Prohibition of Shirk in Worship (1/4)

The definition of worship:

'lbadah (worship) implies those activities which Allah the Almighty has specified and taught to His slaves for His honor and gratification. Here, we are going to explain as to what those activities are, which Allah has ordained us to perform in His honor so that we should not perform them for any entity other than Allah and thus avoid committing the Shirk.

Worship is meant for Allah Alone:

"And indeed We sent Noah to his people (and he said): 'I have come to you as a plain warner. That you worship none but Allah, surely I fear for you the torment of a painful Day.'" (Surah Hud, 11:25, 26)

It means that there has always been a strife between believers and the non-believers ever since the Prophet Noah {Peace be upon Him} was sent to this earth. The beloved slaves of Allah have always maintained and spread the word that we should never express our reverence to any entity, whatsoever, in a manner which is strictly prescribed for Allah, and the acts which have been outlined and delineated to show our respect to Allah only, must not be performed to propitiate any other entity.

Prostration is for Allah only:

Allah says:  

“Prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah who created them, if you (really) worship Him.” (Surah Fussilat, 41:37)

This verse explains that in Islam, the prostration is the right of the Creator only and therefore, we should not prostrate to any creature, be it the moon, the sun, a Prophet, a saint, a jinn or any angel. If someone maintains that making a prostration to a creature was permissible in the earlier religions, for instance, the angels prostrated to Adam {Peace be upon Him} and Prophet Jacob {Peace be upon Him} prostrated to Prophet Joseph {Peace be upon Him} and hence there is no harm if we make a prostration to a saint as a token of showing our respect to him. We must remember that such a thing proves and confirms one's Shirk and thoroughly deprives him of Faith. According to the laws which were prevalent during the period of Adam {Peace be upon Him}, it was permissible to marry one's sisters. Presenting this fact as an evidence, what is the harm if these people marry their sisters. But harm does certainly lie there, because the incestuous relationship with one's sisters is a matter which is forbidden forever and is not permissible under any circumstances. The crux of the matter is that a human being must comply with the instructions of Allah. Any Divine injunction should be acknowledged and acted upon without reluctance and without engaging oneself in a controversial argumentation by employing phony excuses like saying: "It was not ordained to the earlier people, why the same has been forced down our necks?" This type of argumentation leads one into being a disbeliever. To elaborate it further, let us presume that a certain statute was put into effect by a king which was being observed for a long time. Now the legislators replaced it with another law by abrogating the former one, and therefore, it is now necessary to enact this new law and to abide by it. If someone insists that he will only recognize the old law and not the new one, such a person shall be deemed a rebel and a rebel is punishable with imprisonment. Similarly, Hell-fire is the punishment for the ones who rebel against Allah's authority. 
         

It is an act of Shirk to call upon anyone other than Allah:

Allah the Almighty says:

“And the mosques are for Allah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allah! (It has been revealed to me that) When the slave of Allah (Muhammad {Peace be upon Him}) stood up invoking (his Lord-Allah) in prayer to Him they (the jinns) just made round him a dense crown as if sticking one over the other (in order to listen to Prophet's  recitation. Say (O Muhammad {Peace be upon Him}): 'I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him.'” (Surah Al-Jinn, 72: 18-20)

It means that whenever a slave invokes Allah with a clean and pure heart, these ignorants think that this person is one of the most eminent saints who has been raised to such an exalted status (of being a Ghauth or Qutub) that he is empowered to grant almost anything to anyone and similarly may deprive anyone of anything whatever he likes. Hence these people form dense crowds around him with the hope that this man would solve their problems and make them overcome their distress. Now, it is an obligation on this man to inform the people about the right thing that one should invoke only Allah during difficult times. This right (the right of being called upon) only belongs to Allah. Any anticipation regarding a profit or loss must be associated with the Will of Allah because attributing such a thing to anyone other than Allah is an act of Shirk. I am disgusted with the Shirk and its committers. And if someone wants to give me this kind of treatment, I become displeased with him. The acts of granting and taking away belong to Allah the Almighty. This pious person should make it clear to the people that he has no power and authority to do anything. Allah indeed is my Rabb and yours, and therefore, we must renounce the false objects of worship and invoke the Lord Who is the Solitary and Unique One having no associates with Him. He is alone in His Oneness, His right of being worshipped, His Lordship and absolute ruling. Thus it becomes known to us that standing with respect (with hands knotted to each other), making an invocation and reciting a certain formula (with repetitions) are the activities which Allah has exclusively specified to be performed in His honor only. According such a treatment to anyone other than Allah is an act of Shirk.

Allah the Almighty says:

“And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highways (to perform Hajj). That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice) at the time of their slaughtering by saying: (Bismillah, Wallahu-Akbar, Allahumma Minka wa Ilaik.) Then eat thereof and feed therewith the poor who have a very hard time. Then, let them complete the prescribed duties (Manasik of Hajj) for them, and perform their vows, and circumambulate the ancient House (the Ka'bah at Makkah).” (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:27-29)

(Continued)