Pauses with the Shari`ah means in calling others to Allah

The first pause:

Allah negated the effect and the benefit of righteous people in many positions in the Qur'an in order to cut the way before the ambitions of the people who rely on them and take them intercessors to Allah. Of these positions are: "And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you, and you have no protectors other than Allâh, nor you would then be helped." [Surat Hud: 113].

Allah says: "Know you not that it is Allâh to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? And besides Allâh you have neither any Walî (protector or guardian) nor any helper." [Surat Al Baqarah: 107].

He also says: "And warn therewith (the Qur'ân) those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when there will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him, so that they may fear Allâh and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from committing sins and by doing all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)." [Surat Al An`am: 51].

And He said to His Messenger: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him): Shall I take as a Walî (Helper, Protector, Lord or God) any other than Allâh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth?" [Surat Al An`am: 14].

He says: "The likeness of those who take (false deities as) Auliyâ' (protectors, helpers) other than Allâh is the likeness of a spider who builds (for itself) a house; but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider's house - if they but knew." [Surat Al `Ankabut: 41].

This is the most eloquent example which Allah set for those who take intercessors to Allah. Allah says: "Or have they taken (for worship) Auliyâ'(guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, lords, gods) besides Him? But Allâh - He Alone is the Walî (Lord, God, Protector). And it is He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things." [Surat Ash-Shura: 9]. He also says: "Have they taken (others) as intercessors besides Allâh? Say: Even if they have power over nothing whatever and have no intelligence? * To Allâh belongs all intercession. His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Then to Him you shall be brought back.” [Surat Az-Zumar: 43-44]. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "And those who take Auliyâ' (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh." Verily, Allâh will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allâh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever." [Surat Az-Zumar: 3]. He says: "And indeed We have destroyed towns (populations) round about you, and We have (repeatedly) shown (them) the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in various ways that they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism). * Then why did those whom they had taken for âlihah (gods) besides Allâh, as a way of approach (to Allâh) not help them? Nay, but they vanished completely from them (when there came the torment). And that was their lie, and their inventions which they had been inventing (before their destruction)." [Surat Al Ahqaf: 27-28]. He says: "And whosoever does not respond to Allâh's Caller, he cannot escape on earth, and there will be no Auliyâ' (lords, helpers, supporters, protectors) for him besides Allâh (from Allâh's Punishment). Those are in manifest error." [Surat Al Ahqaf: 32]. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Woe to every sinful liar * Who hears the Verses of Allâh (being) recited to him, yet persists with pride as if he heard them not. So announce to him a painful torment! * And when he learns something of Our Verses (this Qur'ân), he makes them a jest. For such there will be a humiliating torment. * In front of them there is Hell. And that which they have earned will be of no profit to them, nor (will be of any profit to them) those whom they have taken as Auliyâ' (protectors, helpers) besides Allâh. And theirs will be a great torment." [Surat Al Jathiyah: 7-10]. He says: "And they will have no Auliyâ'(protectors, helpers, guardians, lords) to help them other than Allâh. And he whom Allâh sends astray, for him there is no way." [Surat Ash-Shura: 46]. He says: "And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession - except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly (i.e. believed in the Oneness of Allâh, and obeyed His Orders), and they know (the facts about the Oneness of Allâh)." [Surat Az-Zukhruf: 86]. "And as for those who take as Auliyâ' (guardians, supporters, helpers, lords, gods, protectors) others besides Him [i.e. they take false deities other than Allâh as protectors, and they worship them] - Allâh is Hafîz (Protector, Watcher) over them (i.e. takes care of their deeds and will recompense them), and you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) are not a Wakîl (guardian or a disposer of their affairs) over them (to protect their deeds)." [Surat Ash-Shura: 6].

The second pause:

When the taking of intercessors to Allah was an act of disbelief and error, Allah (Glory be to Him) said: "Do then those who disbelieved think that they can take My slaves [i.e., the angels, Allâh's Messengers, 'Isâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)] as Auliyâ' (lords, gods, protectors) besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh ? Islâmic Monotheism)." [Surat Al Kahf: 102]. He says: "And who is more astray than one who calls on (invokes), besides Allâh, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them? * And when mankind are gathered (on the Day of Resurrection), they (false deities) will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping." [Surat Al Ahqaf: 5 - 6].

So, whoever calls someone from the righteous whether that person is righteous or not or draws near to him by a sacrifice, or fears him, or hopes for something from him has associated a god and a guardian with Allah, and his invocation, sacrifice, vow, and all things he does at his graves shall be an act of worship. This cannot be called an intercession or drawing near or mediation because facts are not changed by the change of names. So, if wine is called raisin or whatever, this will not change the fact that it is wine and it is prohibited.

Likewise polytheism, nothing can remove its reality by choosing beautiful names for it, therefore when most Muslims changed its name and followed their whims, Allah directed to them the worst evil from the powerful lewd nations which call slavery "independence," pornography "modernization," and lewdness of women "advancement and progress;" and thus Allah punishes those who transgress limits. "Then why did those whom they had taken for âlihah (gods) besides Allâh, as a way of approach (to Allâh) not help them?" [Surat Al Ahqaf: 28], such as Abu Al `Abbas, Al Badawy, Ad-Dusuqy, Ar-Rifa`y and other righteous people who are worshipped in India, the Levant, Jawa, Cairo - Egypt, and all countries, towns, and villages. "Nay, but they vanished completely from them (when there came the torment). And that was their lie, and their inventions which they had been inventing (before their destruction)." [Surat Al Ahqaf: 28]. Allah (Glory be to Him) says about the preceding polytheists who used to trick themselves by giving fake names to polytheism. "Have you then considered Al-Lât, and Al-'Uzzâ (two idols of the pagan Arabs) * And Manât (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third? * Is it for you the males and for Him the females? * They are but names which you have named - you and your fathers -for which Allâh has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!" [Surat An-Najm: 19 - 23].

The third pause:

Allah named those who take intercessors to Allah with taking gods in more than a position in the Qur'an. Allah says: "And they have taken besides Allâh âlihah (gods), hoping that they might be helped (by those so-called gods). * They cannot help them, but they will be brought forward as a troop against those who worshipped them (at the time of Reckoning)." [Surat Yasin: 74 - 75].

He says about polytheists: "Has he made the âlihah (gods) (all) into One Ilâh (God - Allâh). Verily, this is a curious thing!" [Surat Sad: 5]. He also says: "Are our âlihah (gods) better or is he ['Isâ (Jesus)]?" [Surat Az-Zukhruf: 58]. He says: "And Allâh said (O mankind!): Take not ilâhain (two gods in worship). Verily, He (Allâh) is (the) only One Ilâh (God)." [Surat An-Nahl: 51].

Let us here explain some eloquent points in describing gods with two:

1- Mentioning the clear prohibition of taking multiple gods.

2- Censuring polytheists for taking two gods, so how about three or more gods?!

3- Showing their stupidity and ignorance by mentioning the number with "two" after the Arabic word "Ilahayn" which indicates two gods, as if you are speaking to a stupid servant who does not understand something except by repetition and confirmation, particularly if what you are forbidding him to is something that he is accustomed to.

4- It is a kind of mastering the negation of gods. Allah says: "And Allâh said (O mankind!): Take not ilâhain (two gods in worship). Verily, He (Allâh) is (the) only One Ilâh (God)." [Surat An-Nahl: 51]. Allah says: "So, know (O Muhammad peace be upon him) that, Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)." [Surat Muhammd: 19].

5- It indicates the existence of one true god and adding a second god to Him will be a great injustice and a terrible ignorance.

The meaning of "La Ilaha Illa Allah" is negating all gods and attributing worship to Allah Allah. A person should know the types and reality of the acts of worship so as not to direct them to other than Allah and do not do it for others. As for the meaning of "La ilaha Illa Allah," it is the absolute submission to Allah along with the extreme love to the worshipped [i.e., Allah]. As for its kinds, invocation comes on the top, moreover the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Invocation is worship." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy and others]. Salah, fasting, Zakah, Hajj, and all obligatory and voluntary actions are divided to organs: The worship of heart is faith and sincerity, lover, fear, hope, relying on Allah, returning to Him, and fearing Him. The worship of tongue is: Truthfulness in words, dhikr, and enjoining goodness and forbidding evil. The worship of sight is pondering over the creation of heavens and the earth, and the Ayahs of the Qur'an. The worship of hearing is to hear knowledge, dhikr, and the truth, and turn away from idle talks. The worship of hands is giving in charity, helping others, pushing off evil and harm, Jihad in the cause of Allah, taking what is beneficial and warding off what is harmful. The worship of legs is seeking lawful sustenance and knowledge, walking to masjids, and maintaining the ties of kinship.

Any act which organs do collectively or individually, if it is permissible it will be an act of worship and if not, it will be either permissible of disliked. If permissible things are made for someone other than Allah either alive or dead with the intention of having a blessing or drawing near to the dead, you have given the right of Allah to others which is the meaning of "Verily joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed." [Surat Luqman: 13]. There is no more oppression than giving others the right dedicated to Allah and to make yourself a slave to a creature like you because Allah created you to be His Servant.

So, whoever leaves faith and righteous work, and seeks the intercession of righteous people to draw him near to Allah has gone astray, the righteous will give him up, and he is using a means which Allah did not ordain or permit either in the Qur'an or the Sunnah, and the Hadith which is reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said: "Seek intercession by my status," it is nullified according to the consensus of scholars. It is also not permitted by reason because a dead person cannot benefit or harm. If a person in the world asks the intercession of someone to get a position that he does not deserve, we call him a criminal in reality and he shall be known for his lowness. As for those who accept such intercession, they will be of weak-mind and oppressors because he accepted inadequate person in this position. Such intercession will lead to the destruction of the system upon which the entire universe is based, therefore we see those who use bribes and influence do that secretly because its ugliness is well-known, so how does Allah, who is the Just Ruler, accept that?!