Ḥadīth of Dhāt Anwāṭ and the Shirk & Innovations Prevalent in Our Society
Compiled by: Tauheed.com
◈ Foundation of Islam – Tawḥīd
Islam is founded upon Tawḥīd — worshipping Allāh alone, seeking help from Him alone, relying on Him alone, and humbling oneself before Him alone.
Sadly, today a large portion of the Muslim Ummah has fallen into practices that the Prophet ﷺ declared as shirk or pathways leading to shirk. The Ḥadīth of Dhāt Anwāṭ is a guiding light in this regard, warning us that hoping in, seeking help from, or seeking blessings from other than Allāh resembles the misguidance of previous nations.
Ḥadīth of Dhāt Anwāṭ
عَنْ أَبِي وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ:
خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى حُنَيْنٍ وَنَحْنُ حُدَثَاءُ عَهْدٍ بِكُفْرٍ، وَلِلْمُشْرِكِينَ سِدْرَةٌ يَعْكُفُونَ عِنْدَهَا، وَيُنِيطُونَ بِهَا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ، يُقَالُ لَهَا: ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ، فَمَرَرْنَا بِسِدْرَةٍ فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، اجْعَلْ لَنَا ذَاتَ أَنْوَاطٍ، كَمَا لَهُمْ ذَاتُ أَنْوَاطٍ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ! إِنَّهَا السُّنَنُ! قُلْتُمْ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، كَمَا قَالَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ لِمُوسَى: اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ، قَالَ: إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ، لَتَرْكَبُنَّ سَنَنَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ.
Narration:
Abū Wāqid al-Laythī رضي الله عنه said:
We went out with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ to Ḥunayn when we were newly converted from disbelief. The polytheists had a lote tree around which they used to devote themselves and upon which they would hang their weapons. It was called Dhāt Anwāṭ.
We passed by a lote tree and said: “O Messenger of Allāh, make for us a Dhāt Anwāṭ as they have a Dhāt Anwāṭ!”
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ replied:
“Allāhu Akbar! These are the ways (of previous nations)! By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you have said what Banū Isrāʾīl said to Mūsā: ‘Make for us a god as they have gods.’ Mūsā said: ‘Indeed, you are an ignorant people.’ Surely you will follow the ways of those who came before you.”
References:- Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Fitan, 2180
- Sunan al-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā: 8612
- Musnad Aḥmad: 21309
- Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 26689
Status of Ḥadīth: Ḥasan Ṣaḥīḥ (as stated by Imām al-Tirmidhī)
Modern-Day "Dhāt Anwāṭ" – Examples of Shirk & Bidʿah
Graves, Shrines, and Dargāhs- Seeking blessings from graves, kissing them, spreading sheets, or believing the dust, oil, or water connected to them gives shifāʾ or barakah.
- Asking needs from saints — this is shirk in duʿāʾ.
“And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will respond to you.” (Ghāfir: 60) “Duʿāʾ is worship.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2969 – Ṣaḥīḥ) Seeking Help from Dead Saints & Belief in Miracles- Believing awliyāʾ know the unseen, hear our pleas, or act as ḥājāt-rawā (fulfillers of needs) is against Qurʾān & Sunnah.
“Whoever calls upon another deity besides Allāh, for which he has no proof…” (Al-Muʾminūn: 117) Tabarruk (Sacred Objects) & False Means- Flags, amulets, threads, water, or sticks associated with saints or shrines are non-Sharʿī forms of seeking blessing.
“Actions are but by intentions.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī) Mīlād, ʿUrs, Giyārwīn, Chālīswan- Such rituals have no basis in Qurʾān or Sunnah, nor were they practiced by the Ṣaḥābah or Tābiʿīn.
“Every innovation is misguidance.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Conclusion
All these acts are modern versions of Dhāt Anwāṭ, representing shirk and bidʿah.
When the Prophet ﷺ rebuked a simple request by the Companions for Dhāt Anwāṭ, how severe then is the case of today’s grave-worshippers, shrine-worshippers, and amulet-wearers?
🛡 Call to Pure Tawḥīd
✔ Call only upon Allāh — not the dead, not creation.
✔ Use only means established by Sharīʿah.
✔ Follow only the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ in worship.
✔ Shun every bidʿah — for that is the path of salvation.
Masnūn Duʿāʾ for Protection from Shirk
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ
Translation:
“O Allāh! I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating anything with You, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly.”
Musnad Aḥmad (4/403) – Ṣaḥīḥ
