Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals at Places and Altars Dedicated to False Deities - Part 1 - Chapter 10 - Concise Commentary On The Book of Tawhid

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 10: Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals at Places and Altars Dedicated to False Deities - Part 1

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals at Places and Altars Dedicated to False Deities - Part 1

[أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

"I seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan [Satan], the accursed one."

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.”]

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted be He ], says:

لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ۚ لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ ۚ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا ۚ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ

"Never stand you therein. Verily, the mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety is more worthy that you stand therein (to pray). In it are men who love to clean and to purify themselves. And Allâh loves those who make themselves clean and pure [i.e. who clean their private parts with dust (which has the cleansing properties of soap) and water from urine and stools, after answering the call of nature]." 

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة التوبة Soorah at-Towbah - (The Repentance) 009, Verse 108 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

Relevance of the Chapter to the Book

The foregoing chapter elaborates on the legal ruling of offering a sacrificial animal for the sake of false deities or objects. The present chapter discusses the cause behind such a sin. It further prohibits imitating the polytheists in offering sacrifices.

Keywords and Phrases

Those who purify themselves: Intended purification includes getting rid of both physical and moral impurities.

General Meaning of the Qur'anic Verse

Almighty Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] commanded His Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] not to establish prayer in the mosque built by the hypocrites to seed  dissension among the Muslim Community. The hypocrites invited the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] to offer prayers in the new mosque so as to hide their malicious aims. The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] was unaware of their hidden plots, so he [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] promised them to respond to their request. Thereupon, Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] forbade him [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] to offer prayer at their mosque and urged him [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] to establish prayers in Quba' Mosque which had been founded on righteousness and in conformity with the commands of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and His Messenger [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ]. Thereafter, Almighty Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] depicted the people of Quba' as always being careful to purify themselves of all physical and moral impurities, and indeed Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] loves those endowed with such a meritorious quality.

Relevance of the Verse to the Chapter

By means of analogical deduction, it is prohibited to offer sacrifices at places dedicated for false deities as it is prohibited to offer prayer at Masjid Ad-Dirar (the Mosque of Discord) which was mainly constructed in defiance of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and His Messenger [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ].

Lessons Drawn from the Verse

• It is prohibited to offer sacrifices for the sake of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] at places dedicated for sacrifices offered for false deities.
  

• It is desirable to establish prayers in the company of righteous and pure groups of people.
  

• It is proven that Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] experiences love in a way appropriate for His Majesty.
  

• It is commendable to perfectly offer ablution and be purified of all physical impurities.
  

• Legal rulings related to the offer of sacrifices or ritual ordinances at specific places, are determined by the intention behind the dedication or construction of such places.
  

• It is commendable to block all the means leading to polytheism."
  

______________________________

 

[Additional Information]

 

Further explanation and notes of the entire book by Brother Moosa Richardson (student of knowledge) are available at:

http://www.troid.ca/index.php/aqeedah/tawheed/comprehensive-study/1085-explanation-of-kitaab-at-towheed-class-audio

 

______________________________

 

[Additional Notes]

 

In case of issues with email display, a PDF of this part of the book is attached.

 

The extracts from this book are being provided for beneficial knowledge of the religion of Islam in order to benefit a large number of people  إن شاء الله‎  inshaaAllaah. It is hoped by making material available that this will encourage brothers and sisters to seek knowledge of the deen and purchase authentic books of knowledge, listen to lectures from the scholars and eventually sit with scholars inshaaAllaah.

 

It is recommended that you purchase this book 'Concise Commentary On The Book Of Tawhid' by Shaykh Dr. Saalih Ibn Fowzaan Ibn 'Abdullaah Ibn Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

 

All English translations of The Qur'aan are taken from "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan" and it is recommended that you purchase this book in order to build your own Islamic Library at home so that you can easily reference authentic publications. Please note that the original translation of this book did not use this translation of The Qur'aan but it is being used in this series as it is the best English translation available and recommended by the major scholars.

 

Some of the scholars have said that there should be some leniency in spreading knowledge of the Religion of Islam and it is with this in mind that this post has been put together with as much of the details of the book being provided as necessary to aid the reader.

 

Please respect the rights of the organisations and individuals involved in producing this book. Further details on the issue of copyright and ownership are available here:

http://www.bakkah.net/interactive/q&a/aamb080-copyrights-translations-intellectual-property.htm

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 10: Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals at Places and Altars Dedicated to False Deities - Part 2

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals at Places and Altars Dedicated to False Deities - Part 2

Thabit Ibn Ad-Dahhak [ رضى الله تعالى عنه  ,  may Allah be pleased with him ] narrated:

"During the lifetime of the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ,  may Allah exalt his mention and render him and his message safe from every derogatory thing ], a man vowed to slaughter a camel at Buwanah. So, he came to the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] and said, 'I have made a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwanah.'

 

The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] asked, 'Did the place contain any idol of Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance (the jahiliyyah)?

 

They (the Companions) said, 'No.'

 

The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] asked, 'Was any pre-Islamic festival observed there?'

 

They replied, 'No.'

 

The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] said, 'Fulfil your vow. for there is no vow to be fulfilled in defiance of Allah or concerning what man does not possess.'"

(Related by Abu Dawud according to the condition stipulated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim in their compilations)

 

 

Thabit Ibnud-Dahhak [ رضى الله تعالى عنه  ,  may Allah be pleased with him ]

 

His full name is Thabit Ibnud-Dahhak Ibn Khalifah Ibn Tha'labah Ibn 'Adiyy Al-Ashhali Al-Khazraji Al-Ansari [ رضى الله تعالى عنه ]. He [ رضى الله تعالى عنه ] was a renowned Companion, and died in 64 A.H.; may Allah be pleased with him.

 

 

Keywords and Phrases

 

·         Vow: It is an earnest promise to perform a specified non-obligatory ritual act.

 

·         Buwanah: It is a hill close to Yanbu.

 

·         Idol: Technically the word includes every idol, tomb or memorial, which may be hallowed.

 

·         The condition of Al Bukhari and Muslim: Al- Bukhari and Muslim stipulated specific conditions for their acceptance of hadiths. A hadith according to these conditions must be of a continuous chain of transmitters. Those transmitters must also be of upright character and have a retentive memory. The hadith must, moreover, be free from any irregularity or speciousness.

 

 

General Meaning of the Hadith

 

Thabit [ رضى الله تعالى عنه ] narrated that a man vowed to slaughter a camel at a certain place for the sake of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted be He ] as an act of submission to Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ]. The man informed the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] of his vow. The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] inquired whether there were any idols in the place where the man would offer his sacrifice. When the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] made sure that the place in question was free from any trace of polytheism, he allowed the man to fulfil his vow. Moreover, this hadith states that it is impermissible for the Muslim to fulfil his vow if it leads to a sin. Man is also excused from fulfilling his vow when it is beyond his capacity.

 

 

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter

 

The hadith stresses the prohibition of offering sacrifices for the sake of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] at a place where an idol exists or at a place where a feast is commemorated by the polytheists.

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Hadith

 

·    A Muslim is duty bound not to fulfil a vow at a place where an idol once existed, even if that idol had been completely demolished.

 

·    A Muslim is, similarly, legally bound not to fulfil a vow at a place where a pre-Islamic feast was celebrated, even if such a feast is no longer celebrated.

 

·    The mufti is recommended to thoroughly inquire about the issues on which he is asked to give legal rulings.

 

·    It is prohibited to offer any act leading to polytheism.

 

·    Even if they do not intend to be like the polytheists, Muslims are not permitted to imitate the polytheists' rituals and feasts.

 

·    Slaughtering a sacrificial animal for the sake of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] at a place where the polytheists slaughter for their false deities or hold their feasts, is an act of disobedience to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

·    It is forbidden to fulfil a vow which leads to the commitment of a sin.

 

·    It is not obligatory for the Muslim to fulfil his vow if it is beyond his capacity. Therefore, if a man vows to manumit the slave of another man, his vow is not binding.

 

·    It is obligatory for the Muslim to fulfil any vow he takes as long as it is neither an act of disobedience nor beyond his capacity.

 

• Taking a vow is an act of worship, and is, thus, prohibited to be dedicated to any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ]."
  

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 11: Act of Polytheism: Vows for Deities Other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Act of Polytheism: Vows for Deities Other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted be He ] Says;

 

يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ

 

"They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows, ..."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة الانسان Soorah al-Insaan  / ad-Dahr - (Man / Time) 076, Verse 007 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], further, Says:

 

وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُ

 

"And whatever you spend for spendings (e.g., in Sadaqah – charity for Allâh's Cause) or whatever vow you make, be sure Allâh knows it all. ..."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة البقرة Soorah al-Baqarah - (The Cow) 002, Verse 270 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Relevance of the Chapter to the Book of Tawhid

 

This chapter tackles the issue of dedicating vows to any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ]. It further warns Muslims against such an act of polytheism.

 

  

Keywords and Phrases

 

·         Making vows for the sake of any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is an act of Polytheism: Taking a vow is an act of worship. If it is dedicated to any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], it becomes an act of major polytheism.

 

·         They fulfill Vows: It means the commitment of oneself to do something which is not legally ordained in order to glorify the one to whom the vow is devoted.

 

·         And whatever you spend of expenditures: The Qur'anic phrase includes both admitted and unadmitted acts of charity.

 

·         Or make of vows: The phrase includes both permissible and impermissible kinds of vows.

 

·         Indeed, Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] knows of it: It means that Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] will recompense people for their good and evil deeds. Since Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] knows the hidden intentions behind all vows, the Qur'anic phrase thus represents a promise of good rewards for the righteous and a threat of chastisement to the wrongdoer.

 

 

General Meaning of the Two Quranic Verses

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], Exalted be He, praises those who commit themselves to certain non-obligatory acts of worship for His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] sake. Moreover, Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] enunciates that He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is cognizant of whatever alms we spend and whatever acts of worship we commit ourselves to, and will reward everyone according to their intentions.

 

 

Relevance of the Two Qur'anic Verses to the Chapter

 

These two verses prove that vowing is an act of worship. Therefore, Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] praises those who fulfill their vows. Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] praises only those who commit themselves to observing the obligatory acts or to abandoning the unlawful. Furthermore, Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] affirms that He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is omniscient of all acts of charity we offer and of the vows we take. He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] will, thus, recompense us for our good and evil deeds. Therefore, vowing is an act of worship, which turns to be an act of polytheism if devoted to any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Two Qur'anic Verses

 

·         Vowing is a devotional act, which becomes an act of major polytheism if devoted to any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

·         The two Quranic verses affirm that Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is the Omniscient [all-knowing].

 

·         Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] will recompense people for good and evil deeds in the Hereafter.

 

·         Muslims should be encouraged to fulfill their vows."

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 11: Act of Polytheism: Vows for Deities Other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 2

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Act of Polytheism: Vows for Deities Other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 2

'A'ishah [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ , Radhi-yallaahu 'anhaa, May Allaah be pleased with her ] narrated that the Messenger of Allah [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ,  may Allah exalt his mention and render him and his message safe from every derogatory thing ] said:

"Whoever vows to obey Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted be He ] must obey Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ], and whoever vows to disobey Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] must not disobey Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ]."

[Recorded by by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ahmad in Al-Musnad.]

 

 

'A'ishah [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] (the Narrator)

 

'A'ishah [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ], the Mother of the Believers, was one of the Prophet's [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] wives, and a daughter of Abu Bakr [ رضي الله عنهم , radiyallahu anhum, May Allaah be pleased with them ]. She [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] was the most versed woman in Islamic jurisprudence and the most beloved to the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] among his wives. There is, however, a disagreement among scholars whether she [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] or Khadijah [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] was more endeared to the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ]. She [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] died in 57 A.H.; may Allah be pleased with her.

 

 

General Meaning of the Hadith

 

The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] commands Muslims to fulfil the vows devoted to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], such as offering supererogatory prayers or giving charity. He [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ], further, warns them against fulfilling vows entailing a sin, such as the vow to offer a sacrifice to anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], to offer prayer at tombs, or to go on pilgrimage to tombs.

 

 

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter

 

According to the hadith, a man may make a vow to offer a good deed or to commit a sin. Therefore, making a vow is an act of worship, which may be regarded as an act of polytheism if dedicated to any deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Hadith

 

·         Taking a vow is an act of worship. Therefore, if it is dedicated to anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], it turns to an act of polytheism.

 

·         A Muslim is duty bound to fulfil his vow as long as it is an act of obedience.

 

• It is prohibited to fulfil any vow entailing an act of disobedience."
  

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 12: Act of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with Beings other than Allah  [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Act of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with Beings other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Glorified and Exalted be He ], Exalted be He, says:

 

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الْإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا

 

"'And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in sin and transgression."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة الجن Soorah al-Jinn - (The Jinn) 072, Verse 006 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Relevance of the Chapter to the Book of Tawhid

 

This chapter elaborates on one of the forms of polytheism, namely, the act of seeking refuge in any false deity besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ]. Such an act certainly contradicts the true monotheistic belief

 

 

Keywords and Phrases

 

There were men from mankind who sought refuge in males from the jinn: This phrase refers to a common pre-Islamic practice. The Arab pagans used, when passing by a valley at night, to seek refuge in the (jinni) master of that valley.

 

 

General Meaning of the Qur'anic Verse

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], Glorified be He, related that some people sought refuge with some of the jinn. However, instead of providing them with safety, the jinn increased the humans' fears. Undoubtedly, this was a punishment from Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

  

Relevance of the Qur'anic Verse to the Chapter

 

Upon accepting Islam, a group of the jinn used to express their renunciation of acts perpetrated by the Arab pagans before the advent of Islam. Such acts entailed polytheism and included practices such as seeking refuge with false deities besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Qur'anic Verse

 

Seeking refuge with any deity other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is an act of polytheism.

 

 

Consequently, the believers from among the jinn, as quoted by

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], said:

 

وَلَن نُّشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا

 

"..and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allâh)."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة الجن Soorah al-Jinn - (The Jinn) 072, Verse 002 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Denouncing this act of polytheism, the jinn said:

 

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الْإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ 

 

"'And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, ..."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة الجن Soorah al-Jinn - (The Jinn) 072, Verse 006 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ,  may Allah exalt his mention and render him and his message safe from every derogatory thing ] has been sent for the sake of guiding both the jinn and mankind.

 

 

Seeking refuge with anyone other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is a major cause of fear and weakness.

 

 

The verse signifies that seeking refuge with Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] fills man with strength and safety."

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 12: Act of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with Beings other than Allah  [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 2

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Act of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with Beings other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 2

Khawlah Bint Hakim [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ , Radhi-yallaahu 'anhaa, May Allaah be pleased with her ] said:

"I heard the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم , may Allaah exalt his mention and render him and his message safe from every derogatory thing ] saying, 'When anyone lands at a place, and then says, 'I seek refuge with the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created', nothing would harm him until he departs from that stopping place."

Recorded by Muslim (2708), At-Tirmidhi (3433), Ibn Majah (3547), and Ahmad in Al-Musnad (6/377, 409).

 

 

Khawlah Bint Hakim [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] (the Narrator)

 

The full name of the narrator is Khawlah Bint Hakim Ibn Umayyah As-Sulami [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ]. She [ رﺿﻲ اﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ ] was the wife of ' Uthman Ibn Maz' un [ رضى الله تعالى عنه , radiyallahu 'anhu, may Allaah be pleased with him ], and was a virtuous woman; may Allah be pleased with her.

 

 

Keywords and Phrases

 

·         Perfect Words of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, Glorified and Exalted be He]: The Noble Quran.

 

 

General Meaning of the Hadith

 

The Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] guides his nation to seek refuge in the sanative, sufficient and perfect Words of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], in order to feel secure from all fears and dangers upon landing or staying at any place.

 

 

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter

 

This hadith guides Muslims to the beneficial and legal way of seeking refuge. It, further, warns them against seeking refuge with false deities, which is regarded as an act of polytheism.

 

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Hadith

 

·    Seeking refuge with Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is an act of worship.

 

·    Muslims are ordained to seek refuge only with Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] by invoking Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] by His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] Names and His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] Sublime Attributes.

 

·     The Words of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] are not created, for Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] ordains His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] servants to seek refuge in His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] Words. As it has been pointed out earlier, seeking refuge in any creature is an act of polytheism.

 

·    The virtue of invoking Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] by pronouncing the phrases mentioned in this hadith, though they seem brief.

 

• Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] dominates the affairs of all creatures."
  

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 13: Acts of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and Invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Acts of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and Invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Glorified and Exalted be He ] says:

 

وَلَا تَدْعُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَ ۖ فَإِن فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِّنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

 

"And invoke not besides Allâh any such that will neither profit you nor harm you, but if (in case) you did so, you shall certainly be one of the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong doers)."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة يونس Soorah Yoonus - ((Prophet) Jonah) 010, Verse 106 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Relevance of the Chapter to the Book of Tawhid

 

This chapter illustrates that seeking refuge with and invoking anyone other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] are two acts of polytheism that contradict the prerequisites of monotheism.

 

 

Keywords and Phrases

 

·         Seeking Refuge and invoking: The difference between seeking refuge and invoking is that the former is confined to those who are always in distress while the latter is so comprehensive that it is usually practiced by those in distress or not.

 

·         Unjust wrongdoers: Polytheists are regarded the worst unjust wrongdoers.

 

 

General Meaning of the Qur'anic Verse

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] commands His Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم , may Allaah exalt his mention and render him and his message safe from every derogatory thing ] not to invoke anyone of the creatures, who are incapable of either bringing about benefit or repelling harm. Had the Prophet [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ]invoked anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], he [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] would have been regarded as one of the polytheists. The prohibition enunciated in the Quranic verse is general and addressed to the whole Muslim nation.

 

 

Relevance of the Qur'anic Verse to the Chapter

 

In this verse, Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] prohibits people from invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] since such an invocation is considered an act of polytheism that contradicts pure monotheism.

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Qur'anic Verse

 

·   Invoking deities besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is an act of major polytheism.

 

·   If the most righteous servant of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] invoked false deities besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], he [ صلى الله عليه و سلم ] would be regarded as a polytheist. So, those of less righteousness are more entitled to fear this grave sin.

 

• The Qur'anic verse highlights the disability of the polytheists false deities, and thus the invalidity of adoring them."
  

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 13: Acts of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and Invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 1

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Acts of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and Invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 2

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Glorified and Exalted be He ], says:

 

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ ۚ يُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

 

"And if Allâh touches you with harm, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favour which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He wills. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة يونس Soorah Yoonus - ((Prophet) Jonah) 010, Verse 107 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

General Meaning of the Qur'anic Verse

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is the dominating Sovereign who gives, deprives, brings benefit and inflicts harm. Therefore, none is worthy to be invoked and worshipped but Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], for those invoked besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] are not capable of inflicting harm or bringing a benefit neither for themselves, nor for others.

 

 

Relevance of the Qur'anic Verse to the Chapter

 

The verse shows that invocation must be dedicated to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], for He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is the one worthy of worship. Therefore, invoking those who can neither bring benefit nor repel harm is an act of polytheism.

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Qui anic Verse

 

·         Since Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is the only God, He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] must be solely worshipped.

 

·         The invalidity of invoking besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] others who cannot bring a benefit or repel harm.

 

·         The Qur'anic verse attests to the verity of the Divine Will.

 

        ·         It also proves Allah's [ سبحانه و تعالى ] forgiveness and mercifulness in a way that is appropriate for His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] Majesty."

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 13: Acts of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and Invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 3

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Act of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with Anyone Besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 3

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Glorified and Exalted be He ], says:

 

عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۖ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

 

"... so seek your provision from Allâh (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan, سورة العنكبوت  Soorah al-'Ankaboot - (The Spider) 029, Verse 017 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Keywords and Phrases

 

·         Worship Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ]: It is a command to dedicate all acts of worship solely to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

·         And be grateful to Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ]: Being grateful to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] means acknowledging His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] Favours, doing what pleases Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and giving up all sins.

 

·         To Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] you will be returned: On the Day of Resurrection everyone will return to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] to be recompensed for his good and evil deeds.

 

 

General Meaning of the Qur'anic Verse

 

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], Glorified be He, commands His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] servants to seek provision exclusively from Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ], not from idols, to devote all acts of worship solely to Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and to acknowledge all His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] favours by using them for His [ سبحانه و تعالى ] obedience. In addition, Almighty Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] emphasizes that all creatures will return to Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] on the Day of Resurrection, and He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] will recompense them for their good and evil deeds. Therefore, everyone must prepare himself for accountability before Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

 

Relevance of the Qur'anic Verse to the Chapter

 

The Qur'anic verse affirms the obligation of dedicating all acts of worship, including invocation, solely to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ], and confutes the fallacies of the polytheists who worship raise deities besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Qur'anic Verse

 

·         One is duty bound to solely invoke Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and ask Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] for provision.

 

·         It is incumbent on every Muslim to dedicate all his devotional acts to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] Alone.

 

·         One must show gratitude to Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] for the great favours He [ سبحانه و تعالى ] bestows on man.

 

·         Resurrection and Reward are proven according to the Qur’anic verse.

 

•  There is no contradiction between seeking Allah's [ سبحانه و تعالى ] provision and worshipping Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ], as Islam guarantees the interests of people in this life and the life to come."
  

[S. Munir]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

كتاب التوحيد Kitaab ul-Tawhid - The Book of Tawhid by Shaykhul-Islam Muhammad Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab [ رحمه الله , rahimahullah, May Allah have Mercy on him, died 1206AH] - With Concise Commentary by Shaykh Salih Ibn Fawzan Ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan ( حفظه الله , hafidhahullaah, may Allaah preserve him upon the truth).

Chapter 13: Acts of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] and Invoking anyone besides Him [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 4

THE BOOK OF TAWHID

"Act of Polytheism: Seeking Refuge with Anyone Besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] - Part 4

  

Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Glorified and Exalted be He ], says:

 

وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لَّا يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَهُمْ عَن دُعَائِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ

 

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاءً وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ

 

"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."

[ القرآن الكريم The Noble Qur'aan,  سورة الأحقاف  Soorah al-Ahqaaf 046, Verses 005 - 006 ]

[Translation - "Interpretation of the Meaning of The Noble Qur'aan in the English Language" By Dr. Muhammad Taqiuddeen al-Hilaalee, Ph.D. and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Published By Darussalam.]

 

 

Keywords and Phrases

• Those who will not respond to him: Those invoked besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] are incompetent to fulfil invocations of their followers.
  

 

•  (They) are unaware: Those invoked besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] are unaware of the invocations because they may be dead persons, inanimate objects, or angels preoccupied with that for which they have been created.
  

 

• They will be enemies to them: Those who are invoked besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] will dissociate themselves from anyone invoking them in this life.
  

General Meaning of the Two Qur'anic Verses

 

According to the Quranic verses, it is determined that the most deviated persons in the sight of Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى , Glorified and Exalted be He ] are those who invoke false deities that are incapable of responding to peoples invocations in the worldly life and are, moreover, unaware of such invocations. When the Day of Judgment comes and people are gathered, the ones besought will dissociate themselves from whoever invoked them. Thus, the polytheists are unfortunate in both this life and the Hereafter, Their invocations will not be realized in this life and their worship will be rejected when they are in a dire need for relief in the Hereafter.

 

 

Relevance of the Two Qur'anic Verses to the Chapter

 

The two Qur'anic verses state that whoever invokes anyone other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] is the most astray. Besides, invocation is an act of worship, and it becomes an act of polytheism when devoted to other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].

 

 

Lessons Drawn from the Two Quranic Verses

 

• Invocation is an act of worship that turns into an act of major polytheism in case it is directed to anyone other than Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ].
  

 

• Whoever invokes anyone besides Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] remains miserable in both this life and the Hereafter.
  

 

• Polytheism is the gravest manifestation of going astray from the straight path.
  

• The verity of the Resurrection, Assembly and Reward in the Hereafter.
  

 

• Unlike what the polytheists perceive, idols neither hear the invocations nor respond to them.
  

 

• Bliss in both this life and the Hereafter can be achieved only by worshipping Allah [ سبحانه و تعالى ] alone."