Publishing Books Containing Shirk and the Correct Understanding of Awliyāʾ Allāh

Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ al-Ḥadīth

◈ Question:​

What is the ruling on those groups that publish books containing incidents of disbelief (kufriyyah) and shirk? Does this act itself constitute shirk, since people of deviant beliefs gain support from such books (e.g., Karāmāt Ahl al-Ḥadīth, pp. 90–91, and many others)?

◈ Answer:​

Al-ḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!


Before declaring any book or passage as shirk or kufr, the actual texts should be carefully quoted, because sometimes a reader misunderstands a statement as shirk/kufr, while in reality it may not be so.

❀ Misuse of Qur’an and Hadith by People of Shirk​

Those who hold deviant beliefs often misuse even Qur’anic verses and authentic hadith to justify their false ideologies. For example:

• Qur’an:
  
  • ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللَّـهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾ (al-Anfāl: 64)
  • ﴿وَمَا نَقَمُوا إِلَّا أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ﴾ (al-Tawbah: 74)
  • ﴿فَسَيَرَى اللَّـهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ﴾ (al-Tawbah: 105)
  • ﴿النَّبِيُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ﴾ (al-Aḥzāb: 6)
  • ﴿وَفِيكُمْ رَسُولُهُ﴾ (Āl ʿImrān: 101)
  • ﴿وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَّلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جَاءُوكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّـهَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ﴾ (al-Nisāʾ: 64)
  • ﴿لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا﴾ (Maryam: 19)
• Hadith:
  
  • “Indeed, I am only a distributor, while Allah is the One Who gives.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
  • “Whoever shows enmity to a friend (walī) of Mine, I have declared war against him…” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Riqāq)

The people of shirk distort the meanings of such texts to fit their innovations, though their real meanings are clear and free from shirk.

❀ Correct Understanding of the Hadith on Awliyāʾ Allāh​

• When a servant fulfills the obligations and increases in voluntary acts, he becomes beloved to Allah.
• Allah then grants him special protection and guidance.
• His hearing, sight, hands, and feet are guided toward what pleases Allah.
• His supplications are accepted, and he is granted divine protection.

This does not mean that the walī himself gains divine powers — rather, it means Allah protects, guides, and responds to him.

❀ True Definition of a Walī of Allah​

A true walī is not defined by:

• Inherited status,
• Outward appearance,
• Shrine leadership (gaddī nasheen),
• Or eccentric/mad behavior.

Rather, a walī of Allah is one who:
① Upholds the obligatory duties (farāʾiḍ).
② Increases in voluntary acts (nawāfil).
③ Remains obedient to Allah in all aspects of life.

❀ Sequence of Duties​

• Farāʾiḍ (obligations) come first.
• Nawāfil (voluntary acts) build closeness to Allah only when obligations are already fulfilled.
• Without fulfilling obligations, voluntary acts carry no value.
• Seeking Allah’s closeness without fulfilling obligations is an illusion.

Conclusion:

• Publishing books that contain shirk or kufr needs careful examination; not every misunderstood phrase amounts to shirk.
• People of deviance misuse Qur’an and hadith to support their false beliefs, but the true meanings remain clear.
• Awliyāʾ Allāh are not defined by fabricated criteria but by strict adherence to obligations, extra voluntary acts, and obedience to Allah.
• A Muslim must guard against shirk-based publications and instead shape life purely upon Qur’an and Sunnah.