The Nullifiers of Islamic Monotheism-I

The Nullifiers of Islam are around ten matters. Some scholars, on the other hand, have counted these nullifiers to be ninety and others up to four hundred, but the theme of all of them is based on the following ten:

1-: Shirk (polytheism, i.e. associating others with Allaah in worshipping).

Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "Verily, Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills." [Quran 4:48] and (what means):

"And verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise on him and the Fire will be his abode. And for the wrongdoers (polytheists) there are no helpers." [Quran 5:72]

It is also Shirk to sacrifice for other than Allaah:

The Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad also defined Shirk to be the greatest sin made by man.

Narrated 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood : "I asked the Messenger of Allaah : 'Which sin is the gravest in the sight of Allaah?' He replied: 'That you associate a partner with Allaah [despite the fact] that He has created you.' He [the reporter] said, 'I told him (the Prophet ) 'Verily it is indeed grave.' He (the reporter) said, 'I asked him what the next (gravest sin) was.' He (the Prophet ), replied, 'That you kill your child out of fear that he shall join you in food.' He (the reporter) said, 'I asked, what the next (gravest sin) was.' He said: '(The next gravest sin is) that you commit adultery with the wife of your neighbor.'" [Muslim]

Narrated Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Avoid the seven destructing sins." It was said (by the listeners), "What are they, O Messenger of Allaah?" He replied: "Associating anything with Allaah, magic, killing of one whom Allaah has declared inviolate without a just cause, consuming the property of an orphan, and consuming of Riba (interest and/or usury), fleeing the battlefield during Jihaad, and slandering chaste beleiving women who are unwary." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Shirk is also defined as "holding false gods as equals with Allaah in His Attributes (Characteristics)". Falling into Shirk can be practiced in many ways. The Messenger of Allaah said: "Shirk is of seventy-some types…" [Al-Bazzaar] This (narration) means that falling into Shirk could happen in many ways and not only by practicing one violation of Tawheed (Islamic monotheism), as many people mistakenly believe. Shirk could be practiced by associating others with Allaah in His Uloohiyyah (Divinty), Ruboobiyyah (Lordship) or Names and Attributes.

Associating others with Allaah in His Uloohiyyah is by praying to others, supplicating to them, prostrating before them, slaughtering in their name, seeking their help in things which only Allaah Almighty can do, calling on them in their absence or devoting any type of worship to other than Allaah. Associating others with Allaah in His Ruboobiyyah is by ascribing to any of the creation management or control of the universe. For example: believing that someone or something can create, resurrect, give sustenance, move the clouds, bring down rain, move the wind, etc, of the things which only Allaah Almighty can do .

Associating others with Allaah in His Names is by calling someone by any of the Names of Allaah, such as naming someone Allaah, Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Merciful) or Al-Khaaliq (The Creator). Associating others with Allaah in His Attributes is to equate the creation with The Creator in His Attributes, such as believing that a certain person or Jinn knows the future, etc.

There are two types of Shirk: Major Shirk, and Minor Shirk.

Some scholars add a third kind, which is the Unseen (Hidden) Shirk, but it is actually included in within the second type:

A: Major Shirk consists of many types, but all fall under the following four major types:

1. Shirk of Love: This type means to love a creation as you love Allaah, or even more so. Allaah says in the Quran (what means): "And of mankind are some who take [for worship] others besides Allaah as rivals [to Allaah]. They love them as they love Allaah. But those who believe love Allaah more [than anything else]." [Quran 2:165]

Ibn Taymiyyah said, "Whosoever loves a creation equal to his love to Allaah, he has committed Shirk; and there must be a difference between loving for the sake of Allaah and loving with Allaah." [Fataawa Shaykh Al-Islam; V15: P49].

Many people who claim to be Muslim have fallen into this type of Shirk by loving their leaders or pious people as they love Allaah, or even more so. When you ask one of them to take a false oath by Allaah (swearing in Allaah while lying) they may do so, but when you ask them to take a false oath by those pious people, they refuse. This is the Shirk of Love.

There are four different types of love:

Firstly, loving for the sake of Allaah and loving what Allaah and His Messenger love. This is how a Muslim should be.

Ibn Al-Qayyim said about this type of love, "There are four types of love where one must differentiate between them and there were some people who have been misguided because they were unable to differentiate between them. They are:

A: Loving Allaah only, which is not enough for surviving Allaah's punishment and winning His reward. For, the polytheists, the worshippers of the cross, the Jews and others also love Allaah.

B: Loving what Allaah loves. This leads one to enter Islam and depart infidelity. The most beloved ones by Allaah are those with much of this type of love.

C: Loving for the sake of Allaah. This is a requirement of loving what Allaah loves. And loving what Allaah loves will not be complete except by loving for Him.

D: Loving with Allaah, which is the 'Shirk of love'. Everyone who loves something with the love of Allaah, not for the sake of Allaah, nor for Him, then he has associated a partner with Him. This is the love of the polytheists."

Secondly: Loving lawful things, such as food, clothes or drinks. This is normal love.

Thirdly: Sympathetic loving, such as loving your children or wife. This is normal love.

Fourthly: Loving others equal or more than the love of Allaah. This is major Shirk.