The Authentic Creed by: Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz

Table of Contents
Introduction
Belief in Allah
Belief in Angels
Belief in the Books
Belief in Messengers
Belief in the Last Day
The Invalidaters of Islam

Introduction

All praise is due to Allah, and Allah's Peace and Blessings be

upon His Final Messenger, his pure family, his noble

Companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness

until the Day of Judgment.

To proceed:

In view of the fact that the true 'Aqidah, or creed, is the

foundation of Islam, I have decided on ' The Authentic Creed

and the Invalidators of Islam as a title for the present treatise.

It is evident from texts of the Noble Qur’aan and the Sunnah

that a person's words and deeds will not be accepted unless

they emanate from a true creed. If the creed is not authentic,

all words and deeds emanating there from are bound to be

rejected. The Qur'aan says:

"And whosoever disbelieves in Faith then, fruitless is

his work and in the Hereafter he will be among the

losers." (Soorah 5:5)

"And indeed it has already been revealed to you, as it

was to those before you, that if you join others with

Allah in worship, then surely all your deeds will be in

vain, and you will certainly be among the losers."

(Soorah 39:65)

The Verses to this effect are numberless.

The Qur’aan and the Prophetic traditions clearly state that the

true creed is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His

Messengers, the Last Day, and Al-Qadar (Divine Destiny), the

good of it and the bad of it. These six articles constitute the

basis of the true creed with which Allah sent His Book and with

which He sent His Messenger Muhammad !.

These articles also include all aspects of Al-Ghaib (Unseen

World), or in which a Muslim should believe. They also include

all that which Allah and His Messenger have informed us

thereof. The evidence of these articles come from many

Verses of the Qur’aan as well as Prophetic traditions. The

following are but a few examples. Allah says:

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces

towards east or west; but it is righteousness to believe

in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, the Book and

the Messengers." (Soorah 2:177)

He also said:

"The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to

him from his Lord, as do the believers. Each one (of

them) believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His

Messengers. (They say) 'We make no distinction

between one another of His Messengers.' And they say,

'We hear and we obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our

Lord, and to You is the end of all journeys." (Soorah

2:285)

He further says:

"O you who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger,

and the Scripture which He sent to His Messenger (i.e.,

the Qur’aan) and the Scripture which He sent to those

before (him) any who disbelieves in Allah, His Angels,

His Books, His Messengers and the Last Day has indeed

gone far, far astray." (Soorah 4:136)

"Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven

and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lauh

Al-Mahfaz), Verily, that is easy for Allah." (Soorah 22:70)

The authentic Prophetic traditions clearly stating these articles

are also innumerable. We cite the following tradition as an

example. Muslim reported in his Sahih on the authority of

'Umar bin Al-Khattab that when Jibril asked the Prophet !

about Faith, he said:

"Iman or Faith, is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His

Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in

Destiny, the good of it and the bad of it."

This tradition has also been reported by Al-Bukhari on the

authority of Abu Hurairah. From these articles emanate all that

a Muslim should believe with regard to Allah's Right, the Day

of Judgment and all matters pertaining to the Unseen World.

Belief in Allah

Belief in Allah signifies that Allah is the true God Who Alone

deserves to be worshipped, as He is the Creator and the

Sustainer of all human beings. It also signifies that He is also

fully aware of their secret and open words and deeds and is

Able to reward the righteous and punish the disobedient. In

fact, Allah created mankind and the jinn for the sole reason to

worship Him Alone. As the Qur’aan says:

"And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except

that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any

provision from them (i.e., provision for themselves or

for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me

(i.e., feed themselves or My creatures). Verily, Allah is

the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong."

(Soorah 51 : 56-58)

And He said:

"O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who created you and

those who came before you that you may become

righteous. Who has made the earth a resting place for

you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down rain from

the sky, and brought forth therewith fruits as provision

for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in

worship) while you know that He Alone has the right to

be worshipped." (Soorah 2:21,22)

Allah sent the Messengers and sent down the Books to clarify

this Truth, call to it and warn against all that which contradicts

it. The Qur’aan says:

"And verily, we have sent among every Ummah a

Messenger, (with the command), 'Worship Allah (Alone)

and avoid (or Keep away from) At-Taghut (i.e., all false

deities)." (Soorah 16:36)

"And We did not send any Messenger before you but we

revealed to them (saying): La Ilaha illa Ana (none has

the right to be worshipped but I, So worship Me."

(Soorah 21:25)

"(This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected and

then explained in detail from One (Allah), Who is All-

Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things): (Saying)

worship none but Allah. Verily, I (Muhammad) am unto

you from Him a warner and a bringer of glad tidings."

(Soorah 11:1,2)

The reality of 'worship' mentioned in the above-mentioned

Verses is to direct all one s acts to Allah Alone. These include,

amongst other things, supplications, fear and hope, prayers,

fasting, making sacrifices and taking vows. These should be

done in total submission to His Will, fearing His chastisement

and hoping for His Mercy as well as displaying love for Him.

Many Verses of the Qur'aan clearly state this Islamic

fundamental. The Qur’aan says:

"Verily, We have sent down the Book to you in truth: so

worship Allah (Alone), offering Him sincere devotion.

Surely, sincere devotion (worship) is due to Allah

Alone." (Soorah 39:2,3)

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but

Him." (Soorah 17:23)

“So, call upon Allah with sincere devotion, making your

worship pure for Him (Alone)” (Soorah 40:14)

Al-Bukhari and Muslim also report on the authority of Mu’adh

who said, that the Prophet said:

“Allah’s right upon His slaves is that they should worship Him

Alone and not to associate anyone with Him in worship.”

Belief in Allah also necessitates the belief in all the apparent

obligations including the five pillars of Islam, namely the

declaration that none is worthy of worship except Allah and

that Muhammad ! is His Messenger, performing prayers,

paying Zakah, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and

performing pilgrimage to Ka’bah in Makkah, if one can afford

it.

The mast important of all these pillars is the declaration of

Faith, That none has the right to he worshipped except Allah.

This declaration requires offering sincere devotion to Allah

Alone. Anyone who is worshipped besides Allah is but vain

falsehood, as the Qur’aan says:

"That is because Allah is the Only True God, and those

besides Him whom they invoke are but vain falsehood."

(Soorah 22:62)

We have mentioned earlier that Allah created the jinn and

men to worship Him Alone and that He sent His Messengers

and sent down His Books to explain this fundamental to them.

Many Muslims nowadays have neglected this fundamental and

have thus fallen into ignorance and have, wittingly or

unwittingly, worshipped others besides Allah, hence violating

this right of worship, which is His prerogative.

This belief also necessitates the belief that Allah is the

Originator and Creator of the creation and that He Alone is the

Disposer of their affairs with His Total Will and Absolute

Knowledge. He is also the Master of the present world and the

Hereafter and the Lord of the worlds. There is no creator or

lord but He. He sent the Messengers and sent down the Books

to call them to that which will benefit them in this world and in

the Hereafter. The Qur’aan says:

"Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the

Guardian and Disposer of all affairs." (39: 62)

"Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens

and the earth in six days, then He rose over the Throne

(in the manner that suits His Majesty). He covers the

night with the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created)

the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all) are subjected to

His Commandment. Surely, His is the creation and the

commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the

worlds." (Soorah 7:54)

Belief in Allah also necessitates the belief in His Beautiful

Names and Lofty Attributes that are clearly stated in the

Qur'aan and are authentically mentioned by His Prophet

Muhammad !. We should believe in all His Attributes without

changing them, completely ignoring them, twisting their

meanings, or claiming that they resemble human attributes.

Rather, we should believe in these Attributes and describe

Allah in a manner that suits His Majesty and Grandeur, for

none of His creatures resembles Him in any way.

The Qur’aan says:

"There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-

Hearer, the All-Seer." (Soorah 42: 11)

"Invent not similitudes for Allah. Truly, Allah knows and

you know not." (Soorah 16:74)

Such is the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, the

Companions of the Prophet and those who follow in their

footsteps. Imam Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ash'arI mentioned this creed

in his book 'A1-Maqalat 'an Ashabil-Hadithi wa Ahlis-Sunnah. '

Other leading scholars have also mentioned this true creed in

their works.

Imam A1-Awza said:

"Az-ZuhrI and Makhul were inquired about the Verses which

talk about Allah' s Attributes and they replied, 'Leave them as

they are." That is, do not interpret them.

Al-Walid bin Muslim said:

"Malik, A1-Awza'i, Al-Laith bin Sa'd, and Sufyan Ath-Thawri,

may Allah have mercy upon them, were asked about the

narration concerning Allah's Attributes, and they all said to

believe in them all without interpreting their meanings."

Al-Awza'i said:

"We used to say in the presence of At-Tabi'un, the successors

of the Prophet's Companions, that Allah is over His Throne,

and we believed in all the Prophetic traditions concerning

Allah's Attributes."

When Rabi'ah bin Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, the teacher of Imam

Malik, was asked about the Verse, "Allah rose over His

Throne." (Soorah 7:54), he replied:

"Allah's rising over the Throne is not to be denied, to imagine

the manner in which this is done is impossible, the Message is

from Allah, the Prophet conveyed this Message, and we have

to believe in it as it is."

When Imam Malik himself was inquired about the manner in

which Allah rose over the Throne, he replied: "Allah's action of

rising over the Throne is known, the manner in which this was

done is not known, the belief in this matter is obligatory, and

inquiring about this manner is an innovation in religion, or

Bid'ah."

Then he addressed the inquirer thus, "You are but an evil

person." Then he asked people around him to send him out.

Umm Salamah, the Prophet's wife, is reported to have made

the same statement.

Imam Abu 'Abdur-Rahman 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak said in

this connection:

"We know that our Lord, Glorious is He, is over His Throne and

over His heavens, distinct from His creation."

The religious scholars have written so much on this subject

that it is impossible to quote them all in this treatise. Whoever

is interested to find out more about this subject can refer to

works written by scholars of Sunnah in this regard. These

include, among other things, 'Abdullah bin Imam Ahmad's As-

Sunnah, Muhammad bin Khuzaimah's At-TawhId, Abul Qasim

At-Tabari's As-Sunnah. One can also refer to Imam Ibn

Taimiyyah's reply to the people of Hamat, Syria, in which he

delineated the belief of Ahius-Sunnah. He also included in this

reply the statements of Ahlus-Sunnah as well as logical and

textual evidence from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah supporting

their position and exposing their opponents' opinions. He also

dealt with the subject in his treatise known as Ar-Risalatu At-

Tadmiriyyah in which he cited the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah along

with logical and textual evidence from the Qur'aan and the

Sunnah, leaving no room for argument for the objective

seekers of Truth.

Whoever adopts other than the position of Ahius-Sunnah as to

the issue of Allah's Names and Attributes will certainly

contravene massive logical and textual evidence from the

Qur’aan and the Sunnah.

Ahlus-Sunnah have confirmed all the Names and Attributes

that Allah confirmed for Himself either in the Qur'aan or

through the authentic traditions of the Prophet !, without

changing them completely, twisting their meaning, ignoring

them or likening them to those of His creatures. They have

taken into account all possible proofs and have thus avoided

falling into obvious contradictions. It is Allah's Plan to make

the argument of those objective and sincere seekers of the

Truth supreme:

"Nay, We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it

destroys it, and behold, falsehood is vanished." (Soorah

21:18)

"And no question do they bring to you but We reveal to

you the Truth and the best explanation (thereof)."

(Soorah 25:33)

Commenting on the Verse:

"Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens

and the earth in six days, then He rose over the Throne

(in a manner that suits His Majesty)." (Soorah 7:54)

The renowned exegete of the Qur’aan, or Mufassir, Al-Hafiz

Ibn KathIr said:

"People in this regard adopt far too many different opinions,

which are not possible to cite here. However, we adopt in this

regard the position of (the righteous predecessors), As-Salafus-

Salih, past and present, such as Malik, Al-Awza'i, Ath-

Thawri, Al-Laith bin Sa'd, Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Ishaq bin

Rahwaih. They all believed in Allah's Attributes without

twisting their meanings, ignoring them completely, or likening

them to those of His creatures."

And whatever image comes to our minds about Allah should

be rejected, for "there is nothing like unto Him, and He is

the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (Soorah 42:11)

Nu'aim Al-Khuza'i, the teacher of Imam A1-Bukhari, said:

Whoever likens Allah to His creatures is a disbeliever, and

whoever denies the Attributes that Allah ascribes to Himself is

a disbeliever. It is impossible to liken Allah to any of His

Creatures. Guided are those who confirm to Allah the

Attributes, in a manner suiting His Majesty, mentioned in the

clear Qur’aanic Verses and authentic Prophetic traditions and

rejects all blemishes as to Allah's Attributes."

Belief in the Angels

A Muslim should believe in all Allah's angels, whom He created

to worship Him and whom He describes as "honored slaves."

(Soorah 21 :26) and that:

"He knows what is before them, and what is behind

them, and they cannot intercede except for him with

whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of

Him." (Soorah 21:28)

The angels fall into different categories and they are assigned

different duties. There are, amongst others, those who bear

the Throne of Allah (Soorah 40:7), those who guard Paradise

and Hell, and those who record the slave's deeds, to mention

but a few.

A Muslim should believe in those whom Allah named such as

Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'il, Malik the Guardian of Hell-fire, and

Israfil, who is in charge of blowing in the Trumpet.

'

Aishah reported that the Prophet said: "The angels were

created from light, the jinn were created from a smokeless

flame of fire, and Adam was created from what has been

described to you." (Muslim)

Belief in the Books

A Muslim should believe that Allah had sent down Books upon

His Prophets and Messengers to clarify His Right and to call to

it, as the Qur’aan says:

"Indeed We have sent Messengers with clear proofs,

and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance

(Justice) that mankind may keep up justice." (Soorah

57:25)

"Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets

with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent

the Scripture in truth to judge between people in

matters wherein they differed." (Soorah 2:2 13)

A Muslim should also believe in the Revealed Books that Allah

named, such as the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the

Qur’aan. The Glorious Qur’aan is the final and the best of all

these Books. It confirms the Scriptures that came before it

and is a witness over it, testifying the truth and falsifying the

falsehood therein. All Muslims should follow its commands,

shun its prohibitions and refer to its rulings to settle their

differences. They should also follow the authentic Sunnah of

the Prophet ! because Allah sent Muhammad ! to both the

jinn and mankind and sent down the Noble Qur’aan to judge

between them. He also made it a healing for the diseases,

such as hypocrisy, ignorance and doubt, an exposition of

everything, and a guidance and mercy for those who believe.

The Qur’aan says:

"And this is a Book (i.e., the Qur’aan) which We have

sent down as a blessing, so follow it and fear Allah, that

you may receive mercy." (Soorah 6: 155)

"And We have sent down to you the Book (i.e., the

Qur’aan) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a

mercy, and glad tidings to Muslims." (Soorah 16:89)

"Say (O Muhammad): 'O mankind! I am sent to you all

as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongs the

dominion of the heavens and the earth there is no God

worthy of worship but He; it is He Who gives life and

causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger,

the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.,

Muhammad !), who believes in Allah and His Words:

follow him that you may be guided." (Soorah 7:158)

The Qur’aanic Verses to this effect are many.

Belief in the Messengers

A Muslim should believe in all Allah's Messengers without

exception. He must believe that Allah sent mankind

Messengers from amongst them as warners, bearers of glad

tidings, and callers to the Truth. Whoever follows them will

certainly attain bliss and happiness, and whoever disobeys

them will be doomed and disgraced. Muhammad ! was the

best of all these Messengers. Allah says:

"And assuredly We have sent amongst every people a

Messenger (proclaiming), ' Worship Allah (Alone) and

avoid the worship of Taghut (false deities)." (Soorah

16:36)

"Messengers who gave good news as well as warning in

order that mankind should have no plea against Allah

after the Messengers." (Soorah 4:165)

"Muhammad is not the father of any man among you,

but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the

Prophets." (Soorah 33:40)

A Muslim should also believe in those Prophets and

Messengers that Allah or His Messenger was authentically

reported to have named, such as Nüh, Hud, Salih, and Ibrahim

– alaihum as-salaam

Belief in the Last Day

Belief in the Last Day includes the belief in all that which will

happen after death and about which Allah and his Messenger

! informed us. This includes the trial in the grave, the torment

or the bliss therein. This also includes the belief in all that will

be witnessed on the Day of Judgment, such as the Bridge set

over the Hell-fire, The Balance, Reckoning, Reward and

Punishment, the giving of the records, which the successful

believers will be given in their right hand while the wretched

disbelievers will be given in their left hand behind their back.

This also includes the belief in the River that will be given to

Prophet Muhammad !, belief in Paradise and Hell-fire, belief in

the believers' looking at their Lord and His talking to them. A

Muslim should believe in all these facts and others that are

clearly mentioned in the Qur’aan and authentically reported to

have been said by the Prophet.

Belief in the Divine Destiny

Belief in the Qadar (Divine Destiny) comprises four things:

First, the belief that Allah knows what has been and what will

be; He is Aware of everything concerning His slaves, knows

their provision and sustenance, their appointed terms on

earth, their deeds, and everything else relating to them.

Nothing is hidden from Him. The Qur’aan says:

"Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of everything." (58:7)

"That you may know that Allah has power over all

things, and that Allah comprehends all things in (His)

Knowledge." (Soorah 65:12)

Second, the belief that He keeps all that He decrees in a Clear

Book, or Al-Lauh-Al-Mahfuz, as the Qur’aan says:

"We know that which the earth takes of them (their

dead bodies), and with Us is a Book preserved (i.e., the

Book of Decrees)." (Soorah 50:4)

"And all things We have recorded in a Clear Book."

(Soorah 36:12)

He further says:

"Know you not that Allah knows all that is in heaven

and on earth? Indeed, it is all in a Book (Al-Lauh-Al-

Mahfuz), and that is easy for Allah." (Soorah 22:70)

Third, the belief that His Will is absolute and powerful and that

whatever He decrees will be, and whatever He does not decree

will never come to pass:

"Verily, Allah does what He wills." (Soorah 22:18)

"Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, 'Be',

and it is." (Soorah 36:82)

"And you will not will except as Allah Wills, the Lord of

the worlds." (81:29)

Fourth, the belief that He is the Sole Creator of all things, as

the Qur’aan says:

"Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the

Guardian and Disposer of all affairs." (39:62)

"O mankind! Remember the Grace of Allah Upon you! Is

there a creator other than Allah who provides for you

from the sky and the earth? There is no God worthy of

worship except He. How then are you turning away

(from Him)?" (Soorah 35:3)

Belief in the Divine Destiny, therefore, comprises all these four

categories. This is the position of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah.

Only those who yield to innovations in religion deny some of

these categories.

The belief in Allah also includes the belief that Faith comprises

both words and deeds, that this Faith increases with acts of

obedience and decreases as a result of committing acts of

disobedience, and that it is not permissible to accuse a Muslim

of disbelief, or Kufr, as a result of committing acts of

disobedience and major sins, such as adultery, stealing, usury,

drinking alcohol, and disobedience to parents, as long as he or

she does not regard these sins permissible. The Qur’aan says:

"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up

with Him in worship, but He forgives anything else, to

whom He pleases." (4:116)

Authentic Prophetic traditions also state that Allah will

ultimately take out of Hell-fire whoever has an atom's weight

of Faith.

Belief in Allah also necessitates love for His sake, hate for His

sake, and making friends and enemies for His sake. A true

believer loves the believers and takes them for friends, and

shows hate towards the disbelievers and does not take them

for friends. The best of the believers one should love are the

Companions of the Prophet !. Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah love

them and believe that they are the best of mankind after the

Prophets, as the Prophet said in the well-known authentic

tradition:

"The best of generations are my generation, then those

who follow them, then those who follow them."

They also believe that the best of them are in the following

order: Abu Bakr, then 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, then 'Uthman bin

'Affan, then 'Ali bin Abi Talib. Then there are those

Companions who were given the glad tidings of entering

Paradise, then the rest of the Companions. They keep their

tongue in check regarding the arguments that arose amongst

them and believe that they did their best to do only that which

they believed was right. Whoever was right in his judgment

would get a double reward, and whoever was wrong in his

judgment would get one reward. They also love the believing

members of the family of the Prophet and his wives the

Mothers of the Believers.

They free themselves from the position the Sheite Sect holds

in this regard. They (the Sheites) hate the Prophet's

Companions, blaspheme them, and place the Prophet's family

members in a position higher than that Allah chose for them.

They also declare themselves free from the position held by

An-Nawasib who harm the Prophet's family members in word

and deed.

What we have mentioned in this brief treatise on the true

creed with which Allah sent His Messenger ! represents the

belief of the Saved Sect, that of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama 'ah,

about which the Prophet said:

"A group of my followers will continue to be given

victory while holding on to the Truth, no harm will be

done to them by those who forsake them until Allah's

Command comes to pass."

He also said:

"The Jews were divided into seventy-one sects, the Christians

were divided into seventy-two sects, and my followers will be

divided into seventy-three sects which will all be (punished) in

Hell-fire with the exception of one."

When the Companions asked him to identify it, he replied:

"Those who are upon that which my Companions and I

follow."

Indeed, this is the authentic creed one should follow.

Those who contradict and deviate from this belief fall into

many categories. They include, among others, those who

worship idols, angels, saints, the jinn, trees, and stones.

These people have not followed the call of Allah's Messengers;

rather they stubbornly rejected their call. This is exactly what

the Quraish and some other Arab tribes did when Prophet

Muhammad ! came with the Truth from His Lord. They used

to beseech their false gods to fulfill their needs, heal their sick,

and grant them victory over their enemy. They would also

offer sacrifices to them and make vows in their names. When

the Prophet ! disapproved of their foolish beliefs and called

them to worship Allah Alone and not to associate any partner

with Him in worship, they replied:

"Has he made the gods (all) into one God? Truly this is

a strange thing!" (Soorah 38:5)

The Prophet did not yield to despair. He continued calling them

to worship Allah Alone, warning them against associating

others with Him in worship, and explaining to them the reality

of Islam. His efforts eventually paid off when they entered

Allah's religion in crowds. Islam then reigned supreme and

prevailed over all religions due to the huge efforts made by

the Prophet, his Companions, and those who followed them in

righteousness. The situation changed again after ignorance

dominated and an overwhelming majority of people reverted

to their foolish, ignorant practices, including the commission of

all forms of Shirk. This phenomenon is increasingly spreading

in our present-day society because of ignorance.

The argument these people put forward is not different from

that of their predecessors, namely:

"These are our intercessors with Allah." (Soorah 10:18)

And:

"We only worship them in order that they may bring us

closer to Allah." (39:3)

Allah refuted this false claim and made it clear to them that

worshipping any other person or thing other than Allah is

blatant Shirk and disbelief. The Qur’aan says:

"They worship, besides Allah, what can hurt them not

nor profit them, and they say: 'These are our

intercessors with Allah." (Soorah 10:18)

Allah refuted this claim in the same Verse thus:

"Say: 'Do you indeed inform Allah of something He

knows not, in the heavens or on earth? Glory be to Him!

And far is He above the partners they ascribe to Him!”

(Soorah 10:18)

These Verses clearly indicate that worshipping Prophets, saints

and others besides Him is a major form of Shirk, which is an

unpardonable sin. Only those who commit it have invented

this name. The Qur’aan says:

"We only worship them in order that they may bring us

closer to Allah." (Soorah 39:3)

Allah refuted their false claim thus:

"Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein

they differ. But Allah guides not him who is a liar and a

disbeliever." (Soorah 39:3)

In this Verse, therefore, Allah makes it crystal clear that the

worship they offer to other than Him, whether in the form of

invocation, hope, fear or otherwise, is blatant disbelief. He

also calls them liars when they claim that their false gods

bring them closer to Allah.

There are a number of ideologies and philosophies in our

present time which contradict this true belief in every detail.

The followers of these ideologies and philosophies, which were

invented, by Marx, Lenin and others who call to atheism and

disbelief, give their beliefs different names, such as socialism,

communism, and Ba'thism. These people are in essence

disbelievers, because they do not believe in the Last Day,

Paradise and Hell. They also reject all religions because they

claim that there is no god and that life is only matter. Those

who follow these ideologies and philosophies will certainly bear

the worst of consequences both in this life and in the

Hereafter.

Other beliefs, which contradict the true belief, include Al-

Batinyyah and Sufism whose followers believe that their socalled

saints are Allah's partners in His rule and disposition of

the world's affairs. They give them such names as Aqtab,

Awtad, and Aghwath. Indeed, this is the worst form of Shirk

with relation to Allah's Lordship; it is even far worse than the

form of Shirk which was prevalent in Pre-Islamic Arabia, for

the Arabs at that time joined partners with Allah only in

worship not in His Lordship. As the Qur’aan says:

"And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah,

making their Faith pure for Him only: but when He

brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of

their worship to others.” (Soorah 29:65)

"If you ask them who created them, they will certainly

say, 'Allah." (Soorah 43:87)

"Say: 'Who provides for you from the sky and from the

earth? Or who has power over hearing and sight? And

who brings out the living from the dead and the dead

from the living? And who rules and regulates all

affairs?' They will certainly say, 'Allah.' Say: 'Will you

not then show piety (to Him)?" (Soorah 10:31)

Those who commit Shirk these days are worse than their

predecessors in that some of them join partners with Allah in

Lordship and that they commit Shirk in both times of ease and

hardship. This is quite obvious from their practices at the

shrines of Al-Hussein, Al-Badawi and others in Egypt, the

shrine of Al-Eidarous in Aden, the shrine of Al-Hadi in Yemen,

the shrine of Ibn 'Arabi in Syria, the shrine of 'Abdul-Qadir Al-

Jilani in Iraq, and other well-known shrines across the Muslim

World. To make matters worse, there are only a few people

who take great pains to remind these ignorant people of the

reality of TawhId with which Allah sent His Messenger. We

pray to Allah Almighty to guide them to the Truth and to help

Muslim leaders combat and uproot this phenomenon.

Of the beliefs that contradict the true belief with regard to

Allah's Names and Attributes are the beliefs held by Al-

Jahmiyah and Al-Mu'tazilah sects and their likes. These sects

completely ignore Allah's Lofty, Perfect Attributes as though

He is non-existent or an inanimate being! Far is He above

what they say about Him!

Al-Asha'irah is another sect that deny some of the Attributes

while confirming others, thus contradicting clear logical as well

as textual evidence from the Qur’aan and authentic Prophetic

traditions.

The correct and true belief is that of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-

Jama'ah who confirm all the Names and Attributes that Allah

has confirmed for Himself in the Qur'aan or through His

Prophet. They set Him far above His creation, as there is no

one who bears resemblance to Him in anything. They refer to

all proofs in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah without twisting the

meaning thereof in the least. In this way they avoided

confusion into which others have fallen. This belief is the way

to salvation and bliss in this life and in the Hereafter. It is the

Straight Path, which was followed by the pious predecessors

and their leaders. The condition of the present-day Muslims

will not be rectified except by following the same path of the

predecessors who held tight to Allah's Book and the Sunnah of

His Messenger and shunned all that contradict them.

The Invalidators of Islam

You should know, dear Muslim brother, that Allah made it

obligatory upon all His slaves to enter Islam and hold on to it,

and warned them against following other than Islam. He also

sent His Prophet Muhammad to call mankind to it. Allah has

informed us in the Qur’aan that guided are those who follow

the teachings of Islam, and misguided are those who reject

them. He warned us in many Verses against the causes of

apostasy and all forms of Shirk and disbelief Religious scholars

have mentioned that there are a number of invalidators that

are bound to take one out of the fold of Islam. For the sake of

attaining salvation in the Hereafter, I have briefly cited in the

following pages, with some explanation, the ten most critical

of these invalidators so that you will avoid them and make

others aware of them.

1 . To associate others with Allah in worship.

The Qur’aan says:

"Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners with

Him in worship, but He forgives whom He pleases other

sins than this." (Soorah 4: 1 16)

"Whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, Allah

will forbid him Paradise, and the Fire will be his abode.

For the wrongdoers there are no helpers." (Soorah 5:72)

Forms of worship include calling upon the dead, seeking their

assistance, offering sacrifices to them, and taking vows in

their names.

2. To set up intermediaries between oneself and Allah, seeking

their intercession and putting absolute trust in them. Those

who do so are unanimously considered disbelievers.

3. Not to accuse polytheists and those who commit Shirk or

disbelief, to be in doubt as to their being disbelievers, or to

approve of their beliefs.

4. To believe that the Prophet's guidance is not complete or

perfect or that other people's ruling and judgment is better

than his. Those who prefer the rule of false gods are blatant

5 . Those who hate anything that the Prophet came with are