In The name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Some people due to their love of a sport personality refer to him as god. This is what their exaggerated love has led them to. Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ أَندَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّهِ – And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else)]. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 165]

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: The (true) believers love Allaah more than the love that the idol worshippers have for the partners they associate with Allaah in worship. That is because they [believers] have a pure and sincere love for Allaah; as for the Mushrikoon, they associate partners to Allaah in worship out of the love they have for their false objects of worship. The believers love The One [Allaah] who deserves true love in reality, for true love of Allaah is the very thing upon which depends the rectification of a person, his happiness and success. As for the Mushrikoon, they love those who are not worthy of being given any love, rather having love for such things is the very reason behind wretchedness, corruption and loss.

Allaah [The Exalted] said:
أَمْ اتَّخَذُوا آلِهَةً مِنْ الأَرْضِ هُمْ يُنشِرُونَ
لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ
أَمْ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ هَذَا ذِكْرُ مَنْ مَعِيَ وَذِكْرُ مَنْ قَبْلِي بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ فَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُول ٍإِلاَّ نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ

Or have they taken (for worship) aliha (gods) from the earth who raise the dead? Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, then verily both would have been ruined. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned. Or have they taken for worship (other) aliha (gods) besides Him? Say: “Bring your proof:” This (the Qur’an) is the Reminder for those with me and the Reminder for those before me. But most of them know not the Truth, so they are averse. And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him (saying): La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and no one else).” [Surah Al-Anbiyaa. Aayaat 21-25]

Allaah [The Exalted] stated His disapproval of the polytheists [idolaters] – those who [worship things which they have taken as] gods in the earth, even though these [so called] gods are absolutely incapacitated and powerless. Neither are they are able to bring them back to life nor resurrect them, and this is further explained by the statement of Allaah: [وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لاَ يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلاَ يَمْلِكُونَ ِلأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلاَ نَفْعًا وَلاَ يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلاَ حَيَاةً وَلاَ نُشُورًا – Yet they have taken besides Him other aliha (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. [Surah Al-Furqaan. Aayah 3]

And Allaah [The Exalted] said:
وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌ مُحْضَرُونَ

And they have taken besides Allah aliha (gods), hoping that they might be helped (by those so-called gods). They cannot help them, but they will be brought forward as a troop against those who worshipped them (at the time of Reckoning). [Surah Yaaseen. Aayaat 74-75]

A polytheist [or idolater] worships a created thing that can neither benefit nor harm, and he abandons sincere worship to Allaah – The One Who is Perfect [i.e. the only possessor of Perfect Names and Attributes; free from all weaknesses, shortcomings and imperfections], and in His Hand is the absolute control over all benefit and harm. This shows that a polytheist [or idolater] is not blessed [with guidance], his ignorance is clearly established as well as the severity of his unjust behaviour towards Allaah; for indeed it is only befitting that there is only one [true] deity, just as there cannot be except one [true] Lord. And because of this, Allaah [The Exalted] said:

لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allaah, then verily both [i.e. the heavens and the earth] would have been ruined. Glorified be Allah, the Lord of the Throne, (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! [Surah Al-anbiyaa. Aayah 22]- Meaning: Both the heavens and the earth would have been ruined as well the creation in them.

The heavens and the earth – as one can see – are in a perfect state, intact and in perfect order. Neither is there any defect in them and obstacles [to its perfect order] nor conflict in its organisation. Therefore, this shows that the One who controls and regulates its affairs is One- its Lord is one and the deity [under whose control they are maintained] is One. If it were the case that the heavens and the earth has two [deities] that control and regulate its affairs- two lords or more, then its perfect order would have been ruined and its foundations would have been undermined. That is because they would have been obstacles and opponents to one another; so if one of them wishes to plan and administer something and the other one wishes that it should not take place, then it would be impossible for both their wishes to be fulfilled. [On the other hand], the fulfilment of the wishes of one of them would have shown that the other one is weak and unable do whatever he wants; and it is impossible that both of them will agree on everything. Therefore, the wish of The Irresistible [i.e. Allaah- the only True Lord and besides Him every other deity is false]- is what will be fulfilled without anyone being able to prevent or repel it. And this is why Allaah [The Exalted] said: [مَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ مِنْ وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِذًا لَذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَهٍ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلاَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ – No son (or offspring or children) did Allah beget, nor is there any ilah (god) along with Him; (if there had been many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have tried to overcome others! Glorified be Allah above all that they attribute to Him! [Surah Al-Muminoon. Aayah 91] (1)

Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “Sincerity to Allaah in worship and pure Islamic monotheism is a tree in the heart, its branches are the (good) deeds and its fruits is the good life in this world and everlasting bliss in the afterlife. And just as the fruits of Paradise are neither cut off (by change of season) nor are they out of reach, likewise this is the case with the fruits of pure Islamic monotheism and sincerity to Allaah in worship. Shirk, lies and showoff is a tree in the heart, its fruits – in the worldly life- are fear and anxiety, grief and distress in the soul and oppression against the heart. Its fruits in the afterlife are the tree of Zaqqoom and an everlasting punishment. And Allaah has mentioned these two trees in Surah Ibraaheem:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ كَلِمَةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ
تُؤۡتِىٓ أُڪُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَا‌ۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَڪَّرُونَ
وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجۡتُثَّتۡ مِن فَوۡقِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍ۬

See you not how Allaah sets forth a parable? A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very high). Giving its fruits at all times, by the Leave of its Lord, and Allaah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember. And the parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree uprooted from the surface of earth, having no stability. [Surah Ibraaheem. Aayaat 24-26] (2)

Allaah [The Exalted] stated:
يُولِجُ ٱلَّيۡلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيۡلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ ڪُلٌّ۬ يَجۡرِى لِأَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ىۚ ذَٲلِڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مَا يَمۡلِكُونَ مِن قِطۡمِيرٍ
ن تَدۡعُوهُمۡ لَا يَسۡمَعُواْ دُعَآءَكُمۡ وَلَوۡ سَمِعُواْ مَا ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لَكُمۡۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِشِرۡڪِكُمۡۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثۡلُ خَبِيرٍ۬

He merges the night into the day (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the night are added to the hours of the day), and He merges the day into the night (i.e. the decrease in the hours of the day are added to the hours of the night). And He has subjected the sun and the moon, each runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the thin membrane over the date-stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call, and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad ) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of each and everything). [Surah Al-Faatir. Aayaat 13-14]

Allaah [The Exalted] said:
أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦۤ أَنۡ ءَاتَٮٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ إِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحۡىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۟ أُحۡىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ‌ۖ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡتِى بِٱلشَّمۡسِ مِنَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ فَأۡتِ بِہَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَرَ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Have you not seen (contemplated with your heart) him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim (Abraham) said (to him): “My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death.” He said, “I give life and cause death.” Ibrahim (Abraham) said, “Verily! Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west.” So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people, who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.). [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 258]

[أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦۤ – Have you seen (contemplated with your heart) him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah)]- Meaning, he argued with Ibraaheem, and this person – based on what a group of the scholars stated- was Namrood. Ibn Abbaas [may Allaah be pleased with him and his father] said, “The Kings who ruled the eastern and western rejions of the earth were two believers and two disbelievers: the two believers were Prophet Sulaymaan and Dhul Qarnayn, and the two disbelievers were Namrood and Bukhtanasar”. Ibn Qutaybah said, “Namrood argued with Prophet Ibraaheem because he was given a kingdom, so he became self-amazed and amazed with his kingdom. (3)

[أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦۤ – Have you seen (contemplated with your heart and eyes) him who disputed with Ibrahim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allah)]- Meaning, his insolence, ignorant attitude and obstinacy, and arguing regarding that which there is no doubt?! Nothing led him to this behaviour except because that “Allah had given him the kingdom”, so he transgressed and rebelled, and considered himself as one in control of those under his authority, which led him to argue with Prophet Ibraaheem about Allaah’s Lordship and claimed that he can do the same thing as Allaah does. Prophet Ibraheem said to him, “My Lord is He Who gives life and death” – Meaning, Allaah alone is in absolute control of everything; then Ibraaheem mentioned two specific affairs – life and death, because they the greatest things in Allaah’s absolute control. That is because granting life is the beginning of the worldly life and death is the beginning of that which is to occur in the afterlife. So, the one who sought to ague against Ibraaheem said, “I give life and cause death”, but never said, “I am The One Who gives life and death”, because he could not claim that he was not in need of anyone to interfere in the affair; rather he only claimed that he could do what Allaah does by killing someone and sparing someone’s life. Prophet Ibraaheem saw the fallacy in his argument and his utterence of speech that is not even worthy of being a Shubhah (i.e. an ambiguity portrayed as wholesome truth) let alone a proof, so he said to him, “Verily! Allah causes the sun to rise from the east”- Meaning, Ibraaheem mentioned something that can be clearly seen and affirmed by everyone including this disbeliever; “Then cause it you to rise from the west”- Meaning, this compelled him to bring proof if he was truthful in his claim. So, when Ibraaheem uttered this to him about which he neither had the ability to present an ambiguity to make Ibraaheem’s proof look confusing nor could he find something to disparage it, he was utterly defeated – lost for an answer, his proof cut off and his ambiguous statement toppled. (4) He Who brings life and death (Allaah) has absolute control over the existence and creates everything is in it, including absolute control of its planets and their movements. The sun rises everyday from the east, so if you were god, as you claim, who gives life and cause death, then make the sun rise from the west. (5) This is the situation of an obstinate falsifier who wants to confront truth and overcome it, because he will be defeated and subdued. This is why Allaah said: [وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ – And Allah guides not the people, who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.)]; rather He abandons them to their disbelief and misguidance. (6)

Seven Parables or Similitudes Associated With Shirk and One Destructive Illusion!

Seven Parables or Similitudes Associated With Shirk and One Destructive Illusion!

[Ref 1: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: Al-Fawaa’id. Pages 239-240]

[Ref 3: An Excerpt from Zaadul Maseer Fee Ilmit Tafseer- By Imaam Ibnul Jawzi]

[Ref 4: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 5: Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

[Ref 6: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. slightly paraphrased]