To Call Upon Other Than Allah
1) To call upon other than Allah for a need, such as rain, etc, while believing that the one being addressed will answer the call is Shirk by agreement. For example: O Prophet! Send us rain!
This is the most important of all issues that the Muslims must be very clear about, for this is the very foundation of our religion.
The danger of this issue must also be made clear, that if one is ignorant in this issue, and calls upon other than Allah, then he has absolutely nothing to do with Islam.
1) Remember, that as a rule, there are aspects of this religion that are clear cut and well-established, whereby a person does not even need textual proof to believe in those aspects, and from them, worshipping Allah alone. Yet, the heretics and pagans will always bring arguments, as they did at the time of the Prophet SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa-sallam to cast doubt on that which is already established. Hence, they will bring arguments to suggest that making vows to idols is not Shirk, because making a vow itself is not worship. They can even argue that prostrating to someone other than Allah, or praying to him is not Shirk, because a Salah is not exactly an act of worship.
Here, a Muslim who has no knowledge, surely knows that idols are bad. No matter how corrupt a Muslim is, everyone knows that Islam is a monotheistic religion, which does not allow one to worship anyone besides Allah. Even a sinful Muslim knows that he should not prostrate to anyone besides Allah.
Yes, he might not be able to answer the counter-arguments, but he should still stick to the well-established facts about Islam. And hence, Allah’s censure of those in the Quran who leave the clear-cut Muhkam verses, and instead follow the ambiguous Mutashabihat, seeking thereby pure fitnah.
Meaning, if we have clear cut verses in the Quran, often repeated in nearly every Surah: Do not call upon anyone besides Allah; one seeking the truth knows that such verses are certainly clear-cut and open to no doubt. If one leaves these clear-cut verses and follows the twisted arguments of the pagans, he has surely followed the mutashabihat and therefore, led astray.
Please remember this principle,
Read MoreIntro to Tawassul
1) To call upon other than Allah for a need, such as rain, etc, while believing that the one being addressed will answer the call is Shirk by agreement. For example: O Prophet! Send us rain!
2) To call upon other than Allah for a need, such as rain, etc, while believing that only Allah will answer the call is Shirk, by agreement. For example: O Prophet! Send us rain!
3) To call upon other than Allah, asking them to intercede for us with Allah is also Shirk. For example: O Prophet! Intercede for us with Allah!
4) To call upon the Prophet, asking him to make dua for us is Shirk. For example: O Prophet! Ask Allah to grant us rain!
5) To call upon Allah alone, asking Him by His Prophet is a valid difference of opinion in Fiqh where none is censured. For example: O Allah! I ask you alone by Your noble Prophet!
Read MoreSome Manifestations of Kufr
Making fun of anything religious
“The Jews said: ‘Allah’s hand is tied up.’ Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) they utter.” (3:181) In this ayah they were almost ridiculing or mocking Allah.
When you make fun of any commandment of Allah, you are making fun of the One giving the commandment.
Making fun of Muslims is evil and bad (ayah perhaps they’re better than you). It is haram to crack jokes at other Muslims. To make fun of Islamic things is kufr. It is not a characteristic of the Muslims to do this.
In Tabuk some of the people said “we have never seen anyone more eager for booty, cowardly in battle.” One sahabah heard and said you have lied O enemies of Allah. He rushed forth to the Prophet (saw) to inform him of what they had said. Before he got there the Quran had already been revealed about them.
“If you ask them, they would say, ‘We were only mocking and kidding.’ Say, ‘Do you realize that you are mocking Allah, and His revelations, and His messenger? Do not apologize (give excuses). You have disbelieved after having believed. If we pardon some of you, we will punish others among you, as a consequence of their wickedness.” (At-Tawbah, 9:64 onwards)
Hating or Knowingly Rejecting Sunnah
This is NOT the same as finding something difficult to implement, but it is to actually hate a part of the Shari’ah. “Fighting is prescribed for you, even though you dislike it.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:216)
There is a difference between disobedience due to following desires (a sin) and another to outright reject something.
“No believing man or believing woman, if Allah and His messenger issue any command, has any choice regarding that command.” (Al-Ahzaab, 33:36)
“Do you then believe in a part of the Book and disbelieve in the other?” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 85)
“O you who believe! Enter into Islaam completely.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:208)
Believing that a person besides the Prophet (saw) has the right to be obeyed in all circumstances even if it means disobeying Allah.
‘Adi bin Hatim narrated that the Prophet (saw) said,“Oh ‘Adee, throw this idol off your neck” and I heard him recite from Soorat Baraa’ah ‘They have taken their priests and their monks for lords besides Allah.’ (At-Tawbah, 9:31)
He said, “They did not worship them, but if they made something halaal for them they considered it halaal, and if they made something haraam for them they considered it haraam.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi).
One example is homosexuality which is being made halal in Christianity and Judaism. The majority of people accept it. The Old Testament is stricter about this issue than the Quran.
Legislating by other than Allah’s law
Two aspects to differentiate between:
· Judging by other than Allah’s Law
· Believing that any guidance is better than or equivalent to the guidance that the Prophet (saw) came with (or even believing that it is a permissible form of guidance)
To believe the shari’ah is inadequate or backward is kufr.
Only Allah has the total right to legislate. Both Ruboobiyyah and Uloohiyyah belong to Allah.
“And in whatever thing you disagree, the judgment thereof is (in) Allah’s (hand); that is Allah, my Lord, on Him do I rely and to Him do I turn time after time.” (Ash-Shooraa, 42:10)
“Judgment belongs with Allah alone.” (Al-An’aam, 6:57)
“You do not worship besides Him but names which you have named, you and your fathers; Allah has not sent down any authority for them; judgment is only Allah’s; He has ruled that you shall not worship except Him. This is the perfect religion, but most people do not know.” (Yusuf, 12:40)
Law of Allah is a Complete Code of Life
“Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled, (without purpose)?” (Al-Qiyaamah, 75:36)
“Does He not know, Who created? And He is the Knower of the subtleties, the Aware.” (Al-Mulk, 67:14)
Secularizing or Compartmentalizing Islam – “Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest?” (2:85) This is a problem that never existed before modern times.
The laws of Allah transcend time and place.
Judging by other than Allah’s law
“We have sent down the Torah, containing guidance and light. Ruling in accordance with it were the Jewish prophets, as well as the rabbis and the monks, as dictated to them in Allah’s scripture, and as witnessed by them. Therefore, do not reverence human beings; you shall reverence Me instead. And do not trade away My revelations for a cheap price. Those who do not rule in accordance with Allah’s revelations are the disbelievers. And we decreed for them in it that: the life for the life, the eye for the eye, the nose for the nose, the ear for the ear, the tooth for the tooth, and an equivalent injury for any injury. If one forfeits what is due to him as a charity, it will atone for his sins. Those who do not rule in accordance with Allah’s revelations are the unjust. Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous. The people of the Gospel shall rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations therein. Those who do not rule in accordance with Allah’s revelations are the wicked.” (Al-Maa’idah, 5:44-47)
All laws divided into either Islaamic or Jaahiliy
“Is it then the judgment of Jaahiliyyah that they desire? And who is better than Allah to judge for a people who are sure?” (Al-Maa’idah, 5:50)
Considering Non-Muslims to be Muslims
Pereniallism is believing all religions are ok.
No religion ever came and said that all religions are ok. This is a new innovation becoming prevalent in our times. This contradicts what Allah (swt) says:
The only religion in the sight of Allah is Islam:
“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, then surely, Allah is Swift in calling to account.” (3:19)
“And whoever desires a religion other than Islaam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.” (Aali ‘Imraan, 3:85)
“To you is your religion, and to me is my religion.” (Al-Kaafiroon, 109:6)
“Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Al-Islaam as the religion for you.” (Al-Maai’dah, 5:3)
“Some of you are disbelievers and some of you are believers.”
(At-Taghaabun, 64:2)
One misunderstood verse
“Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (2:62)
This is responded to by the ayah,
“Indeed, they are disbelievers who say: Allaah is Christ the son of Mary… They do disbeleive who say: Allaah is one of three in a Trinity..” (Al-Maa’idah, 5:72-73)
Then Allah (swt) describes the true disbelievers as being those who make distinction between the Prophets.
“Surely, those who disbelieve in Allaah and His Messengers and seek to make a distinction between Allaah and His Messengers, and say, `We believe in some and disbelieve in others,’ and seek to take a way between; these are the real disbelievers and we have prepared for unbelievers a humiliating punishment.” (An-Nisaa’, 4:150-151)
Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikun will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures. (98:6)
Regarding the ayah quoted earlier, 2:62 – those who believe and the Christians *of their times*, and the Jews of their times. The other meaning is those who believe – by converting to Islam.
“I swear by Him in Whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, there is none from among the Jews and the Christians (as of my prophethood) who hears about me and then dies without believing in the message with which I have been sent, but that he will be among the dwellers of the Fire.” (Muslim)
We believe in religious exclusivity, and this concept is not exclusive to Muslims. The average person from other religions believe the same thing. Just like Christians say you must believe Jesus otherwise you will not be saved.
To claim other religions are ok, then it is like saying there was no reason for the Prophet (saw) to be sent – since the other religions are rightly guided. Our belief in religious exclusivity does not affect the way in which we interact with those from other faiths.
“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the Zalimun (wrong-doers those who disobey Allah). (58:8-9)
Kufr has many manifestations, anything going against the fundamentals of Islam is a manifestation of kufr.
Read MoreNifaq
Nifaq comes from the root nafiqaa, which is an escape hole that the jerboa (desert animal) builds. It is as if the person secretly escaped from Islam.
Major nifaq is for a person to pretend to be a Muslim while he is not
“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them.” (4:145)
Minor nifaq is the acts which typically hypocrites do. ‘To perform a permissible act while concealing its opposite.’
- Break one’s trust
- Lie
- Break a promise
- Use foul language in an argument
- Show off good deeds
- Not caring about striving in Allah’s path
- Being two-faced
Kufr
Kufr means to cover up something to the extent that is is destroyed. A farmer is called a kaafir for covering up the land. It can also mean to cover up the fitrah.
In Islam: Absence of emaan from a person, even if his heart believes.
Kufr can be major or minor.
Major kufr is of 5 types:
1. Kufr of denial
“And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie against God or rejects the Truth when it reaches him? Is there not a home in Hell for those who reject Faith?” (Al-‘Ankaboot, 29:68)
Examples of this include to deny Allah, to deny the Prophet (saw), or to deny the Day of Judgment.
2. Kufr of arrogance
They do not necessarily deny the truth, but refuse to submit to it.
“Not so Iblees; he refused and was haughty. He was of those who disbelieve.” (2:34)
Abu Talib, Firawn, and Heraclius are all examples. In modern times, many Orientalists may also fall into this category.
3. Kufr of doubt.
This is for someone who claims that he is not sure. When you do not have certain faith of these fundamentals, then you have kufr.
“And I do not think the hour will come, and even if I am returned to my Lord I will most certainly find a returning place better than this. His companion said to him while disputing with him: Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then He made you a perfect man?” (Al-Kahf, 18:36-37)
The person who had doubt called a kaafir in the Quran.
4. Kufr of turning away.
Most of mankind now simply don’t care, they don’t research, they don’t think about the purpose of life or their creation. They have capability to research but don’t.
“And who does more wrong than one to whom are recited the Signs of his Lord, and who then turns away therefrom? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) retribution.” (As-Sajdah, 32:22)
There is a dual responsibility, we must spread islam, but they should also be trying to answer these questions.
5. Kufr of hypocrisy (nifaq).
Person outwardly claims to be Muslim but they know in their heart they are lying. This happens when Islam is in power. There were no munafiqeen in Mecca.
In this world though we are obligated to treat them as Muslims.
Minor Kufr:
Any act that the Shari’ah has called kufr, but does not take one outside the fold of Islam. One meaning of kufr is extreme ingratitude. This is why kufr and shukr are often paired together.
- Denying others their lineage
- Denying one’s father
- Wailing over dead people
One example is the hadith, that “cursing a Muslim is a sin, and fighting him is kufr.” And then in the Quran it says, “And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable” (49:9). So here even though they have committed kufr, they are still Muslim.
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