Source: Excerpt from the book “Āʾīnah Tawḥīd wa Sunnat: Jawāb Shirk Kyā Hai maʿa Ḥaqīqat-e-Bidʿat” by Shaykh Abū Ḥudhayfah Muḥammad Jāwīd Salafī
"One must keep the following point in mind: Allah Almighty’s personal name is Allah, all other names are His attributes. It is shirk to call any creation ‘Allah’. If someone calls any creation ‘Allah’, it is considered shirk."
(Shirk Kya Hai, p. 95)
Answer:
If calling a creation Allah constitutes shirk, then even the polytheists of Makkah never committed such shirk, for they never referred to their idols as Allah. Yet they were declared as mushrikīn (polytheists) because they said:
"These are our intercessors with Allah."
Refer to Sūrat Yūnus for confirmation.
"The Divine Essence of Allah is necessarily existent, meaning He is present everywhere with His knowledge and power. If such belief is held for any creation, it is shirk."
(ibid, p. 95)
Answer:
We no longer need to issue any fatwa. Qādrī Sahib has issued it himself — that if one believes any creation is present everywhere, it is shirk. Is this not exactly the Barelvi belief regarding the Prophet ﷺ—that he is present everywhere, despite being a creation?
“The beloved’s feet are entangled in long locks... Now the hunter is caught in his own trap.”
"Only Allah Almighty is inherently self-existent; He has always existed and will always exist. Holding such a belief about any creation is shirk."
Answer:
Qādrī Sahib has given such a tailored definition of shirk that conveniently excludes their own fabricated beliefs. In reality, shirk is much broader in scope. For example:
These are all exclusive attributes of Allah. Only Allah deserves to be recognized as the ultimate authority. We must:
Whoever ascribes any of these exclusive rights of Allah to another is setting up a rival to Allah. And whoever claims any of these rights for themselves or demands them from others, they are positioning themselves as equals to Allah.
This is shirk, even if they do not explicitly claim divinity.
"The Prophet ﷺ offered funeral prayer over the martyrs of Uḥud after eight years as if bidding farewell to the living and the dead. Then he ascended the pulpit and said: ‘I am your forerunner and a witness over you. Our meeting place is the Ḥawḍ (Pond) of Kawthar, and I can see it right now. I do not fear that you will fall into shirk after me, but I fear that you will fall into the love of the world.’"
(Shirk Kya Hai, p. 96)
First Response:
This statement is addressed specifically to the Companions, not the entire Ummah. The Prophet ﷺ assured them, "You will not commit shirk after me," because he had instilled in them the firm creed of tawḥīd.
This is supported by the statement of Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله:
وَأَنَّ أَصْحَابَهُ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بَعْدَهُ فَكَانَ كَذَلِكَ
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, 6/614)
“His Companions did not commit shirk after him — and so it was.”
Thus, this ḥadīth addresses the Companions alone, not the general Ummah. Qādrī Sahib inserting "the Ummah" is a distortion of the text — a serious intellectual dishonesty.
Second Response:
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
فَوَاللهِ لَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ، وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ تُبْسَطَ عَلَيْكُمُ الدُّنْيَا
“I do not fear poverty for you, but I fear that the world will be opened up to you.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jihād, ḥadīth: 3158]
This doesn't mean no Muslim will ever be poor. So similarly, the statement “I do not fear shirk upon you” does not mean shirk is impossible for the entire Ummah.
Third Response:
Even this ḥadīth contradicts Barelvi practices:
Fourth Response:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
“Islam is to worship Allah alone and not associate any partners with Him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Faith, ḥadīth: 9]
Hence, avoiding shirk is essential for being a Muslim.
① Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه narrates:
Whoever recites لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ... 10 times after Fajr, will be protected that day from all sins except shirk.
[al-Tirmidhī, Book of Duʿāʾs, ḥadīth: 3574]
This means even a practicing Muslim can fall into shirk.
② Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه narrates:
Whoever dies without committing shirk, Allah will forgive him.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Faith, ḥadīth: 173]
This implies the possibility of shirk among some from the Ummah.
③ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrates:
If 40 people pray janāzah over a Muslim who did not commit shirk, Allah accepts their intercession.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Funerals, ḥadīth: 948]
Indicating that some funeral attendees may have committed shirk.
④ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports:
Every prophet had a supplication accepted, and I’ve reserved mine as intercession for my Ummah — for those who do not associate partners with Allah.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Faith, ḥadīth: 199]
⑤ Thawbān رضي الله عنه reports:
“The Hour will not come until tribes of my Ummah join the idolaters and begin worshipping idols (awthān).”
[Abū Dāwūd, Book of Tribulations, ḥadīth: 4262]
"Awthān" includes anything besides Allah that is worshipped. So idol worship will reappear in the Ummah.
⑥ The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Jibrīl came to me and said: Give your Ummah the good news: whoever dies without committing shirk will enter Paradise.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Softening Hearts, ḥadīth: 6443]
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ
“And most of them do not believe in Allah except while associating others with Him.”
[Sūrat Yūsuf 12:106]
وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
“Do not be among the polytheists.”
[Sūrat al-Rūm 30:31]
These verses are addressed to believers, clearly showing the possibility of shirk occurring within the Ummah.
The ḥadīth cited by Qādrī Sahib specifically addresses the Companions, not the entire Ummah. The Prophet ﷺ had firm conviction in their steadfastness on tawḥīd.
However, other authentic ḥadīths clearly affirm that shirk can and will occur in the Ummah.
May Allah protect all Muslims from shirk. Āmīn.
❝Forget the next tale… extinguish the flame of prejudice.❞
✦ A Review of Barelvi Arguments Regarding the Definition of Shirk
❶ Claim by Ḥafīẓ al-Raḥmān Barelvi Qādrī:
"One must keep the following point in mind: Allah Almighty’s personal name is Allah, all other names are His attributes. It is shirk to call any creation ‘Allah’. If someone calls any creation ‘Allah’, it is considered shirk."
(Shirk Kya Hai, p. 95)
Answer:
If calling a creation Allah constitutes shirk, then even the polytheists of Makkah never committed such shirk, for they never referred to their idols as Allah. Yet they were declared as mushrikīn (polytheists) because they said:
"These are our intercessors with Allah."
Refer to Sūrat Yūnus for confirmation.
❷ Qādrī Sahib writes:
"The Divine Essence of Allah is necessarily existent, meaning He is present everywhere with His knowledge and power. If such belief is held for any creation, it is shirk."
(ibid, p. 95)
Answer:
We no longer need to issue any fatwa. Qādrī Sahib has issued it himself — that if one believes any creation is present everywhere, it is shirk. Is this not exactly the Barelvi belief regarding the Prophet ﷺ—that he is present everywhere, despite being a creation?
“The beloved’s feet are entangled in long locks... Now the hunter is caught in his own trap.”
❸ Qādrī Sahib writes:
"Only Allah Almighty is inherently self-existent; He has always existed and will always exist. Holding such a belief about any creation is shirk."
Answer:
Qādrī Sahib has given such a tailored definition of shirk that conveniently excludes their own fabricated beliefs. In reality, shirk is much broader in scope. For example:
- Rulership over causes
- Granting of needs and relief
- Hearing all supplications
- Knowledge of the unseen and manifest
These are all exclusive attributes of Allah. Only Allah deserves to be recognized as the ultimate authority. We must:
- Bow only to Him in servitude
- Call only upon Him in need
- Trust only in Him
- Set our hopes on Him
- Fear Him alone in public and private
- Recognize only Allah’s right to legislate the lawful and unlawful, assign rights and responsibilities, and define permissible uses of strength and resources
Whoever ascribes any of these exclusive rights of Allah to another is setting up a rival to Allah. And whoever claims any of these rights for themselves or demands them from others, they are positioning themselves as equals to Allah.
This is shirk, even if they do not explicitly claim divinity.
❹ Qādrī Sahib quotes a ḥadīth from Bukhārī and Muslim:
"The Prophet ﷺ offered funeral prayer over the martyrs of Uḥud after eight years as if bidding farewell to the living and the dead. Then he ascended the pulpit and said: ‘I am your forerunner and a witness over you. Our meeting place is the Ḥawḍ (Pond) of Kawthar, and I can see it right now. I do not fear that you will fall into shirk after me, but I fear that you will fall into the love of the world.’"
(Shirk Kya Hai, p. 96)
First Response:
This statement is addressed specifically to the Companions, not the entire Ummah. The Prophet ﷺ assured them, "You will not commit shirk after me," because he had instilled in them the firm creed of tawḥīd.
This is supported by the statement of Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله:
وَأَنَّ أَصْحَابَهُ لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بَعْدَهُ فَكَانَ كَذَلِكَ
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, 6/614)
“His Companions did not commit shirk after him — and so it was.”
Thus, this ḥadīth addresses the Companions alone, not the general Ummah. Qādrī Sahib inserting "the Ummah" is a distortion of the text — a serious intellectual dishonesty.
Second Response:
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
فَوَاللهِ لَا الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ، وَلَكِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ تُبْسَطَ عَلَيْكُمُ الدُّنْيَا
“I do not fear poverty for you, but I fear that the world will be opened up to you.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jihād, ḥadīth: 3158]
This doesn't mean no Muslim will ever be poor. So similarly, the statement “I do not fear shirk upon you” does not mean shirk is impossible for the entire Ummah.
Third Response:
Even this ḥadīth contradicts Barelvi practices:
- It mentions ghā'ibānāh janāzah (absentee funeral prayer) for the Uḥud martyrs after 8 years, whereas the Barelvis oppose this practice.
- It refers to the Prophet's passing away, whereas Barelvis insist that the Prophet ﷺ is ever-living and present (ḥāḍir nāẓir). If he never passed away, then "after me" becomes meaningless.
Fourth Response:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrates:
“Islam is to worship Allah alone and not associate any partners with Him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Faith, ḥadīth: 9]
Hence, avoiding shirk is essential for being a Muslim.
✦ Additional Ḥadīths Proving Possibility of Shirk in the Ummah
① Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه narrates:
Whoever recites لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ... 10 times after Fajr, will be protected that day from all sins except shirk.
[al-Tirmidhī, Book of Duʿāʾs, ḥadīth: 3574]
This means even a practicing Muslim can fall into shirk.
② Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه narrates:
Whoever dies without committing shirk, Allah will forgive him.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Faith, ḥadīth: 173]
This implies the possibility of shirk among some from the Ummah.
③ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrates:
If 40 people pray janāzah over a Muslim who did not commit shirk, Allah accepts their intercession.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Funerals, ḥadīth: 948]
Indicating that some funeral attendees may have committed shirk.
④ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports:
Every prophet had a supplication accepted, and I’ve reserved mine as intercession for my Ummah — for those who do not associate partners with Allah.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Faith, ḥadīth: 199]
⑤ Thawbān رضي الله عنه reports:
“The Hour will not come until tribes of my Ummah join the idolaters and begin worshipping idols (awthān).”
[Abū Dāwūd, Book of Tribulations, ḥadīth: 4262]
"Awthān" includes anything besides Allah that is worshipped. So idol worship will reappear in the Ummah.
⑥ The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Jibrīl came to me and said: Give your Ummah the good news: whoever dies without committing shirk will enter Paradise.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Softening Hearts, ḥadīth: 6443]
✦ Quranic Proofs
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ
“And most of them do not believe in Allah except while associating others with Him.”
[Sūrat Yūsuf 12:106]
وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
“Do not be among the polytheists.”
[Sūrat al-Rūm 30:31]
These verses are addressed to believers, clearly showing the possibility of shirk occurring within the Ummah.
Conclusion:
The ḥadīth cited by Qādrī Sahib specifically addresses the Companions, not the entire Ummah. The Prophet ﷺ had firm conviction in their steadfastness on tawḥīd.
However, other authentic ḥadīths clearly affirm that shirk can and will occur in the Ummah.
May Allah protect all Muslims from shirk. Āmīn.
❝Forget the next tale… extinguish the flame of prejudice.❞
