The Call to Tawheed and the Path of Ahl al-Sunnah

 

Extremists in False Reverence

¹¹⁶Among the wayward are those who claim,

    That saints govern the world in Allah’s name.

¹¹⁷They call them "poles," "pillars," or "aid,"

    Such titles for humans that they have made.

¹¹⁸This shirk in Rububiyyah far surpasses,

    The ignorance of Arabia's masses.

¹¹⁹The pre-Islamic tribes, though lost in ease,

    Turned to Allah in hardships, seeking peace.

¹²⁰"Who created you?" if asked, they'd agree:

    "It is Allah, the Creator, Almighty."

 

The Path of Salvation: Ahl al-Sunnah

¹²¹Ahl al-Sunnah, the saved group stands,

    Holding firmly to Allah’s commands.

¹²²Attributes affirmed, without denial’s hue,

    Glorifying Allah as perfectly true.

¹²³Free from distortion, clear of doubt,

    Their creed is a lighthouse, strong and stout.

¹²⁴They tread the path of the Salaf divine,

    Guided by the Qur'an’s eternal line.

¹²⁵For those who seek salvation's door,

    This is the creed that will endure.

 

The Call of Devotion and Triumph

¹²⁶Upon the earth, in boundless span,

    The call resounds—the loftiest plan,

¹²⁷To bow before the One Most High,

    Whose throne is set beyond the sky.

¹²⁸He shaped the heavens, vast and bright,

    Unveiled the day, adorned the night,

¹²⁹Commanding sun and moon to glide,

    Upon their paths in endless stride.

¹²⁹He spoke, and worlds arose in might,

    Jinn and men in His pure light,

¹³⁰Created not for wanton play,

    But bound to worship, none astray.

¹³¹No other hands must men implore,

    No idols false, nor saints adore.

¹³²To Him alone must all prayer rise,

    The Lord of earth, the Lord of skies.

¹³³A call divine, a sacred trust,

    To fear Him true, to keep Him just,

¹³⁴For prophets walked this path before,

    And bore the light from shore to shore.

¹³⁵O nations vast, return, repent,

    Abandon ways in error spent.

¹³⁶No throne endures, no might shall stand,

    Save that which heeds His just command.

¹³⁷Let laws be framed in wisdom’s grace,

    And justice shine in every place.

¹³⁸Uproot the chains of false decree,

    And let the soul from bondage free.

¹³⁹For those who strive upon His way,

    Shall find His hand in firm array.

¹⁴⁰The heavens promise, bold and true,

    That He shall raise the faithful few.

¹⁴¹The past has seen the faithful rise,

    As tyrants fell before their eyes.

¹⁴²Yet hearts have strayed, and hands have swayed,

    In slothful ease, in vice delayed.

¹⁴³So, trial came, as warning dire,

    The flame replaced the guiding fire,

¹⁴⁴And foes arose in might to stand,

    And took dominion o’er the land.

¹⁴⁵Yet still the path remains so clear,

    For those with faith, for those sincere.

¹⁴⁶Turn back, unite, with hearts aflame,

    And He shall grant you strength and name.

¹⁴⁷O faithful souls, embrace the test,

    Arise, be firm, give forth your best!

¹⁴⁸For He has sworn, and none shall lie,

    That truth shall reign, and falsehood die.

¹⁴⁹Upon the lips of time remains,

    A promise bright that yet sustains:

¹⁵⁰To those who stand in righteous creed,

    He grants the crown, the throne, the seed.

¹⁵¹So, rise, O hearts, embrace His light,

    Let worship shine in purest sight,

¹⁵²And He shall grant you earth’s embrace,

    With justice, strength, and boundless grace.

¹⁵³Upon the Prophet, peace untold,

    The guide, the light, the heart of gold.

¹⁵⁴May blessings vast upon him flow,

    And those who walk his path below.

¹⁵⁵And peace be upon the faithful, strong,

    Whose hearts to truth and light belong.

The Nullifiers of Islam and Understanding Actions That Invalidate Faith

 

The Nullifiers of Islam

Know, O Muslim brother, that Allah, exalted be He, has enjoined upon all His servants the necessity of entering into Islam, adhering firmly to it, and exercising vigilance against all that contradicts it. He sent forth His Prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), to summon mankind to this path, and He, the Most High, declared that whosoever follows him shall be rightly guided, whereas whosoever turns away shall be led astray. In numerous Qur'anic verses, Allah warns against the causes of apostasy and all forms of polytheism and disbelief.

The scholars—may Allah have mercy upon them—have expounded upon the ruling concerning the apostate, elucidating that a Muslim may renounce his religion through various nullifiers that render his life and wealth forfeit, thereby expelling him from the fold of Islam. Among the gravest and most prevalent of these nullifiers are ten, which we shall outline briefly so that you may beware of them and caution others against them, seeking thereby salvation and well-being. We shall also provide succinct clarifications where necessary.

 

The First Nullifier

The most severe of these nullifiers is associating partners with Allah (shirk) in worship. Allah, exalted be He, states:

"Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." (Surah An-Nisa: 48)

"Indeed, he who associates others with Allah—Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And for the wrongdoers, there are no helpers." (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 72)

This includes supplicating to the dead, seeking their assistance, making vows or sacrifices in their name, and other acts of devotion directed to them.

 

The Second Nullifier

Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allah, invoking them, seeking their intercession, and relying upon them, has committed disbelief (kufr) by consensus of the scholars.

 

The Third Nullifier

Whoever does not declare the polytheists to be disbelievers, doubts their disbelief, or validates their doctrine has himself disbelieved.

 

The Fourth Nullifier

Whoever believes that a guidance other than that of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is more perfect, or that the ruling of another is superior to his ruling—such as those who prefer the laws of tyrants over the divine law—has disbelieved.

 

The Fifth Nullifier

Whoever despises anything brought forth by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), even if he adheres to it outwardly, has disbelieved. As Allah, exalted be He, states:

"That is because they disliked what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds null and void." (Surah Muhammad: 9)

 

The Sixth Nullifier

Mocking anything from the religion of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), its rewards, or its punishments constitutes disbelief. The evidence is the statement of Allah:

"Say: Was it Allah, His verses, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief." (Surah At-Tawbah: 65-66)

 

The Seventh Nullifier

Practicing sorcery, including forms of magic that involve diverting or compelling affections (al-sarf wa al-‘aÏf). Whoever engages in such practices or approves of them has disbelieved. The proof lies in the verse:

"But neither of these two (angels) taught anyone until they had said: 'We are but a trial, so do not disbelieve.'" (Surah Al-Baqarah: 102)

 

The Eighth Nullifier

Supporting the polytheists and aiding them against the Muslims. Allah, exalted be He, states:

"And whoever is an ally to them among you—then indeed, he is one of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people." (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 51)

 

The Ninth Nullifier

Whoever believes that certain individuals are exempt from the Shari'ah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has disbelieved. As Allah states:

"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam—it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers." (Surah Aal-e-Imran: 85)

 

The Tenth Nullifier

Turning away from the religion of Allah, neither learning it nor acting upon it. The evidence for this is the statement of Allah:

"And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord, then he turns away from them? Indeed, We shall take retribution from the criminals." (Surah As-Sajdah: 22)

There is no distinction in these nullifiers between one who is jesting, one who is serious, or one who is in fear. All of them constitute grave dangers and are widespread among people; thus, every Muslim must guard against them and fear them for himself.

Included under the fourth nullifier is the belief that man-made systems and legislations are superior to Islamic law, or that the Islamic system is unsuitable for application in the modern era, or that it was the cause of the Muslims' decline, or that it pertains solely to personal worship without encompassing societal matters. Also included under the fourth nullifier is the view that enforcing the divine rulings—such as the amputation of the thief’s hand or the stoning of the adulterer—is unsuitable for the present age.

Similarly, included under this category is the belief that it is permissible to judge by laws other than Allah’s in financial transactions, criminal laws, or any other matter, even if one does not deem it superior to the divine law. This is because such a stance entails permitting what Allah has forbidden by scholarly consensus. Whoever permits what is categorically forbidden in Islam—such as fornication, alcohol consumption, usury, or ruling by laws other than Allah’s—has committed disbelief by unanimous agreement of the Muslims.

We seek refuge with Allah from actions that incur His wrath and from the severity of His punishment.

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the noblest of His creation, Muhammad, as well as upon his family and companions.

صيام المرء مشكاة

 

نور الهدى ومسك الختام في مدح خير الأنام

 

Worshipping Allah Alone & The Path to Victory

The Obligation of Worshipping Allah Alone and the Means of Victory Over the Enemies of Allah

The most paramount duty incumbent upon every accountable individual and the greatest obligation upon them is to worship their Lord, the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth and the Lord of the Mighty Throne, as stated in His Glorious Book:

"Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, chasing it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected to His command. Unquestionably, to Him belongs the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds." (Al-A‘rāf: 54)

Furthermore, Allah the Exalted has informed in another passage of His Book that He created both jinn and humankind solely for His worship, declaring:

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." (Adh-Dhāriyāt: 56)

This worship, for which Allah has created both races, entails the absolute devotion of all forms of servitude to Him alone, including prayer, fasting, almsgiving, pilgrimage, bowing, prostration, circumambulation, sacrifice, vows, fear, hope, seeking aid, seeking refuge, and all other supplications. It also encompasses obedience to His divine commandments and the abstention from His prohibitions, as dictated by His Noble Book and the Sunnah of His trustworthy Messenger, upon whom be the most excellent blessings and salutations from His Lord.

Allah has enjoined this exclusive worship upon both jinn and humankind, sending forth messengers and revealing scriptures to elucidate and affirm it, commanding that it be rendered purely unto Him. As the Almighty declares:

"O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous." (Al-Baqarah: 21)

"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and to parents, (show) excellent conduct." (Al-Isrā’: 23)

The term decreed in this verse signifies commanded and enjoined.

"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and give alms; and that is the correct religion." (Al-Bayyinah: 5)

Numerous other verses in the Divine Book expound upon this fundamental doctrine.

Allah further states:

"And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty." (Al-Ḥashr: 7)

"O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you dispute over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best (course) and best in outcome." (An-Nisā’: 59)

"Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah." (An-Nisā’: 80)

Similarly, the Almighty states:

"And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allah and shun false deities.’" (An-Naḥl: 36)

"And We did not send before you any messenger except that We revealed to him, saying: ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’" (Al-Anbiyā’: 25)

"Alif, Lām, Rā. (This is) a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detail from (One who is) Wise and Acquainted. (Saying): ‘Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of glad tidings.’" (Hūd: 1-2)

These decisive verses and their counterparts throughout the Divine Scripture unequivocally affirm the obligation of dedicating all acts of worship exclusively to Allah. This doctrine constitutes the foundation of faith and the very essence of the divine message. It is also the underlying wisdom behind the creation of jinn and humankind, the mission of the messengers, and the revelation of the scriptures.

Consequently, it is incumbent upon all accountable individuals to devote the utmost attention to this fundamental tenet, to acquire a profound understanding of it, and to remain vigilant against the errors into which many adherents of Islam have fallen. These include excessive veneration of prophets and saints, the construction of edifices over their graves, turning them into sanctuaries and domes, invoking them, seeking their intercession, and supplicating them for the fulfilment of needs, relief from distress, recovery from illness, or victory over adversaries—acts that constitute grave polytheism.

Authentic traditions from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) corroborate the teachings of the Divine Book. In the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections, it is recorded that Mu‘ādh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:

"Do you know the right of Allah upon His servants and the right of the servants upon Allah?" Mu‘ādh replied: "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet then said: "The right of Allah upon His servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him. And the right of the servants upon Allah is that He does not punish those who do not associate anything with Him."

Likewise, it is reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī that Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Whoever dies while invoking a partner besides Allah will enter the Fire."

Similarly, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim records from Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated:

"Whoever meets Allah without associating anything with Him will enter Paradise; and whoever meets Him while associating anything with Him will enter Hell."

These and numerous other narrations unequivocally establish the gravity of this issue. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was commissioned to call to monotheism and to prohibit polytheism. He conveyed this divine mandate with utmost diligence, enduring severe trials in the cause of Allah. His noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) likewise bore hardships in disseminating this message until the Arabian Peninsula was purged of all idols and false deities, and multitudes embraced Islam. The idols surrounding the Ka‘bah were demolished, and the pagan shrines of Lāt, ‘Uzzā, and Manāt were obliterated.

Islam subsequently expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula through the twin forces of da‘wah (invitation) and jihād, illuminating vast regions of the world with divine truth and justice. The believers thus became the vanguards of guidance, the champions of righteousness, and the bearers of justice and reform. Their noble path was followed by the righteous successors, who persisted in spreading the faith, enjoining monotheism, and striving in the cause of Allah without fearing reproach. Consequently, Allah granted them His support and fulfilled His promise:

"O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant your feet firmly." (Muḥammad: 7)

"And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Almighty. (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land, establish prayer, give alms, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of (all) matters." (Al-Ḥajj: 40-41)

Then, in the course of time, people altered their ways, became divided, and exhibited laxity in their commitment to jihad. They prioritised ease and the pursuit of desires, while transgressions became widespread among them, except for those whom Allah, the Most High, safeguarded. Consequently, Allah altered their circumstances, subjecting them to their adversaries as a recompense for their actions. And your Lord is never unjust to His servants. As stated in the Qur'an:

"That is because Allah would not change a blessing He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves." [Al-Anfal: 53]

It is therefore incumbent upon all Muslims—governments and nations alike—to return to Allah, to devote worship solely to Him, and to repent from past shortcomings and transgressions. They must hasten to fulfil their obligatory duties, abstain from what has been prohibited, enjoin one another towards righteousness, and cooperate in the pursuit of virtue and piety.

A most critical aspect of this obligation is the establishment of the prescribed legal punishments, the enforcement of divine law in all matters, and the abandonment of man-made laws that contravene the dictates of Islam. It is imperative to reject arbitration by any rule that contradicts divine legislation and to compel all societies to adhere to the divine decree. Scholars, in turn, must educate the people in their faith, disseminate Islamic awareness, and exhort one another to uphold the truth with patience and perseverance. They must also encourage rulers to adhere to these principles, striving to combat pernicious ideologies such as socialism, Ba'athism, and the fervent nationalism that deviates from divine guidance.

By adhering to these directives, Allah shall rectify the corruption that has afflicted the Muslim community, restore what has been lost, and return to them their former glory. He shall grant them victory over their adversaries and establish them in the land, as He, the Most Truthful, declares:

"And it is an obligation upon Us to grant victory to the believers. " [Al-Rum: 47]

He also states:

"Allah has promised those who believe and perform righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them, and He will establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and He will replace their fear with security. They worship Me and do not associate anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves thereafter—then those are the defiantly disobedient." [Al-Nur: 55]

Moreover, the Almighty affirms:

"Indeed, We shall grant victory to Our messengers and to those who believe in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand—on the Day when the excuses of the wrongdoers will be of no benefit to them, for theirs is the curse, and theirs is the worst abode." [Ghafir: 51-52].

We beseech Allah, the Most High, to guide the Muslim leaders and their people, to grant them a sound understanding of the faith, and to unite them upon piety. May He guide them all to His straight path, grant them victory in upholding the truth, and cause them to vanquish falsehood. May He enable them to cooperate in righteousness and piety and to enjoin one another upon truth and patience. Verily, He alone is the Guardian of this, and He alone is capable of bringing it to fruition. May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon His servant and Messenger, His chosen one from creation, our Prophet, leader, and master, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as well as upon his family, his companions, and all who follow his guidance.

And peace and blessings be upon you all, and may the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you.

Wayward Path of Errors

 

Faith as Speech and Action: A Harmonious Elevation

⁸⁷Faith is both a word and a deed,
   Growing in obedience, yet sin makes it recede.
⁸⁸It cannot falter through lesser wrongs,
   For shirk or kufr must echo in one's songs.
⁸⁹Adultery, theft, or the intoxicant's snare,
   Do not displace one from the faithful's care.
⁹⁰Allah proclaims, His mercy vast:
   “Indeed, He forgives, save shirk, steadfast.”

⁹¹The Prophet assured, in hadiths sincere,
   That even mustard-sized faith draws Allah near.
⁹²From Hell's grasp, the believer is freed,
   For Allah answers every faithful plead.

 

Loving and Hating for His Divine Pleasure

⁹³Faith resides in love and loyalty bright,
   For believers, we share a bond of light.
⁹⁴The Companions hold the most esteemed place,
   Their actions reflect Allah's radiant grace.
⁹⁵The Prophet declared in a noble decree:
   "The best generation is mine, then two more, you'll see."

⁹⁶Abu Bakr stands in virtue supreme,
   Then Umar, Uthman, and Ali’s gleam.
⁹⁷With respect, the others we hold dear,
   Avoiding disputes they held near.
⁹⁸They sought truth with a heart so pure,
   For error earned reward, and success ensured.

⁹⁹To the Prophet's kin, love extends,
   To wives and family, our loyalty bends.
¹⁰⁰The Rafidah curse, the Nawasib deny,
    But Ahl al-Sunnah holds their heads high.

 

The Wayward Paths of Error

¹⁰¹Polytheists seek idols and saints,
    Directing prayers through distorted complaints.
¹⁰²Like Quraysh of old, who shirked the Divine,
    They sought gods for intercession’s shrine.
¹⁰³"One God for all?" they decried in surprise,
    “This is strange,” they said, blinded by lies.

¹⁰⁴Yet the Prophet called, with wisdom’s light,
    Warning of shirk’s consuming plight.
¹⁰⁵He raised Allah’s banner, the truth unfurled,
    And led His word across the world.
¹⁰⁶The Companions joined in struggles long,
    Until His religion triumphed strong.

¹⁰⁷But ignorance crept in with time’s slow decay,
    And shirk returned in a subtler way.
¹⁰⁸To Prophets and saints, veneration grew,
    Their intercession claimed as falsely true.
¹⁰⁹They failed the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah,
    A truth known even to Jahiliyyah’s awe.

 

The Veil of Contemporary Polytheists

¹¹⁰Modern idolaters echo old tunes,
    "Our saints bring us close, like heavenly moons."
¹¹¹But Allah rebuked their baseless plea:
    "Your claims hold no truth before Me."
¹¹²Their acts of worship, to others turned,
    Have lost the divine light that once burned.

 

The Materialist Denial

¹¹³Atheists today deny Allah’s reign,
    Reducing existence to worldly gain.
¹¹⁴From Marx to Lenin, their doctrines deny,
    Paradise, Hell, and resurrection's reply.
¹¹⁵Their books reveal the darkness within,
    A creed opposing all prophets’ kin.