Description of Tauhid (1/2)

People's unawareness and ignorance:

Polytheism is generally widespread among the people and the concept of Monotheism is in scarcity. Many people who claim to be the bearers of Faith do not understand the meanings of Tauhid and Shirk (Monotheism and polytheism). Apparently they are Muslims, but they are unconsciously involved in the acts of Shirk. Therefore, first we should try to understand the meanings of Tauhid (Monotheism) and Shirk (polytheism) so that we may know about their advantages and disadvantages as directed by Qur'an and Sunnah.

The acts leading to polytheism:

In difficult times and situations people call upon saints, Prophets, Imam, martyrs, angels and fairies for assistance; make their vows to them, invoke them for the fulfillment of their wishes and even make so-called offerings to them so that their wishes may come true. To avoid ailments, they have no scruples about attributing their sons to those false deities by giving them such names as Abdun-Nabi, Ali Bakhsh, Hussain Bakhsh, Peer Bakhsh, Madar Bakhsh, Salar Bakhsh, Ghulam Muhiuddin and Ghulam Moinuddin etc. Someone raises a plait of hair in the name of a deity, someone slaughters an animal in their names, someone invokes them in a distressed situation and someone swears an oath in their names. This means that the way non-Muslims treat their gods and goddesses, these so-called Muslims also give exactly a similar treatment to the Prophets, saints, Imam, martyrs, angels and fairies. Despite committing all the above sinful acts, they still claim to be Muslims. As Allah has rightfully said:

 “And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him.” (Surah Yusuf, 12:106)

Those who profess to have Faith in Allah while their actions reeking of polytheism:

It means that the majority of people who outwardly profess to have faith in Allah are in fact entangled in the quagmire of polytheism. If someone questions them as to why are they involved in Shirk while evincing faith in Allah, they answer by saying that we are not committing an act of polytheism, neigh we cherish a tremendous amount of love for the prophets and saints and we are none but their true devotees. Had we considered them on an equal status with Allah, it would have been 'an act of Shirk', but we merely consider them the slaves and creatures of Allah, Who had vested in them an authority and given them the capability to the effect that they manipulate the matters concerning this world by the Will of Allah. Therefore calling upon them for help is calling upon Allah for His Help. These people are dear ones to Allah and therefore are free to do whatever they like. These are our advocates who will intercede with Allah on our behalf. Meeting  them makes one meet his Cherisher and calling upon them makes us near to Allah. The more we recognize their greatness and pay our respect to them, the more we shall be drawn towards Allah.

In addition to all this, they make a lot of other absurd and baseless statements.

The verdict of Qur'an:

The sole reason for all the above incongruities is that people have forsaken Qur'an and Hadith and exercise their own judgments in the matters concerning Shari 'ah by applying their own intellect, pursue myths and superstitions, and try to justify their erroneous customs and traditions by presenting insubstantial evidence. If they had the knowledge of Qur'an and Hadith, they would have known that even the pagans among the Arabs used to employ similar kind of arguments before the Prophet (Peace be upon Him). Allah's wrath befell them as He declared them liars in one of the Qur'anic verses:

“And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say: Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth? Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners with Him!” (Surah Yunus, I0:18)

None but Allah is the Capable:

The objects which the polytheists offer their worship to are absolutely powerless. They possess no capability of either benefiting anybody or inflicting any harm on someone. As to their notion that they will intercede with Allah on their behalf, is nothing but a mere fallacy for the simple reason that Allah did not inform them about any such thing. Do they profess to be more knowledgeable than Allah in regard to the matters of this world and the heavens in what they believe to be their mediators with Allah on their behalf? 'Thus, it becomes known to us that there is no such mediator in this universe who, on the basis of people's belief or disbelief in them, can either benefit or harm someone. Even the intercession of the Prophets and saints itself is governed by Allah. Nothing happens if someone calls upon them in distress. Furthermore, we are warned that whoever, worships someone as his intercessor, is also a 'Mushrik' as stated by Allah in this verse:

“And those who take Auliya (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): 'We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.' Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:3)