The Taaghoot are many, and their heads are five

The Taaghoot are many, and their heads are five

Allaah made it obligatory upon all the servants to reject and disbelieve in at-taaghoot, and to believe in Allaah. Ibnul Qayyim (May Allaah have mercy upon him) said:

“At-taaghoot is anyone whom the servants go beyond the due bounds, whether it is someone worshipped, obeyed or followed.”

The taaghoot are many, and their heads are five:

1. Iblees (Satan), may Allaah’s curse be upon him.

2. Whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that.
3. Whoever calls the people to worship them.
4. Whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the affairs of the hidden and unseen.
5. Whoever judges by other than what Allaah sent down.

The proof is the saying of Allaah, the Most High:
“No one is to be compelled to enter the religion; true guidance has been made clear and distinct from falsehood. So whoever rejects at-taaghoot and truly believes and worships Allaah alone, then has grasped the firmest handhold that will never break.”

This is the meaning of ‘laa ilaha illa Allaah’.

This is pointing to the fact that it is obligatory to worship Allaah alone and sincerely without any partners, because the first thing that Allaah commanded the servants with was to believe in Allaah and disbelieve in at-taaghoot. Moreover, they are many but their heads are five.

It means their leaders and those who a blindly followed by them.

1. Iblees; he is the outcast and accursed Satan to whom Allaah said: “My curse is upon you till the day of resurrection.” [Saad 38:78]
Iblees was with the angels, in their company and performing their actions. Then when he was commanded to prostrate to Aadam, the foulness, disdain and haughty pride within him was manifested and he refused to prostrate, became haughty and became from the disbelievers. So he was cast out from the Mercy of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.

2. Whoever is worshipped and pleased with that; he is the one who is worshipped besides Allaah and is pleased that he is being worshipped besides Allaah; he is one of the heads of the taaghoots and Allaah’s refuge is sought from that and it is the same whether he is worshipped in his lifetime or after his death, if he dies whilst having been pleased with that.

3. Whoever calls people to the worship of himself; it is anyone who calls the people to worship him, even if they do not do so. He’s one of the heads of the taaghoots whether the people responded to his call or not.

4. Whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the affairs of the unseen and hidden; al-ghayb is whatever is hidden and unseen by man and it of two types: That which exists at present and that which lies in the future. What is hidden in the present is a relative matter, something may be known to one person and unknown to another. But the hidden and unseen of the future is something absolute and not know to anyone except Allaah alone, or to a messenger granted such knowledge by Allaah. So whoever claims such knowledge is a disbeliever.

5. Whoever judges by other than what Allaah has revealed; judging by that which Allaah, the Most High, sent down is from the tawheed of Lordship (ar-rooboobiyyah) since it is applying the judgement of Allaah, which pertains to His Lordship and His complete sovereignty and authority.

Therefore Allaah, the Most High, calls those who are followed upon other than what Allaah sent down ‘lords’ for their followers. He says:
“They have taken their learned men and their rabbis as lord besides Allaah, and also the Messiah, the son of Mary. But they were not commanded except to worship Allaah alone. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. How free and far removed is Allaah from the partners they associate with Him.” [At-Tawbah 9:31]

So Allaah calls those who are followed ‘lords’ since they are taken as legislators along with Allaah, the Most High, and He called them those who followed them their worshippers/devotees due to their having submitted to them and obeyed them in contradiction to the judgement of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. ‘Adiyy ibn Haatim said to Allaah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) that they did not worship them, to which the Prophet replied:

“Indeed they used to prohibit lawful things for them, and make lawful that which is forbidden for them, and they followed them – so that is their worship of them.” [Ahmad and Tirdmidhi] (Authenticated by Al-Albaanee)

Source :
A Gift For The Intellect In Explanation Of The Three Fundamental Principles Of Islaam – By Sheikh Ubaid Al-Jaabiree (Hafizahullah)

Related Link:

• Explanation of "The Meaning of Taghoot" of Shaik Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab" – by Dr. Muhammad bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan Al-khumayyis [pdf] [Book]
• The Path to Attaining Clarification Concerning the Three Fundamental Principles –www.troid.org

The Fear of Shirk

The Fear of Shirk

AUTHOR: al-'Allaamah 'Abdurrahmaan as-Sa'dee (rahimahullaah)
SOURCE: ‘Al-qawlu–s-sadeed fee maqaasidi at-Tawheeed , Sharh kitabu-tawheed’

“Verily, Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allaah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. ”[1]

“Verily! Allaah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom he pleases sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, has indeed strayed far away. ”[2]

It is reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:

" The thing which I fear most for you is minor Shirk.” Then he (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was asked about what is minor Shirk, and he said: "It is ar-riyaa (show-off)."[3]

Reported on the authority of Ibn Mas'ood (radhiyAllaahu ‘anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam) said:

"Whoever died while supplicating another deity besides Allaah , will enter the Fire."[4]

Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu ’alayhi wasallam) said:

"Whoever meets Allaah , without associating partners with Him, will enter Paradise; and whoever meets Him as one who associated anything with Him, will enter the Fire.”[5]

Explanation by Allaamah ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee (rahimahullah):

Every instance of shirk in tahweed al-ilaahiyyah and tahweed al-‘ibaadah negates tawheed .

And this shirk is of two types : (1) The blatant major shirk, (2) The subtle minor shirk.

Major shirk (shirk al-akbar) :

It is to make a rival to Allaah : that is called upon as Allaah is called upon , or to fear him , or hope in him , or love him , as Allaah is loved. Or to render a type of worship to him . This is shirk which does not leave its practitioner with any tawheed at all , this is the mushrik that Allaah has forbidden from Paradise , and his abode is the Fire.

It does not matter whether the worship rendered to other than Allaah is called worship or tawassul (seeking a means of nearness to Allaah) , or even if it is given a name other than these. All of that is major shirk , because what is important is the reality of the thing and its implication , not the word or expression used to describe it. 

Minor Shirk (shirk asghar) :

This is every saying or action which leads to shirk , like aggrandizing creatures in a way that does not quite reach the level of worship. (also) Like for example making an oath for other than Allaah , or riyaa (behaving for show).

Since shirk negates tawheed and necessitates eternal damnation in the Fire , and when it is the major type it make Paradise unlawful , and since bliss cannot be achieved except by escaping from it : then it is necessary for the worshipper : to duly fear it , to hurry to escape from it – it’s every path , means and cause – and to ask Allaah to protect him from it , as was the habit of the prophets , the purified , and the best of creatures.

The worshipper must struggle to increase and strengthen the sincerity (ikhlaas) in his heart , and this is done by completely devoting oneself to Allaah – being subjugated , repentant , fearful , hopeful , obedient , seeking His satisfaction and rewards in all that he does - without neglecting this in any matter , open or hidden.

True sincerity inherently repels both major and minor shirk , but whenever a type of shirk is present it will weaken one’s sincerity.

Footnotes:
[1] Qur'aan 4:48
[2] Qur'aan 4:116
[3] Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (No. 29)
[4] Saheeh al-Bukhaaree
[5] Saheeh Muslim

The Origins of Shirk

The Origins of Shirk 

Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ud-Deen al-Albaanee rahimahullaah

Al-Ibaanah Magazine , Issue No.3 - Dhul-Qa’dah 1416H / April 1996

From that which has been established in the Sharee'ah (prescribed law) is that mankind was - in the beginning - a single nation upn true Tawheed, then Shirk (directing any part or form of worship, or anything else that is solely the right of Allaah, to other than Allaah) gradually overcame them. The basis for this is the saying of Allaah - the Most Blessed, the Most High:

"Mankind was one Ummah, then Allaah sent prophets bringing good news and warnings." (Soorah Baqarah 2:213)

Ibn 'Abbaas - radiallaahu 'anhu - said: "Between Nooh (Noah) and Adam were ten generations, all of them were upon Sharee'ah (law) of the truth, then they differed. So Allaah sent prophets as bringers of good news and as warners." [2]

Ibn 'Urwah al-Hanbalee (d.837 H) said: "This saying refutes those historians from the People of the Book who claim that Qaabil (Cain) and his sons were fire-worshippers." [3]

I say: In it is also a refutation of some of the philosophers and athists who claim that the (natural) basis of man is Shirk, and that Tawheed evolved in man! The preceeding aayah (verse) falsifies this claim, as do the two following authentic hadith:

Firstly: His (the prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying that he related from his Lord (Allaah) : "I created all my servants upon the true Religion (upon Tawheed, fre from Shirk). Then the devils came to them and led them astray from their true Religion. They made unlawful to people that which I had made lawful for them, and they commanded them to associate in worship with Me, that which I had sent down no authority." [4]

Secondly: His (the prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying: "Every child is born upon the Fitrah [5] but his parents make him a jew or a christian or a magian. It is like the way an animal gives birth to a natural offspring. have you noticed any born mutilated, before you mutilate them."

Abu Hurayrah said: Recite if you wish: "Allaah's fitrah with which He created mankind. There is to be no change to the creation (Religion) of Allaah." (Soorah ar-Rum 30:30) [6]

After this clear explanation, it is of the upmost importance for the Muslim to know how Shirk spread amongst the believers, after they were muwahhideen (people upon Tawheed). Concerning the saying of Allaah - the most perfect - about the people of Nooh:

"And they have said : You shall not forsake your gods, nor shall you forsake Wadd, nor Suwaa', nor Yaghooth, nor Ya'ooq, nor Nasr." (Soorah Nooh 71:23)

It has been related by a group from the Salaf (Pious Predecessors), in many narrations, that these five deities were righteous worshippers. However, when they died, Shaytaan (Satan) whispered into their people to retreat and sit at their graves. Then Shaytaan whispered to those who came after them that they should take them as idols, beautifying to them the idea that you will be reminded of them and thereby follow them in righteous conduct. Then Shaytaan suggested to the third generation that they should worship these idols besides Allaah - the most high - and he whispered to them that this is what their forefathers used to do!!!

So Allaah sent to them Nooh alayhis-salaam, commanding them to worship Allaah alone. However none responded to hiscall except a few. Allaah - the mighty and majestic - related this whole incident in Soorah Nooh Ibn 'Abbas relates: "Indeed these five names of righteous men from the people of Nooh. When they died Shataan whispered to their people to make statues of them and to place these statues in their places of gathering as a reminder of them, so they did this. However, none from amongst them worshipped these statues, until when they died and the purpose of the statues was forgotten. Then (the next generation) began to worship them."[7]

The likes of this has also been related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree and others, from a number of the salaf (Pious Predecessors) - radiallaahu 'anhum. In ad-Durral-Manthoor (6/269): 'Abdullaah ibn Humaid relates from Abu Muttahar, who said: Yazeed ibn al-Muhallab was mentioned to Abu Ja'far al-Baaqir (d.11H), so he said: He was killed at the place where another besides Allaah was first worshipped. Then he mentioned Wadd and said: "Wadd was a Muslim man who was loved by his people. When he died, the people began to gather around his grave in the land of Baabil ( Babel ), lamenting and mourning. So when Iblees (Satan) saw them mourning and lamenting over him, he took the form of a man and came to them, saying : I see that you are mourning and lamenting over him. So why don't you make a picture of him (i.e. a statue) and place it in your places of gatherings so that you maybe reminded of him. So they said: Yes, and they made a picture of him and put in their place of gathering; which reminded them of him. When Iblees saw how they were (excessively) remembering him, he said : "Why doesn't every man amongst you make a similar picture to keep in your own houses, so that you can be (constantly) reminded of him." So they all said "yes". So each household made a picture of him, which they adored and venerated and which constantly reminded them of him. Abu Ja'far said: "Those from the later generation saw what the (pevious generation) had done and considered that........to the extent that they took him as an ilah (diety) to be worshipped besides Allaah. He then said :" This was the first idol worshipped other than Allaah, and they called this idol Wadd"[8]

Thus the wisdom of Allaah - the Blessed, the Most High - was fufilled, when he sent Muhammed sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam as the final prophet and made his Sharee'ah the completion of all divinely Prescribed Laws, in that He prohibited all means and avenues by which people may fall into Shirk - which is the greatest of sins. For this reason, building shrines over graves and intending to specifically travel to them, taking them as places of festivity and gathering and swearing an oath by the inmate of a grave; have all been prohibited. All of these lead to excessiveness and lead to the worship of other than Allaah - the Most High.

This being the case even more so in an age in which knowledge is diminishing, ignorance is increasing, thre are few sincere advisors ( to the truth) and shaytaan is co-operating with men and jinn to misguide mankind and to take them away from the worship of Allaah alone - the Blessed, the Most High.

FOOTNOTES:-

1. Tahdheerus-Saajid min Ittikhaadhil-Quboori Masaajid (pp.101-106)

2. Related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree in his tafseer (4/275) and al-Haakim (2/546) who said: "It is authentic according to the criterion of al-Bukhari." Adh-Dhahabee also agreed.

3. Al-Khawaakibud-Duraaree fee Tarteeb Musnadul-Imaam Ahmad'alaa Abwaabil-Bukhaaree (6/212/1), still in manuscript form.

4. Related by Muslim (8/159) and Ahmad (4/162) from 'Iyaadh ibn Himaar al-Mujaashi'ee radiallaahu 'anhu

5. [From the Editors] Ibn-al-Atheer said in an-Nihaayah (3/457): "Al-Fitr: means to begin and create, and al-Fitrah is the condition resulting from it. The meaning is that mankind were born upona disposition and a nature which is ready to accept the true Religion. So if he were to be left upon this, then he would continue upon it. However, those who deviate from this do so due to following human weaknesses and blind following of others....." Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar said in Al-Fath (3/248): "The people differ concerning what is meant by al-Fitrah and the most famous saying is that it means Islaam. Ibn 'abdul-Barr said: That is what was well known with most of the salaf (pious predecessors), and the scholars of tafseer are agreed that what is meant by the saying of Allaah - the Most High - "Allaah's fitrah wiht which He created mankind." is Islaam

6. Related by Al-Bukhaaree (11/418) and Muslim (18/52)

7. Related by al-Bukhaaree (8/534)

8. Related by Ibn Abee Haatim also, as is in al-Kawaakibud-Duraaree (6/112/2) of Ibn 'Urwah al-Hanbalee, along with an isnaad which is Hasan, up to Abu Muttahar. However, no biography could be found for him, neither in ad-Dawlaabee's al-Kunaa wal-Asmaa, nor Muslim's al-Kunaa, nor any one elses. And the hidden defect here is that he is from the Shee'ah, but his biography is not included in at-Toosee's al-Kunaa -- from the index of Shee'ah narrators.