Concise Lessons in Fundamentals of Religion (2024)

MA'ALIMU-DEEN
- Translator's note
- The meaning of Ashshahaadataini [i.e, Laa'ilaahailla-llahuMuhammadu-rrasulullahi]
- Lesson one: The meaning of Laa'laaha'illa-Allah
- Summary:
- Lesson two: The meaning of Shahadatuanna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah (i.e testifying to the Prophet hood of Muhammad(S.A.W
- Lesson three: The necessity of being obedient to Allah andHis Messenger.
- Lesson four: The virtues of Attauheed (Islamicmonotheism)
- Lesson five: The meaning of Islamic Religion
- Lesson six: The meaning of Ibadah
- Lesson Seven: Explanation of the Meaning of Alkufrubi-ttaghut [i.e, Rejection of false deities].
- Lesson Eight: Warning against Shirk [Polytheism]and explanation of its classification.
- Ashshirk[polytheism] is classified into two:
- Lesson nine: Warning against hypocrisy. (1\3)
- Lesson ten: Warning against hypocrisy (2\3)
- The acts ofhypocrites are of two categories;
- Lesson eleven: warning against hypocrisy (3\3) The punishment of a hypocrite:
- Lesson twelve: Nullifiers of Islam

Authored by

Abdulazeez ibn Adaakhil Almutairi

Translated by

Idris Abdullah

1434AH/2013

Translator's note

Allpraises are due to Almighty Allah, the lord of creations. May His peace andblessings be upon our noble Prophet, Muhammad the son of Abdullah, hishousehold, companions and those who follow their footstep till the day ofresurrection.

Theneed for every Muslim to understand the true Islamic creed as taught by theProphet cannot be overemphasized especially, the non-Arab speakers. This isbecause there are very few English literature in this area. Some of theseliterature are narrow in scope while in others, issues are presented incomplicated ways that render the reader more confused after reading the book.It is in the light of this that I decided to translate this book,"MA'ALIMU DEEN" written by Sheikh Abdulazeez ibn Adaakhil Almutairibecause of the simplicity with which the author presents issues of Islamiccreed and its wide scope. The book will also be very useful as a coursematerial in Islamic creed for both students and teachers during Islamicvocational training programmes.

Ipray Almighty Allah will make it useful and beneficial to whoever reads it andalso reward the author for his effort.

Idris Abdullahi

IslamicUniversity of Madina,

SaudiArabia.

The meaning of Ashshahaadataini [i.e, Laa'ilaahailla-llahuMuhammadu-rrasulullahi]

They are the basic foundation of Islamand its first pillar, with which a person becomes a Muslim. So, whoever doesnot testify to them is not a Muslim.

Abdullahbin Umar (May Allah be please with them) narrated that the prophet (S.A.W)said:

«بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ:شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لا إله إلا اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَإِقَامِالصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ» [متفق عليه].

Meaning: "Islam isbuilt on five pillars: To testify that none is worthy of worship except Allahand that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah "Laailaa ill-Allah,Muhammadur-Rasulullah", to establish Salah (five daily prayers), to offerZakah (obligatory charity), to perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makah), and to fastthe month of Ramadan. Agreed upon by Al Bukhariand Muslim.

Thus, the first thing that aperson is supposed to learn in the religion of Islam is its first pillar, byknowing the meaning and rulings of Shahaadataini.

When theProphet (s.a.w) sent Mu'adh ibnJabal to Yemen he said to him:

«إِنَّكَ سَتَأْتِي قَوْمًا أَهْلَكِتَابٍ فَإِذَا جِئْتَهُمْ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى أَنْ يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَإِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لَكَبِذَلِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍفِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ... الحديث». [متفق علیه].

Meaning:" you are going to a nationfrom the people of the scriptures (divine books – Jews and the Christians),invite them to testify that Laa'ilaahailla- Allah (i.e, there is nodeity worthy of worship except Allah) and I am Allah's Messenger, and if theyobey you to do so, then inform them that Allah has made it obligatory upon themto observe five salah(prayers) in every day and night…. To the end of thehadith". Reported by Imam Muslim, on the authority of Ibn Abbas.

It was alsoreported by Imam Albukhari and its wordings are;

«فَلْيَكُنْ أَوَّلُ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْإِلَى أَنْ يُوَحِّدُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ».

Meaning:" let (Islamicmonotheism) be the first thing you will invite them to (i.e, testifying to theoneness of Allah).

And theexplanation of that is also [contained] in the long hadith [popularlyknown as hadith Jibril] in which the Angel Gabriel asked the prophet (s.a.w) about thelevels of religion: Islam, Iman and Ihsan, after that the prophet (S.A.W) said to his companions –as inthe last part of the hadith-:

«هَذَاجِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ».

Meaning: "this is(Jibril i.e, angel Gabriel. He came to you in order to teach you yourreligion."

So, the first obligatorything to learn in religious matters is the lesson that is contained in the hadith of Jibril,and the first level of the [three] levels of the religion is Islam and thefirst pillar of Islam is Ash-shahadatani.

Lesson one: The meaning of Laa'laaha'illa-Allah

The meaning ofLaa'ilaahailla- Allah is, there is no diety that deserves to be worshipedexcept Allah.

And the noun "Al–ilaah" is similar in meaning to "Al-ma'luh" meaning theworshiped one.

So all the deities that areworshiped besides Allah are false deities, and whoever worships other thanAllah is a Mushrik [pagan i.e, none Muslim] as the Almighty Allah said:

﴿وَمَن يَدۡعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَابُرۡهَٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَايُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ ١١٧﴾ [المؤمنون:117].

Meaning: "And whoeverinvokes besides Allah another deity for which he has no proof – then hisaccount is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will notsucceed".(Q23:117).

So it is –totally-impermissible to associate with Allah any deity in worship, be he a prophet andmessenger or an Angel who is brought near [to Allah] or a pious worshiper amongthe righteous servants or a tree or a stone or anything else.

Because [acts of] Ibada arethe rights of Allah alone, as Allah (the exalted) said:

﴿وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ ٥٦﴾ [الذاریات:56].

Meaning: "And I did notcreate the Jinn and Mankind except to worship me". (Q51:56).

And He (the Exalted) said:

﴿قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١﴾ [الإخلاص:1].

Meaning: "Say [O Muhammad], He is Allah who isone".(Q112:1)

And He (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَإِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞۖ لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُٱلرَّحِيمُ ١٦٣﴾ [البقرة:163].

Meaning: "And your God is one God, there is no deity worthyof worship except him, the entirely merciful, the especiallymerciful".Q2:163.

And He said:

﴿هُوَ ٱلۡحَيُّ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ﴾ [المؤمن:65].

Meaning: "He is the (ever) living; there is no deity excepthim, so call upon him (being) sincere to him in religion".Q40:65.

So, this is the-real- meaning of "Attauhid"(IslamicMonotheism) i.e, unifying Allah in (all acts of) worship. Thus; we shouldn'tworship except Allah alone without associating (any) partner to him.

And it is with this "tauhid" which is the meaning of"Laa'ilaahailla-Allah" that Allah (S.W.T) sent His entire prophets.

Allah the Exalted said:

﴿وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِيٓ إِلَيۡهِأَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ ٢٥﴾ [الأنبياء:25].

Meaning:" And we sent not before you any messenger exceptwe reveal to him that, there is no deity except me,(Allah) so worshipme".(Q22:25)

And He said:

﴿وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٖ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَوَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ﴾

[النحل: 36].

Meaning: "And wecertainly sent into every nation a messenger [saying] worship Allah [alone] andavoid "taghut" (false deities)".

And Allah has narrated to usin His glorious book the stories of –His- messengers and their people, and Hemade it clear that the first thing the prophets called [their people] to was"Attauhid" i.e, unity of Allah [Islamic Monotheism] and He(SWT) alsotold us the outcome of the believers who answered their prophets' call, and theoutcome of those who disbelieved in their prophets and associated with Allahpartners which He has not sent [any] proof for. Allah the exalted said:

﴿لَقَدۡأَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَالَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥٓ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍعَظِيمٖ ٥٩﴾ [الأعراف:59].

Meaning: "We hadcertainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, O my people worship Allah; youhave no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of thetremendous day." (Q7:59) And He(SWT) said:

﴿۞وَإِلَىٰعَادٍ أَخَاهُمۡ هُودٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡإِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥٓۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ٦٥﴾ [الأعراف: 65].

Meaning: "And to the Aad (we sent)their brother Hood. He said, O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity otherthan Him. Then will you not fear Him?"(Q7:65)

He (SWT) said:

﴿وَإِلَىٰثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمۡ صَٰلِحٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنۡإِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥ﴾ [الأعراف: 73].

Meaning: "And to the Thamood (we sent)their brother Saleh. He said, O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity otherthan Him".(Q7:73) And He (SWT) said:

﴿وَإِلَىٰمَدۡيَنَ أَخَاهُمۡ شُعَيۡبٗاۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُممِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرُهُۥۖ﴾ [الأعراف: 85].

Meaning: "And to the(people of) Madyana (we sent) their brother Shu'aib. He said,O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him".(Q7:85) AndHe (S.W.T) said:

﴿وَإِذۡقَالَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦٓ إِنَّنِي بَرَآءٞ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ٢٦ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُۥ سَيَهۡدِينِ ٢٧﴾ [الزخرف: 26-27].

Meaning:" And (mention, o Muhammad) when, Abraham said tohis father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which youworship(26). Except for He who created me; and indeed He will guide me".(Q43: 26 and 27) And He (SWT) said:

﴿أَمۡكُنتُمۡ شُهَدَآءَ إِذۡ حَضَرَ يَعۡقُوبَ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِذۡ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَاتَعۡبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِيۖ قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبۡرَٰهِۧمَوَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدٗا وَنَحۡنُ لَهُۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ ١٣٣﴾ [البقرة:133].

Meaning: "Or were you witnesses when death approachedJacob, when he said to his sons, "what will you worship after me?"They said, "We will worship your God and God of your fathers Abraham andIshmael and Isaac- one God and we are Muslims (in submission) to him".(Q2:133)

﴿ءَأَرۡبَابٞمُّتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيۡرٌ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَٰحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّارُ ٣٩﴾ [یوسف: 39].

And (prophet) Joseph (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)said (to his two companions in prison):"…. are separate lords better orAllah, the one, the prevailing?"(Q12:39)

﴿وَمَآأَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٠٧ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا يُوحَىٰٓإِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ ١٠٨﴾ [الأنبیاء:107-108].

And that was how the Prophet(s.a.w) carried out his call to the world. As Allah the exalted said: "AndWe have not sent you, o (Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds (107) Say,"it is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you beMuslims (in submission to him)?"(108) (Q21:107 and 108)

Indeed the Prophet (S.A.W)started his propagation to his people at Makah by calling them to Attauhid(Islamic Monotheism). He invited them to say (Laa'ilaahailla-Allah) and abstainfrom idol worshiping, but most of them were arrogant and they refused to submitto the word of Attauhid (Laa'ilaahailla-Allah). So they were as Allah said(about them):

﴿إِنَّهُمۡكَانُوٓاْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ ٣٥وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُوٓاْ ءَالِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٖ مَّجۡنُونِۢ ٣٦﴾ [الصافات:35-36]. فَرَدَّ الله عليهم بقوله: ﴿بَلۡ جَآءَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَصَدَّقَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ ٣٧﴾ [الصافات:37].

Meaning: "Indeed they, when it was said to them,"there is no deity but Allah, "were arrogant (35) And were saying,"Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet? (36) (Q37: 35 and 36)

And Allah (S.W.T) answeredthem (immediately) by saying:

Rather, he (i.e, the prophet(S.A.W) has come with the truth and confirms the (previous) messengers".(Q7:37)

Therefore the word of Attauhid [Laa'ilaahailla-Allah] is theword of truth which the entire messengers [of Allah] called [there people to]before [the time of] the Prophet (S.A.W) and it is also the call of our prophet(S.A.W).

And indeed the pagans of Quraish understood the fact thatcalling to Attauhid means leaving all other deities that are worshiped besidesAllah (the exalted). Therefore, tauhid can never be achieved unless by avoidingall acts of "shirk"[polytheism].

Umar Bin Alkhaddab (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated thatthe prophet (S.A.W) said:

«أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَحَتَّى يَقُولُوا لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، فَمَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّاللَّهُ فَقَدْ عَصَمَ مِنِّيْ مَالَهُ وَنَفْسَهُ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّهِ وَحِسَابُهُعَلَى اللَّهِ» [متفقعلیه].

Meaning: " I was ordered to fight the people until theytestify to Laa'ilaahailla – Allah. If they testified to that, then their livesand wealth are saved except for Islamic rites, and their accountability is[left] to Allah". Agreed upon by Al-Bukhri andMuslim.

And when the prophet (S.A.W) sent his letters to the rulers[calling them to Islam] He started by calling them to the oneness of Allah.Abdullahi Bin Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the prophet(S.A.W) sent a letter to Heraclius the king of Rome [saying]:

«بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، من مُحمَّدٍرسولِ اللهِ إلى هِرَقْلَ عَظيمِ الرُّومِ، سَلامٌ على مَن اتَّبَعَ الهُدَى أمَّابعدُ: فإنِّيأدعوكَ بدِعايةِ الإسلامِ، أَسْلِمْ تَسْلَمْ، وأَسْلِمْ يُؤْتِكَ اللهُ أجْرَكمَرَّتين، فإن تَوَلَّيْتَ فإنَّ عليكَ إِثْمَ الأَرِيسِيِّينَ، و﴿قُلۡ يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٖ سَوَآءِۢبَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡٔٗاوَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِنتَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ ٦٤﴾ [آلعمران: 64]» [حدیث متفق علیه].

Meaning: "In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, themost merciful. [This letter is] from Muhammad, the slave of Allah and hismessenger to Heraclius the ruler of the Byzantines. Peace be upon who everfollows the right path. There after: I invite you to Islam. Embrace Islam; youwill be safe. Accept Islam and Allah will double your reward, and if you turnaway [from the truth and reject this invitation] you will be responsible for thesins of Arisiyin [i.e your peasants]. And:"O people of the book come to aword which is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and weassociate no partner with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lordsbesides Allah, and if they turn away, say: Bear witness that we are Muslims.(Q3:V64). Reported by Albukhari and Muslim.

And the Prophet (S.A.W) sent similar letters to kisra the rulerof Paris and Al- Muka*wkis the ruler of Alkibd and to the ruler of Ethiopia andto Jaifar and Iyadh the sons of Al-Jalanda at Oman and to Hodhah the son of Aliat Yamama and to Al-Mundhir the son of Sawi at Hajar and to Ibn AbiShamr theGhssanian. These were the rulers of his time.

And in sahih of Imam Muslim from the narration of Anas binMalik, (May Allah be please with him). That the prophet (S.A.W) wrote (letter)to every tyrant [i.e ruler] calling them to the religion of Allah".

Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be please with them) narrated Thatwhen the prophet (S.A.W) sent Mu'adh (May Allah be please with him) to Yemen hesaid to him:

«إِنَّكَتُقْدِمُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ، فَلْيَكُنْ أَوَّلُ مَاتَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى أَنْ يُوَحِّدُوا اللَّهَ».

Meaning: " You are going to a nation from the people of thescriptures [divine books – Jews and the Christians] let the first thing youwill invite them to, be Islamic monotheism".

Therefore, "Attauhid" [Islamic Monotheism] is the keyto entering into [the religion of ] Islam, without it a person is not considereda Muslim, and if he commits anything that invalidates it, he is then an unbeliever,Mushrik [pagan], out of the religion of Islam.

Mu'adhu binJabal (May Allah is pleased with him) narrated thatthe Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) said to him:

«يَا مُعَاذُ! أَتَدْرِي مَا حَقُّاللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ؟ قَالَ مُعاذٌ: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: «حَقُّاللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أَنْ يَعْبُدُوهُ وَلاَ يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا». ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يَا مُعَاذُ! أَتَدْرِيْمَا حَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ؟» قَالَ مُعاذٌ: اللَّهُوَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: «حَقُّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِذَا فَعَلُواذَلِكَ أَنْ لَا يُعَذِّبَهُمْ». [متفق عليه]

Meaning: "O Mu'adh, do you know the right of Allah upon hisslaves?

Mu'adh said, Allah and his prophet know better.

The prophet said; "the right of Allah upon his slaves is toworship him and not to associate with him any deity.

He [the Prophet] then said:"O Mu'adh, do you know therights of the servants upon Allah if they do what he ordained them?

Mu'adh said; Allah and his prophet know better.

The Prophet said the right of servants upon Allah is that Hewill not punish he who does not associate him with anything" (Agreed uponby Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

When a servant testifies that Laa'ilaahailla-Allah [i.e, thereis no deity worthy of worship except Allah], with that; he has testified to theinvalidity of all other deities besides Allah (the exalted). And he bearswitness to himself that he will never worship anything besides Allah, beingsincere in his worship.

And this is the kind of Islam which Allah (S.W.T) ordered to bepracticed.

Allah (the exalted) said:

﴿۞قُلۡإِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّاجَآءَنِيَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُ مِن رَّبِّي وَأُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أُسۡلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ٦٦﴾ [المؤمن:66].

Meaning:" Say (O Muhammad)."Indeed, I have beenforbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allah once the clear proofshave come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the lordof the worlds."

Q40:V66) And Allah (the exalted) said:

﴿وَمَآأُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَوَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمَةِ٥﴾ [البینة:5].

Meaning:" And they werenot commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to him in religion,inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah (charity). Andthat is the correct religion.(Q98:V5) And Allah (the exalted) said:

﴿فَٱدۡعُواْٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَوۡ كَرِهَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ ١٤﴾ [المؤمن:14].

Meaning: "So invoke Allah, being sincere to him inreligion, even though the unbelievers dislike it." (Q40:V14) And Allah(the exalted) said:

﴿قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمۡ فِيشَكّٖ مِّن دِينِي فَلَآ أَعۡبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِوَلَٰكِنۡ أَعۡبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِي يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمۡۖ وَأُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَكُونَمِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١٠٤ وَأَنۡ أَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفٗا وَلَاتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ ١٠٥ وَلَا تَدۡعُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَايَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَۖ فَإِن فَعَلۡتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذٗا مِّنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ١٠٦﴾ [یونس:104-106].

Meaning: "Say, (OMuhammad) "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion - then I do notworship those which you worship besides Allah; who causes your death. And Ihave been commanded to be of the believers (104).

And direct your face (i.e,self) toward the religion, inclining to truth, and never be of those whoassociate others with Allah (105)

And do not invoke besidesAllah that which neither benefits you nor harm you, for if you do, then youwould be of the wrongdoers (106)". Q 10:V104-106

Summary:

-The meaning of (Laa'ilaaha– illa- Allah), no deity is worthy of worship except Allah

-And Attauhid (Islamicmonotheism) cannot be fulfilled unless by abstaining from"shirk"(polytheism)

-The purpose, for which weare created, is to worship Allah alone (Islamic Monotheism), and not toassociate any partner with Him.

-He who worships any deitybesides Allah is a kaafir (pagan, unbeliever)

-All prophets called theirpeople to Attauheed (Islamic Monotheism) and the avoidance of shirk(polytheism)

-The Foundation of theProphet's mission is Attauhid (Islamic Monotheism). Hence, he started bycalling his people to it, then he sent letters to the rulers (of his timecalling them to it) and he ordered his companions to begin with it when theycall to Islam.

-Attauhid is the right ofAllah upon his servants.

-He who does not practiceAttauhid (Islamic Monotheism) is not a Muslim even if he claims to be Muslim(by utterance).

Lesson two: The meaning of Shahadatuanna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah (i.e testifying to the Prophet hood of Muhammad(S.A.W

Testifying to the Prophet hoodof Muhammad (S.A.W), implies believing that Allah has sent His prophet,Muhammad the son of Abdullah the son of Abdul muttalib as a messenger to the-entire- Jinn and Mankind, instructing them to worship Allah alone and to avoidall deities besides Allah, and to explain the laws of the religion to them.

It also implies believing thathe is a slave of Allah and his messenger, so he does not has the right to beworshiped besides Allah, and it is not permissible to exaggerate in praisinghim in such a way that we give him the attributes of Allah the exalted.

Adullah bin Abbas (may Allahbe pleased with him and his father Abbas) narrated that he had Umar binAlkhttab while he was on the pulpit saying, I had the prophet (S.A.W) saying;

«لاَ تُطْرُونِي، كَمَا أَطْرَتْ النَّصَارَىابْنَ مَرْيَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُهُ، فَقُولُوا: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، وَرَسُولُهُ» [رواهالبخاري].

Meaning:" Do not exceedlimit in praising me as the Christians did with the son of Marry, for I amnothing but His slave, therefore, say; The servant and messenger ofAllah". Reported by Albukhari.

Testifying to the Prophet hoodof Muhammad (S.A.W) necessitates three important things:

Firstly: Loving him, in fact,it is obligatory to love him more than one's self, family and children. Anasbin malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the prophet (S.W.A)said:

«لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ، حَتَّى أَكُونَأَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ» [متفقعلیه].

Meaning:"None of you willhave faith, until he loves me more than his father, his children and allMankind". Agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim.

Secondly: Believing in all what he narrated concerning the unseen and [all]other things. For, whatever comes [from the prophet through authentic chain isdefinitely] true and factual.

Thirdly: Obeying him by carrying out his commands and abstaining from whathe forbids.

Testifying thatMuhammadu-rrasulu-llah, is [one of the] great foundations among the foundationsof Islam. In fact, a person cannot enter into the fold of Islam until hetestifies that Muhammad (S.A.W) is the Messenger of Allah and if he commitsanything that nullifies this testimony, then he is not a Muslim rather, he isan unbeliever and apostate from Islam.

Among those things thatnullify this testimony (Shahada anna Muhammada-rrasullu- llah) are thefollowing;

1- Hating the prophet, abusinghim and mocking him or mocking any aspect of religion brought by him, forwhoever commit [anything among]these, is a disbeliever in the prophet hood ofMuhammad (S.A.W).

Allah the Exalted said:

﴿فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَاشَجَرَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُواْ فِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَرَجٗا مِّمَّا قَضَيۡتَوَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمٗا ٦٥﴾ [النساء: 65].

Meaning: "But no, by yourLord, they will not truly believe until they make you (O Muhammad ), judgeconcerning that which they dispute among themselves and then find withinthemselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full,willing] submission". Q 4:V65.

2- Disproving the prophet(S.A.W) and being doubtful of his truthfulness, because each of them [he thatdisproof's and he that is doubtful] has [in the real sense] no trust in him[the prophet] and whoever does not trust the prophet (S.A.W) has not believedin him.

3- Turning away from beingobedient to the Prophet (S.A.W), in such a way that, one feels that obeying theProphet's commands is not compulsory on him, or turning away from it totally.Thus, being careless to the prophet's do's and don'ts.

As for one who believes inAllah and his Messenger, but commits certain sins other than the nullifiers ofIslam, such a person is among the disobedient Muslims. However, we will notcategorize him among the unbelievers just because of such sins, but we hope forhim Allah's forgiveness and mercy. And at the same time, we fear for him,(Allah's) painful punishment as the consequence of his evil deeds.

And whoever commits any ofthese things that violates this testimony [i.e, Shahadatu anna MuhammadanRasulullah] is a disbeliever in the prophet hood of the prophet (S.A.W) even ifhe utters the testimony with his tongue, his condition is like that of thehypocrites whom Allah said concerning them:

Meaning: "When thehypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testify that you arethe messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are His messenger, Allahtestifies that the hypocrites are liars" Q 63: V1.

Thus, this testimony will notbe genuine (accepted) from a servant until he fulfills its implications such asloving, believing and obeying (the prophet). This testimony is not just astatement to be said and that is all. Rather, it is the way of life of a Muslimand it forms the orbit of his deeds, and it is by its actualization that hissalvation and bliss will be attained. Allah (S.W.T) does not accept any workfrom his servant until it is done for His sake alone and in accordance with theteachings of the Prophet (S.A.W).

Therefore,"Al'ikhlas" (sincerity) is the implication of the testimony of"Shahadatu alla'laha'lla-llah", and "Almutaba'ah"(worshiping Allah according to the teachings of the Prophet" is theimplication of the testimony of "Shahadatu anna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah".Thus, a servant is not a follower of guidance until he becomes sincere to Allahin worship and a follower of the traditions of the Prophet (sunnah). Anyact of worship which is not based on the sunnah of the prophet isconsidered null and void, because of the sayings of the prophet (S.A.W.)

«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِأَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ» [رواه مُسْلمٌ من حديثِ عائشةَل].

Meaning" Whoever does anact (of worship) which is not in agreement with our matter, will have itrejected". Transmitted by Muslim on the authority of A'isha (may Allah bepleased with her). And also in sahih Muslim from the narration of Jabir binAbdillah (may Allah be pleased with them), that the prophet of Allah (S.A.W) usuallysays on the pulpit during his sermon:

«أما بعدُ، فإنَّ خيرَ الحديثِ كتابُاللهِ، وخيرَ الهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحمَّدٍ، وشرَّ الأمورِ مُحْدثاتُها، وكلَّ بدعةٍ ضَلالةٌ».

Meaning: "The bestdiscourse is the book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance ofMuhammad, (S.A.W) and the worst matter is that of innovation and everyinnovation is misleading".

Therefore, an innovator is disobedientto the Prophet (S.A.W) and is not following the right path. Hence, he is lostbecause of his innovational practice.

Innovation is of two types;

- The kind of innovation thatwithdraws from Islam

- And the kind of innovationthat makes one to be fasiq (i.e, wrong doer).

The kind of innovation thatwithdraws from Islam is that which consist of some acts that nullify Islam,such as associating partner to Allah in worship, disproving Allah and HisMessenger or anything among the things that violates Islam. So, who ever doesit is a kafir (pagan) and has withdrawn from the religion of Islam. For examplethe claim of some sects that the holy Quran is incomplete or is changed, or theclaim of some sects that some of their revered personalities have knowledge ofthe unseen.

And the kind of innovationthat makes one to be fasiq (i.e, wrong doer), is that which does not consist ofacts that violates Islam. For example, specifying some places and periods withcertain acts of worship which has not been specified in the Quran or Hadith,such as celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (S.A.W).

The guidance of the prophet isthe best guidance, and the perfection of a servant and his success is onlydetermined by the degree to which he follows the guidance of the Prophet. Thus,the more a servant becomes a better follower (of the Prophet), the greater hisreward and the more honorable his condition and end will be. He will also besafe from evils and the punishment of sins related to [innovations] i.econtradicting the guidance of the Prophet- peace be upon him. This is becausethe Prophet did not command except that which is good for the servant in hislife and religion, and he did not forbid anything except that which is evil andharmful. And indeed paradise has been surrounded with unpleasant things whilehell has been surrounded with vain desires.

Hence, whoever is certainabout the truthfulness of the Prophet (SAW) will follow his guidance andabstain from forbidden desires even though his mind loves them, and he will bepatient with those unpleasant things because he knows its consequence (i.e onthe Day of Judgment). So, he is saved from severe punishment and he attainsgreat reward.

But he who goes contrary tothe guardians of the Prophet (S.A.W) and commits what he wills from theunlawful things, he will not be safe from the punishment in this world and thehereafter for the consequence of his sins.

Allah the Exalted has indeedsaid:

﴿فَلۡيَحۡذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَعَنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦٓ أَن تُصِيبَهُمۡ فِتۡنَةٌ أَوۡ يُصِيبَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ٦٣﴾ [النور:63].

Meaning:"…So let thosebeware, who dissent his (i.e, the prophet's) order lest affliction (fitnah)strike them or a painful punishment". Q 24:V63.

Therefore committing sins maylead to fitnah (affliction)in the religion which a servant cannot endure. Thus,resulting to misguidance and destruction, and he may also suffer a painfulpunishment in this world or in his grave or in the hereafter because of hissins.

But he who follows theguidance of the prophet (S.A.W), is in safety and tranquility and peace ofmind, and will neither be afraid nor grieve and will not go astray or becomemiserable, because he has followed the safe path (which saves) from fears,sadness, going astray and misery in this world and in the hereafter. Allah theExalted said:

﴿يَٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ قَدۡجَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرٗا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِوَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٖۚ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٞ وَكِتَٰبٞ مُّبِينٞ١٥ يَهۡدِي بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيُخۡرِجُهُممِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ١٦﴾ [المائدة:15-16].

Meaning: "O people of thescripture, there has come to you Our messenger making clear to you much of whatyou used to conceal of the scripture and overlooking much. There has come toyou from Allah a light and a clear Book (Quran) (15). By which Allah guides thosewho pursue his pleasure to the ways of peace and bringing them out fromdarkness into the light, by His permission, and guide them to a straightpath(16). Q 5:V15 and 16.

Allah has made it compulsoryupon His Messenger to convey the message (of Islam) and he has conveyed it ashe was ordered. Allah the exalted said:

﴿۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغۡمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ﴾ [المائدة: 67].

Meaning: "O messenger announcethat which has been revealed to you from your lord. Q 5:V 65

And Allah made it obligatoryupon us (the entire umma) to be obedient to him (i.e, the prophet). He (Allah)said:

﴿قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْٱلرَّسُولَۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيۡكُم مَّا حُمِّلۡتُمۡۖوَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهۡتَدُواْۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ٥٤﴾ [النور:54].

Meaning: "Say, obey Allahand obey the Messenger; but if you turn away (from being obedient to him) thenupon him is only that (duty) with which he has been charged, and upon you is thatwith which you have been charged.

And if you obey him, you willbe (rightly) guided. And there is not upon the messenger except the(responsibility for) clear notification". Q 24:V54.

The prophet (S.A.W) has alsobeen assigned the trust of conveying the message (of Allah) and he hasfulfilled it (successfully) as Allah wills it. He even asked the people presentat the great gathering, during his farewell pilgrimage saying to them:

«أَلاَ هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ»؟

Meaning: "Behold! Had Iconveyed? And they all answered yes. Then, he (the Prophet) said:

«اللهم اشْهَدْ».

Meaning" O Allah bearwitness".

And we bear witness that hehas conveyed the message (of Allah) and has discharged the trust, and headvised the nation and strove for the sake of Allah till certainty came to him(Death)

And we have been assigned thetrust of following the Messenger in open and hidden. Hence, whoever fulfillsthis trust will succeed and gain a huge reward. But whoever betrays this trusthas recorded a great lost, for Allah the Exalted has said:

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْلَا تَخُونُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓاْ أَمَٰنَٰتِكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ٢٧﴾ [الأنفال:27].

Meaning: "O you, who havebelieved, do not betray Allah and His Messenger or you betray your trusts whileyou know (the consequence). Q 8: V 27

Lesson three: The necessity of being obedient to Allah andHis Messenger.

Being obedient to Allah and His Messengeris one of the basic principles of religion [Islam]. A person cannot be a Muslimuntil he complies with the directives of Allah and His Messenger, and believesin the obligation to obeying Allah and His Messenger, and that he who obeysAllah and His Messenger has gained the blessings of Allah, His mercy and Hisgreat bounties.

For Allah the Exalted has indeed said:

﴿وَمَاكَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنٖ وَلَا مُؤۡمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمۡرًا أَنيَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡخِيَرَةُ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِمۡۗ وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥفَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلٗا مُّبِينٗا ٣٦﴾ [الأحزاب: 36].

Meaning: "And it is not for a believingman or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter,that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoeverdisobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error".Q33:V 36.

And He the Exalted said:

﴿۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَاٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَلَاتُبۡطِلُوٓاْ أَعۡمَٰلَكُمۡ ٣٣﴾ [محمد:33].

Meaning: "O you, who have believed,obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds". Q47: V 33

And He (the Most high)said:

﴿وَأَطِيعُواْٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ ١٣٢﴾ [آل عمران: 132].

Meaning:" And obey Allah and theMessenger that you may obtain mercy". Q3: V132

And He (the most high) said:

﴿وَمَنيُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُخَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ١٣ وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَوَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُۥ يُدۡخِلۡهُ نَارًا خَٰلِدٗا فِيهَا وَلَهُۥعَذَابٞ مُّهِينٞ ١٤﴾ [النساء:13-14].

Meaning:" And whoever obeys Allah andHis Messenger will be admitted by Him to the garden [of paradise] under whichriver flow, abiding eternally therein; and that is the great attainment. Andwhoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits He [Allah]will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have ahumiliating punishment". Q4: V13 and 13

And He (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَمَنيُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُعَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَۚوَحَسُنَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقٗا ٦٩ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِعَلِيمٗا ٧٠﴾ [النساء:69-70].

Meaning:" And whoever obeys Allah andthe Messenger, those will be with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed Hisfavor from the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and therighteous. And excellent are those as companions. That is the bounty fromAllah, and sufficient is Allah as knower". Q 4: V 69 and 70

And He (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَمَنيُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِيمًا ٧١﴾ [الأحزاب:71].

Meaning: "And whoever obeys Allah andHis Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment". Q33:V71.

And He (the exalted) said:

﴿وَمَن يَعۡصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّلَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ٢٣﴾ [الجن: 23].

Meaning: "… And whoever disobeysAllah and His Messenger- then indeed, for him is the fire of hell; they willabide therein forever". Q 72:V23

And He (the Most high) said:

﴿مَّنيُطِعِ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدۡ أَطَاعَ ٱللَّهَ﴾ [النساء: 80].

Meaning:" He who obeyed the Messengerhas obeyed Allah…" Q4:V80

And He said:

﴿وَمَآءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَٱنتَهُواْ﴾ [الحشر:7].

Meaning:" And whatever the Messengergives you take; and whatever he forbids you refrain from…" Q 59: V7.

So, these verses indicate that obedienceto Allah and His Messenger is obligatory, and that Allah (the most high) haspromised great bounties for he who obeys Him and His Messenger in this worldand in the hereafter. And He has promised a painful doom for he who disobeysHim and His Messenger.

And this obedience is achieved by carryingout the commands and abstaining from the forbidden, and this is the essentialnature of religion i.e, worshiping Allah by performing what He has ordained andabstaining from what He has made forbidden. For Allah has simplified thereligion for us and has not charged us with what is beyond our ability. He (theExalted) said:

﴿فَٱتَّقُواْٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ﴾ [التغابن:16].

Meaning: " So fear Allah as much asyou are able…" Q64: V16.

And Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَمَاجَعَلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِي ٱلدِّينِ مِنۡ حَرَجٖ﴾ [الحج: 78].

Meaning: "… and [Allah] has notplaced upon you in the religion any difficulty". Q22:V78. And [Allah] (The Exalted) said:

﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَا﴾ [البقرة: 286].

Meaning: "And Allah does not charge asoul except [with that within] its capacity Q 2: V 286.

Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased withhim) narrated that the Messenger of Allah said;

«إِنَّ الدِّينَ يُسْرٌ وَلَنْ يُشَادَّالدِّينَ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ غَلَبَهُ» [رواه البخاري].

Meaning: "verily, religion is easy,and none will be overburden the religion except that it defeats him". Reported by Al Bukhari.

Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased withhim) also narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

«إِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ،وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ» [متفقعليه].

Meaning: " What I forbid you to do,just refrain from it, and what I command you to do, do it as much as you canafford". Agreed upon.

And the commands with which Allah and HisMessenger ordered are of three levels.

The first level: That, with which Islamic religion is necessarily retained. Suchas obeying him [the prophet] in the tauhid of Allah (the exalted) [i.e, theIslamic monotheism], disbelieving in Attaghut [false deities] and avoidingthings that nullify Islam. Whoever contradicts in this level and commit shirk[associate partner] with Allah (the exalted) or commit any act from thenullifiers of Islam such as disproving Allah and His Messenger or mocks anyaspect of the religion of Allah (the Great and Almighty) or does anything ofthis kind has become a disbeliever.

Second level: That, with which a person will be saved from punishment. This hasto do with carrying out obligations, and abstaining from the unlawful. Forwhoever fulfill this level will be saved from punishment by the will of Allah[and he] is promised a great reward because of his obedience. This is the levelof the pious servants of Allah.

The third level: Performing obligatory and recommendable [acts] and abstainingfrom the unlawful and the unpleasant. This is the most perfect level regardingthe servants of Allah, and its companions are among the people of Ihsan [i.e,those who worship Allah in the most perfect manner as if they are seeing Him]and [they have been] promised the highest ranks, we pray for Allah's favor.

Allah (the exalted) has perfected for usthe religion, and completed for us the favor of Islam as He said:

﴿ٱلۡيَوۡمَأَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمَدِينٗا﴾ [المائدة:3].

Meaning: "This day I have perfectedyour religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islamas religion". Q4: V3

So, the religion of Islam is complete, andthe laws of sharia are inclusive of all our affairs. Thus, there is nodeficiency in it, neither contradictions nor decrement. Rather, it is a lawthat is perfect, complete, simplified and suited for every time and place. Andit is dominant on all the conditions of the slaves [of Allah].

Therefore, whoever obeys Allah and HisMessenger is rightly guided to the best in every aspect of his affairs. ForAllah (the Exalted) has said:

﴿إِنَّهَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَهۡدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقۡوَمُ﴾ [الإسراء: 9].

Meaning: "Indeed, this Quran guidesto that which is most suitable". Q17:V9.

Therefore, it cannot be possible for aperson to acquire the best [in his affairs] by offending Allah and contradictingHis book (Quran).

The prophet of Allah said:

«أَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ-ﷺ‬-».

Meaning: "Indeed the best guidance isthe guidance of Muhammad (S.A.W)"

Thus, there is no guidance better than hisguidance, and it is not possible for a servant to achieve the optimum forhimself by violating the prophet's teachings. Rather, the integrity of aservant, his success, his happiness and the extent of his guidance depends onhis degree of imitation of the prophet (S.A.W).

Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿قُلۡيَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِي لَهُۥمُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖفََٔامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِيِّ ٱلۡأُمِّيِّ ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِوَكَلِمَٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ١٥٨﴾ [الأعراف:158].

Meaning: "Say, (O Muhammad), "Omankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, to whom belongs thedominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity worthy of worshipexcept Him; He gives life and causes death, so believe in Allah and HisMessenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, andfollow him that you may be guided". Q7: V158.

Hence, whoever follow [the teachings of]the prophet (S.A.W) is guided, and whoever disobeys him has gone astray. Allah(the Exalted) said:

﴿وَمَنيُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعۡغَيۡرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصۡلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَۖوَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا ١١٥﴾ [النساء:115].

Meaning: "And whoever opposes theMessenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the wayof the believers – We will give him what he has taken and drive him into thehell". Q4:V115.

Therefore, whoever disobeys Allah and HisMessenger in any aspect of life, is an immoral person, lost in that matter,even if he claims to achieve any benefit, or parrying from blight, becausebenefits cannot be materialized with disobedience to Allah and blights cannotbe parried by confronting the anger of Allah.

And whoever ordered disobedience to Allahand His Messenger and decorate it for people, is a shaitan [i.e, Devil] be itthe shaitan of Jinn or Mankind all the same. Ali bin Abitalib (may Allah bepleased with him) narrated that the prophet of Allah (S.A.W) said:

«لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِيمَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ» [رواه أحمد ومسلم].

Meaning: "No obedience to a creaturewhile being disobedient to Allah". Reported byAhmad and Muslim.

And this will include whoever ordered anykind of offence, be it in Al'aqeedah [the creed] or Al'ibaadaats [adorations]or Almu'aamalaat [transactions] and the like of that from the affairs of theslaves [of Allah].

And whoever calls to an innovation and anapproach different from the approach of the prophet (S.A.W), is indeed lost andmisguided. For Allah the Exalted has said:

﴿وَأَنَّهَٰذَا صِرَٰطِي مُسۡتَقِيمٗا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَفَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡتَتَّقُونَ ١٥٣﴾ [الأنعام:153].

Meaning:" And, [moreover], this is mypath, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for youwill be separated from His way. This, has He instructed you that you may becomerighteous". Q6:V153.

Lesson four: The virtues of Attauheed (Islamicmonotheism)

Attauheed means sincerity to Allah (theAlmighty and the Exalted) in religion, and it is a condition for a servant tobe a Muslim. It is the meaning of Ashshahadatu an la'ilaa illa- llahu [i.etestifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah]. And he whodoes not profess the unity of Allah is not a Muslim even if he claims to be aMuslim and uttered the testimony of Islamic monotheism with his tongue. Thistestimony will not be accepted from him until he works with its obligations,and that is by being sincere to Allah(the Almighty and the exalted) in Religionand to shun away from false deities and to disavow from polytheism andpolytheist.

Allah the Exalted said:

﴿لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِفَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٥٦﴾ [البقرة: 256].

Meaning:There shall be no compulsion in the Religion. The right course has becomedistinct from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in taaghut [false deities] andbelieves in Allah has grasp the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it.And Allah is hearing and knowing. Q2:V256.

Allah the Exalted said:

Lesson five: The meaning of Islamic Religion

Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمُ﴾ [آل عمران: 19].

Meaning: indeed, the religion in thesight of Allah is Islam. Q3: V19. And He said:

﴿وَمَنيَبۡتَغِ غَيۡرَ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمِ دِينٗا فَلَن يُقۡبَلَ مِنۡهُ وَهُوَ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِمِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ ٨٥﴾ [آل عمران: 85].

Meaning: And whoever desires other than Islamas religion- never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, will beamong the losers. Q3: V85. And He (S.W.T) said:

﴿فَإِلَٰهُكُمۡإِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسۡلِمُواْۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُخۡبِتِينَ ٣٤﴾ [الحج:34].

Meaning… for your God [worthy ofworship] is one God, so to Him submit. And [O Muhammad] give good tidings towho are humble [before their Lord] Q22: V34. And He (S.W.T) said:

﴿وَقُللِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡأُمِّيِّۧنَ ءَأَسۡلَمۡتُمۡۚ فَإِنۡأَسۡلَمُواْ فَقَدِ ٱهۡتَدَواْۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَلَٰغُۗوَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ ٢٠﴾ [آل عمران:20].

Meaning:" And say to those who weregiven the scripture, and [to] the unlearned, "Have you submittedyourselves?" And if they submit [in Islam], they are rightly guided; butif they turn away- then upon you is only the [duty of] notification. And Allahis All-seeing of [His] servants. Q3: V20. And He (S.W.T) also said:

﴿وَمَنۡأَحۡسَنُ دِينٗا مِّمَّنۡ أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ﴾ [النساء:125].

Meaning: "And who is better inreligion than who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good…"Q4: V125.

So, the meaning of Islam is to besincere to Allah the Almighty in religion and to submit to His commands andrules.

And it is a creed and a law. The creedis built upon authentic knowledge, and the [Islamic] laws, are rules which areobligatory upon a servant to comply with.

Allah (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: And they were not commandedexcept to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth,and to establish salah [five daily prayers] and to give Zakah[alms]. And that is the correct religion. Q98: V5.

Therefore, a servant will not become aMuslim until he combines two things.

The first thing is sincerity to AlmightyAllah in religion by practicing Islamic monotheism and shunning shirk[polytheism].

The second thing is submission to [thewill] of Allah by obeying His commands and avoiding whatever He forbids.

So, whoever professes the unity of Godand complies with His orders is a Muslim.

And with this, you will understand thata polytheist is not a Muslim, because he did not make his religion sincere toAlmighty Allah.

And he who disdains the worship of Allahis [also] not a Muslim, because he has refrained (from the worship of Allah)and has not submitted to Allah's commands. Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿لَّن يَسۡتَنكِفَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَعَبۡدٗا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَۚ وَمَن يَسۡتَنكِفۡ عَنۡعِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيَسۡتَكۡبِرۡ فَسَيَحۡشُرُهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ جَمِيعٗا ١٧٢ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّنفَضۡلِهِۦۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَنكَفُواْ وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمۡعَذَابًا أَلِيمٗا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيّٗا وَلَا نَصِيرٗا١٧٣﴾ [النساء: 172-173].

Meaning: Never would the messiah disdainto be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoeverdisdains His worship and is arrogant- he will gather them to Himself alltogether (172) And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He willgive them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But asfor those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painfulpunishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protectoror helper (173). Q4: 172 and 173.

Chapter: And Muslims are of different levels with regards to theperfection of their Islam, based on their differences in sincerity andsubmission. Hence, they are categorized into the three levels of faith asexplained by the Prophet (SAW) in the Hadith of Jibreel which are:

1-Level of Islam [submission]

2- Level of Al'iman

3- Level of Al'ihsan.

And the [arrangement of these levelsaccording to their] preference is; first the level of Ihsan then the level ofIman then the level of Islam.

Therefore, every Mu'min is a Muslim butnot every Muslim is aMu'min.

And the pillars of Islam are five as inthe two [most] authentic books [of Hadith i.e, Bukhri and Muslim] from thenarration of Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that theProphet of Allah (S.A.W) said:

«بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِأَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ،وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ».

Meaning: "Islam is built on fivepillars: To testify that "Laailaa ill-Allah,Muhammadur-Rasulullah"(none is worthy of worship except Allah and thatMuhammad is the messenger of Allah), to establish Salah [five daily prayers],to offer Zakah [obligatory charity], to perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Makah), andto fast the month of Ramadan. And the Prophet (S.A.W) also said:

«رَأْسُ الْأَمْرِ الْإِسْلَامُ، وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلَاةُ،وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِاللهِ». [رواه أحمد من حديث مُعاذِ بن جَبَلٍt].

Meaning: The peak of the matter is Islam,and its pillar is prayer, and its summit is jihad for the sake of Allah.Reported by Ahmad from the narration of Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleasedwith him).

Chapter: And Mu'minun (the believers)vary in their belief [in terms of perfection].Consequently, some of them aremore faithful than others, because (Iman) faith means; belief in the heart,utterance by tongue and action with organs, it is subject to increase anddecrease.

Whenever a servant's belief is moreperfect, and his words and deeds are better, his faith will be greater.

And when a servant commits a sin, hisfaith will decrease. But if he repents and reforms, Allah will accept hisrepentance.

And completion of Iman [faith] has beendescribed by the Prophet (S.A.W) in his sayings;

«مَنْ أَحَبَّ لِلَّهِ وَأَبْغَضَ لِلَّهِوَأَعْطَى لِلَّهِ وَمَنَعَ لِلَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَكْمَلَ الإِيمَانَ». [رواه أبو دَاوُدَ وغيرُه من حديثِ أبي أُمامة البَاهِلِيِّt].

Meaning: whoever loves for the sake ofAllah, hates for the sake of Allah, gives for the sake of Allah, and refused togive for the sake of Allah, has already completed Iman [faith]. Reported by AbuDawood and others from the narration of Abu Umama al bahili(may Allah bepleased with him).

And loving for Allah is wider thanloving for Allah's sake, it comprises whatever is loved for the sake of Allah(the Exalted) such as persons, actions, utterances, aims, characters, places,periods and so on.

Likewise, giving for the sake of Allahis more encompassing in meaning than just donation of wealth; rather, itcomprises all what can be given, Including; wealth, honor, knowledge, efforts,and time.

Likewise, forbiddance.

Therefore, whoever makes his love forthe sake of Allah, his hatred for the sake of Allah, his donations for the sakeof Allah, and his forbiddance for the sake of Allah; he is a Mu'min who has metall conditions of Iman [faith]

Chapter: the articles of faith are sixas was explained by the Prophet (S.A.W) in his sayings;

«أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِوَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ».

Meaning:"Iman [faith] is to believein Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the last day and tobelieve in destiny- good and bad

It is obligatory upon every Muslim tobelieve in these articles; whoever disbelieves in any one among them is[considered] a pagan, i.e., non-Muslim.

And Iman [faith] has other [sub]branches which are ramified from these [six] branches just as the branches of atree are ramified from it as well, and the more a servant fulfils theproperties [i.e, sub branches] of Iman and its acts, the more he will beperfect in his faith. Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated thatthe Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«الإِيمَانُ بِضْعٌ وَسَبْعُونَ أَوْبِضْعٌ وَسِتُّونَ شُعْبَةً فَأَفْضَلُهَا قَوْلُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَدْنَاهَاإِمَاطَةُ الأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ وَالْحَيَاءُ شُعْبَةٌ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ» [صحیح مسلم].

Meaning: "Iman has a few above seventyor few above sixty branches, the superior is saying La'ilaha- illa- llah, andthe inferior is removing harmful things from the path, and shyness is one ofthe branches of faith." Reported by Muslim.

Hence, the branches of Iman are itsattributes and its parts, amongst them are cardiac, verbal and active services,and the Prophet (S.A.W) has given an example of each kind. Thus, his saying;"La'ilahailla-llah" is a speech by tongue, and removing harmfulobjects from the path is an active practice, while shyness is cardiac [ i.e.the work of the heart]

One may combine between the attributesof faith and those of hypocrisy in him simultaneously. Thus, there will be inhim – at once- some habits of faith and some of hypocrisy, and consequently hewill be characterized by nifaq [hypocrisy] until he gives it up. As the Prophet(S.A.W) said:

«أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا،أَوْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِحَتَّى يَدَعَهَا: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا عَاهَدَغَدَرَ، وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ». [متفق عليه].

Meaning: Whoever has the following four[characteristics] will be a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of it will haveone characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up; whenever he is entrusted,he betrays, whenever he speaks, he lies, whenever he makes a covenant, heproves treacherous, and whenever he quarrel, he behaves in a very imprudent,evil and insulting manner. Bukahri and Muslim.

Chapter: The Prophet (S.A.W) hasexplained the meaning of Al'ihsan [perfection] in his saying;

Meaning: Ihsan means to worship Allah asif you are seeing Him, and if you are not seeing him then, he is seeing you.

And Allah has created us in order totest us as to which of us is best in deed. And He had told us that among thepurposes of creating us is to test us, who among us will be best in deed. As Hesaid:

﴿وَهُوَٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ وَكَانَ عَرۡشُهُۥعَلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلٗاۗ﴾ [هود:7].

Meaning: And it is He who created theheavens and the earth in six days – and His thrown had been upon water- that Hemight test you as to which of you is best in deed. Q10: V7. And He (theAlmighty) said:

﴿ٱلَّذِيخَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلٗاۚوَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٢﴾ [الملك:2].

Meaning: And He who created death andlife to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed- and He is the Exalted inMight, the Forgiving. Q67: V2. Fudail the binIyad [one of the piouspredecessors in Islam] said:

«﴿أَحۡسَنُعَمَلٗا﴾ أي أخلصه وأصوبه».

Meaning:"… Best in deed…" i.e,the most sincere and most correct.

For, a work will not be good until it isdone sincerely for the sake of Allah (the Exalted) and correct in accordancewith the traditions of the Prophet (S.A.W).

Following the guidance of the Prophet(S.A.W) saves from extremism and negligence.

With this, you know that among thenullifiers of Ihsan [perfection] is shirk [polytheism], bid'ah [innovation],negligence and extremism.

Therefore, a polytheist is an evil doernot a Philanthropist, likewise the innovator and the extremist.

Ihsan [perfection] is of two degrees;

The Ihsan which is wajib [compulsory]that is performing obligations with sincerity [to Allah] and according to theteachings of the Prophet (S.A.W), without extremism or negligence.

And the Ihsan which is mustahabb [i.e,desirable] that is; drawing closer to Allah by performing Annawafil[supererogatory acts of worship] and completing the non-compulsory parts ofIbadah and its manners, and abstaining from ambiguities and undesirable acts,so that he worships Allah as if he sees Him, and he strives in performing actsof worship in its most perfect form, within his capacities. So, he should notcharge himself with what is beyond his capacity and he should not be negligentby leaving what he can afford to do from the acts of worship which will bringhim closer to Almighty Allah.

And Ihsan [perfection] in every act ofworship depends on its kind, and all that is determined by the strength of hissincerity [to Allah] and following the guidance of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) inthat particular act of worship.

[For instance], perfection in wudoo [ablution]is achieved by doing it properly, completing its compulsory acts and ethics,without exceeding the legitimate boundaries in washing.

And perfection in Salah [Prayer] isachieved by establishing it humbly and serenely with the presence of mind, atthe beginning of its time, and that he establishes it as a farewell prayer insuch a way that he fulfills its necessary and supererogatory acts perfectly asif he is seeing Allah (the Almighty).

And perfection in Zakah [charity] andsadaqah [non-compulsory charity]-is achieved- by giving out charity whileseeking for Allah's pleasure, hopping for His mercy and fearing His punishment,wishing no reward or gratitude from whom he gave the charity, and he should notfollow up what he has spent with a remind of it or other injury, he should alsogive it out from the pleasant among his wealth, not the defected or detestableones, and without delaying the charity [from its right time] or causingdifficulties for the needy in receiving it, and he should not behave arrogantlyto him, [more over], he should not [give it] for Riya'a or sum'ah [i.e, forpeople to see or hear].

Likewise other acts of worship, aservant ought to try to be perfect in it to the best of his ability, and heshould follow the guidance of the Prophet (S.A.W) in that.

And whoever desires perfection and prayto Allah to assist him in achieving it, there is hope for him to be grantedwith success in achieving it. Abu- Dardaa (may Allah be pleased with him)said;" verily, knowledge is – only acquired- by learning, and patience isacquired by struggle, and whoever struggle for good will be granted success init, and whoever takes precaution against evil would be protected from it".

The doors of Ihsan are many, in theauthentic book of Imam Muslim from the narration of Shaddad Ibn Aws bin Thabit(may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«إنَّ اللهَ كتَبَ الإحسانَ على كلِّشيءٍ؛ فإذا قَتَلْتُم فَأَحْسِنُوا القِتْلةَ، وإذا ذَبَحْتُمفأَحْسِنوا الذِّبْحةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أحدُكُم شَفْرَتَهُ وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبيحَتَهُ».

Meaning: "Verily Allah hasprescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if youslaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let himspare the animal he slaughters from suffering."

Thus, perfection is prescribed in allthings, and perfection in everything depends on it. The Prophet (S.A.W)explained here perfection in slaughtering. So, he who diverts from his guidanceby not sharpening the blade and does not spare the animal he slaughters fromsuffering, would not have practiced perfection in his slaughter.

And this shows the importance ofknowledge in the religion, because with it, a seeker of Ihsan will knows theguidance of the Prophet (S.A.W) in the acts of worship. Thus, he knows hisguidance in Wudoo [ablution], prayer, charity, fasting, jihad, transactions,eating and drinking, sleeping, marriage, social relations, charity, relationsand treating people with their individual differences, and so on.

A servant will not reach the degree ofperfection except by Allah's assistance and success. That is why it islegislated- at the end of every salah [prayer] -for one to supplicate with

«اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّيْ عَلَى ذِكْرِكَوَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ».

Meaning: O Allah, help meremember You, express

Gratitude to You and worshipYou in the best manner.

Therefore, the servant's need for Allah'shelp in achieving Ihsan [perfection] is continuous and frequent.

Lesson six: The meaning of Ibadah

Al'ibabah [Worship] means servility,submission and compliance, with utmost love and glorification.

And every act that brings (one) nearerto a deity is Ibadah.

Therefore, al-Ibadah (worship) in Islamis a comprehensive term for everything that Allah loves and is pleased with, interms of speech and actions, inwardly and outwardly.

Ibadah is categorized into the worshipof the heart, tongue, and organs.

Allah has ordered (mankind) to sincerelyworship Him alone, without [associating] partners [to Him]. Allah the Most highsaid:

﴿هُوَ ٱلۡحَيُّلَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَۗ ٱلۡحَمۡدُلِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٦٥﴾ [المؤمن:65].

Meaning: "He is the Ever- living;there is no deity except Him, so call upon Him, [being] sincere to Him inreligion. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds". Q40: V65. AndHe said:

﴿قُلۡإِنِّيٓ أُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ١١﴾ [الزمر:11].

Meaning: "Say, [O Muhammad],"Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him inreligion". Q39: V11.

Allah has also ordered (mankind) tofollow the prophet's guidance in Ibadah, and that all forms of Ibadah should bedone inconformity with his traditions. Allah the Most high said:

﴿وَأَنزَلۡنَآإِلَيۡكَ ٱلذِّكۡرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ﴾ [النحل:44].

Meaning: "And we revealed to youthe message [i.e., the Quran] that you may make clear to the people what wassent down to them…" Q16: V44. And He said:

﴿وَمَآءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَٱنتَهُواْ﴾ [الحشر:7].

Meaning: "And whatever theMessenger has given you- take it and whatever he has forbidden you- refrainfrom(it) …" (Q59:V7)

Allah –the Most high- does not acceptany act of worship from anybody unless it fulfills two conditions; sincerityand concordance with the practice of the Prophet (S.A.W). A servant will not bea Muslim until he is sincere to Allah in religion, and follows the [teachingsof] the Prophet (S.A.W). Therefore, whoever performs [his] Ibadahsincerely to Allah, and correctly according to the tradition of the Prophet(S.A.W) then it is [considered] correct and a righteous deed.

Allah has made it clear for us in Hisbook that He created us to a great purpose, and that is worshiping Him alonewithout associating partner to Him. Allah the Exalted said:

﴿وَمَاخَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ ٥٦﴾ [الذاریات: 56].

Meaning: And I did not create the Jinnand Mankind except to worship Me [alone]. Q51: V56. And Allah the Most highsaid:

Therefore, he who shuns shirk[polytheism], become sincere to Allah in religion, and follows the Prophet's[traditions] (S.A.W), is a Muslim and has been promised admittance intoparadise and salvation from Hell Fire.

Whoever performs the obligatory acts ofworship and obeys Allah in what He has made obligatory, and shun what He Hasmade forbidden, he is among the pious and faithful servants of Allah for whomAllah decreed safety from punishment and promised great favor in this world andthe hereafter.

And whoever fulfills the compulsory andsupererogatory acts ,and keeps away from forbidden and detested acts, andworships Allah as though he is seeing Him, then he is among the servants ofAllah who have attain the level of "Ihsan", and Allah has preparedfor them higher ranks in Paradise.

With this you will understand that thethings which affect the servitude of a servant to his lord –the almighty- areof three categories:

The first category is Major Shirk. Thatis worshiping other deity besides Allah- the almighty. So, whoever directs anyact of worship to any deity besides Allah is a Mushrik [polytheist] Kafir[pagan] and neither compulsory nor supererogatory acts would be accepted fromhim. Like those who invoke Idols, pious people, trees, and stones in such a waythat they slaughter for their sake, ask them satisfaction of needs and pushingaway adversity.

These [kind of people] are pagans,polytheists, withdrawn from the religion of Islam, and whoever dies among themwithout repentance will eternally dwell in Hell Fire. We seek refuge with Allahfrom that.

The second category is Minor Shirk.Among its [examples] are; Arriya'a and Assum'ah in such a way that hebeautifies his acts of worship, like prayer, charity and so on for people tosee or hear and praise him. Whoever does that is not sincere to Allah- the kindof sincerity which rescues from the punishment (of the hereafter). So, such aperson, although has not actually worshiped other than Allah physically, but byseeking people's praise and commendation [for his acts], he has requestedreward from other than Allah. Hence, he is a polytheist who has committed aminor shirk which spoils the particular act in which it occurred. The Prophet(S.A.W) said – from what he narrated from his lord- almighty-, "AlmightyAllah Said, I am the One Who is most free from the need of partners. He whodoes a thing and associate-in it- someone else with Me, I discard him and hispolytheism..'' reported by Imam Muslim from the narration of Abu Huraira [maythe blessings of Allah be upon him].

And among the [examples] of minor shirkis sticking of a person's heart to worldly [materials] and making it his utmostinterest in such a way that he abandons obligatory acts and commits forbiddenacts. Thus, in his heart is servitude to this world. The Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«تَعِسَ عَبْدُ الدِّينَارِ وَعَبْدُالدِّرْهَمِ وَعَبْدُ الْخَمِيصَةِ إِنْ أُعْطِيَ رَضِيَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطَ سَخِطَتَعِسَ وَانْتَكَسَ، وَإِذَا شِيْكَ فَلاَ انْتَقَشَ» [رواه البخاريُّ من حديثِ أبيهُريرةَt].

Meaning: "May he be miserable, theworshiper of the dinar [Gold currency] and the worshiper of dirham [silvercurrency], and the worshiper of the striped silk cloak. If he is given[something] he approves but if he is not given he becomes angry. He ismiserable and relapse, if he steps on a thorn let it be irremovable. Reported by Bukhari from the narration of Abu huraira.

This is an invocation from the Prophet(S.A.W) upon him with misery and relapsing, whenever he rises from a fall, hefalls again, and whenever he is befallen by an affliction, he is not guided tothe way out of it, and the reason behind that is his servitude to this worldand his careless [attitude towards]Almighty Allah.

The Prophet (S.A.W) has explained thecriterion in that where he said: If he is given anything, he is satisfied, butif not, he is discontented. So when a person makes this world his utmost aim,in such a way that he is pleased when he is given, and when he is not given heis continuously discontented with Allah's divine decree, weary of Him and hisheart is not free for Almighty Allah.

This is among the characteristics of thehypocrites as said by Allah- the Exalted- concerning them:

﴿وَمِنۡهُممَّن يَلۡمِزُكَ فِي ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ فَإِنۡ أُعۡطُواْ مِنۡهَا رَضُواْ وَإِن لَّمۡيُعۡطَوۡاْ مِنۡهَآ إِذَا هُمۡ يَسۡخَطُونَ ٥٨﴾ [التوبة: 58].

Meaning: "And among them are somewho criticize you concerning the [distribution of] charities. If they are givenfrom it, they approve; but if they are not given from it, suddenly they becomeangry". Q9: V58.

So, whoever is of this nature, is [actually]not sincere to Allah in his acts of worship. Rather, in his heart is servitudeto other than Allah – the Exalted- and the effects of this are witnessed inanyone whose heart sticks to wealth or leadership or someone he loves, to theextent that he offends Allah for his sake. Thus, there will be in his heart,slavery to that which he loves and sticks to and offends Allah for his sake.Whoever sticks to anything besides Allah is punished with it.

The third category is Committing sins bydoing some things that are forbidden, or by neglecting some obligations.Whenever a servant offends his Lord there will be decrease in his servitude toAllah –the exalted.

And the most perfect of servants inservitude to Allah, is the one who is straightforward on Allah's commands.Allah –the Most high- said:

﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَقَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَاهُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ ١٣ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاجَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٤﴾ [الأحقاف:13-14].

Meaning: "Indeed, those who have said,our Lord is Allah," and then remain on a right course- there will be nofear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those are the companions ofParadise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do".Q46: V13and 14. And Allah –the Exalted said:

﴿إِنَّٱلَّذِينَ قَالُواْ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَٰمُواْ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُأَلَّا تَخَافُواْ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُواْ وَأَبۡشِرُواْ بِٱلۡجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُمۡتُوعَدُونَ ٣٠ نَحۡنُ أَوۡلِيَآؤُكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَفِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖوَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَا تَشۡتَهِيٓ أَنفُسُكُمۡ وَلَكُمۡ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ ٣١نُزُلٗا مِّنۡ غَفُورٖ رَّحِيمٖ ٣٢ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ قَوۡلٗا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِوَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ٣٣﴾ [فصلت:30-33].

Meaning: "Indeed, those who havesaid, our Lord is Allah," and then remain on a right course- the angelswill descend upon them, [saying],"Do not fear and do not grieve butreceive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised (30) We [angels] wereyour allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will havetherein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever yourequest [or wish] (31) As accommodation from a[Lord who is] Forgiving andmerciful (32) And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and dorighteousness and says, "Indeed I am of the Muslims (33). Q41: V30-33.

The servitude of the heart is[based on] three great things: They are:love, fear and hope. It is obligatory upon a servant to be sincere to Allah inthese great acts of worship Thus, he loves Allah with the most magnificent[kind of] love, and does not associate any partner to Allah among His creaturesin this utmost love. As Allah- the Most high- said:

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَءَامَنُوٓاْ أَشَدُّ حُبّٗا لِّلَّهِ﴾ [البقرة: 165].

Meaning:" But those who believe arestronger in love for Allah". Q2: V165.

And he fears the anger of Allah and Hispunishment such that he abstains from offending Allah as a result of his fearfor Allah. And he hopes for Allah's mercy, forgiveness, favor and charity.

Whoever becomes so, does not despair ofrelief from Allah, and does not feel secure from the plan of Allah. Rather, heremains in a state of combination between hope and fear as Allah- the Exalted-ordered His servants in His sayings:

﴿وَٱدۡعُوهُ خَوۡفٗا وَطَمَعًاۚ إِنَّرَحۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٥٦﴾ [الأعراف:56].

Meaning: "And invoke Him in fearand aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good".Q7: V56.

So, invocation here includes du'aamas'ala[I.e, supplications of request] and du,aa ibada [i.e., supplications ofworship]

And the servant's love for his Lord willpush him towards getting closer to Him, yearning to meet Him, feeling pleasurein remembering Him, and it will cause him to love what Allah loves and hatewhat He hates. Thus, he will fulfill the worship of Alwalaa wa-Albaraa [i.e,Loyalty and Enmity] as a result of his sincere love for Allah-The Most High.

And his fear of Allah will make himabstain from doing the unlawful and neglecting obligatory duties. Hence, hewill be of the pious servants of Allah who avoided the causes of Allah's angerand punishment, as a result of their fear of Him.

And his hope in Allah will motivate himto do good things because of what he hopes from its great reward and thepleasure of Allah's blessings for the obedient servants.

Lesson Seven: Explanation of the Meaning of Alkufrubi-ttaghut [i.e, Rejection of false deities].

Allah (the Most high) said:

﴿لَآإِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡبِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰلَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٥٦﴾ [البقرة: 256].

Meaning: "There shall be nocompulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has becomedistinct from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in taghut [false objects ofworship] and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold withno break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing". Q2: V256. And [Allah]the Most high said:

﴿وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٖرَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ﴾ [النحل: 36].

Meaning:" And We certainly sentinto every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid taghut[false objects of worship]". Q16: V36.

And [Allah] the Most high said:

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجۡتَنَبُواْٱلطَّٰغُوتَ أَن يَعۡبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ﴾ [الزمر: 17]

Meaning:" And those who haveavoided taghut, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allah, for them are goodtidings. So give good tidings to My servants". Q39: V17.

Thus, rejection of false deitiesand servitude to Allah with sincerity and without associating any partner toHim is the [real] meaning of Attauheed [Islamic monotheism]. A servant will notbe a Muslim who practices Monotheism until he disbelieves in Attaghut [falsedeities].The word Attaghut refers to any deity worshiped besides Allah, whetherby invoking him, seeking help from him, relying on him, slaughtering for hissake [i.e, to offer sacrifices with the intention of worship to anyone otherthan Allah] and making vows to him or following him in legalizing what isunlawful and prohibiting the lawful or by referring legislation to him andbeing satisfied with his judgment.

Ibn Jareer (may Allah have mercy on him)said:" the right [opinion] to me concerning the [meaning of] Attaghut is that,it is a [general term that could be applied to] any oppressor [who claims to bedeity], and is worshiped besides Him [i.e, Allah] whether by compulsion from himon the worshiper, or by compliance from the worshiper himself, be it Mankind orDevil or an idol or whatever the deity may be".

Attaghut is one who reaches the greatestextent in tyranny, and averts from the way of Allah frequently and lead astrayto a great extent.

There are many false dieties worshipedbesides Allah. The most famous and worst among the categories of false deitiesare three; the accursed Satan, the idols which are worshiped besides Allah andthose who prefer to legislate with other than what Allah has revealed.

The first category is; theaccursed Satan. He is the source of Allacts of shirk and Tyranny. In fact, all acts of worship devoted to deitiesother than Allah are [in reality] the worship of Satan because he is the sourceand cause of it. Allah the Exalted said:

﴿۞أَلَمۡأَعۡهَدۡ إِلَيۡكُمۡ يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ أَن لَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَۖإِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ مُّبِينٞ ٦٠ وَأَنِ ٱعۡبُدُونِيۚهَٰذَا صِرَٰطٞ مُّسۡتَقِيمٞ ٦١﴾ [یس:60-61].

Meaning: "Did I not enjoin uponyou, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan – for indeed, he is to youa clear enemy- And that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path".Q36: V60 and 61.

And [He] the Exalted said:

﴿إِنَّٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنيَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلَۢا بَعِيدًا ١١٦ إِن يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ إِنَٰثٗا وَإِن يَدۡعُونَ إِلَّاشَيۡطَٰنٗا مَّرِيدٗا ١١٧ لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُۘ وَقَالَلَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنۡ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبٗا مَّفۡرُوضٗا ١١٨ وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمۡوَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمۡ وَلَأٓمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِوَلَأٓمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَوَلِيّٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ خَسِرَ خُسۡرَانٗا مُّبِينٗا ١١٩ يَعِدُهُمۡ وَيُمَنِّيهِمۡۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ إِلَّاغُرُورًا ١٢٠أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَعَنۡهَا مَحِيصٗا ١٢١﴾ [النساء: 116-121].

Meaning: "Indeed Allah does notforgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whomHe wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray(116) They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they[actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan (117), Whom Allah has cursed.For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specificportion(118) And I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will commandthem so they will split the ears of cattle, and I will command them so theywill change the creation of Allah." And whoever takes Satan as ally insteadof Allah certainly sustained a clear loss(119) He [i.e, Satan] promises themand arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them exceptdelusion(120) The refuge of those will be Hell, and they will not find from itan escape(121). Q4: V16-21.

Allah the (Almighty) has already decreedthat the punishment of those who turn away from His remembrance is thedomination of devils over them. Allah (the Most high) said:

﴿وَمَنيَعۡشُ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضۡ لَهُۥ شَيۡطَٰنٗا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٞ٣٦ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُممُّهۡتَدُونَ ٣٧ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَيَٰلَيۡتَ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكَ بُعۡدَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ فَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡقَرِينُ ٣٨ وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِذ ظَّلَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِمُشۡتَرِكُونَ ٣٩﴾ [الزخرف:36-39].

And whoever is blinded from remembranceof the most merciful- We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him acompanion(36) And indeed, they [i.e, the devils] avert them from the way [ofguidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided(37) Until, when hecomes to Us [at judgment], he says [to his companion], how I wish there wasbetween me and you the distance between the east and west; and what a wretchedcompanion(38) And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged,that you are [all] sharing in the punishment (39). Q43: V36-39.

And keeping away from this Attaghut isachieved by seeking refuge with Allah from him [i.e, devil] and takingprecaution from his deception, and abstention from following his steps, becausehe is an enemy who clearly misleads.

﴿كُتِبَ عَلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُۥ مَن تَوَلَّاهُ فَأَنَّهُۥ يُضِلُّهُۥوَيَهۡدِيهِ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ٤﴾ [الحج: 4].

It has been decreed for him [i.e, everydevil] that whoever turns to him- will misguide him to the punishment of theblaze. Q21: V4.

Being an ally to the devil is byfollowing his steps believing in his promises and looking up to his desideratumand committing what he decorates among the evil deeds and turning away fromAllah's guidance. So, whoever does that has become an ally to the devil.

And the devil attends to Mankind in allof his affairs, just as in an authentic tradition from the Prophet (S.A.W)reported by Muslim in [his book] Assaheeh from the narration of Jabir the sonof Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them).

prevention from the devil is achieved bya sincere resort to Allah (the Exalted), and following the guidance of AllahWho protects from the evil of Satan and his polytheism.

And among the things that Allah guidedus to, with which we will be protected from the evil of Satan, is by frequentlyseeking refuge with Allah from him[i.e, Satan], believing in Allah, relying onHim, sincerity to Him, frequent remembrance of Allah and the legislatedincantations.

Allah has warned us from following thetracks of Satan, and from committing things with which Satan prevails over,which are contrary to the above mentioned. Thus, weakness in faith, weakness inreliance and sincerity, being heedless of the remembrance of Allah (theExalted) and negligence of legislated incantations, all these are causes of theprevalence of the devil over a person.

Likewise, that with which Satan gets aninlet into over powering a person, like intense anger, Extreme joy, poring overdesires, deviation from the community, solitary, most especially on journey,Gossiping between people, seclusion of man with a woman, evil assumption andfrequent visits to suspicious places must all be avoided.

It is legislated for a person to sayBismillah [i.e, in the name of Allah] in every aspect of his life in order togain blessing and protection from the deception of Satan. So, a servant shouldsay Bismillah when he eats, drinks, enters or leaves his house, when he wakesup in the morning, when he reaches evening, when he rides, when he has sexualintercourse, when he enters into the toilet, and when he intends to sleep.

In saheeh Muslim from the narration ofAbu Sa'id Alkhudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that verily, the Prophet(S.A.W) said:

«إذا تَثَاءَبَ أحَدُكُمْفَلْيَكْظِمْ ما اسْتَطَاعَ؛ فإنَّ الشَّيْطانَ يَدْخُلُ في فِيهِ».

Meaning: "If one of you yawns, heshould inhibit as much as possible, because the devil enters into his mouth.

In another narration of Ahmad andAbdurrazzak:

«إِذَا تَثَاءَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ،فَلْيَضَعْ يَدَهُ عَلَى فِيهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ مَعَ التَّثَاؤُبِ».

Meaning: "If one of you yawns, heshould put his hand over his mouth, because the devil enters along with theyawning.

So whoever follows Allah's directivesfrom the guidance, he will be in a fortresses, secured from the evils of Satan,and whoever neglects (the guidance), will not be saved from being affected bysome evils , harm and seduction of Satan, due to his negligence.

The second category: theidols that are worshiped besides Allah the(Almighty). These false deities are of different kinds:

Among them are; the idols and statuesthat are sculptured in the form of images, either images of men or animals, orother things. Among the polytheist are those who claim that these things canbenefit and harm, and among them are those who claim that they can intercedefor whoever calls on them and seeks closeness to them through sacrifices, vowsand ask for the fulfillment of their needs. Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿قَالَ أَتَعۡبُدُونَ مَا تَنۡحِتُونَ ٩٥ وَٱللَّهُخَلَقَكُمۡ وَمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٩٦﴾

الصافات: 95-96].

Meaning: "Do you worship that whichyou [yourselves] carved. While Allah created you and that which you do? Q37:V95 and 96.

And (the Most high) said:

﴿وَٱتۡلُعَلَيۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٦٩ إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦ مَاتَعۡبُدُونَ ٧٠ قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ أَصۡنَامٗا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ ٧١ قَالَهَلۡ يَسۡمَعُونَكُمۡ إِذۡ تَدۡعُونَ ٧٢ أَوۡ يَنفَعُونَكُمۡ أَوۡ يَضُرُّونَ ٧٣قَالُواْ بَلۡ وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفۡعَلُونَ ٧٤ قَالَأَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡبُدُونَ ٧٥ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُمُ ٱلۡأَقۡدَمُونَ٧٦ فَإِنَّهُمۡ عَدُوّٞ لِّيٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٧٧ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَنِيفَهُوَ يَهۡدِينِ ٧٨ وَٱلَّذِي هُوَ يُطۡعِمُنِي وَيَسۡقِينِ ٧٩ وَإِذَا مَرِضۡتُفَهُوَ يَشۡفِينِ ٨٠ وَٱلَّذِي يُمِيتُنِي ثُمَّ يُحۡيِينِ ٨١ وَٱلَّذِيٓ أَطۡمَعُأَن يَغۡفِرَ لِي خَطِيَٓٔتِي يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ ٨٢﴾ [الشعراء: 69-82].

Meaning: "And recite to them thenews of Abraham(69),

When he said to his father and hispeople, what do you worship?(70)

They said, we worship idols and remainto them devoted(71)

He said, "Do they hear you when yousupplicate?(72)

Or do they benefit you, or do theyharm?(73)

They said, "But we found our fathersdoing that.(74)"

He said, "Then do you see what youhave been worshiping,(75) You and your ancient fore fathers?(76)

Indeed they are enemies to me except theLord of the worlds(77) Who created me and [it is He] who guides me(78)

And it is He who feeds me and gives medrink(79)

And when I am ill, it is He who curesme(80)

And who cause me to die and then bringme to life(81)

And who I aspire that He will forgive memy seen on the day of Recompense (82). Q26: V69-82.

And (the Most high) said:

﴿۞وَلَقَدۡءَاتَيۡنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ رُشۡدَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِۦ عَٰلِمِينَ ٥١ إِذۡقَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنتُمۡ لَهَاعَٰكِفُونَ ٥٢ قَالُواْ وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا لَهَا عَٰبِدِينَ ٥٣ قَالَ لَقَدۡكُنتُمۡ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُمۡ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ ٥٤ قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَابِٱلۡحَقِّ أَمۡ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱللَّٰعِبِينَ ٥٥ قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمۡ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِوَٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ ٥٦وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصۡنَٰمَكُم بَعۡدَ أَن تُوَلُّواْ مُدۡبِرِينَ ٥٧﴾ [الأنبیاء: 51-57].

Meaning: "And We had certainlygiven Abraham his sound judgment, before, and We were of him well- knowing (51)

When he said to his father and hispeople, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?" (52)

They said, "We found our fathersworshipers of them (53)

He said, "You were certainly, youand your fathers, in manifest error (54)

They said "Have you come to us withtruth, or are you of those who jest?" (55)

He said, "No, rather, your Lord isthe Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am ofthose who testify (56)

And [I swear] by Allah, I will surely planagainst your Idols after you have turned and gone away" (57) Q21: V51-57.

And among [the examples of] idols, aresome trees and stones that are dignified, in which some polytheists haveInfidel beliefs. Thus, they believe that it [possesses] benefit and harm, andthat they intercede with God almighty for those who invokes them and draw nearto them.

Indeed the idols, trees and stones thatwere worshiped in the pre-Islamic era were too many, even around the Kaabaalone; there were three hundred and sixty idols, which were destroyed by theProphet (S.A.W) on the conquest of Makah. There were in some Arabneighborhoods, trees and many stones that are glorified and worshiped besidesAllah Almighty.

And among [the examples of] idols, arethe graves, scenes, sepulchers and shrines that are worshiped besides AllahAlmighty. Thus, they circumambulate around it, for the sake of worship, theyoffer sacrifices to them, offering vows and wealth to them. On some of themwere custodians and male servants keeping (people) away from the path of Allah,and eating their wealth unlawfully, and decorating for them, the act of seekingfulfillment of needs from the dead and repulsion of afflictions.

The Prophet (S.A.W) has already said:

«اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْ قَبْرِيوَثَنًا يُعْبَدُ» [رواه مالك].

Meaning:" O God, do not make mygrave an idol that is worshiped. Reported by Malik.

In fact, the Prophet (S.A.W) forbadetaking graves for mosques, to avoid worshiping the deceased buried there in.

Jundubu the son of Abdullah (may Allahbe pleased with him) narrated: verily the Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانُوايَتَّخِذُونَ قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ وَصَالِحِيهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ، أَلاَ فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُواالْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ، إِنِّي أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ» [رواه مسلم].

Meaning: "verily, those whopreceded you used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men asplaces of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to dothat. Reported by Muslim.

And Abu Ubaidah Amir the son of Aljarrah(may Allah be pleased with him) said:

«كَانَ آخِرُ مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِنَبِيُّ اللهِ ﷺ‬:أَنْ أَخْرِجُوا يَهُودَ الْحِجَازِ مِنْ جَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّشِرَارَ النَّاسِ الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ» [مسند أحمد].

Meaning:" The last statement spokenby the prophet of Allah was; expel the Jews of Hijaz from the ArabianPeninsula, and know that the evil people are those who take graves as places ofworship. Reported by Ahmad.

Taking graves as places of worship meansto pray on it, or towards it, or to build mosque on it. Whoever does one ofthese three has fallen into a forbidden act.

And among idols are; those things thatsymbolize shirk and worship of [deities] besides Almighty Allah, such asslogans and suspensions. As in sunan Attirmidhy, the Prophet (S.A.W) saw on theneck of Adyy the son of Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) a cross made ofgold, he said to him:

«يَا عَدِيُّ اطْرَحْ عَنْكَ هَذَاالوَثَنَ».

Meaning: "O Adyy! Throw away fromyou this idol.

The point is that whatever is worshipedbesides Allah is a taghut, be it an idol, stone, grave or anything else. Abuhuraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (S.A.W) hasindeed said:

«يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ يَوْمَالْقِيَامَةِ فَيَقُولُ: مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ شَيْئًا فَلْيَتَّبِعْهُ، فَيَتْبَعُمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الشَّمْسَ الشَّمْسَ، وَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الْقَمَرَالْقَمَرَ، وَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الطَّوَاغِيتَ الطَّوَاغِيتَ» [متفق عليه].

Meaning:" On the Day ofResurrection, Allah will gather all the people and say, 'Whoever used toworship anything should follow that thing. So, he who used to worship the sunwill follow it, and he who used to worship the moon will follow it, and he whoused to worship false deities will follow them. (Agreed upon).

This followership will be to the Hellfire, as Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّكُمۡوَمَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمۡ لَهَا وَٰرِدُونَ٩٨ لَوۡ كَانَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ءَالِهَةٗ مَّا وَرَدُوهَاۖ وَكُلّٞ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ٩٩ لَهُمۡ فِيهَا زَفِيرٞ وَهُمۡ فِيهَا لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ ١٠٠﴾ [الأنبیاء: 98-100].

Meaning: "Indeed, you[disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell.You will be coming to [enter] it (98) Had these [false deities] been [actually]gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein (99) For themtherein is heavy sighing, and they therein will not hear (100). Q21: V 98-100.

These verses indicate that these idolswill not benefit its worshipers [with anything] rather; it will be thrown intothe [Hell] fire on the Day of Judgment together with those who worship itbesides Almighty Allah severely.

But he who is worshiped besides Allahwhile he is not pleased with it is not a taghut. On the contrary, it is thepolytheists that have taken him as deity, Lord, and taghut thereby exaggeratingin his rights because of their belief in him. Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْأَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَسِيحَ ٱبۡنَمَرۡيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدٗاۖ لَّآإِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ ٣١﴾ [التوبة: 31].

Meaning: "They have taken theirscholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary.And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity exceptHim. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. Q9: V31. And (the Most high)said:

﴿إِنَّٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقَتۡ لَهُم مِّنَّا ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَنۡهَا مُبۡعَدُونَ١٠١ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ حَسِيسَهَاۖ وَهُمۡ فِي مَا ٱشۡتَهَتۡ أَنفُسُهُمۡ خَٰلِدُونَ١٠٢ لَا يَحۡزُنُهُمُ ٱلۡفَزَعُ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّىٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُهَٰذَا يَوۡمُكُمُ ٱلَّذِي كُنتُمۡ تُوعَدُونَ ١٠٣﴾ [الأنبیاء:101-103].

Meaning: "Indeed, those for whomthe best [reward] has preceded from Us- they from it [i.e, hell fire] farremoved (101) They will not hear itssound, while they are, in that which their souls desire, abiding eternally (102)They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angelswill meet them, [saying],"This is your day which you have beenpromised"- (103). Q21: V101-103.

Likewise, the pious servants of Allahthat are worshiped by the polytheists unjustly and falsely are innocent of thispolytheism. But he who agreed to be worshiped besides Allah, or called peopleto worship him, no doubt is [among the] False deities, as Pharaoh said to hiscompanions:

﴿مَاعَلِمۡتُ لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرِي﴾ [القصص: 38].

Meaning: "I have not known you tohave a god other than me,"

The third category: Those who legislate with other than Allah's revelation.

Whoever has authority over people in a[particular] city among the cities, and turns away from referring legislationto the laws of Allah in them, and rule them with his own legislations, therebylegalizing for them what Allah prohibited and prohibiting for them what Allahlegalized, then he is a taghut, who wishes to be worshiped besides AlmightyAllah, and worshiping him means obeying him in legalizing the unlawful andprohibiting the lawful.

The proof for that is an authenticnarration from Addy the son of Hatim Atta'iyya (may Allah be pleased with him)that he heard the Prophet (S.A.W) reciting the sayings of Allah (the exalted):

﴿ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْأَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ﴾ [التوبة:31].

Meaning: "They have taken theirscholars and monks as Lords besides Allah. Q9: V31.

He said; I then said, truly we do notworship them. He [the Prophet] then said:

«أليسَ يُحَرِّمونَ ما أحَلَّ اللهُ فتُحَرِّمُونَه، ويُحِلُّونَما حَرَّمَ اللهُ فتَسْتَحِلُّونَه؟»

Meaning:" do they not forbid whatAllah legalized and you accept it forbidden? And legalize what Allah prohibitedand you accept it lawful? I said: indeed.

«فَتِلْكَ عِبَادتُهم». [رواه البخاريُّ فيالتاريخِ الكبيرِ، والتِّرمذِيُّ والطَّبَرانِيُّ، واللفْظُ له]

He said: 'that is [what is meant by]worshiping them". Narrated by Albukhari in[his book] tarikhul kabir, and Attirmidhy and Attabarany and these wordings arehis.

And Hudhaifah the son of Al-Yamaan (mayAllah be pleased with them) said:

«أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا لَهُمْ،وَلَكِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مَا أَحَلُّوا لَهُمْ مِنْ حَرَامٍ اسْتَحَلُّوهُ، وَمَا حَرَّمُواعَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْحَلاَلِ حَرَّمُوهُ؛ فَتِلْكَ رُبُوبِيَّتُهُمْ». [رواه سعيدُ بنُ مَنصورٍ]

Meaning: "Certainly, they have notprayed to them, but they are compliant to what they legalize for them from theunlawful, and what they forbid on them from the lawful they accept it unlawful.Hence, that is Deism".

And among the False deities are theSoothsayers, fortune tellers and the magicians, who claim to have knowledge ofthe unseen, and the ignorant and misguided are referring legislation to them. Allahthe Exalted said:

﴿أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزۡعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِمَآأُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓاْإِلَى ٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَقَدۡ أُمِرُوٓاْ أَن يَكۡفُرُواْ بِهِۦۖ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُأَن يُضِلَّهُمۡ ضَلَٰلَۢا بَعِيدٗا ٦٠﴾ [النساء: 60].

Meaning: "Have you not seen thosewho claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and whatwas revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to taghut while theywere commanded to reject it, and Satan wishes to lead them far astray. Q4: V60.

The Prophet (S.A.W) forbids going to thefortune-tellers and magicians.

Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased withhim) narrated: Indeed, the Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا فَصَدَّقَهُبِمَا يَقُولُ، فَقَدْ كَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ -ﷺ‬-». [رواه الإمامُ أحمد منحديثِ أبي هُريرةَt].

Meaning: "Whoever goes to asoothsayer or fortune-teller, and believed him in what he says, has indeed,disbelieved with what is revealed to Muhammad (S.A.W). Reported by Ahmad from the narration of Abu huraira (may Allahbe pleased with him).

Ibnu Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased withhim) said:

«مَن أتى كاهِنًا أو سَاحِرًافصَدَّقه بما يقولُ فقد كَفَرَ بما أُنْزِلَ على مُحَمَّدٍ».

[رواهالبَزَّارُ].

Meaning: "Whoever goes to asoothsayer or magician, and believed him in what he says, has indeed,disbelieved with what is revealed to Muhammad (S.A.W). Reported by Al-Bazzar.

And turning away from the Rules of Allahand referring to His legislation, and requesting for the laws of taghutsis among the acts of Hypocrites which Allah dispraised in His Holy book. Thus,Allah said:

﴿وَيَقُولُونَءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعۡنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٞمِّنۡهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَۚ وَمَآ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٤٧ وَإِذَادُعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ إِذَا فَرِيقٞمِّنۡهُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٤٨ وَإِن يَكُن لَّهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ يَأۡتُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمُذۡعِنِينَ ٤٩ أَفِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ أَمِ ٱرۡتَابُوٓاْ أَمۡ يَخَافُونَ أَنيَحِيفَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَرَسُولُهُۥۚ بَلۡ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ٥٠ إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوۡلَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِوَرَسُولِهِۦ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَاۚوَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٥١ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥوَيَخۡشَ ٱللَّهَ وَيَتَّقۡهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَآئِزُونَ ٥٢﴾ [النور:47-52].

Meaning: "But they [i.e, theHypocrites] say, "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and weobey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are notbelievers (47) And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judgebetween them, at once a party of them turns aside [in refusal] (48) But if theright is theirs, they come to him in prompt obedience (49) Is there disease intheir hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allah will be unjustto them, or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrong doers [i.e, theunjust] (50) The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called toAllah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hearand we obey." And those are the successful (51) And whoever obeys Allahand His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him- it is those who arethe attainers (52). Q24: V47-52.

Chapter: And whoever follow False deities, his followership willonly increase him in misguidance, losses and darkness. However, whoeverdisbelieves in taghut and believed in Allah and follow His guidance,verily Allah will take him out of darkness to light, and guide him to the waysof peace and admit him into His mercy and grace.

Allah the Exalted said:

﴿ٱللَّهُوَلِيُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ يُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِۖ وَٱلَّذِينَكَفَرُوٓاْ أَوۡلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّٰغُوتُ يُخۡرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِۗأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٢٥٧﴾ [البقرة:257].

Meaning: "And Allah is the ally ofthose who believe. He brings them out from darkness into the light. And thosewho disbelieve – their allies are taghut. They take them out of the light intodarkness. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternallytherein. Q2: V257.

Hence, those false deities will bethrown together with their allies into the darkness of polytheism, ignorance,misguidance, puzzled doubt, depressed life and bad [condition] in the present[life] and the end (hereafter).

Whereas those who believe in Allah, theAlmighty Allah is their ally that will drive them out of darkness to the light.Thus, He will drive them out of the darkness of polytheism to the light ofmonotheism, and from humiliation of sin to the glory of obedience, and fromaberration of innovations to the way of Sunnah, and from puzzlement of doubt tothe coolness of certainty. And He will drive them out of narrowness and straitsto affluence and comfort, and from worry, fear and sadness to tranquility,peace and calmness. Allah increases those who are guided, in guidance. Thus,every day they are in [a continuous] increment in good and guidance, theirstages are [always] in advance and their rewards are duplicated.

﴿ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَنيَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٤﴾ [الجمعة:4].

This is the bounty of Allah, which Hegives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. Q62:V4

Lesson Eight: Warning against Shirk [Polytheism]and explanation of its classification.

Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿۞وَٱعۡبُدُواْٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُواْ بِهِۦ شَيۡٔٗا﴾ [النساء: 36].

Meaning: "Worship Allah andassociate nothing with Him, Q4: V36. And Allah (the exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّ ٱلشِّرۡكَ لَظُلۡمٌ عَظِيمٞ ١٣﴾ [لقمان:13].

Meaning: "Indeed, Polytheism [associatingpartner with Allah] is great injustice. Q31: V13.

And Allah (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: "Indeed, he who associatesothers with Allah- Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is Fire.And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers". Q5: V72. And Allah (theExalted) said:

Meaning: "Indeed, Allah does notforgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whomHe wills. And he who associates others with Allah has gone far astray. Q4:V116.

Abdullahi bin Mas'ud (may Allah bepleased with him) said: "I asked the Prophet, "Which is the greatest sin inthe Sight of Allah?" He said,"

«أَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِلَّهِ نِدًّا وَهْوَخَلَقَكَ» [متفق عليه].

Meaning: "That you set up a rivalunto Allah though He alone created you." (Agreed upon).

Jabir the son of Abdullah (may Allah bepleased with him) Narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

«مَنْ لَقِىَ اللَّهَ لاَ يُشْرِكُبِهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَقِيَهُ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ دَخَلَ النَّارِ». [رواه مسلمٌ].

Meaning:" The Messenger of Allah(May peace be upon him) said: He who meets Allah without associating anythingwith Him will enter Paradise and he who meets Him associating [anything] with Himwill enter Hell Fire. Reported by Muslim.

And shirk means, to worship [anydeity] besides Allah (the exalted). So, whoever invokes any one with Allah,whether invocation of request or invocation of worship, is a polytheist,pagan. He has indeed joined a partner and a rival to Allah in his worship, andAllah (the Exalted) does not agree to be joined with other [deities] inworship, neither a sent apostle nor a close angel [to Allah] or anyone otherthan them. Thus, Ibadah [worship] is the right of Allah alone. Allah (theExalted) said:

﴿إِنِ ٱلۡحُكۡمُإِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ﴾ [یوسف:40].

Meaning: "Legislation is but forAllah, He has commanded that you worship not except Him. Q12: V40.

And Allah the Exalted said:

﴿قُلۡأَرَءَيۡتُمۡ شُرَكَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِيمَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ﴾ [فاطر:40].

Meaning: "Say, "Have youconsidered your partners whom you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they havecreated from the earth.

And Allah the Exalted said:

﴿وَمَنيَدۡعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرۡهَٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَاحِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ ١١٧﴾ [المؤمنون:117].

Meaning: "And whoever invokesbesides Allah another deity for which he has no proof- then his account is onlywith his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed. Q23: V117.

Therefore, whoever invokes besides Allahany rival, he is a mushrik [i.e. polytheist].

And polytheism is the greatest sin whichAllah was offended with, and it is the worst of all things which Allah forbids;it is the greatest sin, the greatest injustice. It is a revocation of Allah'spromise and His covenant, a treason to the greatest probity and the biggestright. That is, the right of Allah (the great and almighty) for which Hecreated the creatures. That is, worshiping Him alone without [associating] partnerwith Him.

No wonder, its punishment is the worstpunishment in the world and in the hereafter.

As for this world, its (punishment) ishatred of Allah and His anger, as Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُنَادَوۡنَ لَمَقۡتُ ٱللَّهِ أَكۡبَرُ مِن مَّقۡتِكُمۡأَنفُسَكُمۡ إِذۡ تُدۡعَوۡنَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ فَتَكۡفُرُونَ ١٠﴾ [المؤمن:10].

Meaning: "Indeed, those whodisbelieve will be addressed, "The hatred of Allah for you were [even]greater than your hatred of yourselves [this day in Hell] when you were invitedto faith, but you disbelieved [i.e, refused] Q40: V10.

In addition to what will befall them inthis world from the penalty of what their hands acquired, as a result of their turningaway from the guidance of Allah, [as such they will be befallen by] delusion,misery, fear, sadness, hesitation, doubt, disorder, and miserable life. Even ifthey are made to enjoy in this world a little enjoyment to a limited time, itis indeed a punishment on them and bad consequence. Allah the (Exalted) said:

﴿لَايَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي ٱلۡبِلَٰدِ ١٩٦ مَتَٰعٞ قَلِيلٞثُمَّ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ ١٩٧﴾ [آل عمران: 196-197].

Meaning: "Be not deceived by the[uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] asmall enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the restingplace. Q3: V196 and 197.

And [Allah] the Most high said:

﴿وَمَن كَفَرَ فَلَا يَحۡزُنكَ كُفۡرُهُۥٓۚإِلَيۡنَا مَرۡجِعُهُمۡ فَنُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمُۢبِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ٢٣ نُمَتِّعُهُمۡ قَلِيلٗا ثُمَّ نَضۡطَرُّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍغَلِيظٖ ٢٤﴾ [لقمان:23-24].

Meaning: "And whoever hasdisbelieved –let not his disbelief grieve you. To Us is their return, and Wewill inform them on what they did. Indeed, Allah is Omniscient of [all privatethoughts and feelings that are reposited] in the bosoms. We will grant themenjoyment for a little; then We will force them to a massive punishment. Q31:V23 and 24.

And [Allah] the Most high said:

﴿وَمَن كَفَرَفَأُمَتِّعُهُۥ قَلِيلٗا ثُمَّ أَضۡطَرُّهُۥٓ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلنَّارِۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ١٢٦﴾

[البقرة: 126].

Meaning:"…And whoever disbelieves-I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to thepunishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination." Q2: V126.

And as for the hereafter, they will bein an intense and successive punishment, right from when their souls areplucked because of the curse of Allah upon them. Their souls will be pluckedintensively [while] they will be punished with it, and they will be punishedwith the fright of commencement (of the Day of Judgment), and by the sight ofangels assigned with punishment. They will be punished in their gravesseverely. They will be punished when they are resurrected with the fright ofthe Judgment Day and by the greatest fright. They will be punished with thelong standing in the courtyard [of the Judgment Day], and they will be punishedwith the nearness of the sun to them in a day the extent of which is fiftythousand years, and they will be punished in the courtyard [of the JudgmentDay], and afterwards, their final abode will be the Hell Fire abiding thereinforever, neither will its torment be lightened for them, nor shall they beremoved from it. Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمۡ كُفَّارٌأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ لَعۡنَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ وَٱلنَّاسِأَجۡمَعِينَ ١٦١ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنۡهُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمۡيُنظَرُونَ ١٦٢﴾ [البقرة: 161-162].

Meaning: "Indeed, those whodisbelieve and die while they are disbelievers- upon them will be the curse ofAllah and the angels and of the people, all together (161).

Abiding eternally therein, thepunishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved (162).Q2: V161 and 162. And He (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَٱلَّذِينَكَفَرُواْ لَهُمۡ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ لَا يُقۡضَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ فَيَمُوتُواْ وَلَايُخَفَّفُ عَنۡهُم مِّنۡ عَذَابِهَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي كُلَّ كَفُورٖ ٣٦ وَهُمۡيَصۡطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَآ أَخۡرِجۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَٰلِحًا غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِيكُنَّا نَعۡمَلُۚ أَوَ لَمۡ نُعَمِّرۡكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَوَجَآءَكُمُ ٱلنَّذِيرُۖ فَذُوقُواْ فَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ ٣٧﴾ [فاطر:36-37].

Meaning: "And for those whodisbelieve will be the Fire of Hell. [Death] is not decreed for them so theymay die, nor will its torment be lightened for them. Thus, do We recompenseevery ungrateful one (36). And they will cry out therein, "Our Lord,remove us; we will do righteousness- other than what we were doing!" Butdid We not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein toremember, and the Warner had come to you? So test the [punishment], for thereis not for the wrong doers any helper (37). Q35: V36 and 37.

And He (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱللَّهَ لَعَنَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ سَعِيرًا ٦٤ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآأَبَدٗاۖ لَّا يَجِدُونَ وَلِيّٗا وَلَا نَصِيرٗا ٦٥ يَوۡمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمۡفِي ٱلنَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَٰلَيۡتَنَآ أَطَعۡنَا ٱللَّهَ وَأَطَعۡنَا ٱلرَّسُولَا۠٦٦ وَقَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعۡنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَاٱلسَّبِيلَا۠ ٦٧ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِهِمۡ ضِعۡفَيۡنِ مِنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ وَٱلۡعَنۡهُمۡلَعۡنٗا كَبِيرٗا ٦٨﴾ [الأحزاب:64-68].

Meaning: "Indeed, Allah has cursedthe disbelievers and prepared for them a Blaze (64). Abiding therein forever,they will not find a protector or a helper (65). The day their faces will beturned about in the Fire, they will say, "How we wished we had obeyedAllah and obeyed the Messenger." (66) And they will say, "Our Lord,indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray fromthe [right] way.(67) Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse themwith a great curse (68). Q33: V64-68.

And among the evidences that indicatethe great danger of shirk and the necessity of being cautious of it isthat, whoever associates partner with Allah after being a Muslim, then hisdeeds will be in vain, and he will be among the pagans, the losers. As if hehas not done anything in the past, for Allah does not accept any deed from apolytheist. Allah (the Exalted) said:

Meaning: "And whoever desires otherthan Islam as religion- never will it be accepted from him, and he, in thehereafter, will be among the losers. Q3: V85.

And He [Allah] (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَلَقَدۡ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِنقَبۡلِكَ لَئِنۡ أَشۡرَكۡتَ لَيَحۡبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ٦٥ بَلِ ٱللَّهَ فَٱعۡبُدۡ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰكِرِينَ ٦٦﴾

[الزمر: 65-66].

Meaning: "And it was alreadyrevealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything]with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you will surely becomeamong the losers (65). Rather,worship [only] Allah and be among the grateful (66). Q39: V65-66.

And He [Allah] (the Exalted) said, aftermentioning the Prophets in chapter 6 suratu-Al'an'am and praising them:

﴿وَمِنۡءَابَآئِهِمۡ وَذُرِّيَّٰتِهِمۡ وَإِخۡوَٰنِهِمۡۖ وَٱجۡتَبَيۡنَٰهُمۡوَهَدَيۡنَٰهُمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ ٨٧ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ يَهۡدِيبِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۚ وَلَوۡ أَشۡرَكُواْ لَحَبِطَ عَنۡهُم مَّاكَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٨٨﴾ [الأنعام:87-88].

Meaning: "And [some] among theirfathers and their descendants and their brothers- and We chose them and Weguided them to a straight path. That is the guidance of Allah by which Heguides whoever He wills of His servants. But if they had associated others withAllah, then worthless for them would be what they were doing. Q6: V87 and 88.

Thus, the Prophets- in spite of theirrighteousness, honor and their closeness to Allah (the Exalted) and His greatlove for them- will not be forgiven for associating partner with Allah if theyhad done that. And we all know that Allah (the Most high) has preserved themfrom polytheism. Hence, those who are not Prophets are more entitled to thisrule, for Allah has retained this statement to be recited on us to ponder overand look attentively at it, and understand from it the greatness of the crime ofpolytheism.

Ashshirk[polytheism] is classified into two:

One of it is the major shirk, andit occurs in Arrububiyyah [i.e, the works of Allah] and Al'uluhiyyah [i.e, theacts of worship from the slaves which no one deserves except Allah].

As to the major shirk in Arrububiyyah,it means to believe that there is a partner to Allah in His works such ascreation, sustenance, ownership and planning.

And as for the major shirk inAl'uluhiyyah, it means invoking other than Allah, be it an invocation of requestor invocation of worship, and major shirk could be done by heart, by speech andby action.

Example of major shirk which is done by heart is believing that idols have power orauthority to dispose in this cosmos, and they have the knowledge of the unseen,they can harms and benefits. Likewise, loving idols, relying on them, andseeking assistance from them. All these are among the acts of worship done bythe heart which is forbidden to be devoted to any one besides Allah (theAlmighty). Therefore, whoever devotes these acts to any one besides Allah (theExalted), is a polytheist, a pagan.

And the example of major shirk which isdone by utterance is invoking idols besides Allah, and the blasphemous wordswhich are said in glorifying idols and praising them, and fabricating falsehoodagainst Allah.

And the example of shirk which is donewith the organs is offering sacrifices to [anything] other than Allah, makingvows to it and prostrating to it.

Major shirk withdraws from the religionof Islam, and whoever dies without repenting from it will not be forgiven byAllah, In fact, it necessitates the anger of Allah and eternity in the HellFire, we seek refuge with Allah.

The second category is theMinor shirk which is [anything] thatleads to the major shirk, and is called shirk in the texts [Quran and Hadith]without comprising any performance of worship to [any one] other than Allah the(Almighty).

And it may be done by heart by utteranceand by actions,

Thus, an example of minor shirk which isdone by heart is believing in the causality of something Allah has not made acause neither by law nor by destiny. Like believing that charms are beneficialin repelling calamity and believing in evil omen.

An example of minor shirk which has todo with actions is Arriya [i.e., doing things for others to see so that theycan praise you] by beautifying the prayers in other to gain people's praise andadmiration while worshiping Allah (the Almighty)

Thus, he prayed for Allah but he wantedpeople to praise him for the beauty of his salah [prayer].Perhaps he beautifiesit more for people to praise him more. This is a minor shirk because he has notbeen sincere to Almighty Allah in his aim, and it is not major shirk because hehas not worshiped other than Allah.

Examples of minor shirk in terms of utterances include; to tell somebody that whateveryou and Allah will, to swear by other than Allah, and to say (during rain fall)this rain is from so and so star. Minor shirk does not take one out of Islamneither does it necessitates eternity in Hell Fire. However, it is a great sinand it is obligatory on whoever falls into it to repent. If he does not repentthen he has made himself liable to the anger of Allah and His severepunishment.

Chapter: shirk (polytheism) can be obvious and hidden.

An obvious shirk is that which is clearand open such as calling on (a deity) other than Allah, making sacrifices toidols, and other actions and statements of shirk that are open and clear.

As for the hidden shirk, it can be majoror minor. The hidden and major shirk are the actions of major shirk that arehidden, such as relying on other than Allah to a large extent by resorting toother than Allah, depending on him and believing that he can benefit and harm.

The example of minor andhidden shirk is for the heart to beattached to this world to the extent that it affects it (negatively) in termsof its obligatory acts or committing some forbidden acts because of it. TheProphet indeed said:

«تَعِسَ عَبْدُ الدِّينَارِ وَعَبْدُالدِّرْهَمِ».

Meaning :"the servant of Dinar willbe miserable, the servant of Dirham will be miserable". Thus, he referredattachment to wealth as worshiping it. And among hidden shirk are things likepreferring obedience of other than Allah to obedience of Allah without intendingworship of other than Allah or being attached to other than Him and this is themost delicate form of hidden shirk and nearly no one is free from it.

Narrated from Ma'qal bn Yasaar- mayAllah be pleased with him- he said:

I went together with Abubakar Assideeqto the Prophet (SAW) so he said:

«يَا أَبَا بَكْر، لَلشِّرْكُ فِيكُمْأَخْفَى مِنْ دَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ».

Meaning:" O Abubakar, verily shirkamong you is more hidden than the creeping of the Ant". So, Abubakar said:is there any shirk other than associating partners with Allah in worship? So,the Prophet (SAW) said:

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ،لَلشِّرْكُ أَخْفَى مِنْ دَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ، أَلَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَاقُلْتَهُ ذَهَبَ عَنْكَ قَلِيلُهُ وَكَثِيرُهُ؟».

Meaning:" by the one in whose handsis my life, verily shirk is more hidden than the creeping of the Ant. Shall Inot direct you to something that if you say it shirk will go away from you boththe little and plenty of it. The Prophet said:

قُلِ:«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ،وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ».[رواه البخاري في الأدب المفرد].

Say: O Allah I seek refuge with you fromassociating partners with you knowingly and I ask your forgiveness for thatwhich I do not know". Reported by Albukhariin his book Adabul mufrad.

Hence, as for the hidden shirk, nearlyno one can escape from it except who ever Allah protects because it includespreferring your heart desires to obedience of Allah, and obeying some creaturesby disobeying Allah through major or minor sins. And this prophetic prayer is agreat way to gain freedom from it, take away its effect, and win Allah'sforgiveness.

Therefore, establishing Attauheed(Islamic Monotheism) is through submission of the heart and face to Allah.Thus, his obedience, love, hate, donation, and forbiddance will be for Allah'ssake. With this a person will be a believer with complete faith. We ask Allahfor His bounties.

Lesson nine: Warning against hypocrisy. (1\3)

Hypocrisy is the contradiction of external to the internal and it is oftwo types:

Majorhypocrisy which withdraws from Islam.

And theMinor hypocrisy which does not withdraws from the Religion.

As for theMajor hypocrisy, it means the manifestation of Islam and the concealment ofinfidelity.

Whereas theMinor hypocrisy means to have some hypocritical characters in a servant,which do not withdraw from Religion on its own, such as lying, breach ofpromise, and betrayal of trust, immorality in violence, and treachery ofcovenant. These characters have been called hypocrisy because of what itcarries of deception and inconsistency between the external and the internal ofa person.

Thecompanions of major hypocrisy which withdraws from Religion are of twocategories:

The firstcategory: He who does not actually embraced Islamrather; he pretends to be a Muslim deceptively and tries to plot against Islamand its followers, in order to secure himself from being killed, or rebuked byMuslims, while he is internally a disbeliever in Allah and the last day.

Allah (theExalted) said:

﴿وَمِنَٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ وَمَا هُمبِمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٨ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَإِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ٩﴾ [البقرة: 8-9].

Meaning:"And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and theLast Day, "but they are not believers.

They [thinkto] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselvesand perceive [it] not Q2: V8-9.

And [Allah](the Exalted) said:

﴿إِذَاجَآءَكَ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشۡهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُيَعۡلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشۡهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَلَكَٰذِبُونَ ١ ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَيۡمَٰنَهُمۡ جُنَّةٗ فَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚإِنَّهُمۡ سَآءَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٢﴾ [المنافقون: 1-2].

Meaning:"When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, "We testifythat you are the Messenger of Allah." And Allah knows that you are HisMessenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars. They have takentheir oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah. Indeed,it was evil that they were doing. Q63:V1-2

The secondcategory: He who apostates after his submissionto Islam by committing what violates Islam and withdraws from Religion althoughhe pretends to be Muslim, and among them are those who may be detected withtheir infidelity and withdrawal from Religion, and among them are those whothink they are doing well.

And thereis too much of hesitation, waver and doubt in the companions of this category,they carry out some acts of Muslims and they fall into some acts of infidelityand denial.

Allah (theExalted) said:

﴿إِنَّ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَوَهُوَ خَٰدِعُهُمۡ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَىٰيُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا ١٤٢مُّذَبۡذَبِينَ بَيۡنَ ذَٰلِكَ لَآ إِلَىٰ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَلَآ إِلَىٰهَٰٓؤُلَآءِۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلٗا ١٤٣﴾ [النساء: 142-143].

Meaning:"Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceivingthem. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselvesto] the people and not remembering Allah except a little (142). Waveringbetween them, [belonging] neither to these [i.e, the believers] nor to those[i.e, the disbelievers]. And whoever Allah sends astray- never will you findfor him a way (143). Q4:V142-143

And [Allah](the Exalted) said:

﴿وَمَامَنَعَهُمۡ أَن تُقۡبَلَ مِنۡهُمۡ نَفَقَٰتُهُمۡ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمۡ كَفَرُواْ بِٱللَّهِوَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأۡتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمۡ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَايُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمۡ كَٰرِهُونَ ٥٤﴾ [التوبة: 54].

Meaning:"Andnothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except thatthey disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad SAW); and that theycame not to As- Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state; and that theyoffer not contributions but unwillingly."Q9:V54

Thus, their falling intoacts of disbelief in Allah and His Messenger prevents their deeds from beingaccepted, because Allah (the exalted) does notaccept any deed from an unbeliever.

Furthermore,their laziness in going to prayer and hatred for giving out charity for thesake of Allah is an indication of their disbelief in the promise of Allah andthat they are not looking forward to meeting Him.

The reasonbehind their shortage in remembering Allah is that they remember Allah withtheir tongues hypocritically and for the sake of riyaa [show off] whiletheir hearts do not love the Religion of Allah (the exalted).

With that,they are offenders although they are not [exactly] as pagans outwardly andinwardly, and not believers outwardly and inwardly.

قالابن كثير: «وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَعْتَرِيهِ الشَّكُّ، فَتَارَةً يَمِيلُ إِلَى هَؤُلَاءِوَتَارَةً يَمِيلُ إِلَى أُولَئِكَ. ﴿كُلَّمَآأَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوۡاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظۡلَمَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ قَامُواْ﴾ [البقرة: 20] الآیة».

Bin Kathirsaid: And among them is one, who is attacked by doubt, thus at times heinclined to these and at times to those like Allah said: " Whenever it lights [the way] for them,they walk therein, and when it darkens upon them they stand [still]. Q2: V2O.

Abdullahthe son of Umar said: "I heard the Prophet (S.A.W) as saying:

«مَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ كَمَثَلِ الشَّاةِالْعَائِرَةِ بَيْنَ الْغَنَمَيْنِ تَعِيرُ إِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً». [رواه مسلمٌ]

Meaning:"The similitude of a hypocrite is that of a sheep which roams aimlesslybetween two flocks. She goes to one at one time and to the other at another time.

وفي روايةٍ في مُسندِ الإمامِ أحمدَ: «تَعِيرُ إِلَى هَذِهِمَرَّةً، وَإِلَى هَذِهِ مَرَّةً، لَا تَدْرِي أَهَذِهِ تَتْبَعُ، أَمْ هَذِهِ».

And inanother narration as in Musnad of Imam Ahmad: "She goes to one at one timeand to the other at another time. She does not know which one to follow, thisor that.

Allah (theexalted) has explained in His Holy book and the Prophet (S.A.W) has explainedin his authentic tradition the works of hypocrites, their characters, signs,punishments in the world and in the hereafter and the rulings concerningrelationship with them and the necessity for a believer to be cautious ofhypocrisy and hypocrites, because they are bitter enemies and the worst of themin danger. For Allah (the Exalted) has said concerning them:

﴿هُمُ ٱلۡعَدُوُّفَٱحۡذَرۡهُمۡ﴾ [المنافقون:4].

Meaning:"They are the enemies, so be cautious of them. Q63: V4.

Therefore,it is obligatory for a believer to be cautious of their deception and artifice,and he should beware of being deceived by what they decorates of the acts ofinfidelity, immorality and disobedience, and he should be cautious of imitatingthem in their behaviors, and appearing in their appearance.

Chapter: Thehypocrites in these two categories differ in degree of hypocrisy, some of them are worse in their hypocrisy and infidelity thanothers. Thus, among them are those who are mutinous in hypocrisy and they arethe worst in deception and in their enmity to Islam and Muslims. They await themisfortune of Muslims, strive towards creating trials among them, weakeningthem and broadening the affairs of pagans and their capability. That is why theyspread rumors, fibs and disquieting news, exciting suspicions, decoratingeroticism, spreading fornications, harming the Muslims in their bodies andtheir honors, in different foxy and contemptible ways, and constricting them intheir worldly and religious affairs to the best of their ability. They drive[people] away from jihad for the sake of Allah and from commanding good deedsand prohibiting bad deeds, and they claim reformation in what they undergo ofcorruption and vitiation, while they describe the believers with foolishness,ignorance and unawareness.

And theydrive (people) away from referring legislation to the Islamic law; they wish tooffer legislation to taghut and they hate those who struggle in thecause of Allah, those who assist Islam and Muslim. The Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«آيَةُ الإيمَانِ حُبُّ الأَنصَارِوَآيَةُ النِّفَاقِ بُغْضُ الأَنْصَارِ». [متفق علیه].

Meaning:""Love for the Ansar (helpers)is a sign of faith and hatred for the Ansar(helpers) is a sign of hypocrisy." Reported by Bukhari and Muslim form thenarration of Anas the son of Malik (may Allah be pleased with him)

This isbecause the Ansar had helped the religion. So, the hatred of whoever hates themis a sign of hypocrisy.

A generalcharacteristic of the works of hypocrites is that, they enjoin what is wrong andforbid what is right and close their hands (i.e., they are stingy).

And amongthe signs of these people is that, when an adversity or tribulation befalls aMuslim, they are pleased and happy about it. But when they [are blessed with]good, victory and superiority, it grieves them.

That is whytheir major and the most attached character happen to be taking disbelievers asallies instead of believers, and they disclose the secrets of Muslims to them, theyinstigate them [disbelievers] to lunch war against them [believers] and to havedomination over them, and they seek their assistance on that. Allah (theExalted) said:

﴿بَشِّرِٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ١٣٨ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَأَوۡلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۚ أَيَبۡتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَفَإِنَّ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعٗا ١٣٩ وَقَدۡ نَزَّلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِأَنۡ إِذَا سَمِعۡتُمۡ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يُكۡفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسۡتَهۡزَأُ بِهَافَلَا تَقۡعُدُواْ مَعَهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُواْ فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيۡرِهِۦٓ إِنَّكُمۡإِذٗا مِّثۡلُهُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ فِيجَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا ١٤٠ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمۡ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمۡفَتۡحٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ نَكُن مَّعَكُمۡ وَإِن كَانَلِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٞ قَالُوٓاْ أَلَمۡ نَسۡتَحۡوِذۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَنَمۡنَعۡكُممِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَكُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۗ وَلَنيَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا ١٤١﴾ [النساء:138-141].

Meaning:"Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painfulpunishment. (138)

Those whotake disbelievers as allies instead of believers Do they seek with them honor[through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely (139).

And it hasalready been revealed to you in the book [i.e, the Qur'an] that when you hearthe verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so donot sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you wouldthen be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers inHell all together (140).

Those whowait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allah, they say,"Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a success, theysay [to them], "Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protectedyou from the believers? Allah will judge between you on the Day ofResurrection, and never will Allah give the disbelievers over the believers away [to overcome them](141). Q4:V138- 141.

The aforementioned deeds are of a category of hypocrites. Among them are those who fallinto more than that and among them are those who fall into some of it, andwhoever manifests Islam and commits that which withdraws from Islam, is then ahypocrite, [and a] pagan.

And amongthe hypocrites is one who wavers between Islam and paganism. Sometimes he doesthe deeds of Muslims externally and internally, and sometimes he does thatwhich takes him out of Islam. Hence, he is indecisive. He did not purify hisreligion to Allah neither is his foot firmly established in Islam and he didnot believe in the promise of Allah.

These arethe people whose nature are exposed by tribulation, and disclose theirnakedness and hypocrisy. They will be punished by a seal on their hearts, andwith doubts, suspicion, and hesitation in their characters and actions. That isbecause, they know the truth and they refused to follow it, and Allah hasadmonished them but they did not accept His admonition and they did not followHis guidance. They do not have certainty in the truthfulness of the promise ofAllah and His Messenger, and feign blindness, preference of this world to thehereafter and following self-desires have dominated their hearts from theguidance of Allah.

Allah (theExalted) said:

﴿ذَٰلِكَبِأَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَايَفۡقَهُونَ ٣﴾

[المنافقون: 3].

That isbecause they believed, and then disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over,and they do not understand. Q63: V3. And (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ ءَامَنُواْ ثُمَّ كَفَرُواْ ثُمَّ ٱزۡدَادُواْكُفۡرٗا لَّمۡ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغۡفِرَ لَهُمۡ وَلَا لِيَهۡدِيَهُمۡ سَبِيلَۢا١٣٧ بَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ١٣٨﴾ [النساء: 137-138].

Meaning:"Indeed, those who believed and then disbelieved, then believed and thendisbelieved, and then increase in disbelief – never will Allah forgive them,and nor will He guide them to a way (137).

Givetidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment-(138) Q4:V37-38.

And thecompanions of this category among the hypocrites fall in to some acts ofpaganism, which withdraw from Religion, such as loyalty to pagans in times oftrails and hardship, mockery of Religion, abusing Allah and His Messenger,disinclination from legislating the Laws [of Allah] and willingness to referlegislation to taghut, disbelieving in the promise of Allah and His Messenger,and similar things among actions, utterances and creeds, that withdraw itscompanion from the Religion of Islam.

A servantmay become a disbeliever because of a word he utters as Allah (the Exalted) saidregarding the hypocrites:

﴿يَحۡلِفُونَبِٱللَّهِ مَا قَالُواْ وَلَقَدۡ قَالُواْ كَلِمَةَ ٱلۡكُفۡرِ وَكَفَرُواْ بَعۡدَإِسۡلَٰمِهِمۡ﴾

[التوبة:74].

Meaning:"They swear by Allah that they did not say [anything against the Prophet(S.A.W)] while they had said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after theirsubmission. Q9: V74.

So, these[people] have disbelieved by the word they uttered after they had becomeMuslims.

Huzaifah(may Allah be pleased with him) said: "A person may utter a word in theperiod of the Prophet (S.A.W) and become a hypocrite, and indeed I hear it fromone of you in one position four times. Verily, you must order good and forbidbad, and you must exhort in good things, otherwise Allah will exterminate youall with punishment, or he appoint over you the evil ones among you, then thepious ones among you will supplicate [to Allah] but you will not be answered. Reportedby Ahmad, and Ibn Abi Shaibah.

Abu Huraira(may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W) said:

«إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِمِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ لاَ يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالاً يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَاتٍ وَإِنَّالْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ لاَ يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالاًيَهْوِي بِهَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ» [رواه البخاريُّ].

Meaning:"A slave (of Allah) may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it muchimportance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward) anda slave (of Allah) may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah withoutthinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into theHell-Fire." Reported by Al- Bukhari.

Alqamah binWaqqas Allithy narrated from Bilal bin Al-Hrith Al- Muzani (may Allah bepleased with Him) that verily the Messenger of Allah had said:

«إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُبِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَابَلَغَتْ، يَكْتُبُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِهَا رِضْوَانَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِالْقِيَامَةِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِعَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ، يَكْتُبُ اللهُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ سَخَطَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ». قَالَ: فَكَانَعَلْقَمَةُ يَقُولُ: كَمْ مِنْ كَلَامٍ قَدْ مَنَعَنِيهِ حَدِيثُ بِلَالِ بْنِالْحَارِثِ.

Meaning:"Indeed, a person may utter a word which pleases Allah without expectingit to reach the extent it reaches, but because of it Allah will write for himHis pleasure to the Day he will meet Him, and verily, a person may utter a wordwhich displeases Allah without expecting it to reach the extent it reaches, butbecause of it Allah will write for him His anger to the Day he will meet Him.Reported by Malik in [his book] Al- Muwatta, and Ahmad in [his book] Musnad andhe adds [on the narration of Malik] that Alqama normally says: How many wordshas the hadith of Bilal the son of Alharith stopped me from uttering?.

Albaihakinarrated on the authority of Muhammad bin Amr bin Alkamata bin Waqqas that hesaid: there was a jobless man who visits the emirs and makes them laugh, so mygrandfather said to him: Woe to you O so-and-so, why do you visit these peopleand make them laugh? For I have heard Bilal the son of Alharith the Muzanian-companion of the prophet (S.A.W) – he then mentioned the hadith.

Thus, thedanger of the tongue is great and the matter of speech is magnificent. He whoconsiders his speech as part of his deeds will be cautious of his speech, andthe sign of piety will be shown on him, because if a servant is careless in hisspeech while he is flimsy in Religion, he may not be safe from speaking theword which will necessitate the wrath of Allah and His abhorrence on him, or hemay speak a word with which he will become a disbeliever, and withdrawn fromthe Religion of Islam. We seek refuge with Allah.

Theseissues frequently occur at periods of sedition, particularly in the last days[of the world], as [was reported] in the Sahih of Al-Bukhari and Muslim on theauthority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet(S.A.W) has indeed said:

«بَادِرُوا بِالأَعْمَالِ فِتَنًا كَقِطَعِاللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِيْ كَافِرًا أَوْ يُمْسِيْمُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا يَبِيعُ دِينَهُ بِعَرَضٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا».

Meaning:"Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence whichwould be like a part of the dark night during that stormy period. A man wouldbe a Muslim in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be abeliever in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell hisfaith for worldly goods.

We seekfrom Allah safety and protection from the causes of His wrath and Hisabhorrence.

That waswhy the fear of the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) and their subsequentfollowers from falling in any of the acts of hypocrites became intensified.

Bukahri hassaid in his [book] Assahih:

Ibnu AbiMulaika has said: I met thirty from the companions of the prophet (S.A.W) eachone of them was afraid of being among the hypocrites, none of them said that hewas on a degree of faith as that of [angel] Gabriel and [angel] Mika'il.

And it isreported that Alhasan usually say: no one fears it [i.e, hypocrisy] except abeliever and no one feels safe from it except a hypocrite.

Zaid binWahab said:" a man among the hypocrites died, so Huzaifa did not pray on[his] corpse, so Umar said to him, is he among the people? [i.e, hypocrites] hesaid: yes. Umar then said to him: please am I among them? He said: no, and Iwill never inform anyone of it after you. Reported by Ibn Abi Shaibah.

Huzaifaibnul Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) has been informed secretly of thenames of the hypocrites by the Prophet (S.A.W). Thus, he is the mostknowledgeable of this nation concerning the characters of hypocrites, theirrules and hypocritical acts. The companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) know hisposition in that respect, because of that Umar normally observe him when afuneral is forwarded, if he does not see Huzaifa [among those who come to] prayon the copes he does not pray on it, and he deputizes one to pray on it so thathe may not disclose the secrete of the Prophet (S.A.W)

Lesson ten: Warning against hypocrisy (2\3)

The way to integrity and freedom from hypocrisy is byfollowing the guidance of Allah (the Almighty and the Exalted) as Allah (the Mosthigh) said concerning the hypocrites:

﴿وَلَوۡ أَنَّا كَتَبۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ أَنِ ٱقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ أَوِٱخۡرُجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِكُم مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٞ مِّنۡهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡأَنَّهُمۡ فَعَلُواْ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ لَكَانَ خَيۡرٗا لَّهُمۡ وَأَشَدَّ تَثۡبِيتٗا٦٦ وَإِذٗا لَّأٓتَيۡنَٰهُم مِّن لَّدُنَّآ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا ٦٧وَلَهَدَيۡنَٰهُمۡ صِرَٰطٗا مُّسۡتَقِيمٗا ٦٨ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَفَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۧنَوَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّهَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَۚ وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَرَفِيقٗا ٦٩ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمٗا ٧٠﴾ [النساء: 66-70].

Meaning:"… But if they had done what they wereinstructed, it would have been better for them and a firmer position for themin faith (66). And then We would have given themfrom Us a great reward (67). And We would have guidedthem to a straight path (68). And whoever obeys Allahand His Messenger- those will be with the ones upon whom Allah bestows favor,among the Prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and therighteous. And excellent are those as companions (69). Thatis the bounty from Allah, and sufficient is Allah as knower (70). Q4: V66-70.

And it is with this you will know that the hypocritesactually suffered a great loss as a result of their turning away from theguidance of Allah, for they have certainly missed the gratification of Allah,His favor, mercy, great reward and the companionship of His Prophets, thesteadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And they fell intotheir evil deeds such as their disproof of Allah and His Messenger, their evilassumption about Allah, and their followership of what angers Allah, and theirdislike for what He loves and pleases, and their effort towards fighting againstthe Religion of Allah with their sayings and actions, and their alliance withthe unbelievers from the people of the Book and the polytheists and theirpatronage for them against Muslims, and their harm to the believers. So, theydeserved an intense punishment for the consequence of their crime. Allah (theExalted) said:

﴿وَيُعَذِّبَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكَٰتِ ٱلظَّآنِّينَبِٱللَّهِ ظَنَّ ٱلسَّوۡءِۚ عَلَيۡهِمۡ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوۡءِۖ وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُعَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَعَنَهُمۡ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرٗا ٦﴾ [الفتح:6].

Meaning: "And that He may punish the hypocrites,men and women, and the polytheist, men and women- those who assume about Allahan assumption of evil nature. Upon them is a misfortune of evil nature; andAllah has become angry with them and has cursed them and prepared for themHell, and evil it is as a destination. Q48: V6.

And (the Exalted) said:

﴿ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ ٱتَّبَعُواْ مَآأَسۡخَطَ ٱللَّهَ وَكَرِهُواْ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ فَأَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ ٢٨﴾

[محمد:28].

Meaning: "That is because they followed whatangered Allah and disliked His pleasure, so He rendered worthless their deeds.Q47: V28.

And because of the contradiction between their externaland their internal, they fell into hideous and dispraise acts of lying,deception, treason, immorality and breach of promise. These have been theircharacters with which they are detected.

The acts ofhypocrites are of two categories;

The first category: acts of paganism;whoever commits them is a disbeliever in Allah (the Almighty), out of theReligion of Islam even if he prayed and fast and claim to be a Muslim.

An example of that includes:disproving Allah and His Messenger, hatred, blasphemy, mockery of Allah and Hissigns and His Prophet, forming alliance with the unbelievers and supportingthem against the Muslims.

Thus, these acts and the likes of it are among theviolators of Islam, so whoever falls into them is a disbeliever in Allah (thealmighty and the exalted). In fact, he is a pagan, out of the Religion ofIslam, but if he manifests Islam, then he is a hypocrite with major hypocrisy.

This category is termed by some scholarsas creedal hypocrisy and that is because of the introversionof the heart on infidelity, because these kinds of acts and speeches ofinfidelity do not emanate from a faithful heart. However, their aim (i.e. thescholars) is not to restrict hypocritical acts to issues of creed.

The second category: Dispraised acts and characters,these acts even though they do not withdraw from [Islam] on their own, onlythat it is not found except in a pure hypocrite. So, it is necessary for abeliever to abstain from it so that there will not be a character among thecharacteristics of hypocrisy in him. These characters are the ones explained bythe Prophet (S.A.W) in his saying:

«آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلاَثٌ: إِذَاحَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ». [متفق عليه].

Meaning:" there are three signs of a hypocrite:when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he fails, and when he istrusted he betrays. Transmitted by Bukari and Muslim on the authority of AbuHuraira (may Allah be pleased with him) and, in another narration by Muslim [hesaid]:

«آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلاَثٌ وَإِنْصَامَ وَصَلَّى وَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مُسْلِمٌ».

Meaning:" there are three signs of a hypocrite,even if he observed fast and prayed and asserted that he was a Muslim". Inthe transmission of Ahmad the Prophet said:

«ثلاثٌ إذا كُنَّ في الرجُّلِ فهوالمُنافِقُ الخَالِصُ...» الحديثَ، بنحوِه

Meaning:" Three signs if they are found in a man,he is then a pure hypocrite… to the end of the hadith with an approximatewordings. And in Sahih of Al- Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abdullahibn Amr ibn Al'as (may Allah be pleased with them) he said: the Prophet (S.A.W)has said:

«أَرْبَعٌمَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْهُنَّكَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهَا: إِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ،وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ، وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَر».

Meaning:" Four characteristics anyone whopossessed them is a pure hypocrite and anyone who possessed one of thempossessed a characteristic of hypocrisy till he abandons it: when he talks he lies,when he makes a covenant he acted treacherously, and when he quarreled hedeviated from the truth.

Therefore, whoever has the habit of lying in his speech,betrayal when he promises, and when he is trusted he acts treacherously, he isthen a pure hypocrite. And [the word] (إذا) [i.e,(if)] which is not used to mean extent, implies repetition and numerousness,and this will exclude a person from whom these acts occurs in rarity andnegligibly. Thus, he has committed a sinful act and an act from the acts of thehypocrites, but he will not become a hypocrite or someone with a character ofhypocrisy, until he becomes used to it or is popularly known with it.

Chapter: concerning someone in whose heart is faith and hypocrisy.

As for the Major hypocrisy, it cannot becombined together with faith [in ones heart at the same time] rather; itscompanion is a disbeliever in Allah (the Almighty and the Exalted), even if heobserved fast and prayed and asserted that he was a Muslim, because infidelitydestroys the whole acts, and faith and infidelity do not join together in aheart. Allah the Exalted said:

﴿وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ فَقَدۡ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُۥوَهُوَ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ مِنَ ٱلۡخَٰسِرِينَ ٥﴾ [المائدة: 5].

Meaning: "And whoever denies thefaith- his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be amongthe losers. Q5: V5.

But as to the Minor hypocrisy which doesnot withdraws from the Religion, there may be in the heart of a Muslim some ofits characters, as indicated by the above hadith of Abdullah ibn Amr binAl'as. And in Sahih of [Imam Muslim] on the authority of Abu Hurairah, (mayAllah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَغْزُ وَلَمْ يُحَدِّثْبِهِ نَفْسَهُ مَاتَ عَلَى شُعْبَةٍ مِنْ نِفَاقٍ» [رواه مسلم].

Meaning: “whoever dies without fightingin the way of Allah, nor did he express any desire for Jihad, died on abranch of hypocrisy".

Huzaifa bin Alyaman (may Allah bepleased with them) said: hearts are of four [different] types;

- A Laminated heart and that is theheart of hypocrite.

- An uncircumcised heart and that is theheart of a disbeliever.

- A hairless heart as if in it is a lampwhich blooms and that is the heart of a believer.

- And a heart in which there ishypocrisy and faith, its example is like an ulcer which is supplied with pusand blood, and similar to a tree which is irrigated by pernicious and nicewater, whatever prevails on it dominates.

Reported by Ibn Abi Shaibah in his[book]Musannaf and in the book of Iman, and Albaniy authenticated it.However, it is considered weak by some scholars because of a cut in its chainof narration but its meaning is authentic.

A laminated heart is the inclined heart.

Aliyu bin Abi Talib (may Allah bepleased with him) said: Faith begins in the heart [in the form of] a white dot,whenever it increases, the brightness increases until the heart becomes fullybrighten. While hypocrisy begins in the heart [in the form of] a black dot,whenever it increases, the darkness increases until the heart becomes darktotally. Reported by Ibn Abi Shaibah in the book of Iman, and Albayhaqy in [hisbook] Shu'abul Iman, [i.e, the branches of faith].

The essence of this is that, a Muslimmay have hypocrisy in him and it may be much or less depending on the level ofhis faith and his obedience to Allah (the great and the Exalted). Thus, amongthem is one who may have in him attitudes of hypocrisy. Hence, he lies ones ortwice, and he sometimes breaches promise and so on.

And among them is one who frequentlyfalls into such acts together with less remembrance of Allah and exceeding thelimits of Allah on many occasions by violating the sanctities of (Allah) andnegligence in the obligatory acts, and poring over desires and being deceivedby ambiguities. Thus, there will be in his heart to much of hypocrisy andlittle faith. There is among the Muslims one who almost all the time prays in ahurry and delays it out of its fixed time and performs it in a bad way as inthe Sahih of Muslim on the authority of Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleasedwith him) he said; I heard the Prophet (S.A.W) saying:

«تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ يَجْلِسُيَرْقُبُ الشَّمْسَ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَهَاأَرْبَعًا لاَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً» [رواه مسلم].

Meaning: "that is the Prayer of thehypocrite, he sits watching the Son until when it is between the two hones ofthe Devil then, he stands up and pecks it four times, he does not rememberAllah in it except a little". Reported by Muslim.

Hence, such a person is among thosewhose heart has been over powered by hypocrisy to the extent that he deservedto be named hypocrite if not for the faith in his heart which prevented himfrom leaving prayer totally.

The companions of this category oftenfall into committing minor Riyaa , doing acts to please listeners andwhat invalidates acts such as reminder of it, injury in charity and seeking theworld with the acts of the hereafter.

The companions of this category are on agreat danger such that this negligence lead them into committing apostasy fromthe Religion of Allah (the Almighty) and whoever dies among them in hypocrisywhile having faith in his heart, then he will be among the companions of graveoffense who were promised intense punishment, but he will not remain eternallyin the Hell because of the existence of his Islam. The Prophet (S.A.W) hascertainly said:

«يَدْخُلُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَوَأَهْلُ النَّارِ النَّارَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَخْرِجُوا مَنْ كَانَفِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ فَيُخْرَجُونَ مِنْهَاقَدِ اسْوَدُّوا فَيُلْقَوْنَ فِي نَهَرِ الْحَيَا، أَوِ الْحَيَاةِ شَكَّ مَالِكٌ- فَيَنْبُتُونَ كَمَا تَنْبُتُ الْحِبَّةُ فِي جَانِبِ السَّيْلِ أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهَاتَخْرُجُ صَفْرَاءَ مُلْتَوِيَةً» [رواه البخاريُّ من حديثِ أبيسَعِيدٍ الخُدْريِّt].

Meaning:" The people of Paradisewill enter Paradise and the people of Hell will go to Hell. Then, Allah willsay (to the Angels around Hell): bring out whoever has in his heart faith equalto the weight of a grain of mustard seed. So, they will be taken out but (bythen) they had already become blackened (charred). Then they will be put in theriver of Hayat [i.e., life] and they will revive like a grain that grows nearthe bank of a flood channel. Don't you see that it comes out yellow andtwisted?" Reported by Albukhari from the narration of Abu Sa'id Alkhudri(may Allah be pleased with him)

But he who commits a violator among theviolators of Islam, such as mockery of the Religion, abusing the Prophet (S.A.W)and supporting the disbelievers against Muslims is then a disbeliever,withdrawn from Islam and, faith has been detached from his heart, we seekrefuge with Allah.

Chapter: the repentance of ahypocrite.

If a hypocrite repents from hypocrisybefore his death and he corrects his deed, and he resort to Allah and becomesincere to Him (the great and the exalted) in Religion, then his repentance isauthentic and accepted. Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ فِي ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡنَصِيرًا ١٤٥ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ تَابُواْ وَأَصۡلَحُواْ وَٱعۡتَصَمُواْ بِٱللَّهِوَأَخۡلَصُواْ دِينَهُمۡ لِلَّهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۖ وَسَوۡفَيُؤۡتِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ أَجۡرًا عَظِيمٗا ١٤٦ مَّا يَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بِعَذَابِكُمۡإِن شَكَرۡتُمۡ وَءَامَنتُمۡۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمٗا ١٤٧﴾ [النساء:145-147].

Meaning: "indeed, the hypocriteswill be in the lowest depth of the Fire- and never will you find for them ahelper (145). Except for those who repent, correct themselves, hold fast toAllah, and are sincere in their Religion for Allah, for those will be with thebelievers. Allah is going to give the believers a great reward (146). Whatwould Allah do with [i.e, gain from] your punishment if you are grateful andbelieve? And ever is Allah Appreciative and knowing (147). Q4: V145-147.

Likewise, the Muslim in whom is anattitude of hypocrisy, if he repents from it and forsakes that attitude Allahwill forgive him, and he will become free from hypocrisy.

There is inregards to this issue a funny riddle forwarded by Huzafa ibn Yaman (may Allahbe pleased with them) to the students of Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah bepleased with him), for he stood over them in the presence of Abdullahi binMas'ud saluted them and said: verily, hypocrisy has been revealed on somepeople that were more pious than you, Abdullah bin Mas'ud –on hearing that -smiled because he got what he meant. The companions of ibn Mas'ud then said;glory be to Allah!! Allah has indeed said:

﴿إِنَّٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ فِي ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ﴾ [النساء: 145].

Meaning:" Indeed, the hypocriteswill be in the lowest depth of the Fire. Q4: V145.

Then, after the dispersal of thecouncil, Huzaifa said to Aswad bin Yazid Annakha'i- one of the copanions of IbnMas'ud: verily, hypocrisy has been revealed on some people that were more piousthan you and they repented and Allah accept their repentance.

In another narration he said: And they,when they repented became better than you.

And he mean by them, some of those whomwere hypocrites during the time of the Prophet (S.A.W) and then repented,corrected (their deeds) and perfected their Islam. Thus, they became betterthan those who came after them from the Tabiu'n, because of their companionship[with the Prophet (S.A.W)] and their jihad with him. (This narration has been transmitted by Albukhari in his Sahih).

Chapter: It is necessary for the believers to practice what will savethem from hypocritical attitudes and the acts of hypocrites. Among that is therepetition of repentance and seeking for [Allah's] forgiveness, and beingcautious of the limits of Allah and glorifying His commands and disassociationfrom polytheism and its companions, observing prayers, giving out charities,sincerity to Allah, His Messenger, His Book and to the leaders and the generalMuslims.

And among that is love for jihad in thecause of Allah and expressing desire for that.

Among that also is enjoining what isright and forbidding what is wrong and advising each other on truth, andadvising each other on patience and encouraging one another on feeding the poorand disbursem*nt for the sake of Allah faithfully and hoping to attain Allah'srewards.

For whoever does that is saved fromhypocrisy.

It is transmitted in Almusnad andother hadith books from the narration of Umar bin Alkhattab (may Allah bepleased with him) he said; that the Prophet (S.A.W) has indeed, said:

«مَنْ سَرَّتْهِ حَسَنَتُهُ وَسَاءَتْهُسَيِّئَتُهُ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ».

Meaning:" whoever is pleased withhis good deed and sad with his bad deed is a believer.

Thus, whoever falls into sin and his singrieved him that is an example of good faith in him and a hope for hisrepentance, seeking of forgiveness and conciliation. And whoever is pleasedwith his sin, and is gladden by his evil deed, that is a sign of hypocrisy inhis heart.

It is reported in the [book of] Sunanof Attirmidhy on the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him)he said; the Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«خَصْلَتَانِ لَا تَجْتَمِعَانِفِي مُنَافِقٍ، حُسْنُ سَمْتٍ، وَلَا فِقْهٌ فِي الدِّينِ».

[صححهالألبانيُّ].

Meaning: "Two characters can neverbe joined together in the heart of a hypocrite, good will and understanding inReligion. Authenticate by Albany.

Lesson eleven: warning against hypocrisy (3\3) The punishment of a hypocrite:

Allah the (Exalted) has madethe punishment of the hypocrites to be among the worst of punishments in thisworld and in the hereafter (and) an appropriate recompense to their deeds.

As for this world, they will be punished by a seal on their hearts anddeprivation from understanding knowledge and guidance. Besides that, Allah willput in their hearts, doubts and suspicions that will not be detached from themforever. As such, they are among the most confused and hesitant people, andthat is because they wanted to deceive Allah and the believers and theirdeception reversed unto them so they suffered bad consequences of theirdeceptions and the outcome of their tricks. So, whenever they make any planagainst Islam and Muslims, Allah makes its consequence worst on them from wherethey are not conscious of. Thus, they increase in the acts of infidelity andhypocrisy, and their punishments will be in multiple, one after the other.Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يَفۡقَهُونَ ٣﴾ [المنافقون:3].

Meaning: "So theirhearts were sealed over, and they do not understand. Q63: V3.

And (theExalted) said:

﴿أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشۡتَرَوُاْ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰفَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَٰرَتُهُمۡ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهۡتَدِينَ ١٦ مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِيٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارٗا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُبِنُورِهِمۡ وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِي ظُلُمَٰتٖ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ ١٧ صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡيٞفَهُمۡ لَا يَرۡجِعُونَ ١٨﴾ [البقرة: 16-18].

Meaning: "Those are theones who purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction hasbrought no profit, nor were they guided (16).Their example is that of one whokindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took awaytheir light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see (17). Deaf, dumband blind- so they will not return [to the right path](18). Q2: V16-18.

And the(exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَٰدِعُهُمۡ﴾ [النساء: 142].

Meaning: "Indeed, thehypocrites (think to) deceive Allah, but he is deceiving them. Q4: V142.

The deceptionof Allah to them means punishing them with the kind of their deeds, and that isa punishment on them because of the ugliness of their speeches and actions andtheir bad assumption of Allah (the Almighty and the Exalted) and theirdeception to Allah and to the believers and their opposition to Allah and fightagainst His Religion with cunning and deception.

Hence, byindulging in these acts, they are only deceiving themselves as Allah (the Exalted)said:

﴿يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْوَمَا يَخۡدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ ٩﴾ [البقرة:9].

Meaning: "They [think]to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselvesand perceive [it] not. Q2: V9

For they do not perceivethat they are only deceiving themselves. Rather, they wish for themselves anuntrue desideratum and they rush after it to the extent that it inveigled andfascinated them. And they increase in sin, disbelief, disobedience, offence andmisguidance (through their deeds) while they think they are doing good deeds.

And they, in all that, haveonly harmed themselves; they have not harmed Allah with anything neither havethey harm the Prophet, nor the believers and followers of the guidance of Allah(the Almighty and the Exalted).

Among what they will bepunished with in this world is their wealth and children until the departure oftheir souls, as Allah (the Exalted) Said:

﴿وَلَاتُعۡجِبۡكَ أَمۡوَٰلُهُمۡ وَأَوۡلَٰدُهُمۡۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَنيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَتَزۡهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمۡ وَهُمۡ كَٰفِرُونَ ٨٥﴾ [التوبة:85].

Meaning: "And let nottheir wealth and children impress you. Allah only intends to punish themthrough them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] whilethey are disbelievers. Q9: V85.

Among what they will bepunished with also is what Allah will put in people's heart of hatred towardsthem no matter how they show love or affection to them, and that is becausethey seek people's pleasure in exchange for Allah's discontentment, and theyprefer this world to the hereafter, and they follow what angered Allah and hateHis pleasure and they turn away from following the guidance of Allah. Thus,they subjected themselves to different kinds of fear, sadness, misguidance, andmisfortune, which Allah decreed on whoever turned away from following Hisguidance.

Allah (the Exalted) saidconcerning a group among them:

﴿لَا يَزَالُ بُنۡيَٰنُهُمُ ٱلَّذِي بَنَوۡاْ رِيبَةٗ فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡإِلَّآ أَن تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ١١٠﴾ [التوبة:110].

Meaning: "Theirbuilding which they build will not cease to be a [cause of] scepticism in theirhearts until their hearts are cut [i.e, they died]. And Allah is Knowing andwise. Q9: V110.

Some scholars of tafsir[commentary of the Qur'an] said: this exception, [i.e, until their hearts arecut] is an ironical exception that is a mockery from Allah of them.

It is an appropriaterecompense for their plan against the believers, their mockery of them andtheir machination against them in order to make things ambiguous to them andmislead them form the way of Allah. As a result of that, they are afflictedwith suspicion in their hearts as a punishment for them and it will never bedetached from their heart until they meet Allah (the Almighty and the Exalted).

This is besides what willbefall them of special punishments as consequence of their deeds, for indeed,Allah (the Exalted) has fixed for some sins special punishments, to serve asrewards commensurate to deeds as Allah (the Exalted) said regarding a group ofthem.

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يَلۡمِزُونَ ٱلۡمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ فِي ٱلصَّدَقَٰتِ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهۡدَهُمۡفَيَسۡخَرُونَ مِنۡهُمۡ سَخِرَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۡهُمۡ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ٧٩﴾ [التوبة:79].

Meaning: "Those whocriticize the contributors among the believers concerning [their] charities andcriticize the ones who find nothing [to spend] except their effort, so theyridicule them- Allah will ridicule them, and they will find a painfulpunishment. Q9: V79.

Thus, their punishment forridiculing the believers was the ridicule of Allah of them as an equivalentreward.

And the hypocritesfrequently fall into sins that have punishment commensurate to the deed in thisworld before the hereafter, as stated in the tradition [of the Prophet (S.A.W)]that indeed, whoever searches for the defects of a Muslim, Allah will searchfor his defects, whoever harmed a Muslim, Allah will harm him and whoevercauses difficulty upon a Muslim, Allah will cause difficulty upon him andwhoever forsake a Muslim, Allah will forsake him and whoever exert pressure ona Muslim, Allah will exert pressure on him.

Thehypocrites are people of evil plots. Allah (the Exalted) has said:

﴿وَلَايَحِيقُ ٱلۡمَكۡرُ ٱلسَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهۡلِهِۦ﴾ [فاطر: 43].

Meaning:"…but the evilplot does not encompass except its own people. Q35: V43

This is the explanation ofsome of the punishments that will befall them in this world.

As for the life after death,verily they, when they die and entered into their graves, they will certainlybe in a great punishment, permanent wretchedness and an Uninterruptedheartbreak. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that theProphet (S.A.W) said:

«إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا وُضِعَ فِيقَبْرِهِ وَتَوَلَّى عَنْهُ أَصْحَابُهُ وَإِنَّهُ لَيَسْمَعُ قَرْعَ نِعَالِهِمْ أَتَاهُمَلَكَانِ فَيُقْعِدَانِهِ فَيَقُولاَنِ مَا كُنْتَ تَقُولُ فِي الرَّجُلِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ فَأَمَّاالْمُؤْمِنُ فَيَقُولُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُ عَبْدُ اللهِ وَرَسُولُهُ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ انْظُرْإِلَى مَقْعَدِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ قَدْ أَبْدَلَكَ اللَّهُ بِهِ مَقْعَدًا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِفَيَرَاهُمَا جَمِيعًا قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: وَذُكِرَ لَنَا أَنَّهُ يُفْسَحُ فِي قَبْرِهِثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى حَدِيثِ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: وَأَمَّا الْمُنَافِقُ وَالْكَافِرُ فَيُقَالُلَهُ مَا كُنْتَ تَقُولُ فِي هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَيَقُولُ لاَ أَدْرِي كُنْتُ أَقُولُمَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ فَيُقَالُ لاَ دَرَيْتَ، وَلاَ تَلَيْتَ وَيُضْرَبُ بِمَطَارِقَمِنْ حَدِيدٍ ضَرْبَةً فَيَصِيحُ صَيْحَةً يَسْمَعُهَا مَنْ يَلِيهِ غَيْرَ الثَّقَلَيْنِ» [متفق علیه].

Meaning:" When theservant is placed in his grave and his companions retrace their steps, he hearsthe noise of their footsteps, then two angels come to him and sit him and sayto him: What do you have to say about this person (the Holy Prophet) ? As forthe believer, he would say: I bear testimony to the fact that he is a servantof Allah and His Messenger. Then it would be said to him: Look at your seat inthe Hell- Fire, for Allah has substituted (your seat) with a seat in Paradise.Allah's Messenger (May peace be upon him) said: He would be shown both seats.But as for the hypocrite and non-believer, he will say to the angels, 'I do notknow, but I used to say what the people used to say! It will be said to him,'Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran).'Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two ears, and he will cryand that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings andjinns." Reported by Bukhari andMuslim.

In addition to what willbefall them of a special punishment due to some of their sins, as it wasauthentic in the [Prophetic] tradition that he who recites Qur'an and rejectsit, and sleeps without observing congregational prayers will be punished in hisgrave. Likewise, the fornicators, those who consume usury, the backbiters, thetalebearers, the false talkers, those who hindered zakah [i.e, charity]and those who break their fast before time, all of these [people] authentictraditions have stated that they will be punished in their graves, and thehypocrites commit most of these acts.

But as for thehereafter, authentic traditions ofthe Prophet (S.A.W) have indicated that when it is Judgment Day, and Allahassembled people in one place for judgment and then ordered that theunbelievers [be thrown] into the Hell Fire, there will be left in the[courtyard] the believers, the hypocrites and the remnant of the people of thebook in the courtyard. The Prophet (S.A.W) said:

«فيُكْشَفُ عن سَاقٍ فلا يَبْقَى أحَدٌ كانَيَسْجُدُ طَائِعًا في الدنيا إلا أُذِنَ له في السُّجودِ، ولا يَبْقَى أحَدٌ كانَيَسْجُدُ رِياءً أو نِفاقًا إلا صَارَ ظَهْرُه طَبَقَةً وَاحِدَةً كُلَّما أرادَأن يَسْجُدَ خَرَّ لِقَفَاهُ...». «وذَلِكَ المُنافِقُ، وذلك الذي يَسْخَطُ اللهُ عليه».والحديثُفي صَحِيحِ مُسلمٍ من حديثِ أبي هُرَيرةَ رضِي اللهُ عنه.

Meaning: "And the [Sa'aq]Leg would be laid bare. Those who used to prostrate themselves before Godobediently would be permitted by God to prostrate themselves. But there wouldremain one who used to prostrate out of fear (of people) and ostentation, Allahwould make his back as one piece, and whenever he attempts to prostrate, hewould fall on his back.

And during accountability[on Judgment Day] a hypocrite would be brought and Allah will remind him of Hisblessings, the hypocrite would then say: O, my Lord, I affirmed my faith inThee and in Thy Book and in Thy Messenger and I observed prayer and fasts andgave charity, and he would speak in good terms like this as he would be able todo. And He [Allah] would say: Well, We will bring our witnesses to you. And theman would think in his mind who would bear witness upon him and then his mouthwould be sealed and it would be said to his thighs, flesh and bones, speak! Andhis thighs, flesh and bones would bear witness to his deeds and it would bedone so that he should not be able to make any excuse for himself. And such isthe hypocrite; such is he with whom Allah is annoyed. (Thisnarration is in the Sahih of Imam Muslim from the narration ofAbu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him).

And when the bridge is setover the Hell and an order is given to cross over it, those in the courtyardwill be given light in proportion to their deeds. The hypocrites will be givenlight similar to them as a trial to them, until when they are on the bridge thelight of the hypocrites goes off and the light of the believers become full asAllah (the Exalted) said:

﴿لَهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖيُحۡيِۦ وَيُمِيتُۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٌ ٢ هُوَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُ وَٱلۡأٓخِرُوَٱلظَّٰهِرُ وَٱلۡبَاطِنُۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ ٣ هُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِوَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يَعۡلَمُ مَايَلِجُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِوَمَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيهَاۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَاتَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ ٤ لَّهُۥ مُلۡكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِتُرۡجَعُ ٱلۡأُمُورُ ٥ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِي ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِي ٱلَّيۡلِۚوَهُوَ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ٦ ءَامِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦوَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسۡتَخۡلَفِينَ فِيهِۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْمِنكُمۡ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرٞ كَبِيرٞ ٧ وَمَا لَكُمۡ لَا تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِوَٱلرَّسُولُ يَدۡعُوكُمۡ لِتُؤۡمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمۡ وَقَدۡ أَخَذَ مِيثَٰقَكُمۡإِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ٨ هُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبۡدِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتِۢبَيِّنَٰتٖ لِّيُخۡرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَبِكُمۡ لَرَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٞ ٩ وَمَا لَكُمۡ أَلَّا تُنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِوَلِلَّهِ مِيرَٰثُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ لَا يَسۡتَوِي مِنكُم مَّنۡأَنفَقَ مِن قَبۡلِ ٱلۡفَتۡحِ وَقَٰتَلَۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَعۡظَمُ دَرَجَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَأَنفَقُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ وَقَٰتَلُواْۚ وَكُلّٗا وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ وَٱللَّهُبِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ ١٠ مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِي يُقۡرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنٗافَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥ وَلَهُۥٓ أَجۡرٞ كَرِيمٞ ١١ يَوۡمَ تَرَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِيَسۡعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَبِأَيۡمَٰنِهِمۖ بُشۡرَىٰكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَجَنَّٰتٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُٱلۡعَظِيمُ ١٢ يَوۡمَ يَقُولُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقُونَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقَٰتُ لِلَّذِينَءَامَنُواْ ٱنظُرُونَا نَقۡتَبِسۡ مِن نُّورِكُمۡ قِيلَ ٱرۡجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمۡفَٱلۡتَمِسُواْ نُورٗاۖ فَضُرِبَ بَيۡنَهُم بِسُورٖ لَّهُۥ بَابُۢ بَاطِنُهُۥفِيهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَةُ وَظَٰهِرُهُۥ مِن قِبَلِهِ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ١٣ يُنَادُونَهُمۡ أَلَمۡنَكُن مَّعَكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّكُمۡ فَتَنتُمۡ أَنفُسَكُمۡوَتَرَبَّصۡتُمۡ وَٱرۡتَبۡتُمۡ وَغَرَّتۡكُمُ ٱلۡأَمَانِيُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمۡرُٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡغَرُورُ ١٤ فَٱلۡيَوۡمَ لَا يُؤۡخَذُ مِنكُمۡفِدۡيَةٞ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۚ مَأۡوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُۖ هِيَ مَوۡلَىٰكُمۡۖوَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ ١٥﴾ [الحدید: 2-15].

Meaning: "On the dayyou see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding beforethem and on their right, [it will be said], and “Your good tidings today are[of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally, thatis the greatest success (12) On the [same] Day the hypocrites, men and womenwill say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some ofyour light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light."And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containingmercy, but on the outside of it is torment (13) They [i.e, the hypocrites] willcall to them [i.e, the believers], "Were we not with you?" they willsay, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] anddoubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command ofAllah. And the deceiver [i.e, Satan] deceived you concerning Allah (14) Sotoday no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Yourrefuge is Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination(15)." Q57: V12-15.

But as for their punishmentin the Hell fire, that is the degrading, painful, ruinous and a permanentpunishment. Allah has decreed for them the lowest depth in it. Thus, they areamong the worst of the companions of the Hell in punishment.

Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿إِنَّٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ فِي ٱلدَّرۡكِ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمۡنَصِيرًا ١٤٥﴾

[النساء:145].

Meaning: "Indeed, thehypocrites will be in the lowest depth of the Fire- and never will you find forthem helper. Q4: V145.

And they, because of their hidden disbelief and their ally to theunbelievers, Allah combined them together with the unbelievers in the Hell Fireas Allah the Exalted said:

﴿إِنَّٱللَّهَ جَامِعُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا ١٤٠﴾ [النساء:140].

Meaning: "Indeed, Allahwill gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in the Hell all together. Q4: V140.And Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَعَدَٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقَٰتِ وَٱلۡكُفَّارَ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَخَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ هِيَ حَسۡبُهُمۡۚ وَلَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُۖ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٞمُّقِيمٞ ٦٨﴾ [التوبة:68].

Meaning: "And Allah haspromised the hypocrites, men and women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell,wherein they will abide eternally. It is sufficient for them. And Allah hascoursed them, and for them is an enduring punishment. Q9: V68.

Lesson twelve: Nullifiers of Islam

If we have understood that a servant willnever be a Muslim until he testifies to the two testimonies. That is,testifying that no deity is worthy of worship except Allah and testifying thatMuhammad is the messenger of Allah. Thus, he professes the unity of Allah andhe follows the Prophet (S.A.W) and by so [doing] he becomes a Muslim.

And we have understood that theimplication of testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allahis sincerity to Allah alone in worship, and that servitude is built upon love,glorification and compliance.

And we understood that testifying thatMuhammad is the Messenger of Allah, implies loving, believing and obeying him.Whoever commits what violates these two testimonies is out of the Religion ofIslam. Hence, he is a disbeliever in Allah (the Almighty and the Exalted) and[a disbeliever in] His Messenger (S.A.W) even if he observed prayer, fastingand claimed to be Muslim.

That is why, whoever lacked one of thesethings: sincerity to Allah in worship, love for Allah and glorifying Him,submission to Him and loving the Prophet (S.A.W), proving him and obeying him-is not a Muslim. If this apostasy happens to be total, that is, he has notestablish the necessary rights of the two testimonies from his initial stage,he is then a pure unbeliever, and if he manifests Islam in that manner, then,he is a hypocrite.

But as for one who was a Muslim carryingout all necessary rights of the two testimonies, and after then one of thesethings falls short in his affairs after he has professed Islam, then, he is anunbeliever who has turned away from the Religion of Islam.

Apostasy can occur from anything whetherspeech or action or creed which results to the absence of the real [meaning of]testimony to the oneness of Allah and to the prophet hood of Muhammad (S.A.W).

And the types of nullifierswhich withdraw from the Religion of Islam are numerous and unrestricted to acertain number, but it has meeting roots which are:

The first nullifier: Atheism, this means disproving the existence of Allah (the Exalted). Amongits forms are:

Attributing creation to nature, andbelieving in the pre-existence of the World. That is, to believe that amongcreatures there is that which has no beginning in eternity.

The second nullifier: majorpolytheism; that is attributing partner to Allah(the Great and the Exalted) and it is of different kinds:

The first kind: polytheism inworship, which means performance of any act ofworship to other than Allah (the Great and the Exalted) such as invocation orsacrifice or vow or seeking of help or call for help or seeking of refuge orother than that. Among its forms are:

1- What the worshipers of Idols, Prophetsand men of God do by invoking them and seeking intercession from them,satisfaction of needs, bringing benefits and protection from harm. Whoever commitsthis is a polytheist, unbeliever even if he claims to be a Muslim and utters[the testimony] La'ilaha –illa-llah and he prays, gives charity, fasts, goesfor pilgrimage and performs all kinds good. Thus, the major shirk destroysdeeds and nullifies the Religion of Islam.

2- What magicians do and some of those whogo to them such as slaughtering for the sake of worship to other than Allah(the Almighty and the Great) and calling for help from the devils.

The second kind: The attribution of partner to Allah in Deism, among itsforms:

1- the believe of some polytheists intheir gods and their great men that they have the knowledge of the unseen andthey send down rain and they [independently] possess wealth, they curediseases, they grant children, spouse, wealth and they remove adversity, theyeliminate affliction, they satisfy needs and they answer the invocation oftheir invocators.

2- The belief of the Majus (worshipers offire)that Being has two creators, light and darkness.

3- The belief of some extremist Sufis andShiites that some of their great men have the knowledge of the unseen and theyhave power or authority to dispose of this being and that they respond toinvocations and satisfy needs.

And among the [forms of] shirk in deism,is referring legislation to other than what Allah revealed, for whoeverlegislate with other than Allah's revelation is a taghut [i.e, tyrant] who madehimself a partner to Allah in His legislation.

The third kind: polytheism inobedience: that is, following dignified persons inlegalizing the unlawful and forbidding the lawful as the worshipers of taghutsdo in obeying them and following them in legalizing what Allah forbids andforbidding what Allah legalized.

Among its forms are:

1- Referring legislation to taghut [falsedeities]; for whoever refer [legislation] to them willingly and voluntarily isan infidel, unbeliever because of the sayings of Allah (the Exalted):

﴿أَلَمۡتَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزۡعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَوَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّٰغُوتِوَقَدۡ أُمِرُوٓاْ أَن يَكۡفُرُواْ بِهِۦۖ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمۡضَلَٰلَۢا بَعِيدٗا ٦٠﴾ [النساء:60].

Meaning: "Have you not seen those whoclaim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what wasrevealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to taghut, whilethey were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray. Q4:V60.

However, in the case of one who happens tobe in a country where legislation is not based on what Allah revealed, andnecessity warrants that he refers (legislation) to someone who he believesprotects right and prevents injustice in other to save him from injustice andenable him to attain his right, then, he will not be an infidel, because of thesaying of the Prophet (S.A.W) to his companions when he permitted them tomigrate to Habasha [i.e, Ethiopia]:

«إِنَّ بِأَرْضِ الْحَبَشَةِمَلِكًا لَا يُظْلَمُ أَحَدٌ عِنْدَهُ، فَالْحَقُوا بِبِلَادِهِ حَتَّى يَجْعَلَاللهُ لَكُمْ فَرَجًا وَمَخْرَجًا مِمَّا أَنْتُمْ فِيهِ».[رواهُالبَيْهقِيُّ من حديثِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَل بإسنادٍ حَسَنٍ].

Meaning: "Indeed, there is in thecity of Abyssinian, a king who no one is oppressed in his land. Go to hiscountry until God makes a way out for you. Reported by Albaihaqy on theauthority of Ummu Salama with a good chain.

And [at that time] Najashi has notembraced Islam yet. Had they been oppressed and necessity demand that theyrefer to him for judgment; he would have been just to them. This is an evidencethat it is permissible to refer a matter to one who is known to be just, anddoes not allow injustice.

And in conditions of constraint and needwhich may lead to difficulty, a Muslim who referred legislation to taghut didnot in real sense intend that. Thus, he is not an unbeliever.

But as for the kind of litigation whichimplies adoration to other than Allah, forwarding of sacrifice and asking thefortune-tellers as is done by some idolaters is not permissible under anycirc*mstances.

2- Obedience to evil scholars and tyrantrulers in legalizing [things] that are clearly forbidden in [Islamic] law, andforbidding [things] that are clearly permissible in [Islamic] law.

The third nullifier: Claimingany attribute among the attributes of Allah, regarding His Deism, Divinity, Hisnames and qualities.

Among its forms are:

1- Invitation of some tyrants to theworship of themselves.

2- Claiming the knowledge of the unseen.

3- Claiming the ability to resurrect thedead.

The forth nullifier: Claiming prophecy.

Claiming Prophecy is disbelief with theconsensus of Muslim legal scholars.

Among the things which are affiliated toit in ruling:

He who claims rivalry to the Qur'an andthat he is able to reveal the same as what Allah revealed unto His Messengers.Allah the exalted said:

﴿وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰعَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوۡ قَالَ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ وَلَمۡ يُوحَ إِلَيۡهِ شَيۡءٞوَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثۡلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُۗ﴾ [الأنعام: 93].

Meaning: "And who is more unjust thanone who invents a lie about Allah or says, "It has been inspired tome," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "Iwill reveal [something] like what Allah revealed." Q6: V93.

The fifth nullifier:Disproving Almighty Allah and disproving His Messenger (may peace and blessingsof Allah be upon him).

For whoever disproves Allah and HisMessenger, he is then an infidel, and a non-Muslim by the consensus of theentire Muslim jurists.

Among the forms of this nullifiers,

1- Denying things that are necessarilyknown in Islam, such as denying the necessity of [five daily] prayers or[compulsory] charity or denying the prohibition of usury or adultery or eatingpork.

2- Denying something from the attributesof Allah (the exalted) and His qualities, without any ambiguity due toignorance, the kind of which he may be excused and without interpretation.

3- Denying anything from the GloriousQur'an.

4- Claiming contradiction and distortionsin the Glorious Qur'an.

5- Denying the traditions of the Prophet(S.A.W).

6- Denying Resurrection and reward.

7- Not considering those who believe inother than Islam as Religion such as the Jews, the Christians, the Magi, theAtheists and the idolaters as unbelievers.

8- Believing that someone is excused fromfollowing the laws of Muhammad (.S.A.W) as Alkhidir was excused from followingthe laws of Moses (may the blessings of Allah be upon him).

9- Regarding the forbidden things whoseprohibition is backed by authentic evidence as permissible, without anyambiguity or interpretation.

10- Proving one who claims prophecy.

11- Claiming that the Message of theProphet (S.A.W) is just for the Arabs.

12- Claiming that Allah permitsinvocations to anyone besides Him among the righteous people or other thanthem.

13- Accusing the mother of the believersA'ishah (Allah be pleased with her) of [adultery] from which Allah hasexonerated her, and accusing any of the mothers of the believers as well.

Also, anything which implies disprovingAllah and His Messenger is a nullifier among the violators of Islam. However,there is need to differentiate between disproval of the tradition (of theProphet) that is based on ignorance of its proof or unawareness of it or doubtin its authenticity or an interpretation from he that disproves which will preventhim from being a disbeliever, and the disproval of that whose authentic meaningis known. The last one is a nullifier without any dispute among the Islamicscholars. But as for the afore-mentioned situations, its companion will not beconsidered a disbeliever until an evidence is established upon him, and theauthenticity of the tradition and its meaning was clear.

The sixed nullifier: Doubt

Doubt is contradictory to the obligatoryratification. So, whoever doubt the veracity of Allah's word and [doubt theveracity of] His Prophet's narration, he is then an infidel, unbeliever.

Among the forms of this nullifier:

1- Doubt in infidelity of one who does notpractice the Religion of Islam.

2- Doubt in the resurrection after death.

3- Doubt in the authenticity of theglorious Qur'an, and its prevention from distortion and alteration.

The seventh nullifier: hatredof Allah and His Messenger, and hatred of the religion of Islam

Hatred is contradictory to obligatorylove. Thus, whoever hates Allah and His Messenger or hates the Religion ofIslam is a disbeliever, out of the Religion.

Among the things which are affiliated toit:

1- Insulting Allah and His Messenger, andinsulting the religion of Islam, and disparaging the holy self (of Allah) anddisparaging the position of the Prophet (S.A.W)

2- Hatred of the companions (may Allah bepleased with them). Insulting them as a whole, and regarding them asunbelievers unlike one who insults a group of them as a result of ambiguitywhich befalls him, with this, he has committed a prohibited act but he is notregarded as a disbeliever.

3- Hatred of the Imams of the Religion,narrators of the traditions of the Prophet (S.A.W), bearers of Islamic laws asa whole, and disproving them.

The eighth nullifier: Mockeryof Allah, His signs and His Messenger. This isdisbelief because it goes against an obligatory love and veneration.

Among the things that will be affiliatedto it:

1- To make contempt of the (Holy) Qur'an.

2- Disparagement of any rite among therites of Islam.

The ninth nullifier: takingdisbelievers as allies instead of the believers, this will include two things:

1- Loving them in their Religion andagreeing with it and gratification in it.

2- Assisting the unbelievers againstMuslims.

Among the forms of this nullifier:

1- Espionage of Muslims for the benefit ofunbelievers.

2- Congratulating the unbelievers on theiridolatrous festivals, contentment with what they do of polytheism and disbeliefin Allah (the Great and Almighty). But as for one who joins them in order toeat with them or to enjoy with them an unlawful enjoyment in their lewdness andmusic, while in his heart is hatred for their infidelity and polytheism, insuch case, he is on the edge of perdition, and it is feared that when a penaltybefalls them, it may involve him.

3- Building places of worship in whichother than Allah (the Great and the Exalted) is worshiped, or assisting inbuilding it like the building of churches, monasteries and synagogues. And thebuilding of sepulchers and sceneries in which invocation of other than Allah(the Great and the Exalted) is carried out.

4- Battling against the bearers of [theIslamic] law, among the scholars and propagators [of Islam], exerting pressureon them with the intention of oppressing the propagation of Islam.

5- Acting towards weakening the Muslims,[causing] enfeeblement to them and enabling the unbelievers to have dominationover Muslims.

The tenth nullifier: Turningaway from and abandonment (of Islam).

Whoever turned away from obeying Allah andHis Messenger is an unbeliever, because he is incompliant to the Religion ofAllah (the Exalted) because he neither observes the obligatory acts, nor did heabstains from the unlawful except that which pleases his wish.

Among the forms of this nullifier:

1- To consider obedience to Allah and HisMessenger unnecessary upon him, and that it is not obligatory upon him to obeythe commands of Allah (the Exalted) and the commands of His Messenger (S.A.W).

2- To turn away from the commands of Allahand the commands of His Messenger totally, in such a way that he does not learnthe [jurisprudence of] Religion, and he does not ask about what is obligatoryupon him of obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and he neither carries outthe obligatory duties upon him nor does he abstains from the unlawful inobedience to Allah and His Messenger. However, as for he who is obedient toAllah and his Messenger, observing that with which he will remain a Muslim buthe often falls into some wrongdoings, he does not become a disbeliever bycommitting that sin.

Among the things that are affiliated tothis nullifier: Omission of Salah, because it is the pillar of Religion, if aservant omits it totally, then, he has turned away from the Religion of Allah(the Great and the Mighty). Umar bin Alkhattab said: whoever misplaces it [i.e,prayer] it is easier for him to misplace other than it.

Chapter: And these nullifiers are in total contradiction to the twotestimonies [i.e, testifying that no deity is worthy of worship except Allahand testifying that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah] whoever falls intocommitting any one of them after he has been a Muslim, while he is sensible andmatured not forced and having no excuse due to ambiguity, he is then adisbeliever, and an apostate from the Religion of Islam. If he dies on that, hewill abide eternally in the Hell Fire. Allah (the Exalted) said:

﴿وَمَنيَرۡتَدِدۡ مِنكُمۡ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَيَمُتۡ وَهُوَ كَافِرٞ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتۡأَعۡمَٰلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأٓخِرَةِۖ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖهُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٢١٧﴾ [البقرة:217].

Meaning: "And whoever of you revertsfrom his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever- for those,their deeds have become worthless in this world and the hereafter, and those arethe companions of the Fire; they will bide therein eternally. Q2: V217.

And whoever falls into any of thesenullifiers or a part of it internally while he manifests Islam, he is then ahypocrite with major hypocrisy. We will treat him as a Muslim externally, andwe will entrust his secret to Allah (the Exalted) as far as an apparentdisbelief has not been clear to us from him.

Chapter: The nullifiers are oftwo levels:

The first level: a disclosed infidelity, this is the kind in which there is noambiguity and no suspicion beside the disbelief of its companion and he has noexcuse of unawareness or interpretation or compulsion.

Like one who is affiliated to [a religion]other than Islam, or worships other than Allah (the Great and the Almighty) andhe who abuses Allah and His Messenger and the one who mocks the Religion and hewho denies the Qur'an or the tradition of the Prophet, or deny what isnecessarily known in Religion where as his knowledge about that is clear.

The companions of this level are consideredto be disbelievers and they are the dwellers of Hell Fire if we are sure thatthey had died on that. Allah (the exalted) said:

﴿مَاكَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَوَلَوۡ كَانُوٓاْ أُوْلِي قُرۡبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُمۡأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ١١٣﴾ [التوبة:113].

Meaning: "It is not for the Prophetand those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even ifthey were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companionsof Hell Fire.Q9: V113.

The second level: that whichis not a clear disbelief; this is of two types,

The first type: that which it is possible for its companion to be excused ofbeing forced or madness or suspicion due to an interpretation or ignorancewhich may be tenable as an excuse and which may require establishing evidenceupon him. When the evidence reaches him and he understood its meaning but stillinsists after the evidence has been made clear to him, then, he will be judgeddisbeliever. However, if the suspicion still remains in him, he will not beregarded a disbeliever.

That is why the great scholars of Ahlu-ssunnah [i.e, those who follow the exact teachings of the Prophet (S.A.W)]abstained from judging the companions of some misguided sects who deny somenames and attributes of Allah as unbelievers because of the ambiguity of interpretation,after judging them innovators and that ambiguity will not give them an excusein their wrong doing, but it will prevent them from being consideredunbelievers.

It is in this form that a deed can beconsidered disbelief, but the one who performs it would not be judged asinfidel until all conditions are fulfilled in him and all of the interdictorsare absent.

The second type: In the case where the nullifier will be among the controversialnullifiers and the researcher falls into a kind of confusion and having nopreponderance in it.

The Islamic scholars have disputed oversome nullifiers, among which are:

1- Abstention from observing Prayer due tolaziness and carelessness without denying its obligation and not arrogant inobserving it.

The right opinion is that whoever leavesit totally, he is a disbeliever, and he who prays a times and abstains fromprayer at other times is a dissolute, promised with a punishment due to hisnegligence of the congregations but he will not be judged a disbeliever. Thisis the intermediate opinion between the two opinions.

The first opinion is that he will becomean unbeliever by leaving a single prayer.

The second opinion is that he will notbecome a disbeliever even if he abstains from prayer totally.

2- Magic, the scholars have disputed overthe infidelity of he who learns magic and he who works with magic. The rightopinion in this is that magic can never be done except by the acts of disbeliefand major polytheism such as seeking assistance from the devils, pleasing themby offering sacrifices for their sake, vowing [to them] and scorning what Allahordered to be glorified. There is no dispute between the scholars that whoevercommits these acts is a disbeliever.

But among the scholars are those who callhidden tricks and visual artifice magic. And among them are those who considermaking tricks by giving some syrup that functions against the sense of aperson, his life and his perception as magic. That is why they do notabsolutely judge a magician as a disbeliever until they inquire about thenature of his magic. If he does his magic by seeking help from the devil andapproaching them they judge him a disbeliever, but if he does his magic withother than that they decide punishment on him.

3- Abandonment of Zakah [charity], fastingand pilgrimage. Some scholars are of the opinion that whoever leaves any ofthese obligations is a disbeliever even if he does not deny its obligation. Butthe right opinion is that, he who abandons that will not be considered a disbelieverexcept he denied its obligation, then, he will be judged a disbeliever becausehe has disproved Allah and His Messenger.

Many authentic traditions have indicatedthat one who abandons these obligations will be punished in the hereafter.Then, he will be shown his way either to Paradise or to Hell Fire, and this isan evidence that he has not necessarily became a disbeliever.

Chapter: Some acts that withdraw from the Religion may contain more thanone nullifier. Thus, it is a disbelief in different ways.

Example of that is one who legislates withother than what Allah revealed while considering that to be lawful andpreferring the legislation of tyrants to the legislation of Allah (the Greatand the Almighty).

Hence, he is an unbeliever in differentways, He is an unbeliever because of his legislation with other than what Allahrevealed and making himself a partner to Allah in His legislation and he is anunbeliever because of his legalization of what is necessarily known to beunlawful in the Religion of Islam.

He is an unbeliever because of hisdisproof of Allah and His Messenger as he regards the legislation of tyrants tobe better than the legislation of Allah (the Great and the Almighty)

It is also worth noting that someunbelievers and apostates fall into different forms of nullifiers. Thus, someof them fall into major polytheism, disproving Allah and His Messenger, hatingthe Religion of Islam, alliance with the unbelievers and other things among thenullifiers. The more a servant falls into these nullifiers, the worse hisdisbelief will be, and of course his punishment will be more severe.

Chapter: And kufr [disbelief] is of two kinds, external and internaldisbelief.

As for the internal disbelief, it has todo with the situation between him and Allah. He may be a disbeliever internallybecause he has committed that which nullifies Islam, but based on what peoplesee, he manifests Islam. Hence, he is a hypocrite who should be treated as aMuslim externally but in the hereafter he will be together with the unbelieversin the Hell Fire abiding therein eternally. Furthermore, among the people isone who may commit a nullifier among the nullifiers of Islam from what appearedto the people, but he may have what will grant him excuse such as madness,excusable ignorance, or because he is new in Islam such that some words ofdisbelief which he is used to will be coming out of his tongue without himbelieving in it. He may be judged a disbeliever externally, but internally hemay be having an excuse.

And a person is resurrected on what hedied upon in terms of faith or disbelief.

Originally the proclamation of disbeliefupon someone is referred to the scholars and the rulers. There could be anexception to this due to some incidences which will necessitate that, orbecause a work is related to that.

Among the things which must benoted, is hastiness in judging a person as an infidel while his infidelity hasnot been clearly established, because ofthe sayings of the Prophet (S.A.W):

«إِذَا قَالَ الرجلُ لأَخِيهِ: يَا كَافِرُ. فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِهَا أَحَدُهُمَا،إِنْ كَانَ كَمَا قَالَ، وَإِلاَّ رَجَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ». [مُتَّفقٌ عليه من حديثِابنِ عُمَرَ ب].

Meaning:" When a man says to hisbrother, "O unbeliever, one of them will certainly go with it, if it wasas he said (then, so be it) otherwise it (i.e the word unbeliever) will returnback to him. Reported by Bukari and Muslim on the authority of Abdullah binUmar (may Allah be pleased with them). Abu dharrin (may Allah be pleased withhim) also narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying:

«مَنْ دَعَا رَجُلاً بِالْكُفْرِ أَوْقَالَ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ. وَلَيْسَ كَذَلِكَ إِلاَّ حَارَ عَلَيْهِ».

[متفقعليه].

Meaning:" He who labels anyone withunbelief or calls him the enemy of Allah, and he was in fact not so, it returnsback to him. Bukhari and Muslim.

This warning is in regards to that whichoccurs in the course of blaspheming, hastiness and judgment without qualification,but as for a scholar who is qualified, if he makes mistake in his judgment whenrequested for that without being negligent or following his wish, he will berewarded for his effort and his mistake is forgiven.

Chapter: The scholars unanimously agree to the killing of the apostatebecause of the saying of the Prophet (S.A.W):

«مَنْ بَدَّلَ دِينَهُ فَاقْتُلُوهُ»[رواهُالبُخاريُّ من حديثِ ابنِ عَبَّاسٍب].

Meaning:" Whoever changes hisreligion, you should kill him" reported by Albukhari on the authority ofIbn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them).

And whoever died an apostate should not bewashed, enshrouded, prayed upon and should not be buried in the cemetery of theMuslims. His wealth will not be bequeathed and he should not be prayed for afterhis death.

As for [the issue of] asking him to repentbefore killing him, that is based on the decision of the leader. If he hopes inhis return to Islam or there is an incidental suspicion as a result of which heapostate, he has the right to give him respite for three days, presenting Islamto him. If he returns, that is it, but if he refuses he should be killed as anapostate.

If the leader observes that there isbenefit to the Muslims in hastening to killing, for example, one who harmsMuslims intensively after his apostate, or one who spies on them or the leaderfears affliction and harm on the Muslims in delaying him, he can hastens inkilling him so long as he does not repents before being caught.

O Allah, let us live as Muslims and causeus to die as Muslims and join us with the righteous and protect us fromdisgrace in this World and the punishment in the hereafter our Lord, You areindeed kind and merciful.

Concise Lessons in Fundamentals of Religion (2024)

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Concise Lessons in Fundamentals of Religion (2024)

Translator's note

The meaning of Ashshahaadataini [i.e, Laa'ilaahailla-llahuMuhammadu-rrasulullahi]

Lesson one: The meaning of Laa'laaha'illa-Allah

Summary:

Lesson two: The meaning of Shahadatuanna Muhammada-rrasulu-llah (i.e testifying to the Prophet hood of Muhammad(S.A.W

Lesson three: The necessity of being obedient to Allah andHis Messenger.

Lesson four: The virtues of Attauheed (Islamicmonotheism)

Lesson five: The meaning of Islamic Religion

Lesson six: The meaning of Ibadah

Lesson Seven: Explanation of the Meaning of Alkufrubi-ttaghut [i.e, Rejection of false deities].

Lesson Eight: Warning against Shirk [Polytheism]and explanation of its classification.

Ashshirk[polytheism] is classified into two:

Lesson nine: Warning against hypocrisy. (1\3)

Lesson ten: Warning against hypocrisy (2\3)

The acts ofhypocrites are of two categories;

Lesson eleven: warning against hypocrisy (3\3) The punishment of a hypocrite:

Lesson twelve: Nullifiers of Islam

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References