3
The proof of intercession is found in the following statement of Allah Almighty, the Almighty says:
[وَ یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا یَضُرُّہُمۡ وَ لَا یَنۡفَعُہُمۡ وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَآؤُنَا عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ ؕ قُلۡ اَتُنَبِّـُٔوۡنَ اللّٰہَ بِمَا لَا یَعۡلَمُ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ لَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ سُبۡحٰنَہٗ وَ تَعٰلٰی عَمَّا یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ]
And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say, "Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
Reference: Yunus:18
There are two types of intercession:
[1] Negative Intercession
[2] Positive Intercession
Negative intercession is that which is made to anyone other than Allah and He is not capable of it. As evidence, consider this verse:
[یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَنۡفِقُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ یَوۡمٌ لَّا بَیۡعٌ فِیۡہِ وَ لَا خُلَّۃٌ وَّ لَا شَفَاعَۃٌ ؕ وَ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ]
O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship. And the disbelievers - they are the wrongdoers.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:254
On the Day of Resurrection, the honor and respect of the one who intercedes will be due to the intercession, and permission for intercession will also be granted only to the one whose words or deeds are pleasing to Allah. Without Allah's permission, no one will be able to intercede for anyone, as Allah says:
[مَنۡ ذَا الَّذِیۡ یَشۡفَعُ عِنۡدَہٗۤ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِہٖ] Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
Reference: Al-Baqarah:255
When you have fully understood that the disbelievers and polytheists acknowledged the Oneness of Lordship, meaning they recognized Allah Almighty as the sole Creator, Provider, and Manager of the universe, yet still, by praising Sayyiduna Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, angels, and the pious saints, their intention was that these persons are our intercessors with Allah Almighty and these venerable beings are the ones who bring us closer to Allah. Especially among the Christians, there were some individuals who remained engaged in divine worship day and night and also gave charity and alms, even living a life of asceticism in churches, isolated from people. Despite these praiseworthy qualities, they remained disbelievers and enemies of Allah, and despite these good deeds, they will always remain in Hell, because they called upon these sacred souls, offered supplications in their names, and slaughtered animals in their names. After understanding these polytheistic beliefs, the reality of Islam will become clear to you, to which the Noble Messenger ﷺ invited the world, and the Prophet’s ﷺ statement will appear true word for word, in which he ﷺ said: [بدأ الإسلام غريبا وسيعود كما بدأ غريبا] Islam began as something strange and it will return to being strange as it began.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the Explanation that Islam began as strange and will return to being strange... etc.:145
And it will also become as clear as daylight that most people have no connection with Islam.
So, O my brothers! Fear Allah and understand true Islam from beginning to end, and firmly hold on to the foundation of it, the Kalima of Tawheed [لا إله إلا الله], understand its meaning and essence, love the Kalima of Tawheed and its bearers, and make them your brothers, even if these people are far from you in another country. Deny every taghut and separate yourself from every taghuti power and its allies, and it is also necessary for you to boycott those who support any taghuti power or say that we have no responsibility towards them. Their statement is a complete lie and slander against Allah Almighty because Allah has made them responsible to deny every taghut and express disassociation from it, even if they are their own brothers or children. So, I will again urge my brothers to firmly hold on to the Kalima of Tawheed, so that when they stand before their Lord, they are not polytheists.
Third Principle:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ appeared among people who worshipped many things in the universe. Among them were those who worshipped the moon and the sun, those who worshipped the righteous, and those who worshipped the noble prophets, the close angels, and stones and trees. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ waged jihad against all without distinction. As evidence, consider the following command of Allah Almighty:
[وَ قٰتِلُوۡہُمۡ حَتّٰی لَا تَکُوۡنَ فِتۡنَۃٌ وَّ یَکُوۡنَ الدِّیۡنُ لِلّٰہِ]
And fight them until there is no more fitnah (disorder, polytheism) and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:193
Evidence against worshipping the sun and moon:
Allah Almighty says:
[وَ مِنۡ اٰیٰتِہِ الَّیۡلُ وَ النَّہَارُ وَ الشَّمۡسُ وَ الۡقَمَرُ ؕ لَا تَسۡجُدُوۡا لِلشَّمۡسِ وَ لَا لِلۡقَمَرِ وَ اسۡجُدُوۡا لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَہُنَّ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ اِیَّاہُ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ]
And among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, who created them, if it is Him you worship.
Reference: Ha Mim As-Sajda:37
Evidence against worshipping the righteous:
Allah Almighty says:
[قُلِ ادۡعُوا الَّذِیۡنَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ فَلَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ کَشۡفَ الضُّرِّ عَنۡکُمۡ وَ لَا تَحۡوِیۡلًا]،[ اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ یَبۡتَغُوۡنَ اِلٰی رَبِّہِمُ الۡوَسِیۡلَۃَ اَیُّہُمۡ اَقۡرَبُ وَ یَرۡجُوۡنَ رَحۡمَتَہٗ وَ یَخَافُوۡنَ عَذَابَہٗ ؕ اِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّکَ کَانَ مَحۡذُوۡرًا]
[Say (O disbelievers!) Call upon those whom you claim to be gods besides Him; they do not possess the power to remove your distress or to change it.] [These people whom you call besides Allah keep seeking means of approach to their Lord, wondering who is more near to Him, hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is something to be feared.]
Reference: Bani Isra'il:57,56
Reference: Note: 118 Meaning of inhabitants: such as Jesus (peace be upon him), Uzair (peace be upon him), angels
Evidence against worshipping angels:
Allah Almighty says:
[وَ یَوۡمَ یَحۡشُرُہُمۡ جَمِیۡعًا ثُمَّ یَقُوۡلُ لِلۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃِ اَہٰۤؤُلَآءِ اِیَّاکُمۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ]،[ قَالُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَکَ اَنۡتَ وَلِیُّنَا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہِمۡ ۚ بَلۡ کَانُوۡا یَعۡبُدُوۡنَ الۡجِنَّ ۚ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ بِہِمۡ مُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ]،[ فَالۡیَوۡمَ لَا یَمۡلِکُ بَعۡضُکُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ نَّفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا ؕ وَ نَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ذُوۡقُوۡا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّتِیۡ کُنۡتُمۡ بِہَا تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ]
[And the Day He gathers them all together, He will say to the angels, "Did these people worship you?"] They will say, "Exalted are You! You are our protector, not them. Rather, they worshipped the jinn; most of them believed in them." [So today no one will be of any benefit to anyone, nor will they harm, and We will say to those who did wrong, "Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny."]
Reference: Saba:40 to 42
Worship as Evidence from the Prophets:
Allah Almighty says:
[وَ اِذۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ یٰعِیۡسَی ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ ءَاَنۡتَ قُلۡتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُوۡنِیۡ وَ اُمِّیَ اِلٰہَیۡنِ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ قَالَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ مَا یَکُوۡنُ لِیۡۤ اَنۡ اَقُوۡلَ مَا لَیۡسَ لِیۡ بِحَقٍّ ؕ اِنۡ کُنۡتُ قُلۡتُہٗ فَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَہٗ ؕ تَعۡلَمُ مَا فِیۡ نَفۡسِیۡ وَ لَاۤ اَعۡلَمُ مَا فِیۡ نَفۡسِکَ ؕ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ عَلَّامُ الۡغُیُوۡبِ]،[ مَا قُلۡتُ لَہُمۡ اِلَّا مَاۤ اَمَرۡتَنِیۡ بِہٖۤ اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ رَبِّیۡ وَ رَبَّکُمۡ ۚ وَ کُنۡتُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ شَہِیۡدًا مَّا دُمۡتُ فِیۡہِمۡ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّیۡتَنِیۡ کُنۡتَ اَنۡتَ الرَّقِیۡبَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ اَنۡتَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ شَہِیۡدٌ]،[ اِنۡ تُعَذِّبۡہُمۡ فَاِنَّہُمۡ عِبَادُکَ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَہُمۡ فَاِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ]
[And when Allah will say, O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as gods besides Allah?' He will say, Glory be to You! It is not for me to say that which I have no right to say. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is in my soul, and I do not know what is in Your soul. Indeed, You are the Knower of the unseen.] [I said nothing to them except what You commanded me: 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 Watcher over them, and You are a Witness over all things.] [If You punish them, indeed they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, indeed You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.]
Reference: Al-Ma'idah:116-118
Evidence Against Worship of Trees and Stones:
Abu Waqqad Laithi رضي الله عنه narrates: We set out with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the Battle of Hunayn. The situation was that we had just recently become Muslims. We saw that the polytheists considered a berry tree sacred and would perform I'tikaf (seclusion) there. For the sake of gaining victory, they would hang their weapons on it, and it was called "Dhat Anwat." We asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to assign a place like "Dhat Anwat" for us as well. Upon hearing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said with astonishment: Allahu Akbar! Such were the customs of the earlier nations. By Allah! You have made the same demand as the Children of Israel made to Moses (peace be upon him).
Reference: Tirmidhi, Book of Tribulations, Chapter: What was narrated about abandoning the customs of those before you:2180
The Quran mentions this as follows:
[قَالُوۡا یٰمُوۡسَی اجۡعَلۡ لَّنَاۤ اِلٰـہًا کَمَا لَہُمۡ اٰلِـہَۃٌ ؕ قَالَ اِنَّکُمۡ قَوۡمٌ تَجۡہَلُوۡنَ]،[ اِنَّ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا ہُمۡ فِیۡہِ وَ بٰطِلٌ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ]،[ قَالَ اَغَیۡرَ اللّٰہِ اَبۡغِیۡکُمۡ اِلٰـہًا وَّ ہُوَ فَضَّلَکُمۡ عَلَی الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ]
[They said, O Moses! Make for us a god just as they have gods. He said, Indeed, you are a people who act ignorantly.] [Indeed, this is a work of destruction that they are engaged in, and falsehood is what they have been doing.] [He said, Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah while He has favored you over the worlds?]
Reference: Al-A'raf:138-140
Fourth Principle:
The polytheists of our time are even two steps ahead of the polytheists of the early centuries. The polytheists of the early centuries used to call upon Allah during times of hardship and commit shirk during times of prosperity. But the polytheists of our time commit shirk in both situations, whether in times of prosperity or poverty, and remain perpetually involved in shirk, as is clear from Allah Almighty’s statement:
[فَاِذَا رَکِبُوۡا فِی الۡفُلۡکِ دَعَوُا اللّٰہَ مُخۡلِصِیۡنَ لَہُ الدِّیۡنَ فَلَمَّا نَجّٰہُمۡ اِلَی الۡبَرِّ اِذَا ہُمۡ یُشۡرِکُوۡنَ] ،[لِیَکۡفُرُوۡا بِمَاۤ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمۡ وَ لِیَتَمَتَّعُوۡا ٝ فَسَوۡفَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ]
[Then when they board the ship, they call upon Allah, being sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, suddenly they associate others with Him], [so that they may be ungrateful for what We have given them and that they may enjoy themselves. But soon they will know.]
Reference: Al-Ankabut: 67, 66
We conclude our discussion with such a noble verse, after understanding which it becomes clear that the ingratitude of the polytheists of our time is far greater than that of the polytheists with whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fought. The Divine command is:
[وَ اِذَا مَسَّکُمُ الضُّرُّ فِی الۡبَحۡرِ ضَلَّ مَنۡ تَدۡعُوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اِیَّاہُ ۚ فَلَمَّا نَجّٰىکُمۡ اِلَی الۡبَرِّ اَعۡرَضۡتُمۡ ؕ وَ کَانَ الۡاِنۡسَانُ کَفُوۡرًا]
And when adversity touches you in the sea (i.e., fear of drowning), those whom you call upon besides Him vanish. Then when He saves you and brings you to the land, you turn away, and man is indeed ungrateful.
Reference: Bani Isra'il: 67
Read this noble verse carefully, in which Allah Almighty mentions those disbelievers who, when any distress befell them, would abandon all their elders and sages. They would not seek help or supplication from anyone. Rather, they would make Allah alone, without any partner, the center of their hopes. And they would seek help and supplication only from Allah, but as soon as the distress was removed, they would fall into polytheism.
On the other hand, when you look at the present-day polytheists, among whom some consider themselves scholars, virtuous, and claim asceticism and ijtihad, when they face any calamity or distress, even in the very state of distress, they are seen supplicating to others besides Allah. Like the well-known Karkhi, may Allah have mercy on him, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, may Allah have mercy on him, Zaid bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, Zubair, may Allah be pleased with him, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
فااللہ المستعان
