What is the Shirk of the polytheists to whom the Prophet was sent?
Question:
“What is the Shirk of the polytheists to whom the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was sent?”
Answer:
“Regarding the Shirk of the polytheists to whom the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was sent, it is not Shirk in Rububiyyah (Lordship), because the Noble Qur’an proves that they only would commit Shirk in matters of worship. As for Lordship, they used to believe that Allah Alone is the Lord, and that He answers the supplication of the oppressed, and that it is he Who removes evil, and other such things Allah mentioned that they used to confirm about the sovereignty of Allah’s Lordship. But they used to associate partners in worship, worshipping other deities besides Allah and this is a form of Shirk which removes one from the pale of Islam, because Tawhid means according to what is understood from the word; to affirm the oneness of something, and Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High has rights which must be affirmed to Him Alone. These rights may be divided into three categories:
For this reason, the scholars have divided Tawhid into three categories: Tawhid ar-Rububiyyah, Tawhid Al-Asma’ was-Sifat and Tawhid Al-’Ibadah (Tawhid Al-Uluhiyyah).
The polytheists used to worship others besides Allah. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High has said:
{Worship Allah and join none with him (in worship)} [Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:36]
...that is, in worshipping Him. And Allah, the Most High says:
{Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.} [Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:72]
He, the Most High says:
{Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills.} [Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:48]
He, the Most High says:
{And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!} [Surah Ghafir 40:60]
He, the Most High says in Surat Al-Ikhlas:
{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) to these Mushrikun and Kafirun): O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar, etc.)! I worship not that which you worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).} [Surah Al-Kafirun 109:1-6]
And by my saying in Surat Al-Ikhlas I mean Ikhlas (sincerity) in deeds, for it is the Surah of Ikhlas in deeds even though it is called Surat Al-Kafirun. In reality a Surah of Ikhlas in deeds, just as Surah:
{Say: He is Allah, One.} [Surah Ikhlas 112:1]
...is a Surah of Ikhlas in knowledge and belief. And Allah is the Granter of Success.”
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him
Source: Islamic verdicts on the Pillars of Islam (Fatawa Arkanul-Islam), by Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen. Collected and arranged by Fahd bin Nasir bin Ibrahim As-Sulaiman. Translated and published by Darussalam.
“What is the Shirk of the polytheists to whom the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was sent?”
Answer:
“Regarding the Shirk of the polytheists to whom the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was sent, it is not Shirk in Rububiyyah (Lordship), because the Noble Qur’an proves that they only would commit Shirk in matters of worship. As for Lordship, they used to believe that Allah Alone is the Lord, and that He answers the supplication of the oppressed, and that it is he Who removes evil, and other such things Allah mentioned that they used to confirm about the sovereignty of Allah’s Lordship. But they used to associate partners in worship, worshipping other deities besides Allah and this is a form of Shirk which removes one from the pale of Islam, because Tawhid means according to what is understood from the word; to affirm the oneness of something, and Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High has rights which must be affirmed to Him Alone. These rights may be divided into three categories:
- Rights of dominion.
- Rights of worship.
- Rights of Names and Attributes.
For this reason, the scholars have divided Tawhid into three categories: Tawhid ar-Rububiyyah, Tawhid Al-Asma’ was-Sifat and Tawhid Al-’Ibadah (Tawhid Al-Uluhiyyah).
The polytheists used to worship others besides Allah. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High has said:
{Worship Allah and join none with him (in worship)} [Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:36]
...that is, in worshipping Him. And Allah, the Most High says:
{Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.} [Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:72]
He, the Most High says:
{Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills.} [Surah An-Nisaa’ 4:48]
He, the Most High says:
{And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!} [Surah Ghafir 40:60]
He, the Most High says in Surat Al-Ikhlas:
{Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) to these Mushrikun and Kafirun): O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar, etc.)! I worship not that which you worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship. And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship. To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).} [Surah Al-Kafirun 109:1-6]
And by my saying in Surat Al-Ikhlas I mean Ikhlas (sincerity) in deeds, for it is the Surah of Ikhlas in deeds even though it is called Surat Al-Kafirun. In reality a Surah of Ikhlas in deeds, just as Surah:
{Say: He is Allah, One.} [Surah Ikhlas 112:1]
...is a Surah of Ikhlas in knowledge and belief. And Allah is the Granter of Success.”
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him
Source: Islamic verdicts on the Pillars of Islam (Fatawa Arkanul-Islam), by Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen. Collected and arranged by Fahd bin Nasir bin Ibrahim As-Sulaiman. Translated and published by Darussalam.