Allah the Almighty said:

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases.” (4:48, 116)

Prophet Ibrahim (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

“And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” (14:35)

It is narrated in the Hadeeth that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “What I fear most for you is a form of Shirk.” When asked about it, he said, “Ar-Riya (showing off).”

Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Whoever dies while ascribing partners to Allah enters the Hell-fire.” (Al-Bukhari)

Muslim reports from Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “Whoever meets Allah (on the Day of Judgment) not having associated anyone with Him (in worship), shall enter Paradise; and whoever meets Him having committed Shirk in any way will enter the Hell-fire.”

Shaykh Abdurrahman Al-Qasim said: This is the chapter is about the obligation to fear polytheism. After the author mentioned Tawheed, its virtues and how to truly fulfill it, it is appropriate to mention its opposite, Shirk, to warn the believer and so that he fears for himself. Hudhaifah said, “People used to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about good and I used to ask him about evil fearing that I may fall into it.” Furthermore, the Prophet ﷺ used to say the following supplication frequently: Oh turner of hearts, make my heart firm on your religion…Indeed the hearts of mankind are between two fingers of the fingers of the Most Merciful and he turns them how he wills, if he willed he could make them established on his religion and if willed he could lead them astray.

Shaykh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaimeen said: Man will often think he has attained and fulfilled Tawheed fully but in reality he has not. Some of the pious predecessors said, I never have struggled against myself like the struggling against myself to achieve sincerity.

Shaykh Salih Abdulazeez Muhammad Aal Ash-Shaykh said: Everyone who truly fulfills Tawheed must fear Shirk. Shirk is associating partners with Allah in any kind of worship. This Shirk could be major or minor or even hidden. Fearing Shirk has many benefits such as: if one knows what it is in its many forms he could avoid falling into it, if one is knowledgeable of Tawheed and its forms he would fear in his heart shirk, the heart of the one who fears shirk is always staying in obedience of Allah hoping for his pleasure.

Shaykh Sulaiman Abdullah said: Associating partners with Allah is the greatest of all sins and because of that there are sever consequences for it in this life and the next such as the permissibility of the blood of its people and their money, and the lack or forgiveness except if one repents. So the believer should fear this and be cautious and know the reasons it happens and its types so that he may not fall into it. Perhaps evil will come to a person who only knows good and because he doesn’t know evil he will either fall into it or not reject it like those who do know evil. This is why Umar Al-Khatab said, “Islam will slowly fall apart when people are raised up in it who do not know ignorance (jahiliyah).” Shaykh Islam also said, “It is like Umar said, for indeed complete Islam is condoning the good and forbidding the evil. This is most complete in struggling in Allah’s path. As for he who grew up in good and doesn’t know other than it, for more often than not he will not know the harms of evil. The companions were the greatest in faith and struggling more so than anyone after them and that is because of their complete knowledge of good and evil and their complete love for good and hatred towards evil after they knew the beauty of faith and good works and the ugliness of disbelief and sin.” “Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases.” This verse shows us that the greatest of all sins is associating partners with Allah because Allah informed us that he does not forgive it except by repentance and other than that is under the will of Allah; if he willed he could forgive and if he willed he could punish. Man should be in extreme fear of this sin after knowing how Allah is concerning it. In reality, shirk is the epitome of ugliness and the epitome of transgression because it makes similarities between the creator and the creation in matters that are particular to that of Allah such as having dominion over harm and benefit or giving and preventing. They make similarities between the poor and unable with the Ever Rich and the Able. These are some of the reasons Allah informed us that he does not forgive associating partners with him even though he is the Most Merciful.

Shaykh Muhammad Al-Uthaimeen said: In the verse “And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” the Arabic word used for keep me away means place me on one side and the idols on the other. This carries more meaning than for example prevent me. Here we see that Ibraheem, may peace be upon him, was afraid of associating partners with Allah and he himself was the confidant of Allah and the leader of monotheism so what about us?! Do not ever feel safe from associating partners with Allah and do not ever feel safe from hypocrisy because the only one who feels safe from hypocrisy is a hypocrite and no one fears hypocrisy except for a believer. Ibn Abi Mulaikah said, “I met thirty of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ and every single one of them was afraid of falling into hypocrisy.” (Bukhari) Also, Umar Al-Khatab said to Hudhaifah Al-Yaman, who was told by the Prophet ﷺ the names of the hypocrites, “I ask you by Allah, did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mention my name with the names of the hypocrites?” Hudhaifah, responded, “No, and I will not answer this question to anyone after you.” This is the leader of the believers, Umar Al-Khatab, may Allah be pleased with him, who was given glad tidings by the Prophet ﷺ that he would go to Paradise!

Shaykh Abdurrahman Al-Qasim said: “And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” This is the supplication of Ibraheem that broke the idols with his own hands!

Shaykh Sulaiman Abdullah said: In explanation of the Hadeeth, “What I fear most for you is a form of Shirk.” When asked about it, he said, “Ar-Riya (showing off).” This is from the mercy of the Prophet ﷺ towards his people. This is from his sympathy, compassion and vigilance that he fears for them. Without a doubt there is no good except that he pointed us in that direction and commanded us with it and there is no evil except that he informed us and warned us of it.

Shaykh Salih Aal Ash-Shaykh said: People are often unaware of Shirk and Satan is eager that the people of Tawheed fall in the minor shirk by showing off in acts of the tongue, limbs and heart. When they fall into it Satan rejoices in a way unlike the way he rejoices when people commit other sins.

Shaykh Abdurrahman Al-Qasim said: Shirk is of two categories, minor and major. The major category is when one treats others than Allah the same way as he treats Allah in matters that are especially for Allah like love. Its ruling is that he who does it is never forgiven except if he repents otherwise if he dies on it he is in the Hell Fire for eternity. The minor category is what has been found in the scriptures to be called Shirk but does not reach limit of the major shirk. Its ruling is that it is not forgiven except by repentance and it negates the act that it was carried out in and the one who does it is still considered a Muslim and he will not be in the Hell Fire for eternity.

Shaykh Muhammad Al-Uthaimeen said: Ar-Riya is when one worships Allah in order for other people to see him who in turn praise him for his righteousness. It is not meant that he worships people because this would be major Shirk. Also, falling under this category is when people worship Allah so others will hear them and in turn praise him for his righteousness. In explanation of the Hadeeth, narrated by Ibn Mas’ud that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Whoever dies while ascribing partners to Allah enters the Hell-fire.” i.e. he takes with Allah an equal and called upon him with worship. This comprises fasting, praying and other acts of worship. If one fasts or prays then he has called upon Allah and the same is true if he asks Allah to forgive him and protect him from the Hell Fire. He who does this, the like of it, or any act of worship to other than Allah has committed an act of disbelief that removes him from the religion. As for calling upon someone and asking them for something, not all of it is Shirk. If someone was asked for something and he was able to carry it out then that would not be Shirk. For example, “Hey can you pour me some water” for the person that is able to do so. However, as for asking someone for something and he is not able to perform it then this is disbelief that removes one from the religion. For example, if one asks a person to make it rain believing he is able to do so. Also, believing that some dead guy buried in a grave can benefit you or harm you in any way or help the infertile woman become pregnant, this is major disbelief which removes one from the religion. Resolve upon this is more serious then drinking alcohol, committing fornication or homosexuality because it is resolve upon disbelief.

Ibn Al-Qayyim said in a line of poetry: Beware of associating partners with Allah for indeed it is a sin which is not forgiven, it is to take an equal with the Most Merciful, no matter it be a rock or a person, calling upon him/it or longing and fearing or loving in a way that is only for Allah.

Qurtubi said: in explanation of the Hadeeth in Muslim on the authority of Jabir that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: “Whoever meets Allah (on the Day of Judgment) not having associated anyone with Him (in worship), shall enter Paradise; and whoever meets Him having committed Shirk in any way will enter the Hell-fire.” i.e. whoever does not take a partner with Allah in matters of divinity or creation or worship. It is known from the Islamic Law and there is a consensus from the people of Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition) that whoever dies upon this that he for sure will enter Paradise even if he happens to be punished before that. Furthermore, whoever dies upon shirk will never enter Paradise and will attain no mercy from Allah and he will be in the Hell Fire eternally in relentless, continuous punishment. This is known in the religion by necessity and the Muslims have all agreed.

An-Nawwawi said: As for the entering of the Polytheist Hell Fire, it is a general statement. He will enter it and abide there in for eternity. There is no difference between the people of the book, whether he is a Jew or a Christian, and the worshippers of idols and the rest of disbelief in all its forms. As for the entering of other than the Polytheist Paradise, they are guaranteed it as long as they have not committed major sins. If they committed major sins and died upon that then they are under the will of Allah. If he wills he will forgive them and they will enter Paradise right away otherwise they will be punished in Hell and then later allowed admittance to Paradise.

Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan said: Some virtues of Tawheed and monotheism are mentioned in this chapter like the one who dies upon it enters Paradise. This is the promise of Allah and he keeps his promises. Even if this person has many sins as long as he did not associate partners with Allah, Allah could forgive him and enter him into Paradise without any punishment and he may punish him first and then after that allow him admittance to Paradise. The monotheist will always go to Paradise, either right away or in the end. There is also a warning in this chapter and we must be cautious from a bad ending. Paradise and Hell are very close from a person. The only thing separating us from them is death. Nobody knows when they will die, maybe after a few minutes, months, years, we don’t know. However, after death you either go to Paradise or Hell. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Paradise is closer to one of you then your sandal strap and so is Hell.” A person must be afraid from Shirk and fear that he might meet Allah while he is associating partners with him because that would mean he would abide in Hell for eternity, we seek refuge in Allah. This chapter clarifies the meaning of “la ilaha ill Allah” there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allah. It affirms Tawheed and negates shirk.

We ask Allah to bless us and give us beneficial knowledge and good deeds. We ask Allah to provide us with firmness on his religion and to show us the truth and give us the strength to follow it. We ask Allah to show us what is wrong and give us the strength to stay away from it, and that we do not confuse it with the truth so that we end up misguided. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad.

Tags: 5th Semester, Books, Knowledge, Scholars