Ancestor worship is essentially idol worship. In the world, shirk spread due to exaggeration in the love and respect for the saints and righteous people. This reality has been revealed by the famous commentator Allama Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (606-544 AH) as follows.
اِنہم وضعو ہذہ الأصنام والأوثان علی صور أنبیائہم و أکابرہم و زعمو انّہم متٰی اشتغلو بعنادۃ ہذہ التماثیل فاِنّ أولئک الأکابر تکون شفائ لہم عند اللہ تعالیٰ، و نظیرہ فی ہذا الزمان اشتغال کثیر من الخلق یتعظّم قبور الأکابر علی اعتقاد اٌنّہم اِذا عظّمو قبورہم فاِنّہم یکونون شفعاء لھم عند اللہ ۔
“The polytheists made idols and statues in the likeness and form of their noble prophets and elders. Their belief was that when they worship these statues, these elders would intercede for them before Allah Almighty. In this era, this form of shirk is that many people are engaged in venerating the graves of their elders. Their belief is that by venerating the graves of the elders, those elders will become their intercessors before Allah.”
There is no evidence in the Quran and Hadith to justify grave worship. On the contrary, there is clear condemnation of grave worship. This graveyard sedition dominates all forms and states of polytheism. Seeking help, assistance, and refuge from anyone other than Allah, making vows and offerings in the name of creation, and attaching hopes to them are all branches of grave worship.
The Holy Quran invites the people of thought and insight with these words:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ . وَلَا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلَّاوَلَا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
“(O Prophet) Say! Call upon those whom you consider as gods besides Allah. They have no power over even an atom in the heavens and the earth; nor do they have any share in the heavens and the earth, nor is there any intercessor with Allah except by His permission.”
Shaikh al-Islam Thani, the pious scholar, Imam Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him (751-691 AH), writes regarding this verse:
فتأمّل کیف أخذت ہذہ الآیۃ علی المشرکین بمجامع الطریق الّتی دخلو منہا اِلی الشرک و سدّتہا علہیم أحکم سدّ و ابلغہ، فاِنّ العابد إنّما یتعلّق بالمعبود لما یرجو من نفعہ، و اِلّا فلو لم یرج منہ منفعۃ لم یتعلق قلبہ بہ، و حینئذ فلا بدّ أن یکون المعبود مالکا للأسباب الّتی ینفع بہا عابدہ، أو شریکا لمالکہا أو ظہیرا أو وزیرا و معاونا لہ أو وجیہا ذا حرمۃ و قدر یشفع عندہ، فاِذا انتفت ہذہ الأمور الأربعۃ من کلّ وجہ و بطلت انتفت أسباب الشرک و انتقعت موادّہ، فنفی سبحانہ عن آلہتہم أن تملک مثقال ذرّۃ فی السموات والأرض، فقد یقول المشرک: ہی شریکۃ لمالک الحقّ فنفی شرکتہا لہ، فیقول المشرک: قد تکون ظہیرا و وزیرا و معاونا، فقال: و ما لہ منہم من ظہیر، فلم یبق اِلّا الشفاعۃ فنفاہا عن آلہتہم و أخبر أنہ لا یشفع عندہ أحد اِلّا باِذنہ ۔
“Consider how this verse has silenced the polytheists.” It has firmly and skillfully closed the doors to entering into polytheism. A worshipper maintains a relationship with his deity only because he expects some benefit from it. If there is no expectation of benefit from the deity, the worshipper’s heart does not attach to the deity. Therefore, it is necessary that the deity either owns the means from which the worshipper benefits, or the deity is a partner or shareholder in the owner of those means, or is an assistant, minister, or advisor, or holds such status and grandeur in the eyes of the owner of the means that the owner cannot reject his recommendation. When all these four matters are false in every way, the causes of polytheism are also negated and its foundations are uprooted. Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has negated even the ownership of a particle of the heavens and the earth for the polytheists’ deities. Sometimes a polytheist says that these deities are partners of the True Owner. Allah, Exalted, has negated their partnership. Then the polytheist says that they are Allah’s helpers, ministers, or right-hand men. Allah, Exalted, has said that none of them is His helper. Now only the matter of intercession remained, so Allah, Exalted, has also negated that from their deities and said that no one can intercede in His presence without His permission.”
Those who consider the people of the graves as owners of benefit and harm, honor and wealth, life and death, health and sickness, and abundance and scarcity, in refutation of them, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (728-661 AH) states:
عامّۃ المذ کور من المنافع کذب، فإنّ ہؤلاء الّذین یتحرّون الدعاء عند القبور و أمثالہم اِنّما یستجاب لہم فی النادر ، و یدعو الرجل منہم ما شاء اللہ من دعوات ، فیستجاب لہ فی واحدۃ ،و یدعو خلق کثیر منہم، فیستجاب للواحد بعد الواحد، و أین ہذا من الّذین یتحرّون الدعاء فی أوقات الأسحار و یدعون اللہ فی سجودہم و أدبار صلواتہم و فی بیوت اللہ، فاِنّ ہؤلا اِذا ابتہلوا ابتہالا من جنس القبوریّین لم تکد تسقط لہم دعوۃ ا،لّا لمانع، بل الواقع أنّ الابتہال الّذی یفعلہ القبوریّون اِذا فعلہ لم یردّ المخلصون الّا نادرا، و لم یستجب للقبوریّین إلأ نادرا، و المخلصون کما قال النبی صلّی اللہ علیہ و سلّم : (( ما من عبد یدعو اللہ بدعوۃ لیس فیہا إ ثم ولا قطعیہ رحم إلّا أعطاہ اللہ بہا إحدی خصال ثلاث: إمّا أن یعجل اللہ لہ دعوتہ، أو یدّخر لہ من الخیر مثلہا، أو یصرف عنہ من الشرّ مثلہا))، قالوا : یا رسول اللہ ! إذًانکثر، قال: ((اللہ أکثر ))
فہم فی دعائہم لا یزالون بخیر، و أمّا القبوریّون فإنّہم إذا استجیب لہم نادرافإنّ أحدہم یضعف توحیدہ و یقلّ نصیبہ من ربّہ، ولا یجد فی قلبہ من ذوق طعم الإیمان و حلاوتہ ما کان یجدہ السابقون الأوّلون ۔
“The majority of the benefits attributed to (grave worship) are based on falsehood. These polytheists go to graves and the like and pray frequently. Occasionally, that prayer is accepted (by Allah). And many polytheists make numerous prayers, but not a single one of those prayers is accepted. Then many polytheists pray, and sometimes one person’s prayer is accepted, and sometimes another’s. This condition does not afflict those people who pray to Allah at the time of Suhoor and call upon Allah in their prostrations, at the end of their prayers, and in mosques. When these monotheists pray earnestly like those grave worshippers, it is impossible for any of their prayers to be rejected. The reality is that when monotheists pray to Allah in this manner, their prayers are rarely rejected, whereas the prayers of grave worshippers are rarely accepted. Regarding the prayers of the monotheists, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:”
(( ما من عبد یدعو اللہ بدعوۃ لیس فیہا إثم ولا قطیعۃ رحم إلّا اعطاہ اللہ إ حدی خصال ثلاث: إمّا أن یعجّل اللہ لہ دعوتہ، او یدّخر لہ من الخیر مثلھا، أو یصرف عنہ من الشرّ مثلہا))، قالوا : یا رسول اللہ! قال: ((اللہ أکثر ))
(Whenever a Muslim person makes a supplication to Allah Almighty that does not involve any sin or severing ties with relatives, Allah Almighty grants him one of three things. Either He immediately accepts that supplication, or He grants him some other good equivalent to that supplication, or He removes a similar harm from him. The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah! If this is the case, then we will supplicate even more. He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Allah Almighty is even more generous in granting than that.)
“Monotheistic people always improve in their prayers. In contrast, when grave-worshippers occasionally have a prayer accepted, their monotheism weakens, their connection and relationship with their Lord diminishes, and they do not feel the sweetness and taste of faith in their hearts that Muslims used to feel before.”
Grave Worship is an Unjustified Practice
Some people who deal with the graves of their elders, the pious predecessors were completely unaware of this. What kind of religion is this that the predecessors of the Ummah were oblivious to?
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) has beautifully said:
ہل یمکن لبشر علی وجہ الأرض أن یأتی عن أحد منہم (أی السلف الصالح ) بنقل صحیح أو حسن أو ضعیف أو منقطع أنّہم کانو إذا کان لہم حاجۃ قصدوا القبور فدعوا عندہا، و تمسّحو بھا فضلا أن یصلّو عندہا أو یسألو ا اللہ بأصحابہا أو یسألوہم حوائجہم ، فلیوقفونا علی أثر واحد أو حرف واحد فی ذلک ۔
“Is it possible for any person on the face of the earth to narrate even one authentic, good, weak, or disconnected tradition from the pious predecessors that when they had any need, they would go towards the graves, pray there, embrace them, or that they would pray by the graves, ask Allah through the intercession of the people of the graves, or request the fulfillment of their needs from the people of the graves? Far from providing evidence, the polytheists cannot show us even one such tradition or a single word regarding this.”
Also, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
فقد کان من قبور أصحاب رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ و سلّم بالأمصار عدد کثیر ، و عندہم التابعون و من بعدہم من الأئمّۃ، و ما استغاثو عند قبر صحابیّ قطّ و لا استسقوا عندہ ولا بہ، ولا استنصرو عندہ ولا بہ، ومن المعلوم أنّ مثل ہذا ممّا تتوفّر الہمم والدواعی علی نقلہ، بل علی نقل ما ہو دونہ، و من تأمّل کتب الآثار و عرف حال السلف تیقّن قطعا أنّ القوم ما کانوا یستغیثون عند القبور و لا یتحرّون الدعاء عندہا أصلا، بل کانو ینہون عن ذلک من یفعلہ من جّہالہم ۔
“A large number of the graves of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were in the cities. Near these graves lived the Tabi‘un and the later Imams of the religion, but they never came to the grave of any Companion to seek help, nor did they ask Allah for rain by means of those graves, nor did they do so through them; neither did they seek help at those graves nor through them. It is well known that if such incidents occurred, there would be many reasons and means to report them, and even lesser incidents are continuously reported. Whoever studies the books of the traces of the Salaf carefully and understands the conditions of the pious predecessors will be absolutely certain that those people neither sought help at graves nor ever went there to pray (for themselves). Rather, the ignorant people of that era who did so were forbidden from it by their predecessors.”
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (774-700 AH), considering excessive veneration of elders as a cause of shirk, writes:
وأصل عبادۃ الأصنام من المغالاۃ فی القبور و أصحابہا، وقد أمر النبی صلی اللہ علیہ و سلّم بتسویۃ القبور و طمسہا، و المغالاۃ فی البشر حرام۔
“The original cause of idol worship was being excessive in reverence for graves and the companions of graves. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered that graves be leveled and (high graves) be flattened. Being excessive in reverence for humans is forbidden.”
Veneration of predecessors is idol worship. In the world, shirk spreads due to excessive love and respect for saints and righteous people, as the famous commentator Allama Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him (600-671 AH), states:
فيؤدي إلى عبادة من فيھا كما كان السبب في عبادة الأوثان.
“Grave worship leads to worship of the companions of graves, just as the cause of idol worship was the same.”
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَىٰ﴾
“And those who take besides Allah allies (say), ‘We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah.'”
In the exegesis of this noble verse, Imam Allama Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him (224-310 AH), states:
Allah the Exalted says: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ﴾ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُم, ويعبدونهم من دون الله، يقولون لهم: ما نعبدكم أيها الآلهة إلا لتقربونا إلى الله زُلْفَى, قربة ومنـزلة, وتشفعوا لنا عنده في حاجاتنا.
“And those who take protectors besides Allah say, ‘We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.'”
They worship them and say, “O our gods! We worship you only so that you may bring us closer to Allah in rank and intercede for us with Allah concerning our affairs.”
Today’s Muslims hold the same belief about the graves of saints and righteous people as the polytheists of Mecca held about their idols. They place hopes on the graves. Today, the names of these individuals are invoked. They are called upon in happiness and sorrow. It is believed that they intercede for us before Allah Almighty. They are helpers and benefactors to the poor. Journeys are made to their graves. Vows and supplications are offered. Offerings are presented. Charitable distributions are made. This practice was exactly the same as that of the polytheists of Mecca.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (700-773 AH), writes:
«ثم أخبر تعالىٰ عن عُبَا الأصنام من المشركين أنھم يقولون : ﴿مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّـهِ زُلْفَىٰ﴾ أي: إنما يحملھم على عبادتھم لھم أنھم عمدوا إلى أصنام اتخذوھا على صور الملائكة المقربين في زعمھم ، فعبدوا تلك الصور تنزيلا لذلك منزلة عبادتھم المائكة ليشفعوا لھم عند الله فى نصرھم و رزقھم ، وما ينوبھم من أمر الدنيا.»
Then Allah Almighty informed about the statement of the idol-worshipping polytheists that we worship these idols only so that they may bring us closer to Allah in status and rank. That is, the polytheists of Makkah were motivated to worship idols only because, according to their belief, they had made idols in the form of honored angels, and they worshipped these idols thinking that it was the worship of angels, so that those angels would intercede for them with Allah regarding their help, provision, and worldly troubles. “
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (661-728 AH), says:
«وھذه الأمور المبتدعة من الأقوال ھى مراتب : أبعدھا عن الشرع أن يسأل الميت حاجة أو يستغيث به فيھا كما يفعله كثير من الناس بكثير من الأموات ، وھو من جنس عبادة الأصنام ، ولھذا تتمثل لھم الشياطين على صورة الميت أو الغائب كما كانت تتمثل لعبادة الأصنام ، بل أصل عبادة الأصنام إنّما كانت من القبور كما قال ابن عبّاس وغيره ، وقد يرى أحدھم القبر قد انشقّ و خرج منه الميّت فعانقه أو صافحه أو كلمه ، ويكون ذلك شيطانا تمثل على صورته ليضله ، وھذا يوجد كثيرا عند قبور الصالحين ، وأمّا السجود للميّت أو للقبر فھو أعظم وكذلك تقبيله ، المرتبة الثانية ” أن يظنّ أنّ الدعاء عند قبره مستجاب أو أنّه أفضل من الدعاء فى المساجد والبيوت ، فيقصد زيارته لذلك أو للصلاة عنده أو لأجل طلب حوائجه منه ، فھذا أيضا من المنكرات المبتدعة باتفاق أئمة المسلمين وھي محرّمة ، وما علمت في ذلك نزاعا بين أئمة الدين ، المرتبة الثالثۃ : أن يسأل صاحب القبر أن يسأل الله له ، وھذا بدعة باتفاق أئمة المسلمين.»
“These sayings based on innovation are also of various kinds. Among them, the statement that is most distant from Shariah is that a deceased person is asked for something necessary or help is sought from him regarding it. Many people do this with many deceased men. This act is a kind of idol worship. This is why devils come to such people in the form of the deceased or an absent person, just as they used to come to idol worshippers. In fact, the foundation of idol worship was established from graves, as Syedna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and others) said. Often, a grave worshipper sees that the grave has opened and the deceased has come out to embrace, shake hands, or speak with him. In reality, this is a devil who has come in the form of that deceased to mislead the person. This happens many times near the graves of righteous people. As for prostrating to the deceased or the grave or kissing it, that is an even greater sin. The second category is the belief that prayers are accepted near the grave or that it is superior to praying in a mosque or home, and for this purpose, one visits the grave or arranges prayers there or seeks their needs from it. These are also among the innovations and reprehensible acts. The Imams of Muslims unanimously agree that these acts are forbidden. I have found no disagreement among the Imams of the religion on this matter. The third category is asking the owner of the grave to ask Allah for something and give it. This act is unanimously considered an innovation by the Imams of the Muslims.”
Imam Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him ((731-792 AH)) writes:
«ولم يكونوا يعتقدون في الأصنام أّنھا مشاركة لله في خلق العالم بل كان حالھم فيھا كحال أمثالھم من مشركى الأمم من الهند والترك والبربر و غيرھم ، تارة يعتقدون أنّ ھذه تماثيل قوم صالحين من الأنبياء والصالحين ، ويتخذونھم شفعاء ويتسّلون بھم إلى الله ، وھذا كان أصل شرك العرب ، قال تعالٰى حكاية عن قوم نوح : ﴿وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا﴾ »
“The polytheists of Mecca did not believe that the idols were partners with Allah in the creation of the universe, rather their condition was like that of the polytheistic nations of India, Turkey, and Berbers. Sometimes they believed that these were statues of righteous people and noble prophets, and they made them their intercessors and means to Allah. This was the original shirk (polytheism) of the Arab people. Allah Almighty mentioned the people of Noah and said: ﴿وَقَالُوا لَا تَذَرُنَّ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا﴾ ‘And they said: Never leave your gods, nor Wadd, nor Suwa’, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya’uq, nor Nasr.’ ”
Shaikh al-Islam Thani, a divine scholar, Allama Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him ((691-751 AH)) says:
«وتلاعب الشيطان بالمشركين في عبادة الأصنام له أسباب عديدة : تلاعب بكلّ قوم على قدر عقولھم ، فطائفة دعاھم إلى عبادتھا من حھة تعظيم الموتى الّذين صوّروا تلك الأصنام على صورھم كما تقدّم عن قوم نوح عليه السلام ، ولھذا لعن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم المتخذين على القبور المساجد والسرج ، ونھى عن الصلاة إلى القبور ، وسأل ربّه سبحانه أن لا يجعل قبره و ثنا يعبد ، ونھى أمّته أن يتخذوا قبره عيدا ، وقال : ( ( اشتد غضب الله على قوم اتخذوا قبور أنبيائھم مساجد ) ) ، وأمر بتسوية القبور وطمس التماثيل ، فأبى المشركون إلا خلافه في ذلك كله إمّا جھلا وإمّا عنادا لأھل التوحيد ، ولم يضرّھم ذلك شيئا ، وھذا السبب ھو الغالب علي عوّام المشركين ، وأمّا خواصّھم فإنّھم اتخذوھا بزعمھم علي صور الكواكب المؤثرة في العالم عندھم ، وجعلوا لھا بيوتا و سدنة و حجابا وحجبا وقربانا ، ولم يزل ھذا في الدنيا قديما و حديثا.»
“There are many reasons through which Satan involved the polytheists in the worship of idols. He played with each nation according to their intellect. One group was invited to idol worship through the veneration of men. They made statues in the likeness of their ancestors, as we have already explained regarding the people of Noah. Therefore, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, cursed those who build mosques over graves, and he also forbade praying facing the graves. He prayed to Allah Almighty not to make his grave an idol to be worshipped. He also forbade his Ummah from turning his grave into a place of festivity. And He said: “The wrath of Allah was severe upon the people who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship.” The Prophet, peace be upon him, also ordered that graves be leveled and idols be destroyed. The polytheists opposed all these matters either out of ignorance or enmity towards the people of monotheism, even though it did not harm the people of monotheism at all. This behavior has been predominant among the general polytheists. As for the specific polytheists, they made idols thinking that these idols represented influential stars present in the universe. These polytheists arranged sanctuaries, coverings, guardians, and sacrifices for these idols. This has been happening in the world in both ancient and modern times.”
He also says:
فوضع الصنم إنّما كان في الأصل على شكل معبود غائب، فجعلوا الصنم على شكله وھيأته و صورته ليكون نائبا منابه وقائما مقامه، وإنّا فمن المعلوم أنّ عاقلا لا ينحت خشبة أو حجرا بيده تمّ يعتقد أنّه إلھه و معبوده
“The beginning of idol-making was in the form of creating statues of an unseen deity. The polytheists made idols according to the shape and form of their deity so that they would become representatives of their deity; otherwise, it is obvious that no sane person can carve wood or stone with his own hands and believe that it is his god and deity.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
«اِنَّ أَصْلَ الشِّرْكِ فِي الْعَالَمِ كَانَ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْبَشَرِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَعِبَادَةِ تَمَاثِيلِهِمْ وَهُمْ الْمَقْصُودُونَ. وَمِنْ الشِّرْكِ مَا كَانَ أَصْلُهُ عِبَادَةَ الْكَوَاكِبِ إمَّا الشَّمْسُ وَإِمَّا الْقَمَرُ وَإِمَّا غَيْرُهُمَا وَصَوَّرَتْ الْأَصْنَامُ طَلَاسِمَ لِتِلْكَ الْكَوَاكِبِ وَشِرْكُ قَوْمِ إبْرَاهِيمَ – وَاَللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ – كَانَ مِنْ هَذَا أَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُ مِنْ هَذَا ، وَمِنْ الشِّرْكِ مَا كَانَ أَصْلُهُ عِبَادَةَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَوْ الْجِنِّ، وُضِعَتْ الْأَصْنَامُ لِأَجْلِهِمْ، وَإِلَّا فَنَفْسُ الْأَصْنَامِ الْجَمَادِيَّةِ لَمْ تُعْبَدْ لِذَاتِهَا، بَلْ لِأَسْبَابٍ اقْتَضَتْ ذَلِكَ ، وَشِرْكُ الْعَرَبِ كَانَ أَعْظَمُهُ الْأَوَّلَ، وَكَانَ فِيهِ مِنْ الْجَمِيعِ۰»
“In the world, the foundation of polytheism was the worship of righteous people, and their idols were also worshiped, but the intended ones were those very people. One type of polytheism was based on the worship of stars. Whether it was the sun, the moon, or any other stars, the idols presented magical images of those stars. The polytheism of the people of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was entirely or mostly based on this. Another type of polytheism is based on the worship of angels or jinn. Idols were carved in the memory of angels and jinn; otherwise, the worship of lifeless idols was never solely for them. Rather, the causes mentioned behind their worship necessitated it. A large part of the Arabs’ polytheism was from the first type of polytheism, although all kinds of polytheism were found among them.”
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, further states:
«… ومن هؤلاء من يأتي إلىٰ قبر الشيخ الذي يشرك به ويستغيث به فينزل عليه من الهواء طعام أو نفقة أو سلاح أو غير ذلك مما يطلبه فيظن ذلك كرامة لشيخه، وإنما ذلك كله من الشياطين. وهذا من أعظم الأسباب التي عبدت بها الأوثان. وقد قال الخليل عليه السلام: ﴿وَاجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ﴾ ﴿رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّى وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾
(Ibrahim: 35-36)
كما قال نوح عليه السلام، ومعلوم أن الحجر لا يضل كثيراً من الناس إلا بسبب اقتضى ضلالهم، ولم يكن أحد من عباد الأصنام يعتقد أنها خلقت السماوات والأرض، بل إنما كانوا يتخذونها شفعاء ووسائط لأسباب: منهم من صورها على صور الأنبياء والصالحين، ومنهم من جعلها تماثيل وطلاسم للكواكب والشمس والقمر، ومنهم من جعلها لأجل الجن، ومنهم من جعلها لأجل الملائكة. فالمعبود لهم في قصدهم إنما هو الملائكة والأنبياء والصالحون أو الشمس أو القمر، وهم في نفس الأمر يعبدون الشياطين، فھي التي تقصد من الإنس أن يعبدها وتظهر لهم ما يدعوهم إلى ذلك، كما قال تعالىٰ: ﴿وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ أَهَؤُلاء إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ﴾ ﴿قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ﴾
وإذا كان العابد ممن لا يستحل عبادة الشياطين أوهموه أنه إنما يدعو الأنبياء والصالحين والملائكة وغيرهم ممن يحسن العابد ظنه به. وأما إن كان ممن لا يحرم عبادة الجن عرفوه أنهم الجن.»
“Some polytheists are such that they come to the grave of a saint through whom they commit shirk and from whom they seek help, and then food, expenses, weapons, etc., which they need, come to them from the air. They consider this a miracle of that saint, whereas all this is from Satan. This has been a major reason for idol worship. Sayyiduna Ibrahim Khalilullah (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah Almighty: ﴿وَاجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ﴾ ‘O Allah! Protect me and my children from worshipping idols.’ He also said: ﴿رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ﴾ ‘O my Lord! These idols have led many people astray.’
Similarly, Sayyiduna Nuh (peace be upon him) also made such a supplication. Now it is known that stones cannot mislead people; rather, this can happen due to some cause that leads to their misguidance. An idol worshipper cannot believe that idols created the heavens and the earth. Rather, idol worshippers used idols as intermediaries and means for various reasons. Some polytheists had made idols in the forms of Prophets and pious saints. Some made idols of stars, the sun, and the moon. Some made these idols for jinn, and some made them for angels. The purpose of these idol worshippers is only to worship angels, Prophets (peace be upon them), pious elders, or the sun and moon, but in reality, these people worship devils. It is these devils who want humans to worship idols and often show them things that lead them towards shirk. As Allah Almighty has said: ﴿وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ أَهَؤُلاء إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ﴾ ﴿قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ﴾
‘And on that Day Allah will gather them all together, then He will ask the angels, “Did these people worship you?” They will say, “Glory be to You! You are our Protector, not them. They used to worship the jinn; most of them believed in them.”‘ When the worshipper does not consider worshipping devils permissible, these devils give him the illusion that he is only calling upon those Prophets, pious people, and angels about whom the worshipper has good opinion. And if the worshipper does not consider worshipping jinn forbidden, they inform him that they are indeed jinn.”
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah further states:
«وقال تعالى: ﴿قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا﴾ ﴿أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا﴾
قالت طائفة من السلف: كان أقوام يدعون المسيح وعزيرا والملائكة، قال الله تعالى: هؤلاء الذين تدعونهم عبادي كما أنتم عبادي، ويرجون رحمتي كما ترجون رحمتي، ويخافون عذابي كما تخافون عذابي، ويتقربون إلي كما تتقربون إلي، فإذا كان هذا حال من يدعو الأنبياء والملائكة، فكيف بمن دونهم؟ ! . وقال تعالى: ﴿أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِنْ دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلًا﴾
وقال تعالى: ﴿قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍ﴾ ﴿وَلَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ﴾
فبين سبحانه أن من دعي من دون الله من جميع المخلوقات من الملائكة والبشر وغيرهم أنهم لا يملكون مثقال ذرة في ملكه، وأنه ليس له شريك في ملكه، بل هو سبحانه له الملك، وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير، وأنه ليس له عون يعاونه كما يكون للملك أعوان وظهراء، وأن الشفعاء عنده لا يشفعون إلا لمن ارتضى، فنفى بذلك وجوه الشرك. وذلك أن من يدعون من دونه إما أن يكون مالكا، وإما أن لا يكون مالكا، وإذا لم يكن مالكا فإما أن يكون شريكا، وإما أن لا يكون شريكا، وإذا لم يكن شريكا فإما أن يكون معاونا وإما أن يكون سائلا طالبا، فالأقسام الأول الثلاثة وهي: الملك، والشركة، والمعاونة منتفية. وأما الرابع: فلا يكون إلا من بعد إذنه، كما قال تعالى: ﴿مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ﴾
وكما قال تعالى: ﴿وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى﴾
وقال تعالى: ﴿أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ شُفَعَاءَ قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ﴾ ﴿قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
وقال تعالى: ﴿اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ﴾
وقال تعالى: ﴿وَأَنْذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يُحْشَرُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ﴾
وقال تعالى: ﴿مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِي مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْتَدْرُسُونَ﴾
﴿وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَابًا أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
فإذا جعل من اتخذ الملائكة والنبيين أربابا كافرا فكيف من اتخذ من دونهم من المشايخ وغيرهم أربابا؟ ! وتفصيل القول: أن مطلوب العبد إن كان من الأمور التي لا يقدر عليها إلا الله تعالى. مثل أن يطلب شفاء مريضه من الآدميين والبهائم أو وفاء دينه من غير جهة معينة، أو عافية أهله، وما به من بلاء الدنيا والآخرة، وانتصاره على عدوه، وهداية قلبه، وغفران ذنبه، أو دخوله الجنة، أو نجاته من النار، أو أن يتعلم العلم والقرآن، أو أن يصلح قلبه ويحسن خلقه ويزكي نفسه، وأمثال ذلك: فهذه الأمور كلها لا يجوز أن تطلب إلا من الله تعالىٰ، ولا يجوز أن يقول لملك ولا نبي ولا شيخ – سواء كان حيا أو ميتا – اغفر ذنبي، ولا انصرني على عدوي، ولا اشف مريضي، ولا عافني أو عاف أهلي أو دابتي، وما أشبه ذلك. ومن سأل ذلك مخلوقا كائنا من كان فهو مشرك بربه، من جنس المشركين الذين يعبدون الملائكة والأنبياء والتماثيل التي يصورونها على صورهم، ومن جنس دعاء النصارى للمسيح وأمه.
قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ﴾
وقال تعالى: ﴿اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾
وأما ما يقدر عليه العبد فيجوز أن يطلب منه في بعض الأحوال دون بعض؛ فإن مسألة المخلوق قد تكون جائزة، وقد تكون منهيا عنها.
قال الله تعالى: ﴿فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانْصَبْ﴾ ﴿وَإِلَى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَبْ﴾
وأوصى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ابن عباس: إذا سألت فاسأل الله، وإذا استعنت فاستعن بالله»
Allah Almighty says:
﴿قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا﴾ ﴿أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَى رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا﴾
“O Prophet! Say, those whom you call upon besides Allah do not possess the power to remove any harm from you nor to change it. Those whom these polytheists call upon themselves seek a means to reach their Lord, to see who among them can be closer to Allah. They hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is something to be feared.”
A group of pious predecessors said: Some people used to call upon Sayyiduna Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, Sayyiduna Uzair عليه السلام, and the angels. Upon this, Allah Almighty said that the ones you call upon are servants like you; they also hope for My mercy just as you do, they also fear My punishment just as you fear, and they also strive to attain My closeness just as you do. If this is the condition of those who call upon the Prophets and angels, then what will be the condition of others (who call upon the friends of Allah)?
Allah Almighty also says:
﴿أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِنْ دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلًا﴾
“Do the disbelievers think that they can take My servants as protectors instead of Me? Indeed, We have prepared Hell as a hospitality for the disbelievers.”
Also He said:
﴿قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍ﴾ ﴿وَلَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ﴾
“O Prophet! Say, call upon those whom you have taken as gods besides Allah. They do not possess even an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth, nor do they have any share in the heavens or the earth, nor is any of them an assistant to Allah. No intercession benefits Him except for whom He permits.”
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has stated that besides Allah, the creatures among angels and humans who are called upon do not possess even an atom of ownership in Allah’s dominion. There is no partner in Allah’s dominion. To Allah alone belongs the kingdom and praise, and He is capable of everything. Just as kings have assistants and helpers, Allah has no assistant. Moreover, intercession before Allah will only be accepted for those whom Allah approves of interceding. Allah has negated all kinds of polytheism through this. The explanation is as follows: whoever the polytheists call upon besides Allah is either an owner or not an owner. If they are not an owner, then they are either a partner or not a partner. If they are not a partner, then they are either an assistant or a petitioner. The first three categories—ownership, partnership, and assistance—are impossible. The fourth category, intercession, can only occur with Allah’s permission.
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ﴾
“Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?”
He also said:
﴿وَكَمْ مِنْ مَلَكٍ فِى السَّمَاوَاتِ لَا تُغْنِى شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَرْضَى﴾
“There are many angels in the heavens whose intercession will not benefit except after Allah permits whom He wills and is pleased with.”
At another place He said:
﴿أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ شُفَعَاءَ قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ﴾ ﴿قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
“Have they taken intercessors besides Allah? Say, ‘Even if they do not possess any power or understanding?’ All intercession belongs to Allah alone, to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.”
He also said:
﴿اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ﴾
“Indeed, it is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days, then He established Himself above the Throne. There is no intercessor except after His permission. Will you not then take heed?”
Also He said:
﴿وَأَنْذِرْ بِهِ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْ يُحْشَرُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ﴾
“O Prophet! Warn those who fear being gathered before their Lord through this Quran. For them, there is no intercessor or mediator besides Allah. Perhaps they will fear.”
Also He said:
﴿مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا عِبَادًا لِي مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَكِنْ كُونُوا رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ﴾ ﴿وَلَا يَأْمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَّخِذُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَابًا أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
“It is not possible for any human being that Allah grants him the Book, wisdom, and prophethood, then he says to the people, ‘Be my servants instead of Allah’s.’ Rather, he will say, ‘Be servants of the Lord,’ because you teach this Book and also recite it yourselves. And he will not command you to take angels and prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelieve while you have become Muslims?”
So when those who make angels and prophets their lords besides Allah are declared disbelievers, then what will be the condition of those people who have made inferior elders and others their lords instead of prophets and angels? The explanation is that if a servant desires something that only Allah Almighty is capable of, then such matters can only be sought from Allah Almighty. For example, seeking healing for sick humans or animals, repayment of an unspecified debt, well-being of one’s family, deliverance from the trials of this world and the Hereafter, victory over enemies, guidance of the heart, forgiveness of sins, entry into Paradise, freedom from Hell, acquisition of knowledge and teaching of the Holy Quran, reformation of the heart, good character, purification of the self, etc. It cannot be said to any king, prophet, or sheikh, whether alive or dead, “Forgive my sins,” “Grant me victory over my enemies,” “Heal my patient,” “Grant me well-being,” or “Give health to my family or my animals,” and so on. Whoever asks any creature for any of these things is associating partners with his Lord, just like the polytheist who worships angels, noble prophets, and those idols made in the forms of angels and noble prophets, and just like the Christians who call upon our master Jesus, peace be upon him, and his mother.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ أَأَنْتَ قُلْتَ لِلنَّاسِ اتَّخِذُونِي وَأُمِّيَ إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ﴾
“When Allah will say: O Jesus! Did you say to the people, ‘Take me and my mother as two gods besides Allah’?”
He also said:
﴿اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾
“They have taken their scholars and monks and Jesus, son of Mary, as lords besides Allah, while they were commanded to worship only one God. There is no god but He. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.”
Now, as for those things over which servants have power, sometimes such things can be asked from servants. Asking from creation is sometimes permissible and sometimes forbidden.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانْصَبْ﴾ ﴿وَإِلَى رَبِّكَ فَارْغَبْ﴾
“So when you are free, devote yourself to hard work and turn your attention to your Lord alone.”
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) saying that when you ask, ask from Allah, and when you seek help, seek help only from Allah.
