Ramadan Kareem!
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Make the most of Ramadan this year!It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
(Updated: May 23, 2020)
Asalamu Alaikum,
Eid Mubarak from IANT! IANT will be celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday, May 24, 2020, InshAllah. Due to the ongoing health crisis, and out of an abundance of caution, IANT will not be holding prayer services in person. Instead, the Khutbah will be live-streamed to our website, Facebook, and Youtube platforms. See the event page for more details: click here.
We hope and pray that this message finds you well, that you had a blessed Ramadan, and that you have a most joyous Eid – Ameen!
—
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In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and state/local stay at home orders, IANT will not be holding Tarawih prayers in-person, nor the five daily prayers, nor Jumuah, at the masjid for the general public. Instead, we’ll be livestreaming the daily tarawih prayers for your viewing (very few people will be present at IANT to pray Tarawih while also being socially distant). Please note that you may not pray behind the imam virtually; instead, enjoy and learn from the prayers and Khatirahs, and pray separately at home.
May Allah SWT accept from us our prayers and fasting during this blessed month, and forgive us for any shortcomings. Ameen!
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![Video 2 - Ramadan Rush - Practical Steps To Taste The Sweetness Of Worship (The Greatest Statement You Will Ever Say) Video 2
NOTHING IS MORE HEAVY THAN THE SHAHADAH
MOST IMPORTANT PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF ISLAM
- Shaykh ul-Islām ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
-
- “Tawheed is the foundation of Faith, it is the statement which distinguishes between the people of Paradise and the people of the Hellfire. It is the price of Paradise and no one's Islām is correct without it [i.e.Tawheed].”
-
- Majmū Fatāwa 24/235 | Shaykh ul-Islām ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله
TAWHEED IS TO WORSHIP ALLAH ALONE
SHIRK IS TO ASSOCATE PARTNERS WITH ALLAH
Laa ilaaha illAllaah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah) has two pillars, and they are:
1. An-Nafee (negation) and
2. Al-Ithbaat (affirmation).
So if it is said to you: What are the pillars of laa ilaaha illAllaah? Then say, negation and affirmation.
laa ilaaha: is a negation, it negates the right to worship from everything besides Allaah.
illAllaah: this is affirmation of worship for Allaah alone with no partner.
So laa ilaaha illAllaah includes negation and affirmation, and tawheed has to have negation and affirmation both.
Affirmation alone will not suffice; and negation would not suffice on its own. There must be negation and affirmation, just as He the Most High said:
وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا
And worship Allaah and do not associate anything in worship along with Him [4:36]
PRACTICAL ADVICE TO IMPLEMENT IN YOUR LIFE.
MEMORIZE IT AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS:
1. THE FIRE IS FORBIDDEN FOR HIM
IMAAM IBN MAAJAH –rahimahullaah– reported in his ‘Sunan’:
The Book of Manners: Chapter (54): The Virtue of ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah’ (no. 3794) :
“Aboo Bakr narrated to us, saying: al-Husayn ibn `Alee narrated to us: from Hamzah az-Zayyaat: from Aboo Ishaaq: from al-Agharr, Aboo Muslim: that he bore witness that Aboo Hurairah and Aboo Sa`eed bore witness: that Allaah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
<<When the servant says ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu akbar’ (None has the right to worshipped except Allaah and Allaah is greater), (he said:)
Allaah -the Mighty and Majestic- says: ‘My servant has spoken the truth: None has the right to be worshipped but Me, and I am greater (than everything.)’
And when the servant says: ‘Laa ilaaha illaallaah, wahdah’ (None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone),
He says: ‘My servant has spoken the truth: None has the right to be worshipped but Me, alone.’
And when he says: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah, Laa shareeka lah’ (None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, He has no partner),
He says: ‘My servant has spoken the truth: None has the right to be worshipped but Me, and I have no partner.’
And when he says: ‘Laa ilaah illallaah, lahul-Mulku wa lahul hamd’ (None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. Sovereighty is His, and all praise is for Him),
He says: ‘My servant has spoken the truth: None has the right to be worshipped except Me. Sovereighty is Mine, and all praise is for Me.’
And when he says: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah’ (None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and there is no movement and no ability except with Allaah’s aid)
then He says: ‘My servant has spoken the truth: None has the right to be worshipped except Me, and there is no movement and no ability except with My aid.’>>
-Aboo Ishaaq said: Then al-Agharr said something which I did not understand. He said: So I said to Aboo Ja`far: ‘What did he say?’ He said:
<<Whoever is granted it at his death will not be touched by the Fire>>.”
Shaikh al-Albaanee –rahimahullaah– said: ‘Saheeh’, [‘as–Saheehah’ (no. 1390)]
* Imaam at-Tirmidhee –rahimahullaah– reported it in his ‘Sunan’: The Book of Supplications:
Chapter (37): What should the servant say when he becomes ill (no. 3430),
and his wording contains the phrases:
( لا إلهَ إلاّ اللهُ وَ اللهُ أكْبَرُ )
(Laa ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu akbar)
(Laa ilaaha illallaah, wahdah)
(Laa ilaaha illallaah, wahdahu laa shareeka lah)
(Laa ilaaha illallaah, lahul-Mulku wa lahul-hamd)
(Laa ilaaha illallaah, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah)
and it ends:
“…And he used to say:
<<Whoever says it during his illness and then dies, then the Fire shall not taste him.>>
[ Shaikh al-Albaanee said: ‘Saheeh’].
And the hadeeth occurs in ‘Riyaadus–Saaliheen’ of Imaam an-Nawawee (no. 914).
2. ALL YOUR SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN
Abdullah bin Amr narrated that :
the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “there is not anyone upon the earth who says: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no might nor power except by Allah, (Lā ilāha illallāh, wa Allāhu akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh) except that his sins shall be pardoned, even if they were like the foam of the sea.”
Grade : Hasan (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3460
In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 91
English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3460
3. YOUR DUA WILL BE ANSWERED WITH THIS STATEMENT
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“The supplication of Jonah when he called upon Allah inside the belly of the whale was this, ‘There is no God but you, glory be to you, for I have been among the wrongdoers,’ (21:87). Verily, a Muslim never supplicates for anything with it but that Allah will answer him.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3505
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
4. YOU WILL ATTAIN MILLIONS OF GOOD DEEDS, SINS FORGIVEN, AND RAISED IN STATUS
The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Whoever enters the market and says:
لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِيْ وَيُمِيْتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لاَ يَمُوْتُ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرُ.
Allah will write down for him one million goodness, erase from him one million wickedness, and exalt for him one million levels.”
(Narrated by At Tirmidhi 5/291, Al-Hakim 1/538 and Ibn Maja 2235. Al-Albani commented that the hadith is good (hasan) in his work “Sahih Ibn Maja 2/21 and Sahih At-Tirmidhi 2/152.)](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t15.5256-10/93954667_870298296796242_3050936194876571648_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=ad6a45&_nc_ohc=-FhaJF30Y9EAX9sXAuY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=f4e5c6ee992ac469a955dac3cd2766cc&oe=5EFAE958)
![Video 1: IANT Youth - Inspirational Stories of the Early Muslims - Inspirational Stories of the Early Muslims part 1
Patience & Trust in Allah
"By Allah, if He were to cause the heavens to rain fire down upon me.. I would not increase except in praising and thanks to Him." One of the wise men of the past said [Recorded in; ‘Sifat as-Safwah’; 2/452]: 'Sifat us-Safwah' (The Characteristics of the Most Excellent)
Lesson 1
BE GRATEFUL FOR THE BLESSINGS OF ALLAH
‘Ubaydullah ibn Mihsan reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever among you wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body, and he has his food for the day, it is as if he were given the entire world.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2346
Practical advice to implement in daily life
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “One who eats gratefully has the status of one who fasts patiently.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2486
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
Lesson 2
THE BELEIVER WORSHIPS ALLAH SITUATIONS IN LIFE WHETHER GOOD OR BAD
Worship at times of hardship and tribulation has a special flavour and a special reward.
It was narrated from Ma’qil ibn Yasar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.” Narrated by Muslim, 2948.
Al-Nawawi said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.’ The reason why worship at such times is of such great virtue is that people become negligent about worship and are distracted from it, and no one focuses on worship except a few.”
Practical Advice to implement when in a hardship
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ - 2:45
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah ]
Lesson 3
WE NEED ALLAH FOR EVERY SECOND AND ALLAH DOESN’T NEED US AND IT’S A FAVOR OF ALLAH UPON YOU THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO WORSHIP ALLAH
Chapter (35) sūrat fāṭir (The Originator)
Sahih International: O mankind, you are those in need of Allah , while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
Practical advice to implement in your life
Abdullah ibn Ghannam reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Whoever says in the morning, للَّهُمَّ مَا أَصْبَحَ بِي مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ فَمِنْكَ وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ فَقَدْ
‘O Allah, whatever favor comes to me has come from you alone without any partner, to you are praise and thanks,’ then he will have expressed his gratitude for the day. If he says similar to it in the evening, he will have expressed his gratitude for the evening.”
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5073
Grade: Jayyid (very good) according to Al-Nawawi
Lesson 4
HELP AND ASSIST YOUR BROTHER AND ALLAH WILL SUPPORT YOU IN LIFE AND THE HEREAFTER
Practical advice to implement in your Life
Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people. The most beloved deed to Allah is to make a Muslim happy, or to remove one of his troubles, or to forgive his debt, or to feed his hunger. That I walk with a brother regarding a need is more beloved to me than that I seclude myself in this mosque in Medina for a month.
Whoever swallows his anger, then Allah will conceal his faults. Whoever suppresses his rage, even though he could fulfill his anger if he wished, then Allah will secure his heart on the Day of Resurrection.
Whoever walks with his brother regarding a need until he secures it for him, then Allah Almighty will make his footing firm across the bridge on the day when the footings are shaken.”
Source: al-Muʻjam al-Awsaṭ 6192
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
Lesson 5
YOUR WEALTH, CHILDREN, AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE IN LIFE IS A TEST FOR YOU
Know that children are a source of trials (fitnah).
Allaah says:
وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
“And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial and that surely, with Allaah is a mighty reward.” [Surah Al-Anfaal 8: 28]
Practical Advice to implement in your life
Dua for losing something and being rewarded and being provided with something better
Umm Salamah (رضى الله عنها) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) say: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and says what Allah has enjoined – ‘Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and compensate me with something better’ – but Allah will compensate him with something better.” (Sahih Muslim)
إِنَّا لِلهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي ، وَاخْلُفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Translation
"To Allah we belong and unto Him is our return. O Allah, recompense me for my affliction and replace it for me with something better."
*Whoever says this supplication Allah will replace it for him with something better (as mentioned by the messenger of Allah)
Lesson 6
DON’T BE ATTACHED TO THE TEMPORARY LIFE OF THIS WORLD
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا - 87:16
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
But you prefer the worldly life
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ - 87:17
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
Practical advice to implement in your life
Ibn Qayyim said, “Grief, sorrow and distress only occur from two directions. One of it is: The desire for the worldly life and having a zeal for it. And the second is: falling short in the actions of obedience and piety.”
Lesson 7
One of the greatest blessings of faith is the fact that everything Allah decrees for the believer, whether in ease or hardship, will be good for him. If he experiences ease, he remains grateful and is rewarded. If he experiences hardship, he remains patient and is rewarded.
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
I am amazed by the believer. If he is granted goodness, he praises Allah and is grateful. If he is afflicted with a calamity, he praises Allah and is patient. The believer is rewarded for every matter, even lifting a morsel of food to his wife’s mouth.
Source: Musnad Ahmad 1495, Grade: Sahih
Practical advice to implement in your daily life
How should we act in good and evil?
Aisha reported: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw something he liked he would say:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ
All praise is due to Allah by whose favor good deeds are accomplished.
When the Prophet saw something he disliked, he would say:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 3803, Grade: Sahih
Why say thanks in a calamity?
1. Say Alhumdillilah Its not worse than it could have been
2. Say Alhumdulillah its Forgiveness of sins
3. Say Alhumdulillah it Raises ones status and you get reward for it
4. Say Alhmdulillah that Allah gave you the blessing to say we belong to Allah and return to Allah and have patience to bear it
5. Say Alhmdulillah For the affliction not being in your deen](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t15.5256-10/91627661_215610662858002_2426125608447639552_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=ad6a45&_nc_ohc=Vw4cCC5waZkAX8bC3WC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=02a3ae87b6bb2b16e13d8cf9bcc594a1&oe=5EF98E7B)
![Video 2: IANT Youth - Inspirational Stories of the Early Muslims - Inspirational Stories of the Early Muslims part 2 - Story of Imam Hasan Al Basri - Seek the forgiveness of Allah
LESSON 1 WHAT IS ISTIGHFAAR AND TAWBAH?
LESSON 2
COMMAND BY ALLAH TO SEEK FORGIVENESS AND THE SOLUTION TO ALL PROBLEMS IN LIFE
LESSON 3
THE MESSENGER WAS BEST EXAMPLE AND ALWAYS ASKED ALLAH FOR FORGIVENESS
LESSON 4
YOU WONT BE PUNISHED IF YOU SEEK THE FORGIVENSS OF ALLAH
LESSON 5 NO MATTER HOW MANY SINS WE COMMIT, ALLAH’S MERCY IS GREATER THAN IT AND ALWAYS READY TO ACCEPT OUR REPENTANCE
LESSON 6 BEST WAY OF ASKING FORGIVENESS TO MEMORIZE AND RECITE EVERYDAY
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ‘ala ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, A’udhu bika min Sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u Laka bini’matika ‘alaiya, wa Abu’u Laka bidhanbi faghfirli fainnahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta
O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.[sahih al-Bukhari; 8,75,318, at-Tirmidhi; 3393, an-Nasa’i; 5522, Ahmad; 16662]
Shaddad ibn Aws (radiAllahu anhu) relates that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that he (Sayyid al-Istighfar) most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say (the above du’a).
That “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t15.5256-10/83910429_857826261395129_1571657966740832256_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=ad6a45&_nc_ohc=Dbl_lqbsLoIAX_45y_N&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=d13331f2f24ec5f64d91209d29700888&oe=5EF9C1BD)
![Video 1: IANT Youth Stories of the Prophets - Video 1: Stories of the Prophets - The Story of How Shirk Began with Lessons
LESSON 1 BASIS FOR MANKIND IS TAWHEED THEN THEY WENT ASTRAY
I say: In it is also a refutation of some of the philosophers and atheists 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 hadeeth:
Firstly: His (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying that he related from his Lord (Allaah): “I created all my servants upon the true Religion (upon Tawheed, free 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] Related by Muslim (8/159) and Ahmad (4/162) from 'Iyaad Ibn Himaar al-Mujaashi'ee (radiyallaahu 'anhu).
Secondly: His (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying: “Every child is born upon the fitrah 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?” Aboo Hurayrah (radiyallaahu 'anhu) 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.” [Sooratur-Room 30:30]
[6] Related by al-Bukhaaree (11/418) and Muslim (18/52).
[5]
Translator's Note: Ibnul-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 upon a 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...”
AlHaafidh 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 with which He created mankind.” is Islaam.
LESSON 2
Purpose of our creation is Tawheed and to Stay away from Shirk
Tawheed in Arabic means attributing Oneness to Allaah and describing Him as being One and Unique, with no partner or peer in His Essence and Attributes.
The Arabs say waahid, ahad and waheed, all meaning one. Allaah is Waahid, meaning that He has no rivals or peers in any way. So Tawheed means knowing Allaah is One, with none like unto Him. Whoever does not acknowledge Allaah in these terms and does not describe Him as being One with no partner or associate does not believe in Tawheed.
With regard to the shar’i definition of Tawheed, it means believing in Allaah alone as God and Lord and attributing to Him alone all the attributes of Lordship and divinity.
It may be defined as follows: Believing that Allaah is One with no partner or associate in His Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (uloohiyyah) or names and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat).
Once this is understood, it should be noted that the scholars have divided Tawheed into three categories, as follows:
Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (Oneness of Divine Lordship), Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (Oneness of Divinity) and Tawheed al-Asma’ wa’l-Sifaat (Oneness of the Divine Names and Attributes).
Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (Oneness of Divine Lordship): means believing in Allaah as One and Unique with regard to His actions such as creation, sovereignty, control, giving life and death, and so on.
“And your Ilaah (God) is One Ilaah [ilaahun waahidun] (God — Allaah), Laa Ilaaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”
[al-Baqarah 2:163]
“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: ‘Allaah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).’ But there is no Ilaah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilaah [ilaahun waahidun] (God —Allaah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them”
[al-Maa'idah 5:73]
And there are many similar verses.
In Saheeh al-Bukhaari (7372) and Saheeh Muslim (19) it is narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent Mu’aadh ibn Jabal to Yemen, he said to him: “You are going to people from among the People of the Book, so let the first thing to which you call them be belief in Allaah alone (Tawheed). If they accept that, then tell them that Allaah has enjoined on them five prayers every day and night. If they pray then tell them that Allaah has enjoined on them zakaah from their wealth to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. If they agree to that then take it from them but avoid the best of people’s wealth.”
In terms of sharee’ah or Islamic terminology, shirk means ascribing a partner or rival to Allaah in Lordship (ruboobiyyah), worship or in His names and attributes.
A rival is a peer or counterpart. Hence Allaah forbids setting up rivals with Him and he condemns those who take them (rivals) as gods instead of or besides Allaah in many verses of the Qur’aan. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Then do not set up rivals unto Allaah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)”
[al-Baqarah 2:22]
“And they set up rivals to Allaah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’”
[Ibraaheem 14:30]
In the hadeeth it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies claiming that Allaah has a rival, will enter Hell.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4497; Muslim, 92.
The types of shirk:
The texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate that shirk and the ascribing of rivals to Allaah sometimes puts a person beyond the pale of Islam and sometimes does not. Hence the scholars divided shirk into two types which they call shirk akbar (major shirk) and shirk asghar (minor shirk). There follows a brief description of each type:
1 – Major shirk
This means ascribing to someone other than Allaah something that belongs only to Allaah, such as Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (uloohiyyah) and the divine names and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat).
This kind of shirk may sometimes be outward, such as the shirk of those who worship idols and graves, or the dead or absent.
Or it may sometimes be hidden, such as those who put their trust in other gods besides Allaah, or the shirk and kufr of the hypocrites. For even though their (hypocrites’) shirk puts them beyond the pale of Islam and means that they will abide forever in Hell, it is a hidden shirk, because they make an outward display of Islam and conceal their kufr and shirk, so they are inwardly mushriks but not outwardly.
Shirk may sometimes take the form of beliefs:
Such as the belief that there is someone else who creates, gives life and death, reigns or controls the affairs of the universe along with Allaah.
Or the belief that there is someone else who must be obeyed absolutely besides Allaah, so they follow him in regarding as permissible or forbidden whatever he wants, even if that goes against the religion of the Messengers.
Or they may associate others with Allaah in love and veneration, by loving a created being as they love Allaah. This is the kind of shirk that Allaah does not forgive, and it is the shirk of which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allaah as rivals(to Allaah). They love them as they love Allaah”
[al-Baqarah 2:165]
Or the belief that there are those who know the Unseen as well as Allaah. This is very common among some of the deviant sects such as the Raafidis (Shi’ah), extreme Sufis, and Baatinis (esoteric sects) in general. The Raafidis believe that their imams have knowledge of the unseen, and the Baatinis and Sufis believe similar things about their awliya’ (“saints”), and so on. It is also shirk to believe that there is someone who bestows mercy in a manner that is befitting only for Allaah, so he shows mercy as Allaah does and forgives sins and overlooks the bad deeds of his worshippers.
Shirk may sometimes take the form of words:
Such as those who make du’aa’ or pray to someone other than Allaah, or seek his help or seek refuge with him with regard to matters over which no one has control except Allaah, whether the person called upon is a Prophet, a wali (“saint”), an angel or a jinn, or some other created being. This is a kind of major shirk which puts one beyond the pale of Islam.
Or such as those who make fun of religion or who liken Allaah to His creation, or say that there is another creator, provider or controller besides Allaah. All of these are major shirk and a grave sin that is not forgiven.
Shirk may sometimes take the form of actions:
Such as one who sacrifices, prays or prostrates to something other than Allaah, or who promulgates laws to replace the rulings of Allaah and makes that the law to which people are obliged to refer for judgement; or one who supports the kaafirs and helps them against the believers, and other acts that go against the basic meaning of faith and put the one who does them beyond the pale of Islam. We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound.
2 – Minor shirk
This includes everything that may lead to major shirk, or which is described in the texts as being shirk, but does not reach the extent of being major shirk.
This is usually of two types:
1 – Being emotionally attached to some means which have no basis and for which Allaah has not given permission, such as hanging up “hands”, turquoise beads etc on the grounds that they offer protection or that they ward off the evil eye. But Allaah has not made them the means of such protection, either according to sharee’ah or according to the laws of the universe.
[Translator’s note: the “hands” referred to are objects made of metal, pottery etc, usually blue or turquoise in colour, that some people hang up to ward off the evil eye, according to their mistaken belief]
2 – Venerating some people or things in a way that does not go so far as ascribing lordship to them, such as swearing by something other than Allaah, or saying, “Were it not for Allaah and So and so,” etc.
The scholars have stipulated guidelines to distinguish major shirk from minor shirk when shirk is mentioned in the texts of sharee’ah. These guidelines include the following:
(i) – When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) states clearly that this action is minor shirk, such as in al-Musnad (27742) where it is narrated that Mahmoud ibn Labeed said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The thing that I fear most for you is minor shirk.” They said: “O Messenger of Allaah, what is minor shirk?” He said: “Showing off, for Allaah will say on the Day when people are recompensed for their actions: ‘Go to those for whom you were showing off with your deeds in the world, and see what reward you find with them.’” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 951.
(ii) – When the word shirk is used in the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah in the indefinite form [without the definite article al-]. This usually refers to minor shirk, and there are many examples of this, such as when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Incantations, amulets and love spells are shirk.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3883; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 331.
What is meant by shirk here is minor shirk, not major shirk.
Amulets are things that are hung on children such as turquoise beads and the like, which they claim will protect them from the evil eye.
Love spells are something that they do, claiming that it will make a woman beloved to her husband and a man beloved to his wife.
Minor shirk may sometimes take the form of outward actions, such as wearing talismans, strings, amulets and the like, and other words and deeds. And sometimes it may be hidden, like a little bit of showing off.
It may also take the form of beliefs:
Such as the belief that something may be a cause of bringing benefit or warding off harm, when Allaah has not made it so; or believing that there is barakah (blessing) in a thing, when Allaah has not made it so.
It sometimes takes the form of words:
Such as when they said, “We have been given rain by such and such a star,” without believing that that the stars could independently cause rain to fall; or swearing by something other than Allaah, without believing in venerating the thing sworn by or regarding it as equal with Allaah; or saying, “Whatever Allaah wills and you will,” and so on.
It sometimes takes the form of actions:
Such as hanging up amulets or wearing a talisman or string to dispel or ward off calamity, because everyone who attribute powers to a thing when Allaah has not made it so either according to sharee’ah or according to the laws of the universe, has associated something with Allaah. This also applies to one who touches a thing seeking its barakah (blessing), when Allaah has not created any barakah in it, such as kissing the doors of the mosques, touching their thresholds, seeking healing from their dust, and other such actions.
LESSON 3
SHAYTAN USES THE STEP BY STEP APPROACH TO MISGUIDE MANKIND
Thus the wisdom of Allaah – the Blessed, the Most High – was fufilled, when He sent Muhammad (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.
LESSON 4
The foundation of Shirk are two:
1️⃣ Extreme veneration or love for someone or something:
🌟Narrated `Umar رضي الله عنه: I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying: ❝Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised (Eesaa) Ibn Maryam, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allaah and His Messenger.❞
📚 [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3445 & 6830)]
🌟Another evidence is the narration of Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما, as reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, where he explained how Shirk had started in the people of Nooh عليه السلام. All those idols that were worshiped were of righteous people.
➡️ The Hindus love of wealth made them worship Laxmi, the "goddess" of wealth.
2️⃣ Fear of something:
إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
{It is only Shaitaan that suggests to you the fear of his Auliyaa' [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers)], so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers}
📚 [Surah aal-Imraan (3): 175]
Shaitaan uses his means to scare people into committing Shirk (associating partners with Allaah in worship) and acts of Kufr (disbelief).
In the past, whenever the people feared something, they worshiped it and offered it sacrifices and other offerings to please it, to try to calm it down, to seeks its protection.
An ignorant person will do anything to save himself when frightened, including acts of Shirk and Kufr.
➡️ One such recent case is where some ignorant Hindus conducted prayers and offered sweets to Coronavirus (COVID-19) to calm down and not to harm them. Even though this was a very small group of people, yet it is an example to learn from.](https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t15.5256-10/91595095_215117023046452_6931614789500141568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=ad6a45&_nc_ohc=WvaqNAsN3K8AX8jJOID&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=317f0e75f3a50785a954ad3427beb975&oe=5EFB1DA8)
