Thursday, February 23, 2012

Putting partners to God (Shrik)

Salam,

We know that God is ever forgiving and He forgive again and again but one of the offence that raise His anger is idolatry or putting partners to be worshipped along with Him. God said:

Behold! We gave the site, to Abraham, of the (Sacred) House, (saying): "Associate not anything in worship with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, and stand up, and bow to prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). (Surah 22:26)

Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. (Surah 4:48)

Allah forgives not (The sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgive whom He please other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, has strayed far, far away (from the right path). (Surah 4:116)

The basic principle of putting partners to God is elementary when clear verses are being demonstrated as in the examples of taking many gods along with God as shown in the verses in the following forms:

Allah has said: "Take not for worship two gods: for He is just One Allah: then fear Me (and Me alone)." (Surah 16:51)

The Jews call 'Uzair a son of God and the Christians call Christ the son of God. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. God's curse is on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! (Surah 9:30)

They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel worship Allah my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help. (Surah 5:72)

And they make the Jinns equals with Allah, though Allah did create the Jinns; and they falsely, having no knowledge, attribute to Him sons and daughters. Praise and glory be to Him! For He is above what they attribute to Him! (Surah 6:100)

However many are actually immerse in idolatrous practices because without awareness of the message of the Quran, they failed to worship Allah in the correct way by doing things which lead them in putting partners to God out of their own foolish and ignorant actions.

A common source normally will originate from the priests and the knowledgeable who make their own laws and claim it to be inspired from God. These are the practices that were invented by the priests of ancient and current times that people follow without questioning whether the sources were inspired from God’s divine Book or otherwise. God has made prior warning to this malady which is stated clearly in the Quran:

There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, "That is from Allah," but it is not from Allah: It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and well they know it! (Surah 3:78)

The following examples show a more elaborate form of putting partners to God which should be comprehended and thus avoided:

They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One Allah: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: Far is He from having the partners they associate with Him. (Surah 9:31)

What! Have they partners (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the wrong-doers will have a grievous penalty. (Surah 42:21)

And God even put a challenge to those who neglect His Book the Quran in favor of other sources to initiate religious practices without His authority. The following verses provoke His challenge:

What is the matter with you? How do you judge? Or have ye a book through which ye learn- That ye shall have, through it whatever ye choose? Or have ye Covenants with Us to oath, reaching to the Day of Judgment, providing that ye shall have whatever ye shall demand? Ask thou of them, which of them will stand surety for that! Or have they some "Partners"? Then let them bring their partners", if they are truthful! (Surah 68:36-41)

Say: "Shall I seek for judge other than Allah? - when He it is Who hath sent unto you the Book, explained in detail." They know full well, to whom We have given the Book, that it hath been sent down from thy Lord in truth. Never be then of those who doubt. (Surah 6:114)

Say: “Is there any of your associates who guides to the truth?” Say: 'Allah -- He guides to the truth; and which is worthier to be followed -- He who guides to the truth, or he who guides not unless he is guided? What then ails you, how do you judge?' But most of them follow nothing but fancy: truly fancy can be of no avail against truth. Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do. (Surah 10:35-36)

If the Truth had been in accord with their desires, truly the heavens and the earth, and all beings therein would have been in confusion and corruption! Nay, We have sent them their reminder, but they turn away from their reminder. (Surah 23:71)

Follow what thou are taught by inspiration from thy Lord: there is no god but He: and turn aside from those who join gods with Allah. (Surah 6:106)

The other most commonly practice of putting partners to God or “shrik” in this world today is by being sectarian. The verse of the Quran is clear in stating that those who break their religion into formal denomination or sectarian from just being Muslims or Christian or Jews are idolatrous as proved by the following verse of the Quran:

Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him: establish regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join gods with Allah those who split up their religion, and become mere Sects, each party rejoicing in that which is with itself! (Surah 30:30-31)

The formal sectarian is common knowledge and their divisions were all due to the exaltation of the books from their Imams they have which were in derogatory to that of God’s Book. And the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) has nothing to do with these kinds of people!

And verily this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore fear Me (and no other). But people have cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself. But leave them in their confused ignorance for a time.
(Surah 23:52-54)

Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty. (Surah 3:105)

As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou (Muhammad) had no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth of all that they did. (Surah 6:159)

The other example of putting partners to God is one who refused to pay the alms (zakat) as this is an act of purifying and those who refusal to contribute is categorized in the same group as that of the polytheists as stated in the following verse:

Say thou: "I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me by Inspiration, that your Allah is one Allah: so stand true to Him, and ask for His Forgiveness." And woe to those who join gods with Allah, those who practice not regular charity (zakat), and who even deny the Hereafter. (Surah 41:6-7)

Even the simple etiquette of eating if one is not elaborated with the reference of the Book of God one may finish his food but end up being idolatrous as he did not mention God’s Name when he takes his food. This is the truth as the food is from God and we should be thankful to Him alone and do not let the Devil make you forget to mention God’s name when you had your provisions.

Eat of that over which God's Name has been mentioned, if you believe in His signs. (Surah 6:118)

And eat not of that over which God's Name has not been mentioned; it is ungodliness. The Satans inspire their friends to dispute with you; if you obey them, you are idolaters. (Surah 6:121)

In conclusion most of us have made these mistakes of being idolatrous and there is still time for us to repent and God is ever forgiving but time is a factor and we do not know when it is our turn to leave our loves one and to return to Him the Lord of the Universe who has made His caution as He said:

Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says, "Now have I repented indeed;" nor of those who die rejecting Faith: for them have We prepared a punishment most grievous. (Surah 4:18)

One day shall We gather them all together: We shall say to those who ascribed partners (to Us): "Where are the partners whom ye talked about?" There will then be (left) no subterfuge for them but to say: "By Allah our Lord, we were not those who joined gods with Allah." Behold! How they lie against their own souls! But the (lie) which they invented will leave them in the lurch. (Surah 6:22-24)

Asar

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Those who follow Allah's Guidance

Salam,

Since the creation of mankind and the incident which made Satan succeed in enticing Adam and his wife to eat the forbidden fruit, they were expelled to earth where it will be their dwelling place and the mean of their livelihood for a term appointed. Since then and until the presence day God did not leave human to wander blindly by themselves but He provide good guidance and whoever follow His guidance neither will they fear nor shall they grieve:

He said: "Get ye down, both of you, all together, from the Garden, with enmity one to another: but if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me, whosoever follows My Guidance, will not lose his way, nor fall into misery. "But whosoever turns away from My Message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment."
(Surah 20:123-124)

God send His guidance through His messengers in their own languages so that they may understand His messages.

It is He Who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest it.
(Surah 9:33)

We sent not a messenger except in the language of his own people, in order to make things clear to them. Now Allah leaves to stray those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases: and He is exalted in power, full of Wisdom. (Surah 14:4)

We sent Noah to his people: He said, "O my people! Worship Allah! Ye have no other god but Him. Will ye not fear (Him)?" (Surah 23:23)

Then sent We our messengers in succession: every time there came to a people their messenger, they accused him of falsehood: so We made them follow each other (in punishment): We made them as a tale (that is told): So away with a people that will not believe!
(Surah 23:44)

We sent (aforetime), to the Thamud, their brother Salih, saying, "Serve Allah": But behold, they became two factions quarrelling with each other. (Surah 27:45)

We sent Moses with Our signs (and the command). "Bring out thy people from the depths of darkness into light, and teach them to remember the Days of Allah." Verily in this there are Signs for such as are firmly patient and constant, grateful and appreciative.
(Surah 14:5)


It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion: and enough is Allah for a Witness.
(Surah 48:28)

We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not. (Surah 34:28)

We did indeed send, before thee, messengers to their (respective) peoples, and they came to them with Clear Signs: then, to those who transgressed, We meted out retribution: and it was due from Us to aid those who believed. (Surah 30:47)

We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help, Unseen, Him and His messengers: For Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might. (Surah 57:25)

The last Book of Guidance which is the Quran was sent to the Apostle of Allah Muhammad (Pbuh) and in it is guidance sure for those whose hope is happiness in this world and in the hereafter by following the example of His prophet as depicted in the Quran. And God commanded Muhamamd (Pbuh) to proclaim the message of warning and the good news of the Quran:

Say: "What thing is most weighty in evidence?" Say: "Allah is witness between me and you; This Qur'an hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I may warn you and all whom it reaches. Can ye possibly bear witness that besides Allah there is another God?" Say: "Nay! I cannot bear witness!" Say: "But in truth He is the one Allah, and I truly am innocent of (your blasphemy of) joining others with Him." (Surah 6:19)

Verily this Qur'an doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and give the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward. (Surah 17:9)

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). …(Surah 2:185)

As to those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular prayer, never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. (Surah 7:170)

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but His plan is to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute. (Surah 5:48)


The following groups of people will not receive God’s Guidance

The Unjust:

Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because Allah had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Give life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is Allah that cause the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth Allah Give guidance to a people unjust.(Surah 2:258)

The Rejecter of faith:

O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury, like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. They are in parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it just a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have earned. And Allah guide not those who reject faith. (Surah 2:264)

The Rebellious:

Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which ye delight - are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause;- then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious. (Surah 9:24)

The Disbelievers:

Those who believe not in the Signs of Allah,-Allah will not guide them, and theirs will be a grievous Penalty. It is those who believe not in the Signs of Allah that forge falsehood: it is they who lie! (Surah16:104-105)

The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
(Surah 62:5)

The Liar and Ungrateful:

Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful. (Surah 39:3)

The Arrogant:

Have you then considered him who takes his own vain desire for his god, and Allah has made him err having knowledge and has set a seal upon his ear and his heart and put a covering upon his eye. Who can then guide him after Allah? Will you not then be mindful? (Surah 45:23)

The Hypocrites:

They have made their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of Allah: truly evil are their deeds. That is because they believed, then they rejected Faith: So a seal was set on their hearts: therefore they understand not. (Surah 63:2-3)


Allah is the only one who can lead to His Guidance in the Quran and none other can do so without His leave not even the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh).

It is true thou (O Muhammad) will not be able to guide every one, whom thou love; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance. (Surah 28:56)

And those who will receive His Guidance are those who believe and follow the Prophet who follows the Words of God as commanded in the Quran:

Say: "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belong the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That give both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believe in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided." (Surah 7:158)

They must not be of those who put partners to God.

This is the guidance of Allah: He gives that guidance to whom He please, of His worshippers. If they were to join other gods with Him, all that they did would be vain for them. (Surah 6:88)

Those who eschew Evil, and fall not into its worship, and turn to Allah (in repentance),- for them is Good News: so announce the Good News to My Servants, Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it: those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding. (Surah 39:17-18)


Pray to Allah that we may be one whom He is pleases with and of those who believe and submit to His Words in the Quran:

Evil as an example are people who reject Our signs and wrong their own souls. Whom Allah doth guide he is on the right path: whom He rejects from His guidance, such are the persons who perish. (Surah 7:177-178)

And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord, but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this (Quran), and over their ears, deafness, if thou call them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance. (Surah 18:57)

"Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thy own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure. (Surah 3:8)

Asar

Sunday, January 8, 2012

The Prophet's Sunnah in Reality

Salam,

Watch the videos with an open heart and seek the mercy of God so as to be the followers of the Prophet as he was during his time. You will find it more meaningful than you would have thought as it will disclose how committed you are to practice the Prophet's Quran and ensuring you it will be a healing to hearts.

O mankind! There has come to you indeed an admonition from your Lord and a healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and a mercy for the believers. (Surah 10:57)

ASAR