There are many types of worship from the actions that Allah has legislated like Islam, emaan, ihsan, supplication, fear, trust in Allah, dread, repentance, refuge, seeking aid, slaughtering, vowing, and other than that from the actions that Allah has legislated and commanded us with in Surah Al-Jinn, verse 18:
“And the masjids are for Allah so invoke not anyone along with Allah.”
So whoever directs these actions to other than Allah then he has become a polytheist and a disbeliever as Allah says in Surah Al- Mu’minoon, verse 117:
“And whosoever invokes besides Allah, any other deity of whom he has no proof then his reckoning is only with his lord. Surley the disbelivers will not be successful”
So with this verse Allah has declared disbelief on the one who calls upon other than him and what is meant by this “proof” is that Allah has never revealed that something is to be worship along with him in any of his revealed books or any trace of knowledge as is explained by the verse mentioned in Surah Al-Ahqaaf, verse 4:
“Say to these pagans! Think that all that you invoke besides Allah show me what they have created of the earth? Or have they a share in the creation of the heavens? Bring me a book or some trace of knowledge if you are truthful.”
What must be understood is that worship is not just limited to the action that Allah has legislated because there are actions that Allah has not legislated that are acts of worship, such as innovation people use these actions to get closer to Allah seeking his pleasure so it is considered worship in this sense, but these actions are not accepted because they are innovations. Even the actions of the disbelievers, which are done for their false deities, Allah refers to this as worship. As is mentioned in Surah Al-Kafirroon, verse 2-3:
“I worship not that what you worship, nor will you worship that what I worship.”
However, the difference between their worship and the worship of the Muslims is that there worship is directed to other than Allah making it shirk, which is not accepted by Allah. So why did Allah call the actions of the disbelievers and the believers worship in these verses? Worship has a specific meaning. So What is it that makes an action worship? It is to believe that the thing being called upon has abilities which resemble the abilities of Allah, or attributes of (rububiyah) lordship such as the ability to control the affairs of the unseen, the ability to create, and the ability to change the causes that lead to death, life, birth, etc.
Then if they fear this false deity in an unseen manner, being afraid of its punishments and hoping for its reward, and doing actions seeking the pleasure of this deity with their heart being connected to this belief of theirs, that this deity has characteristics that resemble Allah in anyway, then this action has become worship. If it’s for Allah than it’s worship that is accepted and if it is done for other than Allah than it is Ash-shirk Al-Akbar, and will never be accepted because these characteristics that they have given to their false deities, only Allah should be described by them, such as the ability to control the affairs of the visible and unseen, and to be in command of the causes and effects in the universe. So to believe that other than Allah has these abilities or to do acts of worship fearing these false deities, the fear of worship based upon the previous mentioned belief, than he has made these things that he calls upon, slaughters for, prostates to, or other than a partner in the worship with Allah. So this is the reason why Allah called their actions worship because they give their false gods attributes of lordship and believe they possess abilities of a Allah, the one true God, that we have mentioned, and they have fear in the unseen from them believing they could punish them using the affairs of the unseen and the cause and effect in the universe to bring about their destruction hoping for a reward and seeking closeness to their false gods, and their acts of worship were done with this belief being in their hearts so this is their worship of their gods and this is why it was called worship, but because it is done for other than Allah, it is Shirk, the greatest of sins, that will not be forgiven.
Here are some proofs from the Quran showing Allah’s ability in controlling, changing, and creating the cause and effect in the universe and the affairs of the unseen Surah Baqarah: 259
“Or like the one who passed by a town and it had tumble over rooves he said” oh how will Allah ever bring it to life after its death? So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years then raised him up, Allah said how long have you remained dead he the man said perhaps I remained dead a day or part of a day he Allah said nay you have remained dead for a hundred years look at your food and drink they show no change and look at your donkey and thus we have made you a sign for the people look at the bones how we bring them together and clothe them with flesh when this was clearly shown to him he said I know now that Allah is able to do all things.”
One of the benefits of this story is that Allah caused the man to die without any of the normal reasons, such as a sickness, an accident, a wound etc, showing us that Allah can give life and death by simply saying “Be,” he is not restricted by anything. If he wants, he can take a person’s life without any cause. The other benefit is the donkey. Allah caused it to die and its bones and flesh detererioted with the progression of time. Allah then brought the donkey back to life in an unseen manner that we can’t imagine. The third benefit is the food, which didn’t change or spoil; and we know that if food is left unprotected it will spoil, but Allah does what he wills. He allowed the food to be preserved, even though 100 years passed, without any affect on the food. Indeed Allah is in complete control and he does what he wills. This is clear proof that Allah controls the universe and everything in it seen or unseen.
Another proof, which indicates that Allah is in complete control, is the story of Ibraheem, alahi salaam, when he was thrown in to the fire and Allah changed the nature of the fire not to burn him, but the fire burned the chains which were binding him. Also, if we look at the birth of E’sa, the son of Mary, when he was born without a father, and usually a man and a woman are needed to given birth to a child. A man and a woman have intercourse and the seed is planted in the womb, but in the case of E’sa, Allah changed the nature of his birth, not using the normal means of conception, rather he was born without a father. All of these are clear stories showing the control that Allah has over the causes of life and death, seen and unseen, and Allah is able to do all things.
From this we learn two things:
Firstly: The meaning of At-Tawheed which is to make Allah one in worship, fearing him in the unseen, knowing that he alone has the ability to harm or benefit you in an unseen manner, giving life as he wills, and giving death as he wills, as well as changing the normal causes of life and death. He alone answers your supplications when you call upon him, and to him alone worship should be directed.
Secondly: We learn the meaning of Ash-Shirk, which is to call upon other than Allah believing that this thing which is being called upon has abilities that resemble the abilities of Allah, such as having the ability to create, control the affairs of the unseen, or the causes that bring about life and death, or bring about harm and benefit to you through the usage of these affairs.
What must be understood is that it is not just any type of call or request that becomes shirk. Let’s examine the meaning of the word Du’a which is to seek something from something or someone else. When does this Du’a or call become worship? As the Prophet Muhammad, salallahu alaihi wa salam, said: “Ad-Du’a it is worship.”
Let’s give an example of call or request that is not worship. If you were to call your friend to help you move a couch and he comes to your house and answers this call, this is a type of request or call to your friend, but is it Ash-shirk? No, it is not shirk if you believe that the person that you call upon doesn’t have ability that resembles the ability of Allah, and that he has to work within the set limits of a human being, which Allah has restricted, and he has no ability to control or change these affairs or create them bringing about the answer to your call in the affairs of the unseen that he has to lift the couch with his hands, bend his back, and exert energy. These are the restricted boundaries which your friend has to work within to bring about the moving of the couch. When does this supplication become shirk? It becomes shirk when one believes that this person who is being called upon has the ability of Allah, the one true God, and that he doesn’t work within this limitations set down by Allah, rather he believes that this person creates, controls, and changes these affairs of the unseen, as he wills to bring about the response of the caller. This is how a normal action or request can in fact become worship, and because it is directed to other than Allah it is Ash-Shirk.
With this understanding all requests and calls are not calls of worship. So any action that is done upon the previous mentioned definition of worship, then this action in reality is du’a, call or request, because you are seeking something either from Allah, the one true God alone, or from a false deity. So when we worship Allah we are seeking something from him, such as his reward and protection from his wrath, as is the case when we offer prayer, fast, make hajj, grow our beard, shorten the pants , and other than that from the actions of worship we do daily. If they are done seeking the pleasure of Allah, fearing his punishment, and hoping for his reward then these actions are the type of du’a that is worship, even without the moving of the tongue or a clear question being presented.
The proof that du’a is worship is the verse in Surah Al- Jinn 18:
“And the Masjids are for Allah alone so supplicate not anyone along with Allah.” Here we see Allah mentioning the places of worship (Masaajid) and then commanded us not to call upon other than him. What is done in the masajids except worship and Allah referred to it as Du’a.
Here is something to think about. As we know now that Allah controls, creates, and changes the affairs of the unseen and the things that lead to sickness, death, life, birth etc. Allah is the creator of everything, and everything is created except Allah. In Surah Al-Furqan Allah mentions:
“He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Who has begotten no son (children or offspring) and for Whom there is no partner in the dominion. He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements. Yet they have taken besides Him other âlihâ (gods) that created nothing but are themselves created, and possess neither hurt nor benefit for themselves, and possess no power (of causing) death, nor (of giving) life, nor of raising the dead. (Al-Furqan 25:2-3)”
The things that are being called upon besides Allah don’t possess the ability to respond to any supplication, because neither did they create the actions of the servant, in this case the du’a itself. They don’t possess or control the causes that lead to the answer of the du’a, and they are not in control of the actual response of the du’a. It becomes clear that calling upon other than Allah is useless. Allah says in Sura Ar-Ra’d:
For Him (Alone) is the Word of Truth (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He). And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke, answer them no more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not, and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use). (Ra’d 13:14)
As Allah says in Surah Fatir, verse 14
“If you invoke them, they hear not your call, and even if they were to hear your call, they could not grant your request to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you like him who is the all knower.”
Here again Allah refers to Du’a as worship because all acts of worship are in reality a type of du’a, as we have mentioned. But what can be extracted from this verse is to understand the reason why the false deities can’t answer the du’a, even if they were to hear it. The reason being, they don’t have the ability to create anything. And the answer to the servant’s du’a is from the creation of Allah; and Allah controls it and changes it as he wills. So when this is understood and implemented, one can realize what it is to make worship sincerely for Allah alone.
The opposite of Al-Ikhlaas (Sincerity) in worship is to direct any act of worship to other than Allah. And also ash-Shirk in reality is to call upon Ash-Shaytan no matter what name he has whispered to them from the different names of their false gods, whether it be Jesus, Jibril, Uzair, Husayn, Zaynab, Muhammad, peace be upon them, or any religion other than the religion of Islam. Allah has said in Surah Nisa, verse: 117
“They invoke nothing but female deities besides him and they invoke nothing but shaytan, a persistant rebel!”
And also in Surah Ibraheem: 22
“And Shaytan will say when the matter has been decided; verily, Allah promised you a promise of the truth. And I to promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you execpt that I called you, so you responded to me. I deny your former act of associating me as partner with Allah verily, there is a severe punishment for the wrongdoers.”
From this we know that those who call upon other than Allah are worshipping Ash-Shaytan in reality and Ash-Shaytan can hear their calls, but he doesn’t have the ability to answer them because he can’t create, not having any abilty of lordship to bring about the reasons of the call to be answered or the answer to their calls which all of these things are created. As Allah says in Surah Az-Zumar: 62
“Allah is the creator of all things.”
These are translated notes from a class given by Ash-Sheikh Muhsin Maluk, Khateeb and Imaam at Masjid Ansar-As-Sunnah in Damanhoor, Egypt. Translated by Our Brother Abu Esa Esa bin Poston Al-Amrikee in Ashmoon, Munifiyah Egypt.
