WHAT IS THE HANIF FAITH?
In Islam, the term “Hanif Faith” refers to a sincere, pure devotion to Almighty Allah, free from any form of shirk (associating partners with Him). A Hanif is one who believes in the Oneness of Almighty Allah, worships only Him, and stays away from deviant beliefs. We must not ascribe even the slightest partner to Almighty Allah in religion; this is the greatest injustice a person can commit against themselves. (Surah Fatir 31-32, Surah Hud 101)
A believer who has studied the Qur’an and used his reason cannot be unaware of this: the Glorious Qur’an has been revealed as “mubin”—that is, clear—and “mufassal”—that is, detailed; it is not the word of a created being or a book attributed to someone else—that is, it is not based on mere conjecture (“zan”)—but is the Word of Almighty Allah!!!
Living one’s religion sincerely for Almighty Allah—that is, dedicating it solely to Him—is the fundamental principle of a Muslim’s religious practice. This is clear; there is no room for debate on this matter. However, it must not be forgotten that Satan has sworn to “sit on the straight path.”
16:120, Surah An-Nahl
Abraham was a community that turned to Allah as a Hanif. And he was not one of the polytheists.
اِنَّ اِبْرٰه۪يمَ كَانَ اُمَّةً قَانِتاً لِلّٰهِ حَن۪يفاًۜ وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِك۪ينَۙ
Inna Ibrahimaka ummatan qanitan lillahi hanifan wa lam yaku minal mushrikin
This verse establishes that “Prophet Abraham was a nation unto himself,” demonstrating that the majority is not the measure of truth. “Truth” derives its value neither from its antiquity nor from the size of its following; “truth” derives its value from its source—that is, its reference—which comes from the Almighty Allah, namely, revelation. For the sake of truth, one must be willing to stand alone like Prophet Abraham, dedicate oneself to one’s cause, and be prepared to face the consequences.
3:67 Surah Al-Imran
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. He was one who affirmed the Oneness of Allah and submitted to Him. He was not one of the polytheists.
مَا كَانَ اِبْرٰه۪يمُ يَهُودِياًّ وَلَا نَصْرَانِياًّ وَلٰكِنْ كَانَ حَن۪يفاً مُسْلِماًۜ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِك۪ينَ
Ma kane ibrahimu yahudiyyen ve la nasraniyyen ve lakin kane hanifen muslima, ve ma kane minel muşrikin
. 4:125, Surah An-Nisa 125
Who could be better in faith than one who submits his face (self) to the Exalted Allah with good deeds and follows the religion of Abraham, the Hanif (who affirms the Oneness of Allah)? (Indeed) Allah had taken Abraham as a friend.
And who is better in religion than one who submits his face to Allah while being righteous and follows the religion of Abraham as a Hanif? And Allah took Abraham as a close friend.
And who is better in religion than one who submits his face to Allah while being righteous and follows the religion of Abraham as a Hanif? And Allah took Abraham as a close friend.
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The “religion” emphasized in this verse refers, in a universal sense, to the “monotheism” preached by all the prophets. The Qur’an shows that the basis for Prophet Abraham’s being chosen as a friend by the Almighty Allah lies in his sincerity, submission, and hanif faith in Allah. Despite living in a polytheistic society, Prophet Abraham believed in one God without interposing any intermediary, never faltered in his obedience to Him, remained patient in the face of hardships, and remained fully devoted to the commands of the Almighty Allah. His sincere and pure faith, exemplary character, and closeness to Allah made him the “Halil” of the Almighty Allah.
60:4, Surah Al-Mumtahanah
There is indeed a fine example for you in Ibrahim and those with him. When they emigrated by Allah’s command, they said to their people: “We are free from you and from whatever you have set up between yourselves and Allah to worship. We do not acknowledge you! An eternal enmity and hatred has arisen between us and you. This will continue until you believe that Allah is the One and Only God.” However, the words that Abraham spoke to his (polytheist) father do not serve as an example for you: “I will certainly ask for forgiveness for you (this is a mistake); but I have no power to prevent anything that will come to you from Allah.” (Those who were with Abraham prayed to Allah, saying:) “Our Lord, we have placed our trust in You alone and turned to You. The place of return is in Your presence.
You have indeed had a fine example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, ‘We disassociate ourselves from you and from whatever you worship besides AllahWe have rejected you, and enmity and hatred have arisen between us and you forever, until you believe in Allah alone—except for Abraham’s statement to his, “I will certainly ask forgiveness for you, though I possess no power over Allah on your behalf.” Our Lord, in You we place our trust; to You we turn; and to You is the final return
Indeed, you have a fine example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “We disassociate ourselves from you and from whatever you worship besides Allah; we have rejected you, and enmity and hatred arose between us and you forever, until you believe in Allah alone—except for Abraham’s statement to his father: ‘I will certainly ask forgiveness for you, though I have no power to do anything for you before Allah. Our Lord, in You we place our trust, to You we turn, and to You is the final return.’
Every human being is inevitably a servant. This is not a matter of choice; it is an inescapable reality. The choice is not whether to be a servant or not, but to whom one renders servitude. Servitude is either to ALLAH ( ) or to things other than ALLAH. Servitude to ALLAH alone is true freedom. Servitude to anything other than ALLAH, however, is slavery. Anyone who is not a servant of ALLAH must necessarily be a servant to an idea, an opinion, nature, power, a system, a person, a title, money, worldly possessions, and so on. This servitude is, by its very nature, slavery. There is no area of human life that is not encompassed by servitude or that can be kept outside of it. For a believer, servitude is the conscious devotion of one’s entire being—both spirit and body—to Allah. Worship and servitude are synonymous in meaning: “worship” is the infinitive form of the word “servant.”
What Is Shirk?
Shirk—that is, associating partners with Allah’s religion—means making Allah’s religion a matter of partnership. Any ruling or practice that contradicts, is incompatible with, or fails to conform to the system established by Almighty Allah—that is, the Glorious Qur’an—is shirk. Do you, O heedless ones, know the religion better than Almighty Allah Himself?! Who are you, as creatures of Almighty Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, to dare to associate partners with Him? Rest assured that you will pay the price for your audacity, for turning religion into a game, for some of you profiting from the religion of Almighty Allah, and for your ignorance—since you do not understand the Qur’an and lack true faith! The Qur’an is my witness.
What does the Glorious Qur’an say?
11:122, Surah Hud
“Wait! We, too, are waiting.”
وَانْتَظِرُواۚ اِنَّا مُنْتَظِرُونَ
Ventazır, inna muntazırun.
Shirk is the act of associating others with Allah in matters where the reward or punishment is established by the Qur’an—whether in what is lawful or unlawful—and in actions for which the reward or punishment will be determined by the Exalted Allah. Those who commit shirk are called mushriks. Polytheists are people who have believed in the Almighty Allah. They know and believe that the Almighty Allah is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. They also believe in the Hereafter.
29:61 Surah al-Ankabut; And if you ask them, “Who created the heavens and the earth, and subjected the sun and the moon?” they will surely say, “Allah.” So why are you turning away?
While the polytheists turn to the Exalted Allah, they also associate certain things subordinate to Him in their worship. Instead of turning solely and exclusively to the Exalted Allah, they turn to created beings subordinate to Him, thus following a path of association. They do not abandon the Exalted Allah, nor do they abandon those they have associated with Him.
Some people need to fully understand Verse 3 of Surah Az-Zumar, but it is established in the Qur’an that unless Almighty Allah wills it, they will not come to the right path, the Path of Truth (Al-Baqarah/7)
2:7 Surah Al-Baqarah
Allah has sealed their hearts and ears. A veil covers their eyes. A great punishment awaits them.
خَتَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلٰى سَمْعِهِمْۜ وَعَلٰٓى اَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌۘ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظ۪يمٌ۟
Hatemallahu ala kulubihim ve ala sem’ıhim, ve ala ebsarihim gışaveh, ve lehum azabun azim.
39:3 Surah Az-Zumar
Take heed! Pure religion belongs to Allah alone. Those who take guardians besides Him say, “We worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allah.” Allah will judge concerning that over which they dispute. Allah does not guide the liars and the utterly ungrateful.
Is not the pure religion for Allah alone? And those who have taken others as protectors besides Him—we worship them only so that they may bring us closer to Allah. Indeed, Allah will judge between them regarding that in which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a liar and a disbeliever
E la lillahid dinul halis, vellezinettehazu min dunihi evliya, ma na’buduhum illa li yukarribuna ilallahi zulfa, innallahe yahkumu beynehum fi ma hum fihi yahtelifun, innallahe la yehdi men huve kazibun keffar
The Exalted Allah forgives the sins of whomever He wills. However, shirk is a very grave sin that the Exalted Allah will not forgive. In essence, it is a great injustice—that a person commits against his own self. While all devotion should be directed solely toward the Exalted Allah, the Creator of the universes, it is a great injustice to give a share of this devotion to anyone other than Him. (Nisa/48)
If a sin is this great and unforgivable, it would be foolish not to expect that Satan would attack at this point, striving with all his might to draw people into the sin of shirk. Indeed, this is exactly what Satan has done. He has led most people into the sin of shirk without their realizing it and has caused them to go astray. (Yusuf/106)
A person of sound mind must understand exactly what shirk is. For Satan presents shirk to us in a hidden way—in a manner we cannot easily discern. Against these insidious maneuvers of Satan, our Almighty Allah has consistently addressed this issue in the Qur’an and warned us.
The greatest source of shirk is the derived religion built on assumptions and conjectures, which is rooted in the traditions of ancestors and forefathers. Most people on earth—Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and the billions who claim to be Muslims—simply follow the religion dominant in the country or region where they were born. Yet Almighty Allah desires only that we believe in the Qur’an He has revealed and that we accept no source other than the Qur’an in matters of religion.
What does our Almighty Allah command? We are to follow what ALLAH has revealed; we are to follow what has been revealed to us by our Lord. We are not to follow the religion we found our ancestors practicing. We are not to follow the saints (awliya).
Every verse of this noble book—which is universal and a mercy to people in every age—remains valid until the Day of Judgment. The polytheists of Mecca also believed in Allah. Do not think that they were atheists. However, their belief in Allah was inevitably mixed with polytheism—just as the majority do today.
- Satan prefers the method of lying and slandering the Exalted Allah and His messengers in order to lead people into polytheism.
- 64:12 And obey Allah; and obey the Messenger; so that if you turn away, then the responsibility rests solely with our Messenger to deliver the message clearly.
However, the situation is not as they imagine. Obedience to the Messenger is nothing other than obedience to the Qur’an revealed to him.
53:28 And they have no knowledge of it; they follow nothing but conjecture; and indeed, conjecture does not avail against the truth.
May Almighty Allah guide those who follow conjecture—those who build their religion upon conjecture—to the straight path, the Sirat al-Mustaqim, which is the Qur’an alone, insha’Allah.
People who do not act on conjecture even in simple matters immediately accept whatever is told to them without any research or questioning regarding a day that will bring either eternal bliss or eternal regret. They have never even read the Qur’an once in a language they understand. Just as their ancestors followed a certain religion, they follow that religion without questioning or investigating it. What a great loss!
To adopt books as religious authorities alongside the Qur’an is to slander the Exalted Allah and His Messenger, and there will certainly be a severe punishment for this.
11:18 And who is more unjust than one who fabricates a lie against Allah? These will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, “These are the ones who lied against their Lord”—there is no doubt! Allah’s curse is upon the wrongdoers.
To fabricate a lie against the Exalted Allah is to establish religious rulings outside the Qur’an. It is to declare something lawful or unlawful in the name of the Exalted Allah. To declare something unlawful when it is not mentioned in the Qur’an is to fabricate a lie against the Exalted Allah. Good intentions do not change the fact that a lie has been fabricated.
16:116 Surah An-Nahl: And do not say—because your tongues falsely claim—“This is halal, and this is haram”; that is a lie against Allah; indeed, those who have fabricated lies against Allah will never prosper.
Anything that establishes what is halal and haram outside of what the Qur’an specifies is slander against the Exalted Allah. Now read the following verse carefully.
6:145 Surah Al-An’am; Say: “I find no prohibition in what has been revealed to me regarding anyone who eats food; except for carrion, or blood that has been spilled, or pork—which is indeed impure—or that which has been dedicated as an offering to other than Allah as an act of deviation; unless one is compelled by necessity, without abusing it or exceeding the limit; indeed, your Lord is Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Is one not slandering the Exalted Allah by declaring mussels haram based on a statement—which may or may not have been uttered by our Prophet, and which is merely a conjecture or assumption? Are those who refrain from eating mussels because they deem them haram not following in the footsteps of those who slander the Exalted Allah?
Of course, many more examples could be given.
43:44 Surah Zuhruf; And indeed, it (the Qur’an) is an absolute reminder/admonition/exhortation for you and for your people; and you will soon be questioned.
Only the Qur’an is obligatory for us.
28:85 Surah Al-Qasas; Indeed, He has made the Qur’an obligatory for you; it is the absolute guide that leads you to a place of return; say: “My Lord knows who has come with guidance and who has come in clear misguidance.”
We follow only the Qur’an. We do not accept any book subordinate to the Qur’an as an authority in religion.
39:55 Surah Az-Zumar; And follow the best—that which has been revealed to you from your Lord—lest punishment come upon you suddenly, and you are unaware.
7:3 Surah Al-A’raf: “Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow those who are placed above Him as protectors; how little you take heed.”
Thanks to the Qur’an of the Exalted Allah, we do not fall into the trap of polytheism into which the Jews and Christians have fallen. We uphold the Qur’an solely by submitting to its rulings.
5:68 Surah Al-Ma’idah; Say: “O People of the Book! You have not stood firm on anything until you uphold the Torah and the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and what has been revealed to you from your Lord (the Qur’an) only increases the transgression and disbelief of most of them; so do not grieve over the people of disbelief.”
Confusing words will be put forth to obscure the message of the Qur’an.
41:26 Surah Fussilat; And those who have disbelieved said: “Do not listen to this Qur’an; and utter meaningless words about it (the Qur’an); perhaps you will prevail.”
25:30 Surah al-Furqan; And the Messenger said: “O my Lord! Indeed, my people have abandoned this Qur’an.”
For the love of Almighty Allah, who are the people addressed in verse 30 of Surah al-Furqan? Who is the people—the community—of the Prophet Muhammad? Are they atheists, deists, Christians, or Jews? Surely it is those who claim to be followers of Muhammad, yet despite having the Qur’an in their hands, are incapable of reading and understanding it, and have abandoned the Qur’an by following the religious rulings of other sources instead of those of the Qur’an? In short, it is we who believe that the Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Almighty Allah.
2:256 Surah Al-Baqarah: There is no compulsion in religion; truth has indeed become distinct from falsehood; so whoever disbelieves in the Taghut and believes in Allah—has indeed grasped the unbreakable handle, and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
88:21 Surah Al-Ghashiyah; So give counsel; you are only a counselor.
88:22 Surah Al-Ghashiyah; You are not a musaytir (one who controls the course of events) over them.
50:45 Surah Kaf; We know what they say; and you are not a compeller over them; so give counsel with the Qur’an to those who fear My warning.
Every person will be held accountable for what they have done and what they have failed to do. Whoever wishes may believe in whatever they wish, and whoever wishes may deny whatever they wish—provided, of course, that they bear the consequences.
18:29 Surah Al-Kahf; And say: “The truth is from your Lord; so let whoever wills believe, and let whoever wills disbelieve…”
76:29 Surah Al-Insan; Indeed, this is a reminder; so let whoever wishes follow a straight path toward his Lord.
The issue of shirk is so important that even the message conveyed through the Companions of the Cave and the Companions of the Rock has been monotheism and Hanifism. The issue of shirk is the essence of the Qur’an. For this reason, the young people have emphasized the gravity of the sin of shirk. Be very careful regarding shirk. Do not ignore Satan. Trust no one. Listen to no one. Read the Book of Almighty Allah with understanding.
Think now about what answer you will give when, in the Hereafter, you are asked, “Have you ever read the Qur’an—a mercy for all worlds—with understanding? Have you submitted to the rulings within it?”
Examples of verses from the Surah al-Jinn in the Qur’an that illustrate faith in the Almighty Allah as a Hanif include:
72:2 Surah Al-Jinn
“It guides to the straight path; we have believed in it. We will certainly not associate anyone with our Lord.”
يَهْد۪ٓي اِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَاٰمَنَّا بِه۪ۜ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَٓا اَحَداًۙ
Yehdi ilâ al-ruşd, fa-âmennâ bih, wa lan nuşrike bi-Rabbinâ ahadâ
The word “cin” is the plural form of “cinnî,” which means “concealed,” “hidden,” or “invisible.” Since they are invisible, a certain class of hidden beings is referred to as “cin” or “cân.” Contrary to popular belief, it is evident from various confessions of the jinn that they are powerless, and that humans, by pampering them unnecessarily, cause them to become even more rebellious ( ). Verse 13 states that they cannot harm those who trust in Allah in any way. The jinn referred to here are invisible beings who have been held accountable.
72:18 Surah Al-Jinn
The mosques are for Allah. Therefore, do not invoke anyone besides Allah.
And that the mosques are for Allah; so do not invoke anyone alongside Allah.
Ve ennel mesacide lillahi fe la ted’u maallahi ehada
Mosques and places of prostration—that is, every act of worship, in terms of both place and time—must be rooted in the oneness of God and kept free from all elements of polytheism. Any behavior performed in the name of religion is worship only if it is for the Exalted Allah alone. Actions that involve intercession cannot be called worship; they do not bring the person closer to Allah, but rather drive them away.
Surah Al-Jinn, Verse 20
Say: “I call upon my Lord alone, and I associate nothing with Him.”
قُلْ اِنَّمَٓا اَدْعُوا رَبّ۪ي وَلَٓا اُشْرِكُ بِه۪ٓ اَحَداً
Kul innema ed’u rabbi ve la uşriku bihi ehada.
Surah Al-Jinn, Verse 21
Say: “I have no power to harm you or to guide you.”
Say, “Indeed, I possess neither the power to harm you nor to guide you.”
Say, “Indeed, I possess neither the power to harm you nor to guide you.”
Surah Al-Jinn, Verse 22
Say: “No one can protect me from Allah, and I will never find a refuge other than Him.”
Say: “Indeed, no one can protect me from Allah, and I will never find a refuge other than Him.”
Kul inni len yucireni minallahi ehadun ve len ecide min dunihi multehada
Surah Al-Jinn, Verse 23
“My duty is only to convey to you the revelation I have received from Allah and to deliver what has been sent.”
Nothing but a message from Allah and His revelations. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger—indeed, for him is the Fire of Hell, wherein they will abide forever.
Illā balāghā min Allāhi wa risālatihi, wa man ya’si Allāha wa rasūluhu fa-innā lahu nār Jahannam, halidīna fīhā abada.
Surah Al-Jinn, Verse 24
When they see what they were warned about, they will know whose helper is weaker and more helpless.
Until, when they see what they have been promised, they will know whose helper is weaker and whose numbers are fewer.
Hatta iza reev ma yuadune fe se ya’lemune men ad’afu nasıren ve ekallu adeda.
Allah’s verses state, “The mosques belong only to Allah; they are for Allah alone,” meaning that only Allah’s name may be invoked in the mosques because believers worship only Allah and seek help only from Him. The verses from Surah Al-Jinn that I have mentioned firmly reinforce the concept of “attributing the religion solely to the Exalted Allah,” which is the essence of the Qur’an. Let us pray that Almighty Allah lifts the seal from sealed hearts; otherwise, even these clear verses will remain unseen due to “Iblis’s” influence, and they will plunge into Hell. (Al-Baqarah 7, Al-A’raf 198)
How Those Afflicted with the Disease of Shirk Wrong Themselves
Surah Fatir, Verse 35:31
What We have revealed to you of the Book is the truth, confirming what came before it. Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of His servants, All-Seeing.
وَالَّـذ۪ٓي اَوْحَيْنَٓا اِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقاً لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِۜ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِعِبَادِه۪ لَخَب۪يرٌ بَص۪يرٌ
Vellezi evhayna ileyke minel kitabi huvel hakku musaddikan lima beyne yedeyh, innallahe bi ibadihi le habirun basir
35:32 Surah Fatir
Then We bequeathed the Book to those of Our servants whom We chose. Some of them wrong themselves; some follow a middle path; and some, by Allah’s permission, are foremost in good deeds. That is the great virtue.
Then We bequeathed the Book to those whom We had chosen from among Our servants. Among them are those who wrong themselves; among them are those who follow a moderate path; and among them are those who, by the permission of Allah. That is the great virtue.
Then, regarding the Book We have revealed to those of Our servants whom We have chosen—among them are those who wrong themselves, and among them are those who are moderate, and among them are those who race to do good deeds by the permission of Allah—that is the great favor
11:101 Surah Hud
We did not wrong them; rather, they wronged themselves. When the command of your Lord came, the gods they invoked besides Allah could not save them from anything. In fact, it only increased their loss
And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves. So their gods—whom they called upon besides Allah—did not avail them at all when the command of their Lord came.; and it only brought them further ruin.
And We did not wrong them, but they wronged themselves; so their gods—whom they called upon besides Allah—did not avail them at all when the command of your Lord came, and they added nothing to them but punishment
Failing to follow the path shown by Almighty Allah (not taking the Qur’an as one’s sole guide), failing to heed the call of revelation (transgressing against Allah), and failing to comply with the Qur’an’s commands and prohibitions can be summarized as a person committing injustice against themselves.
Some Muslims, who are the heirs to the Qur’an, are wronging themselves—that is, they are committing shirk against Almighty Allah. Indeed, the situation is exactly as indicated in the verse. These people claim to follow the Qur’an, yet the religion they practice bears no relation, near or far, to the Qur’an.
Yes; those who have split into sects and adopted books subordinate to the Qur’an are at risk of falling into the scourge of shirk. In essence, even the fact that the Qur’an has been bequeathed to a person is a great blessing. What does a person of sound mind do? He strives to read and understand what this book—the Word of Almighty Allah—says. They hold the Qur’an’s commands and prohibitions in the highest regard. When it comes to religion, they reject with the back of their hand any book that takes precedence over the Qur’an. However, we see that these people, who wrong themselves, have abandoned the Qur’an they inherited. It appears that those who wrong themselves—that is, those who commit shirk against Almighty Allah—will join the group of Ashab-i Meş’eme.
By the permission of Almighty Allah, those who lead the way in good deeds and acts of kindness—the servants who have not fallen into the scourge of associating partners with Almighty Allah—will enter the group of the Sabikun.
As for those who do not wrong themselves—that is, those who do not associate partners with the Almighty Allah—and who follow the middle path in doing good (though it is the middle path, it must still be the right path), it is believed that they will be among the Ashab-ı Meymene.
39:44 Surah Az-Zumar
Say: “Intercession belongs entirely to Allah. The dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs solely to Him. Then to Him you will be returned.”
قُلْ لِلّٰهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَم۪يعاًۜ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضِۜ ثُمَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Kul lillahiş şefaatu cemia, lehu mulkus semavati vel ard, summe ileyhi turceun
What Is Intercession?
- There is no intercession; all intercession belongs to Allah. (39:44)
- There is no intercession, except for the purpose of bearing witness.
The Qur’an contains both of the above statements, and the notion of intercession—in which created beings, the servants of the Exalted Allah, are exaggeratedly portrayed as saving the worshippers—is rejected in the Qur’an; rather, intercession is reduced solely to bearing WITNESS regarding individuals who are judged alone in the divine court on the Day of Judgment.
One piece of evidence for this is verse 4 of Surah al-Mumtahanah: “But do not take as an example what Abraham said to his (polytheist) father: ‘I will certainly ask forgiveness for you (this is a mistake); but I have no power to prevent anything that will come to you from Allah.’” (Those who were with Abraham prayed to Allah, saying:) “Our Lord, we have placed our trust and reliance solely in You, and we have turned to You. The place of return is in Your presence.”
Prophet Abraham’s plea for forgiveness for his father was not regarded as a commendable act by Almighty Allah.
A similar warning was also given to Prophet Noah—regarding his son. (Surah Hud 45–46) “He said, ‘O Noah, he cannot be of your family. It is not a virtuous act to ask Me about a matter of which you have no knowledge. I advise you not to be among the ignorant.’” (Hud 46)
Intercession is an effective bait used by the misguided to lead people astray into idolatry. Yet neither Prophet Abraham could help his father, nor Prophet Noah his son, nor Prophet Muhammad his uncles.
The Qur’an rejects the deviant belief in intercession; no created being can save anyone. Those who believe they will be saved from Almighty Allah through the intercession of a servant will be the subject of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) sole complaint in the Hereafter, and the intercession they hoped for will turn out to be the exact opposite (25:30). According to the Qur’an, intercession consists solely of bearing witness to the truth (20:109; 43:86; 78:38). We must not forget that through the Fatiha Surah, which we recite every day in our prayers, we pledge to seek help only from Almighty Allah.
32/4 Surah Al-Sajdah
It is Allah who created the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them in six days/phases. Then He established Himself on the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor other than Him. Will you not take heed?
Allah is He who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, then established Himself on the Throne. You have no protector or intercessor other than Him. Will you not then take heed?
Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, then established Himself on the Throne—you have no protector or intercessor besides Him. Will you not then take heed?
The fact that the Exalted Allah created the universe in six stages is a great miracle; the solar system and the seven heavens were completed in two stages, while the preparation and blessing of the solar system were completed in four stages, making a total of six stages. This is in complete harmony with scientific findings and evidence and is supported by scientific data. I will, God willing, discuss this topic in a future article. Those interested can explore the topic via the link and witness this miracle for themselves: https://kuranmucizeler. com/dunya-nin-2-gunde-yaratilmasi-dunya-nin-yaratilmasi-icin-gerekli-olan-tum-maddelerin-gidalarin-4-gunde-hazirlanmasi. This creation is described in the relevant verses of Surah Fussilat (verses 41:9, 10, 11, and 12).
Surah An-Nahl, Verse 16:44
We sent them with clear proofs and scriptures. And We have revealed the Reminder (the Qur’an) to you so that you may explain to people what has been revealed to them, so that they may reflect.
بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِۜ وَاَنْزَلْـنَٓا اِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ اِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Bil beyyinati vez zubur, ve enzelna ileykez zikre li tubeyyine lin nasi ma nuzzile ileyhim ve leallehum yetefekkerun
The fact that the Qur’an is a clear proof and evidence is a matter frequently emphasized by Allah in the Qur’an; I will address this topic in detail in future articles, insha’Allah.
35:10 Surah Fatir
Whoever seeks honor—let him know that all honor belongs entirely to Allah. Pure words ascend to Him. Righteous deeds elevate one. For those who plot evil, there is a severe punishment. The schemes they devise will come to naught.
مَنْ كَانَ يُر۪يدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلّٰهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَم۪يعاًۜ اِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِـحُ يَرْفَعُهُۜ وَالَّذ۪ينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيwill face a severe punishment; and the schemes of such people will come to naught
Whoever seeks honor—to Allah belongs all honor; to Him ascend the good words, and the righteous deeds lift one up; and for those who plot evil, there is a severe punishment, and the plots of such people will come to naught
1/2 Surah Al-Fatiha
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
1/5 Surah Al-Fatiha
We worship none but You, and we seek help from none but You
We worship none but You, and we seek help from none but You.
Iyyake na’budu wa iyyake nestain
Prayer means to call upon, to appeal to, or to ask for help. Prayer is presenting one’s requests and needs to Allah and seeking His grace, support, forgiveness, and assistance; before praying, a person must do what is required of them. It is not befitting a believer to ask Allah for anything without first doing what is required of them.
Furthermore, what is asked of Allah must be righteous: One must consider whether they deserve what they are asking for and whether it is their right. If the person praying will forget Allah after their request is granted, this will prevent their prayer from being accepted. Praying to anyone or anything other than the Exalted Allah constitutes shirk
The word “na’budu” derives from the root (عبد) and means to worship, to serve, to idolize, and to enslave. Hans Wehr, 4th ed., page 685 (of 1303).
In the verse, the verb appears in the first-person plural, present tense. It means “we worship.”
The word “iyyâke” means “only to You.” This means that worship is to be directed solely and exclusively to Almighty Allah. To love with adoration, to deify, to enslave,
The word “nestaîn” derives from the root (عون) and means “to help” or “to ask for help,” as well as “to provide or request support for the purpose of assistance.” Hans Wehr, 4th ed., page 771 (of 1303).
In the verse, the verb appears in the first-person plural, present tense. It means “we ask for help” or “we ask for support.”
This means that divine help and support are to be sought solely and exclusively from Almighty Allah. Divine help or support must not be sought from anything subordinate to Him. Divine help must never be sought from anything subordinate to Almighty Allah—such as prophets, the deceased, saints, imams, Sufi lodges, shrines, or holy sites.
Some polytheists distort the meaning of the verse by removing the concept of seeking help or support from its divine context and claiming that it also refers to seeking help in ordinary matters, thereby justifying their polytheism.
For example, can’t someone who has fallen and broken their leg ask for help or support from passersby? Of course they can. The polytheists then say, “In that case, despite this verse, we too can seek divine help from those subordinate to Almighty Allah.”
What is meant in the verse is undoubtedly divine support; it is divine help. A person will do everything in their power. They will strive. Of course, they can ask for help from other people. However, when it comes to trust in Allah and divine support/help, they will seek help and support only from their Lord. Only and exclusively from their Lord.
29:63 Surah al-Ankabut
If you ask them, “Who is it that sends down water from the sky and revives the earth with it after its death?” they will surely say, “Allah.” Say, “Praise be to Allah.” Yet most of them do not use their reason.
And if you ask them, “Who is it that sends down water from the sky and thereby revives the earth after its death?” they will surely say, “Allah.” Say, “Praise be to Allah.” But most of them do not use their reason.
And if you ask them, “Who sent down water from the sky and thereby revived the earth after its death?” they will surely say, “Allah.” Say, “Praise be to Allah.” But most of them do not use their reason.
12:106 Surah Yusuf
Most of them do not believe in Allah without associating partners with Him.
And most of them do not believe in Allah except while they are polytheists.
And most of them do not believe in Allah except while they are polytheists
It is established by this verse that, unfortunately, most people taint their faith in the Exalted Allah with shirk—that is, they associate with Allah those who are subordinate to Him—and they do this without knowledge or reflection ( ), thinking, “We saw it done this way by our ancestors, so this must be right,” yet Almighty Allah commands believers to use their reason and to submit to Him with a monotheistic faith.
4:48, Surah An-Nisa
Allah does not forgive those who associate partners with Him. He forgives whatever is less than that for whom He wills. Whoever associates partners with Allah has committed a grave sin.
Indeed, Allah does not forgive the sin of associating partners with Him, but He forgives whatever is less than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.
Innallahe la yagfiru en yuşrake bihi ve yagfiru ma dune zalike li men yeşau ve men yuşrik billahi fe kadiftera ismen azima
I hope this verse helps you understand the vital importance of the issue of shirk.
2:136, Surah Al-Baqarah
Say: “We believe in Allah, in what has been revealed to us, to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants; to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets—we make no distinction between any of them—and we are Muslims.”
Say, “We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us, and in what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus, and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims to Him
His servant says: “We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us, and in what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and in what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims devoted to Him.”
The Almighty Allah says that while worshiping Him, “you shall not mention the name of anything or anyone else alongside His name.” The utmost care must be taken regarding this matter during prayer and supplication as well.
6:116, Surah Al-An’am
If you follow the majority of those on earth, they will lead you astray from the path of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture, and they are merely guessing.
وَاِنْ تُطِـعْ اَكْثَرَ مَنْ فِي الْاَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَنْ سَب۪يلِ اللّٰهِۜ اِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ اِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَاِنْ هُمْ اِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
And if you were to obey the majority of those on earth, they would lead you astray from the path of Allah; they follow nothing but conjecture, and they do nothing but make assumptions.
As the Almighty Allah states in the verse, we must always take the Qur’an as our guide; we must never act based on the notion that “since the majority does it, it must be right,” nor should we follow mere conjecture, for conjecture is far from “proof,” and “proof” lies in the Qur’an. We must use our reason and act based on evidence; it is that clear—if we do not use our reason, the place we will end up is Hell.
3:20 Surah Al-Imran
If they argue with you, say: “I have submitted myself entirely to Allah, and so have those who follow me.” Say to those who were given the Scripture and to those who were not: “Have you also submitted?” If they have submitted, then they are indeed on the right path. If they turn away, your duty is only to convey the message. Allah is fully aware of His servants.
So if they argue with you, say, “I have submitted myself entirely to Allah, and so have those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the illiterate: “Have you submitted?” If they, then they have indeed been guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the message. And Allah is All-Seeing of His servants.
So when they call you to account, say, “I have submitted my face to Allah, and so have those who follow me.” And say to those who have been given the Scripture and to the illiterate, “Have you submitted?” If they submit, then they have indeed been guided; but if they turn away, then your duty is only to convey the message, and Allah is All-Seeing of His servants
31:6 Surah Luqman
Among the people are those who, without any knowledge, distort the truth with idle talk to lead others astray from the path of Allah and to mock it. For them is a humiliating punishment.
And among the people are those who purchase idle talk to lead others astray from the path of Allah without knowledge, and to make a mockery of it. For them is a humiliating punishment.
And among the people are those who purchase idle talk to lead others astray from the path of Allah without knowledge, and take it as a mockery; for them is a humiliating punishment.
7:3 Surah Al-A’raf
Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord. Do not follow any other protectors besides Him. How little you take heed!
Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow any protectors besides Him. How little you take heed!
Ittebiu ma unzile ileykum min rabbikum ve la tettebiu min dunihi evliya, kalilen ma tezekkerun
37:181 Surah As-Saffat
Peace be upon all the messengers.
And peace be upon the messengers.
And peace be upon the messengers
There is no harm in sending greetings to the messengers “after prayer, that is, after worship,” or in reciting praises without associating anyone as a partner or helper with the Exalted Allah. However, we worship only the Almighty Allah, and we cannot praise anyone else during this worship. If you say, “Intercede for us, O Messenger of Allah,” you will have acted contrary to the verse of the Almighty Allah and, without even realizing it, you will have fallen into shirk (Az-Zumar/44).
7:194, Surah Al-A’raf
Those whom you call upon besides Allah are servants just like yourselves. If you are truthful, then go ahead and call upon them; let them answer you.
Indeed, those whom you invoke besides Allah are servants like yourselves, so call upon them, and let them answer you if you are truthful.
Inna alladheena tad’u min dunillahi ıbadun emsalukum, fada’uhum falyestecibu lekum in kuntum sadikin
Those who are associated with Allah are referred to as “those” (ellezine), which shows us that people—who are servants of the Exalted Allah and no different from other human beings—are being deified. The verse points to the “misguided ones” who associate others with the Exalted Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
7:196, Surah Al-A’raf
Indeed, my Protector is Allah, who has revealed the Book—the Qur’an—and He protects the righteous.
Indeed, my Protector is Allah, who revealed the Book; and He takes the righteous as His allies.
Indeed, my Protector is Allah, who revealed the Book, and He takes the righteous under His protection
The believers have no protector other than Allah; “He is sufficient for us as a protector; He is sufficient for us as a helper.” Nisa/45
4:45 Surah An-Nisa
Allah knows your enemies best. Allah is sufficient as a protector, and Allah is sufficient as a helper.
And Allah knows best your enemies. And Allah is sufficient as a protector. And Allah is sufficient as a helper.
Vallahu a’lemu bi a’daikum. And Allah is sufficient as a Protector, and Allah is sufficient as a Helper.
7:197, Surah Al-A’raf
“Those whom you call upon besides Him have neither the power to help you nor to help themselves.”
And those whom you call upon besides Him have no power to help you, nor can they help themselves.
Vellezine ted’une min dunihi la yestetiune nasrakum ve la enfusehum yensurun
As is clear from the verse, the beings to whom polytheism is ascribed—referred to as “Vellezine”—have souls and are human beings just like those who commit polytheism. How unfortunate!
7:198, Surah Al-A’raf
If you call them to the right path, they will not hear you. You might think they are looking at you, but in fact, they do not see.
وَاِنْ تَدْعُوهُمْ اِلَى الْهُدٰى لَا يَسْمَعُواۜ وَتَرٰيهُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ اِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
And if you call them to guidance, they will not hear; and you see them looking at you, yet they do not see.
25:30 Surah al-Furqan
The Messenger said, “O my Lord, my people have abandoned this Qur’an.”
And the Messenger said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have abandoned this Qur’an.”
And the Messenger said, “O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’an as something abandoned.”
To avoid being addressed by the Prophet’s words in the Hereafter, we must understand the Qur’an correctly, read it frequently, and absolutely avoid polytheism.
2:170 Surah Al-Baqarah
When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “No! We will follow what we found our forefathers doing.” But what if their forefathers were people who did not use their reason and could not find the right path?
And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “No, we will follow what we found our forefathers doing.” What if their forefathers were people who did not understand anything or be guided?
And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing.” Even if their fathers had understood nothing and were not guided
The Qur’an commands the use of reason and warns against relying on mere conjecture. The people addressed in this verse are those who do not act upon what the Qur’an commands, who do not give credence to evidence, who blindly follow traditions handed down from their ancestors without questioning them, and who do not truly reflect on the Qur’an or use their reason.
8:22, Surah Al-Anfal
In the sight of Allah, the worst of creatures are the deaf and mute who do not use their reason.
اِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَٓابِّ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ الصُّمُّ الْبُكْمُ الَّذ۪ينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Inna sharra al-dawabbi inda Allahi al-summ al-bukm al-ladhina la ya’qilun
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, knows best.
