The Four Basic Rules

Know that Allah has created you to worship Him Alone, and that worship is only accepted when accompanied with pure Islamic monotheism, just as prayer is not considered as valid except when ablution is performed prior to it.

Therefore, if shirk becomes a part of any worship it invalidates it, just like passing wind invalidates ablution.

If shirk remains part of the slave’s worship, all his deeds will be rejected and he will be amongst the eternal dwellers of Hell.

You must know what rescues you from the trap of shirk regarding which Allah says that which means: “Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him [in worship], but He forgives except that [anything else] to whom He wills.” (Surah An-Nisaa’:48) You can know this by knowing the following four basic rules:

The first rule: is to know that the infidels against whom the Prophet (Peace be upon him) fought believed that Allah is the Creator and the Administrator [of all the affairs of the universe], yet this belief in itself did not make them Muslims. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah which means: “Who provides for you from the sky and the earth or who owns hearing and sight. And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living. And who disposes the affairs. They will say: ’Allah.’ Say: ‘Will you not then be afraid of Allah's punishment [for setting up rivals in worship with Allah]?’” (Surah Yunus: 31)

The second rule: is to know that the infidels [at the time of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)] would say that they worshipped idols only so that they would bring them closer to Allah and intercede for them with Him; the evidence for this being the saying of Allah which means: “Surely, the religion [i.e. the worship and the obedience] is for Allah only. And those who take Awliyaa' [protectors, helpers, lords, gods] 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: 3)

The evidence that they used the excuse of intercession with Allah is His saying which means: “And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah.” (Surah Yunus: 18) There are two types of intercession, one of which is impossible, one which is sought from other than Allah (e.g. either from the dead or in the Hereafter without the permission of Allah) whereas in fact only Allah can fulfill this. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah which means: “O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the wrongdoers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 254) The second type is intercession which is sought from Allah- the interceding person is honored by being granted the chance to intercede, and the interceded for is the one from whom Allah accepts words and actions following His permission- as He says that which means: “Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 255)

The third rule: is to know that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was raised amongst people who were worshipping different things: some worshipped the angels, others worshipped prophets and the righteous, others worshipped the sun, moon, stars, trees and so on The Prophet (Peace be upon him) fought them all and did not make any distinction between them due to the differences in what they worshipped. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah which means: “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [i.e. worshipping others besides Allah] and the religion [worship] will all be for Allah Alone [throughout the world].” (Surah Al-Anfaal: 39)

The evidence for (false worship of) the sun and the moon is the saying of Allah which means: “And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them, if you [really] worship Him.” (Surah Fussilat: 37)

The evidence for (false worship of) the angels, is the saying of Allah which means: “Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords [gods].” (Surah Aali ‘Imran: 80) The evidence for (false worship of) the prophets is the saying of Allah which means: “And [remember] when Allah will say [on the Day of Resurrection]: “O `Eesaa [Jesus], son of Maryam [Mary]! Did you say unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allah?’ He will say: ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right [to say]. Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours; truly, You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden [and unseen].’ ” (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 116)

The evidence for the (false worship of) righteous people is the saying of Allah which means: “Those whom they call upon [like `Eesaa (Jesus) - son of Maryam (Mary), `Uzair (Ezra), angel and others] desire [for themselves] means of access to their Lord [Allah], as to which of them should be the nearest; and they [`Eesaa (Jesus), `Uzair (Ezra), angels and others] hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment.” (Surah Al-Isra': 57)

The evidence for the (false worship of) trees and rocks is the saying of Allah which means: “Have you then considered [the example of] Al-Laat and Al-`Uzzaa and Manaat, the other third? [idols falsely worshipped by the pagan Arabs].” (Surah An-Najm: 19 -20)

The fourth rule: is to know that the infidels in our time are worse than those in the earlier times because the earlier ones used to purely and sincerely seek the help from Allah during adversities, and associate with Him during times of prosperity; However, today’s infidels associate with Allah in worship during times of adversity as well as times of prosperity. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah which means: “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.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut: 65).