Category: Shirk

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 49
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

The Types of Taaghoot

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:   

والطواغيتُ كثيرونَ ورؤوسُهُمْ خمَسةٌ: إبليسُ لعنَهُ اللهُ، ومَنْ عُبِدَ وهو راض 

The taaghoots are many, and their heads are five:  Iblees – may Allaah’s curse be upon him. Whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that.⁷⁹

[79]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

His saying: “And the taaghoots are many and the heads of them are five.” 

The taaghoots upon whom this definition applies are: everyone who is worshipped or followed or obeyed, and they are many but their heads are five – meaning their major ones are five.

Firstly, Iblees, may Allaah’s curse be upon him – meaning: may Allaah expel him and distance him away from His Mercy on account of the fact that he refused to prostrate to Aadam and he disobeyed Allaah, the Perfect and Most High and he was proud and haughty. And He said:

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

And he (Iblees) said: I am better than him (Aadam), You created me from fire and You created him from clay.[38:76]

So therefore he disobeyed the command of Allaah and was haughty; therefore Allaah cursed him and He repelled him and distanced him. And he is called Iblees, it is said, because he ablasa (despaired) of Mercy – meaning he despaired of Mercy. So the mublis is one who despairs of something.

So Iblees, may Allaah’s curse be upon him, is the head of the taaghoots because he is the one who commands with worship of other than Allaah and he is the one who commands with following other than the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and he is the one who commands obedience to other than Allaah by declaring things to be permissible or forbidden.

So Iblees is the source of evil and he is the head of the taaghoots.

The second category (of taaghoots) is:

The one who is worshipped and he is pleased with that – meaning he is worshipped and he is pleased with the people’s worship of him. So he is a taaghoot.

As for one who is worshipped and he is not pleased with that then he does not enter into that.

For ‘Eesaa ‘alaihissalaatu wassalaam has been worshipped besides Allaah but he was not pleased with that. And his mother and ‘Uzayr and the awliyaa (beloved servants of Allaah) and the righteous people from the servants of Allaah, they are not pleased with that (worship of them). Rather they used to criticize this and fight against those who did it. So whoever is worshipped and he is not pleased with that, then he is not called a taaghoot.

And that is because when Allaah sent down His saying:

إِنَّكُمْ وَمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمْ لَهَا وَارِدُونَ

You (people of shirk) and whatever idols you worship will be fuel for the Hellfire. You will enter it. [21:98]

– the people of shirk became happy and they said, “We worship the Messiah (‘Eesaa) and we worship such and such and we worship such and such. Therefore they will be with us in the Fire.”

So Allaah, the Most High, sent down:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُم مِّنَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ – لَا يَسْمَعُونَ حَسِيسَهَا ۖ وَهُمْ فِي مَا اشْتَهَتْ أَنفُسُهُمْ خَالِدُونَ

Those for whom Allaah has written that they shall be people of bliss, they shall be kept far away from it. They shall not hear even the slightest sound from it (the Fire) but rather they shall be enjoying whatever their souls desire forever. [21:101-102]

And there occurs in the other aayah that they said:

And they say: are our gods better or is he? 

Meaning: ‘Eesaa ‘alaihissalaam

Then He said:

وَقَالُوا أَآلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ – إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَثَلًا لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ

They do not quote him as an example to you except in order to argue. Indeed they are an argumentative people; he was no more than a slave upon whom We bestowed favor and We made him an example for the Banoo Israa.eel. [43:58-59]

So he is a slave of Allaah and he was not pleased that he should be worshipped besides Allaah. Indeed Allaah sent him to criticize that:

مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَا أَمَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمْ

(‘Eesaa will say on the Day of Resurrection), “I did not say to them except what You commanded me to – that you should worship Allaah alone, my Lord and your Lord. [5:117]

Therefore one who is worshipped and he is not pleased with that – he does not enter under this threat and he is not a taaghoot because he rejects and criticises that. This is because at taaghoot is one who is pleased with worship besides Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:   

ومَنْ دعا الناسَ إلى عبادَةِ نفسِه

 Whoever calls the people to the worship of himself.⁸⁰

[80]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

The third: “Whoever calls the people to the worship of himself”:

Such as the heads of the people of shirk, those who call the people to worship them, such as Fir’awn who said:

فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ

So he (Fir’awn) said, “I am your highest Lord.” [79:24]

And such as Namrood and such as the extreme Soofees, those who call the people to worship them, to such an extent that they give instructions to the people to worship them after they have died, so that one of them says, “When matters become very difficult for you then come to my grave” – meaning: “when affairs become difficult  for you, then you should come to my grave  and a few handfuls of earth cannot prevent you from me.”

So they counsel the people to come to their (the leaders’) graves and they promise them that they (the leaders) will carry out their needs. So whoever calls the people to worship of himself, whether whilst he is alive or dead, then he is from the heads of the taaghoots.

And likewise whoever calls the people to worship someone else besides him from the taaghoots and they are the callers to shirk, they are taaghoots, those who falsely beautify shirk for the people and they call it with other than its name, and they say, “This is a case of tawassul (seeking legitimate means to Allaah) or a case of shafaa’ah (legitimate intercession).” And they are many.

Those are taaghoots because they call the people to shirk, so they call to the worship of other than Allaah and they call that (shirk) with other than its name and they falsely adorn it for the people with doubts and falsely adorned speech. They are taaghoots. The callers to shirk are taaghoots.

And everyone who is worshipped besides Allaah and is pleased with that or calls the people to the worship of himself or calls the people to worship of other than Allaah then he is from the taaghoots; indeed he is from the heads of the taaghoots – we ask Allaah for safety and salvation.

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:   

ومَنِ ادَّعى شيئًا مِنْ عِلمِ الغيْبِ

Whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the affairs of the hidden and unseen (al-Ghayb)⁸¹

[81]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

The fourth one is “whoever claims to possess anything from knowledge of the hidden and unseen”.

And entering into this are the sorcerers and the astrologers and the fortunetellers and the geomancers, and everyone who claims that he possesses knowledge of the ghayb and says to the people, “Such and such will occur for you. For you, you will receive bliss or you will receive some hardship or you will have a successful marriage or you will have an unsuccessful one. Those people claim knowledge of the hidden and the unseen. And the hidden and unseen is not known except by Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.

And knowledge of the ghayb is not known except by Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.

He, the Most High, said:

قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ

Say: No one in the Heavens or the Earth knows the ghayb except Allaah. [27:65]

And He, the Most High, said:

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَا يُظْهِرُ عَلَىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا  – إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ مِن رَّسُولٍ

He (Allaah) is the Knower of the ghayb. He does not reveal what He has kept hidden to anyone except to one whom He is pleased with whom He has sent as a Messenger. [72:26-27]

And He, the Most High, said:

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

And with Allaah are the keys to the ghayb; no one knows it except Him. And He knows whatever is in the land and in the ocean; and no leaf falls except that He knows of it. Nor is there any grain in the darkness of the Earth nor any fresh thing nor any dry thing except that it is written in a Clear Book. [6:59]

no one knows it except Him…

This is a limitation. So no one knows the ghayb except for Allaah or one from His Messengers to whom Allaah has revealed something from the ghayb for the benefit of Mankind and as miracle for the messenger. However he will not know the ghayb from himself. Rather he only knows from Allaah’s teaching it to him. So no one knows the ghayb except for Allaah. So whoever claims to have knowledge of the ghayb then he would be a sharer with Allaah with regards to something particular to Him, He the Perfect. Therefore, that person is a mushrik (person of shirk), he is a taaghoot, and he is a kaafir (disbeliever). And this is one of the greatest forms of apostasy from Islaam.

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:   

ومَنْ حكمَ بغيِر مَا أنزلَ الله

 And whoever judges by other than what Allaah sent down.⁸²

[82]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

The fifth one is whoever judges by other than that which Allaah sent down.

And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ

They wish to refer for judgment to the taaghoot. [4:60]

So whoever judges by other than that which Allaah sent down holding that to be permissible to do, then he will be a taaghoot.

And the person who says, “It is permissible to refer for judgment to man-made laws or to the customs of the times of Jaahiliyyah or to the customs of the tribes of the Bedouins and to leave behind the Legislation,” – he says, “This is lawful to do,” or he says, “This is equal to that which Allaah sent down.” And if he says, “It is better than that which Allaah sent down or equal to that which Allaah sent down,” or he says, “It is just permissible to do,” and he doesn’t even say, “It is equal or better,” – he just says, “It is permissible and allowed to do this”, then this person is a taaghoot. And this is by the text of the Qur’aan.

He, the Most High, said:

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ

They wish to refer for judgment to the taaghoot. [4:60]

He was called a taaghoot because he has gone beyond his limit.

As for a person who judges by other than that which Allaah has sent down whilst he affirms that that which Allaah sent down is what is obligatory to follow and is the Truth and that anything else is false and futile and that he is judging with something futile – then this person is counted as being a kaafir who has committed al-kufr-ul-asghar (lesser kufr) which does not take a person out of the religion. However he is upon great danger, he is upon a way which may lead to kufr which takes a person out of the religion if he becomes lax about this matter.

As for one who judges by other than that which Allaah sent down, without intending to do so, rather (he does so) from ijtihaad (personal striving and deduction) and he is a person who is rightful to be performing ijtihaad from the people of fiqh, and he performs ijtihaad but he does not actually attain the judgment of Allaah and he makes a mistake in his ijtihaad, then this is forgiven for him.

He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“When the judge judges and strives and he reaches the correct conclusion, then he will receive two rewards. And when he judges and strives and reaches the incorrect conclusion, then for him there is one reward.”

[Hadith Reported by al Bukhaaree (7352) and Muslim (1716 )from the hadeeth of ‘Amr ibn al ‘Aas radiy Allaahu ‘anhu]

Because he did not deliberately commit a mistake. He was intending the Truth; he was intending conformity with the judgment of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. However, he was not granted the success of attaining it. So this person is counted as being excused and one who will receive reward. But it is not permissible to follow him upon the error.

So from this are the matters of ijtihaad of the jurists who have made a mistake in those matters or the striving of the judges in the courts when they strive to arrive at a ruling and they exert effort to reach the Truth. However they are not granted it. So their error is forgiven.

—

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by  Daawood  Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

—

Listen to the Full Audio Series:
Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Book Study Resources – Three Fundamental Principles

Related Links:

https://abdurrahman.org/Tawheed

Sharh-ul-Usool ath-Thalaathah : Lesson 48
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Rejecting at-Taaghoot, and Having Eemaan in Allaah

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:  

وافترضَ اللهُ على جميعِ العبادِ الكفرَ بالطاغوتِ والإيمانَ بالله

Allaah has made it obligatory upon all of the servants to reject at-taaghoot, and to have eemaan in Allaah.⁷⁷

[77]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

So the Shaykh rahimahullaah said, “And Allaah has made it obligatory upon all of the servants to reject at-taaghoot, and to have eemaan in Allaah…” Then he mentioned the definition of at-taaghoot.

The taaghoot has been mentioned by Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, in many aayaat. From them is His saying, He the Most High, in Soorat-ul-Baqarah:

فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

So whoever rejects at-taaghoot (everything which is worshipped besides Allaah) and believes truly in Allaah, then he has grasped the firmest handhold that will not break. And Allaah is All Hearing, All Knowing. 

Allaah is the Guardian Lord of those who truly believe; He brings them out from darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, then their supporters are at-taaghoot; they take them out from the light into darkness. They are the inhabitants of the Fire; they will remain in it forever. [2:256-257]

And there occurs in Soorat-un-Nisaa His saying, He the Most High:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْجِبْتِ وَالطَّاغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَبِيلًا

Will you not consider those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in al jibt (the idols, soothsayers and sorcery) and in at-taaghoot. And they say to those who disbelieve that they are closer to the Truth than the believers. [4:51]

And this aayah is with regard to the Jews.

And He, the Perfect, said with regards to the hypocrites:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَن يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ

Will you not consider those who claim that they believe in that which came down to you and in that which came down before you, wishing to refer for judgment to at taaghoot? And they were commanded to reject it. [4:60]

And there occurs in Soorat-un-Nahl that He, the Majestic and Most High, said:

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

And We sent a Messenger to every nation commanding, “Worship Allaah alone and keep away from at taaghoot.” [16:36]

At-taaghoot is derived from at tughyaan and it is to exceed the due limit. So it is said in the (‘Arabic) language, ‘the water has taghaa’ when the water raises above its level.

He, the Most High, said:

إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَى الْمَاءُ حَمَلْنَاكُمْ فِي الْجَارِيَةِ

When the water taghaa (went beyond its limits) then We carried you in the Ark. [69:11]

قال ابنُ القيِّمِ رحمهُ اللهُ تعالى: معنى الطاغوت ما تجاوزَ بِهِ العبدُ حدَّهُ مِنْ معبودٍ، أو متبوعٍ، أو مطاع 

Ibn ul Qayyim, rahimahullaah ta’aala, said:

“The meaning of At-taaghoot is anyone regarding whom the servant goes beyond the due bounds, whether it is someone worshipped or followed or obeyed.” ⁷⁸

[78]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation :

As for the meaning of at-taaghoot in the Legislation, then it is just as ibn ul Qayyim rahimahullaah mentioned, and the author quoted him here.

At-taaghoot – whoever the servant goes beyond the due limits regarding. The servant has a due limit because he is a servant; Allaah has given him bounds which it is obligatory that he should stop at. So if he goes beyond them, then he will be a taaghoot. So whoever goes beyond the limits set by Allaah for His servants and which He has commanded them not to exceed and not to come close to, then he is a taaghoot. So if he disobeys Allaah and goes beyond His limits and goes beyond the bounds, then he is called a taaghoot because he has gone beyond the limits and exceeded the limits laid down by Allaah.

So his saying:

“(At-Taaghoot) is anyone regarding whom the servant goes beyond the due bounds, whether it is someone worshipped or followed or obeyed” 

This is the comprehensive definition for the taaghoot because Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, commanded that He alone be worshipped and that no partner be set up with Him. And He commanded that His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam should be followed and He commanded that He should be obeyed and that His Messenger should be obeyed with regard to that which He declared lawful and that which He declared forbidden. So whoever goes beyond this matter then he is a taaghoot.

Whoever exceeds the limit of worship which Allaah has made obligatory and which is particular to Him and which He has negated for anyone else besides Him, then (this person) worships anything else along with Allaah, then he is a taaghoot.

The mushrik (person of shirk) is a taaghoot because he has exceeded the limit with regards to worship, and has worshipped someone else along with Allaah. He has directed worship to other than the One who deserves it.

And likewise the one who is worshipped and is pleased with that (is a taaghoot). The person who is worshipped by the people and he is pleased with that and he establishes himself as a chief and as a leader upon that basis – such as Fir’awn (the Pharaoh) and an-Namrood and the shaykhs of the extreme Soofee paths, those who are worshipped by their followers and they are pleased with that, or who call the people to that, i.e. to worship them, as will follow – then this a taaghoot with regards to worship.

And his saying, “or followed”.

Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, commanded the whole of creation that they should follow Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. So it is not permissible for anyone to follow anyone else besides him ‘alaihissalaatu wassalaam. So whoever follows other than the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and claims that this is permissible, then he (this person) will be a taaghoot because he has followed someone other than the Messenger sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, the one whom he was commanded to follow.

So following is specific to the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. As for other than him from the scholars and the callers then they are followed when they follow the way of the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. So the one who is followed in truth is the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.

As for those (other people) then they are just conveying the message, they are followed for the truth and upon whatever they conform to with regard to the following of the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. And wherever they are contrary to what the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was upon, then it is not permissible to follow him.

An example of that is the shaykhs of the Soofee paths; their followers and their worshippers follow them upon other than obedience to the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).

Indeed they say, “We have no need for the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) because we take from where the Messenger (sall Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) took from and we take knowledge directly from Allaah. The Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) took from Allaah through an intermediary, via Jibreel whereas we take directly from Allaah.”

And they say, “You people narrate your religion from those who have died whereas we narrate our religion from Allaah, the Perfect and Most High” because they claim that their shaykhs have a connection with Allaah and that they take knowledge from Allaah directly. They have reached this level of transgression – and Allaah’s refuge is sought – this is their way.

There is no doubt that those people are the heads of the taaghoots – and Allaah’s refuge is sought – because there is no way to Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, except through following His Messenger sallallaahu‘alaihiwasallam.

He, the Most High, said:

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ  – قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

Say (O Muhammad), “If you truly love Allaah, then follow me, then Allaah will love you and will forgive you your sins. And Allaah forgives extensively and bestows mercy. Say, “Obey Allaah and the Messenger.” So if they turn away then Allaah does not love the disbelievers. [3:31-32]

So the person who follows other than the Messenger, this person is counted as a taaghoot. And likewise the person who calls people to follow him and says to the people, “I will bring you orders directly from Allaah” – this is the greatest one of the taaghoots in existence in the world. And Allaah’s refuge is sought.

His saying, “one who is obeyed…” 

Obedience is to be for Allaah and for His Messenger regarding what he declares to be lawful and what he declares to be forbidden. He, the Most High, said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا

O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from amongst you. And if you dispute about anything, then refer it back to Allaah and to the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is what is best for you and is what is best in its consequences. [4:59]

So what is lawful is that which Allaah has made lawful; and that which is forbidden is that which Allaah has made forbidden. And it is not for anyone to share with Allaah in making things lawful or forbidden. And therefore Allaah passed the ruling upon those who declare things lawful or declare things forbidden or obeys one who does that – that such a person is a mushrik.

He, the Perfect and Most High, said:

فَكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ إِن كُنتُم بِآيَاتِهِ مُؤْمِنِينَ

وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلَّا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا لَّيُضِلُّونَ بِأَهْوَائِهِم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُعْتَدِينَ

وَذَرُوا ظَاهِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْسِبُونَ الْإِثْمَ سَيُجْزَوْنَ بِمَا كَانُوا يَقْتَرِفُونَ

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ ۗ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ

Eat from that which Allaah’s Name has been mentioned upon, if you truly believe in His Signs. And why would you not eat from that which Allaah’s Name been mentioned upon when He has made clear to you whatever has been made forbidden for you – except for that which you have a dire need of. And there are many who misguide with their desires without knowledge. Indeed your Lord knows best those who exceed the limits. And leave off outward and inward sins. Those who earn sin shall be recompensed for what they earned. And do not eat from that which Allaah’s Name is not mentioned upon, and it is sin.And the devils inspire their followers to dispute with you. And were you to obey them, then you would be people of shirk. [6:118-121]

This is because the people of Jaahiliyyah said, “Dead meat is lawful because Allaah, He is the One who slaughtered it. So it has more right to be lawful than that which you people sacrifice and slaughter.”

So Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says (in these aayaat from Soorah al An’aam) (for us) do not eat except for that which has been slaughtered in the legislated manner and He made forbidden for you dead meat. Whereas those people say, “No, dead meat is permissible; it has more right to be lawful than that which has been slaughtered because it is you people who have slaughtered it whereas an animal which has died, then Allaah is the One who has slaughtered it.

And therefore He refuted the people of shirk and He said:

… وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ

Do not eat from that which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned upon. And it is sin… 

Meaning: it is to exit from obedience to Allaah, the Perfect, the Mighty and Majestic.

And He said after it:

… وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَىٰ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ

And the devils inspire their allies… 

They say, “Dead meat, it was slaughtered by Allaah whereas the animals that you people slaughter, you have slaughtered them. So how can you hold it as lawful that which you people sacrifice and you do not regard as lawful that which Allaah has sacrificed?!”

This is a false and futile argument.

And then He, the Most High, said:

وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ

And if you were to obey them, then you would be people of shirk. 

Because this is shirk with regards to obedience. Declaring something lawful and declaring something forbidden is the right of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High.

So it is not permissible for anyone to declare lawful or to declare forbidden from his own self, or to obey someone in declaring something lawful or something forbidden from his own self. And whoever does that then he is a taaghoot and he is obeying the taaghoots, those who declare things lawful and declare things forbidden besides Allaah.

This is the meaning of his saying: “Or one who is obeyed…” Meaning: obeyed in declaring things lawful and forbidden because declaring things lawful and declaring things forbidden is the right of Allaah, the Majestic and Most High; and the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was one who conveyed from Allaah that which He made lawful and that which He made forbidden.

—

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by  Daawood  Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

—

Listen to the Full Audio Series:
Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Book Study Resources – Three Fundamental Principles

Related Links:

https://abdurrahman.org/Tawheed

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 14
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Previous Class: The Greatest Matter Commanded by Allaah is Tawheed

The Most Serious Thing Which Allaah Forbade is Shirk

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said: 

وأعظمُ ما نهى عنه الشركُ 

And the most serious thing which He forbade is shirk ¹⁸

[18]: Shaykh Fawzan’s Explanation

His saying – rahimahullaah – “And the most serious thing which Allaah forbade is shirk”: This is a tremendous point of benefit because some people believe that there are things which are the worst crimes and the worst thing which Allaah has forbidden, saying, “Ribaa (usury) is the most serious of the forbidden things! Fornication is the greatest of forbidden things!” And therefore they focus upon forbidding ribaa and upon fornication and corruption of manners and behaviour. However they do not give importance to the matter of shirk and they do not warn against it and (yet) they see the people falling into it. So this is a case of tremendous ignorance of the Sharee‘ah (revealed law) of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.

So the most serious thing which Allaah forbade is shirk, so it is more serious than usury and it is more serious than drinking alcohol and more serious than stealing and more serious than falsely devouring the wealth of the people and more serious than betting  and gambling; it is the most serious of the forbidden things. And the proof is His saying, He the Most High:

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Say: Come, I will recite to you what my Lord has truly forbidden for you: Do not associate anything along with Allaah, and treat the parents well, and do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We shall provide for you and for them. And do not approach shameful sins, whether apparent or hidden, and do not kill the soul which Allaah has forbidden, except by right. This is what He has commanded you with so that you may understand. And do not approach the wealth of the orphan except in a manner which is best .. [6:151-152]

.. to the end of the aayaat.

And these aayaat are called the ten commandments.

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ

Say: Come, I will recite to you what my Lord has truly forbidden for you…

Up to His statement:

ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

That is what He has enjoined you with so that you may understand. [6:151-152]

These forbidden acts – Allaah began them with His statement:

أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا

Do not associate anything along with Allaah… [6:151]

So this proves that shirk is the most serious thing which Allaah has forbidden. 

And there occurs in Soorat-ul-Israa – Allaah, the Most High,said:

لَّا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًا مَّخْذُولًا

Do not set up another object of worship along with Allaah and so become one who is blameworthy and forsaken! [17:22]

He began with a prohibition of shirk and He concluded it with a forbiddance of shirk: 

ذَٰلِكَ مِمَّا أَوْحَىٰ إِلَيْكَ رَبُّكَ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ ۗ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ فَتُلْقَىٰ فِي جَهَنَّمَ مَلُومًا مَّدْحُورًا

And do not set up another object of worship along with Allaah so that you are cast into Hellfire rebuked and banished! [17:39]

So this proves that it is the most serious thing that Allaah has forbidden. This proves the saying of the Shaykh, “and the greatest thing that Allaah forbade is shirk.” 

And there occurs in the authentic hadeeth that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was asked:

‘Which sin is greatest?’ He said, “That you set up a rival for Allaah and (yet) it is He who created you.” It was said, ‘Then which (sin)?’ He said, “That you kill your child for fear that he will consume food along with you.” It was said: ‘Then which (sin)?’ He said, “That you commit adultery with the wife of your neighbour.” [1]

[1] Reported by al-Bukhaaree (6861) and Muslim (86) from the hadeeth of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood radiyallaahu ‘anhu

And Allaah sent down the confirmation of that in His saying:

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا

And (the servants of ar-Rahmaan are) those who do not call upon another deity along with Allaah and they do not kill the soul which Allaah has made forbidden except by right, and they do not commit fornication. And whoever does (these things) will receive punishment. [25:68]

So he began with shirk in his saying, “That you set up a rival for Allaah”, meaning: a partner, “and (yet) it is He who created you.” 

And he said that this is the greatest of sins because he was asked “which sin is greatest?”

So he began with shirk.

And he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:

“Keep away from the seven destructive sins.” So it was said, ‘What are they, O Messenger of Allaah?’ So he said, “Committing shirk with Allaah, and sorcery and killing the soul which Allaah has made forbidden, except with right.”.. to the end of the hadeeth.  [2]

[2] Reported by al Bukhaaree (2766) and Muslim (89) from the hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiallaahu ‘anhu

He began it with shirk so this shows that shirk is the greatest of all sins and that is because the person of shirk will never enter Paradise.

He, the Most High, said:

إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ

Whoever makes shirk  with Allaah, then Allaah has made Paradise forbidden for him; and his abode will be the Hellfire. And the disbelieving wrongdoers will have no helper. [5:72]

Allaah will not forgive the mushrik:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ

Allaah does not forgive that shirk be committed with Him and He forgives whatever is less than that to whomsoever He wishes. [4:48]

So this proves that Paradise is forbidden for the person of shirk and that Allaah will not forgive him and it proves that shirk is the greatest of all sins since all sins –  except for shirk – can be met with forgiveness:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ

Allaah does not forgive that shirk be committed with Him and He forgives whatever is less than that to whomsoever He wishes. [4:48] 

So fornication and theft and drinking alcohol and taking usury  – all of it enters under al-mashee’ah (Allaah’s Wish and Will)  – if Allaah wishes, He will forgive its person and if He wishes, He will punish him.

As for shirk, then it will not be forgiven. Allaah has passed judgement that He will not forgive it. And likewise the person of sin – even if he has committed major sins which are less than shirk then Paradise will not be forbidden for him. His final destination will be Paradise.  Either Allaah will forgive him straightaway and enter him into Paradise or else he will come out of the Fire after having been punished in it and he will (then) enter into Paradise. No matter what evil and sins which are less than shirk occur from the believer then he will not despair of the Mercy of Allaah and he will not be forbidden from Paradise, and he enters under the forgiveness (of Allaah) by the Wish and Will of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High.

As for the person of shirk then he will be deprived and forbidden of all of that  – and Allaah’s refuge is sought – then this proves that shirk is the greatest of all sins. He, the Most High, said:

إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ

Shirk is the greatest zulm (wrongdoing). [31:13]

And He, the Perfect, said:  

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

And whoever commits shirk with Allaah then he has invented a tremendous sin! [4:48]

وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا

And whoever commits shirk with Allaah then he has indeed strayed far away from the True Path! [4:116]

All of this proves that shirk is the greatest of sins and since shirk is the greatest of sins then it is obligatory upon the scholars and the educated people to forbid it and to warn against it and that they do not remain silent from warning against shirk. And it is obligatory to fight jihaad against the people of shirk along with ability just as Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam fought jihaad against them.

He, the Most High, said:

فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ

Then kill the people of shirk wherever you find them and seize them and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. [9:5]

So it is therefore obligatory to warn against shirk and to clarify it to the people so that they avoid it; this is what is obligatory.

As for remaining silent about shirk and leaving the people passionately involved in worshipping other than Allaah whilst they claim to be upon Islaam – and there is no one forbidding them and no one warning them – then the matter is very serious. There are some people who turn their attention to forbidding usury and fornication and corruption of manners; these are forbidden matters and contain corruption however shirk is more serious. So why is attention not given to forbidding shirk and warning against shirk and explaining what many people have fallen into with regards to major shirk whilst they claim to be upon Islaam?

Why is there laxity with regards to the matter of shirk and disregard of it and leaving the people to fall into it and (yet) the people of knowledge are present? Indeed they live along with those people and (yet) they remain silent with them. What is obligatory is to turn attention firstly to forbidding this tremendous danger (of shirk) which has devastated the Muslim nation. Every sin is less than it and what is obligatory is to begin with what is most important, then with what is next in importance.

—

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by  Daawood  Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

—

Listen to the Full Audio Series:
Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Book Study Resources – Three Fundamental Principles

Related Links:

• https://abdurrahman.org/tawheed
• https://abdurrahman.org/ibadah-worship

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 09 : Part A
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

[Souncloud Audio Link] 

Allaah the Perfect and Most High is not pleased that anyone else should be associated in worship with Him

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:

المَسْأَلَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ:  أَنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَرْضَى أَنْ يُشْرَكَ مَعَهُ أَحَدٌ غَيرُهُ فِي عِبَادَتِهِ

The second matter: that Allaah is not pleased that anyone else should be associated with Him in worship of Him⁷

[7]: Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzan’s Explanation

This matter is connected to the first matter, because the first one was an explanation of the obligation of worshipping Allaah, and of following the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and it is the meaning of the shahaadatain (two testifications), the meaning of the testification that, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah’, and the testification that, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah’. And the second matter is that worship, if it has shirk mixed with it, then it will not be accepted, because it is essential that worship is done purely for the Face of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic.

So therefore whoever worships Allaah, and worships something else along with Him, then the worship of him is futile or null and void. Its presence is just the same as its absence, because worship will not benefit except with ikhlaas (i.e. it is done purely for Allaah) and tawheed. So if it is mixed with shirk then it is corrupted, just as he the Most High said:

وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

And it was revealed to you (O Muhammad) and to those Messengers who came before you, that if you associate anything with Allaah then all your deeds will be rendered null and void, and then you would certainly be from the losers. [39:65]

And the Perfect said:

وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

And if they committed shirk (associated anything along with Allaah) then whatever deeds they had done would be rendered null and void. [6:88]

So worship is not called worship except along with tawheed, just as the salaah (prayer) is not called salaah except along with purification. So if shirk is mixed with worship, it corrupts it and nullifies it, just as is the case with purification, if it is mixed with one of those things which break the wudoo’ then that corrupts it and nullifies it, and therefore Allaah in many aayahs of the Qur’aan joins the command to worship Him and the prohibition of shirk.

He the Most High said:

وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا

And worship Allaah and do not associate anything along with Him [4:36]

–

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ

And they were not commanded except that they should worship Allaah making the religion purely and sincerely for Him, upon the true religion of tawheed, turning away from shirk. [98:5]

–

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ

And We did not send before you a Messenger except that We revealed to him that none has the right to be worshipped except Me so therefore worship Me alone. [21:25]

–

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ

None has the right to be worshipped except Me [21:25]

This contains two matters: it contains a negation of shirk and it contains affirmation of worship for Allaah the Most High.

–

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

And your Lord commanded that you should not worship except Him [17:23]

–

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

And We sent a Messenger to every nation, commanding worship Allaah and avoid at–Taaghoot (all false objects of worship). [16:36]

So He joined between the worship of Allaah and avoiding the Taaghoot (all the false objects of worship), because the worship of Allaah will not be worship except with avoiding the Taaghoot, and that is shirk. He the Most High said:

فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا

So whoever rejects the Taaghoot and truly believes in Allaah, and that Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped, then he has clung on to the firmest hand-hold which will never break [2:256]

So truly believing in Allaah is not sufficient except with rejection of at–Taaghoot, otherwise the mushrikoon (the people of shirk) they believed in Allaah, however they associated others in worship with Him:

وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ

And most of them do not believe except that they associate others in their worship of Allaah [12:106]

So He the Perfect makes it clear that they had belief in Allaah, however they corrupted it with shirk (association of others in worship of Allaah), and Allaah’s refuge is sought.

This is meaning of the saying of the Shaikh (author), that whoever worshipped Allaah and obeyed the Messenger, then he may not associate anything in worship along with Allaah, because Allaah is not pleased that anything be associated with Him in His worship.

He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said in that which he reported from his Lord, the Mighty and Majestic, Allaah the Most High said:

أنا أغنى الشركاء عن الشرك ، من عمل عملا أشرك معي فيه غيري تركته وشركه

“I am the One having no need of any association of worship. Whoever does an action in which he associates anyone else along with Me, then I will abandon him and his shirk.”[1]

[1] Reported by Muslim as a hadeeth of Aboo Huraira (radiy Allaahu ‘anhu).

So there are people who pray the salaah, and they bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and they do that plentifully, and they fast and they perform the Hajj. However, they make supplication to tombs, and they perform worship of Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and Al-Badawee and so-and-so and so-and-so, and they call for relief from the dead. Those people their worship is false and futile, because they have associated others with Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, they have mixed worship with shirk so their deeds are futile and nullified, until they single out Allaah the Mighty and Majestic with worship and they make worship purely for Him and they abandon the worship of everything else besides Him.

Otherwise they will be upon nothing, so it is obligatory to draw attention to this, because Allaah is not pleased that anything should be associated with Him in His worship, anyone no matter who it is. He the Perfect is not pleased that anyone should be associated with Him no matter who it may be, so that no-one should say, “I take the beloved servants of Allaah, the righteous people and the good people as intercessors. I do not worship the idols and images as they used to do in the times of ignorance. I only take these ones as intercessors, I do not worship them.” So we say to him: This was the saying of the people in the times of ignorance, they took them as intercessors with Allaah because they were righteous people and beloved servants from the beloved servants of Allaah. But Allaah is not pleased with this.

—

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by  Daawood  Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

—

Listen to the Full Audio Series:
Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Book Study Resources – Three Fundamental Principles

Related Links:

• https://abdurrahman.org/tawheed