Shirk’ – associating partners with Allah. There are movements in Islam which teach that Muslims should not pay any attention to the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW or the Aulia Allah as this would be committing ‘Shirk’ (associating partners with Allah). The Rabbiul Awwal Special takes a deeper look into this.
With the name of Allah most Beneficient ever Merciful
Islam is a timeless religion and its teachings and revelations apply to various eras; some directly to our modern age, some directed to days gone by and some directed to the people of the future.
(Eg. The pagan practice of burying daughters alive applied to the Prophet’s ﷺ time and not so much to us today.) These references to different times also applies to what and how ‘shirk’ is understood back then and today.
There are many verses throughout the Holy Quran which condemns associating partners with Allah Subhanatallah. This is termed ‘shirk’ and it is a serious sin that Allah Subhanatallah will not forgive.
If we do not understand these verses on ‘shirk’ and the context that they were revealed in, then we could very easily misinterpret them or be misled into believing that having a Pir O Murshid and talking about and celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet ﷺ or respecting our elders is ‘shirk’.
Having this kind of misconception is a serious matter as this affects our faith as we would see later in this article. Let’s start off by looking at one example of a verse concerning shirk:
“Surely, Allah does not forgive (unless the sinner turns to Him with repentance) that a partner be associated with Him but He forgives everything short of it to whomsoever He will. And whoso associates a partner with Allah has indeed committed a very great sin.” Al Quran 4:48.
In understanding why such verses were revealed we have to look at the circumstances that existed when these verses were revealed.
Before Islam, the Arabs used to worship idols or statues made of wood, iron etc. People would come up with new ideas and spin elaborate tales around their idols to try to make them famous. This is an extract from the commentary of Ibn Khatir (page 1155) which discusses one such situation.
“The idolaters claimed that the angels are Allah’s daughters, saying, ‘We only worship them so that they bring us closer to Allah.‘ So they took the angels as gods, made the shapes of girls and decided, these (idols) resemble the daughters of Allah (i.e., the angels), whom we worship.’ They prayed to these statues as partners of Allah Subhanatallah. Allah Subhanatallah revealed the following verse regarding this: “
(Disbelievers!) has your Lord favoured you with sons and chosen for Himself daughters from among the angels? Surely, most grievous is the blasphemy you utter.” Al Quran 17:40.
There were three hundred and sixty idols around the Holy Kaa’ba before the conquest of Makkah and the Arabs used to pray to these idols and ask them to assist them in their lives. The two Arab tribes of Medina also worshipped idols before the Holy Prophet ﷺ taught them otherwise.
Even on an international level, idol worship was common at that time. Idol worshipping was so entrenched that some new Muslims would still hold on to the idea of their old idols and sort of still worship them partly. It is for these reasons that the Holy Quran has so many verses that deal with idol worshipping.
There are lots of other verses which indicate to us that these verses of shirk are not referring to the respect we have for the Prophets and the saints.
“Say, All kinds of true and perfect praise belongs to Allah. And peace be upon those of His servants whom He has chosen.” Who is to be preferred, Allah or the things they associate (with Him)?” Al Quran 27:59.
Can you see that in this verse Allah Subhanatallah and His messengers are on one side and the idols are on the other?
Similarly the Holy Quran states that the order of the Prophet ﷺ is the order of Allah, loving the Prophet ﷺ, is loving Allah. Associating ourselves with the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the friends of Allah is associating with Allah. This is the Party of Allah.
“And whoso takes for his allies Allah and His Messenger and those who believe, (let him know that surely such a one is the party of Allah) and it is the party of Allah that is truly triumphant.” Al Quran 5:56.
The prophets and the saints (Aulia Allah) will have the privilege to intercede for others on the day of judgement.
“And all those whom they call upon, apart from Him, have no authority to intercede (with their Lord), but (this right is given to him) who bears witness to the truth and they know him (the Prophet) and his good conduct well.” AL Quran 43:86
Hazrath Omar (RA) said: “I heard from the Prophet ﷺ that owing to the intercession of Owais Quani a great many people like the numbers of Rabia and Modar clans will get salvation.” IhyaUloom id deenVol 3 page 186.
“That verily this (Quran is indeed the word (revealed to and) uttered by a noble (and illustrious) Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), Possessor of power, occupying a (glorious) secure position with the Lord of the Throne, Who is entitled to be obeyed and who is here also known as trust-worthy.” Al Quran 81:19.
Respecting, revering and honouring our elders, just leaders, learned people etc. is not ‘shirk’ but on the contrary it is actually a way of glorifying Allah Subhanatallah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “of the glorification of Allah, certainly it is the honour shown to an old Muslim, the bearer of the Quran (by heart) without treachery therein and keeping aloof from it: and the honour shown to a just king. AL Hadis 1:2:6:132.
Obviously this will most certainly include our parents and spiritual guides. We can glorify Allah Subhanatallah, by kissing their hands, touching their feet, standing up for them etc.
“Ja’re (RA) reports: When we reached Medina (after an expedition) and began to align hastily from our saddle, we kissed the hands of the messenger of Allah and his foot. Al Hadis 1:2:6:133.
The Holy Prophet ﷺ, out of modesty and humility, stopped his companions from doing this on a daily basis. However wanting and desiring such forms of respect from others is a great sin and the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the true aulia Allah have no need for this.
These teachings make it very clear that the other verses on shirk are referring to the practises of Idol worshipping that existed at that time and it is not about our association with the Prophet ﷺ and the Aulia Allah.
In Islam, everything will be judged according to the intention with which we do them, so even good deeds such as prayer could lead us to hell if we do them for the wrong reason.
Now, ‘Shirk’ associating partners with Allah in our times is more about us seeking praise and attention. If we pray so that people would think us pious then we are most definitely going to the worst part of hell.
“The Prophet ﷺ said: Seek refuge from the valley of grief which is a place in hell which even hell itself seeks refuge from it 490 times a day. When asked who will enter it, he said: The readers of Quran who are ostentatious in their deeds (make a show of their deeds).” Al Hadis 1:4:8:122.
In our times, this is the kind of shirk that we should be worrying about, the shirk where we idolise ourselves by doing things that will make us stand out in the community.
We want people to recognize us for our piety, our knowledge, for us building a mosque, for our generosity or for having children that are highly educated etc. All this is shirk and this is our problem today.
“Have you considered (over the plight of) one who has taken his own low desires for his deity? Can you then be a guardian over such a one?” Al Quran 25:43.
Today it is quite common for us to adorn Islamic gear and display all the outward signs of being a good Muslim. We adorn kurtas, big beards, turbans, tasbee in our hands, wife in a hijab etc.
Do we do all of this sincerely or do we do this to show others that we are pious? It’s not surprising that it is these kinds of people that have issues with respecting and revering the Prophets and the saints. These are the proud, haughty people that will pick faults on others – O! that’s’shirk’, that’s ‘bidadth’ and so forth.
Some of us may have a grand ‘meelad’ or we may build a fancy mosque. Do we do this so that people will think well of us?
“Shaddad b Masud (RA) reports that he once saw the Prophet ﷺ weeping. On him enquiring, the Prophet ﷺ said: I fear shirk most for my followers. Beware they will not worship idols, sun moon and stones, but they will do divine service for show.” Ihya Uloom id Deen.
This is referring to us today because we are seeking the attention of others. We must not take this lightly because the Holy Prophet ﷺ has said that it is extremely difficult for one to realise that he is doing acts of worship for show. We would not even realise that we doing things for show.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wasallam Said: “Anyone who offers Salat, for show, indeed he has committed Shirk; and anyone who fasts for show, indeed he has commited Shirk; and anyone who gives Sadaqah, for show, indeed he has committed Shirk.” (Hadith: Musnad Ahmad)
This is the kind of ‘Shirk’ that we need to watch out for. This is the challenge we encounter today.
Islam teaches us to strive against our baser desires and this is not easy. Striving against our baser desires is a great form of worship. We simply have to kill this desire within us that craves recognition and praises. We have to kill this idol within us so that we could then truly worship Allah Subhanatallah. This is what the Prophets and the Aulia Allah teach.
When it comes to the Holy Prophet ﷺ we have to have a good concept of him because his name appears in the very first declaration of a Muslim (kalima) and recognising him and loving him therefore forms an extremely important part of our belief or faith (Imaan). The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said that you would not believe until you love me more than you love your children, your parents and the whole of humanity.
‘Salaami’ (salutations to the Prophet ﷺ, ‘naaths’ (poems in praise of the Prophet ﷺ and ‘meelad’ (Commemorating the birth of the Prophet ﷺ are all things that develop this love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ, providing we do them with good intention and these practises stem from Quranic injunctions.
Out of all the 77 different branches of faith, there are four that are very important and the second one is to believe in our Holy Prophet ﷺ. Hazrath Ali (RA) reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “No servant (truly) believes till he believes in four things. 1) he bears witness that there is no deity but Allah, 2) that I am the apostle of Allah, 3) he believes in death and resurrection after death, 4) He believes in pre-measurement.” Al Hadis 1:1:3:36.
As for the Aulia Allah (friends of Allah): Sura Fatiha, which is the essence of the Holy Quran, teaches us that we should follow the chosen people of Allah Subhanatallah.
Taking the pledge of allegiance (baith) is definitely a sunnah practise because the Holy Prophet ﷺ took the pledge of allegiance from his companions on many occasions. Taking the pledge of allegiance (baith) is extremely important for this is guidance to Allah Subhanatallah and the answer of our dua that we make in Sura Fatiha.
In short, the way to Allah Subhanatallah is through the Prophets, the Aulia Allah and respecting and revering our parents and elders.
Idol worshipping for us today is when we try to impress on others our piety.
“(All this will be) on the Day (of Resurrection) when the Perfect Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, none shall speak except he (Muhammad) to whom the Most Gracious (God) will grant permission and who will speak (only) what is right.” Al Quran 78:38
Peace and salutations be upon Allah’s Messengers who are responsible for guiding humanity throughout time. Ameen.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2016.
The Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saab RA).
Author: Mohamed Hassan Gaffoor WhatsApp; +27 84 910 1486