Al-Nawaqhid-ul-Islam (Negations of Islam)

At-Tabarani upon the authority of Mua’dh bin Jabal (ra), the Prophet (PBUH) said, “‘Verily the Grinder of Islam will continue to grind, so continue with the Qur’an wherever it moves (i.e. stick to the Qur’an). Verily the Qur’an and the authority (of Islam) will be separated from each other, do not leave the Qur’an. There will be rulers amongst you, who will allow for themselves things which they will prevent for you. If you disobey them then they will kill you. If you obey them they will misguide you.’ They (as-Sahabah) asked, ‘What do we do in such a situation?’ He (PBUH) said, ‘Do as the apostles of Isa ibn Maryam (ra) did; they were cut by saws and hung upon wood. Being killed in obedience to Allah is better than a life of sin.’” [At-Tabarani, Mu’jam al-Kabeer] 

Indeed there can be no doubt that the Ummah of Islam is living in a time of great fitnah, a time when the world has been divided into two clear camps opposing each other, with nothing in the middle except hypocrisy. Today we find many men have left the camp of Islam into the camp of kufr, but still many from the Ummah are continuing to support them because they are unaware of the Nawaaqhid of Islam.

Hence we have prepared this essential topic for the Ummah (Imaam Shafii Mentioned over 300 negations of Imaan - Imaam Ahmed mentioned even more). 

Al-Nawaqhid-ul-Islam Ashraa (The 10 Negations of Islam)

1. Al-Shirk (Polytheism) 

Allah said: “Allah does not forgive shirk, he forgives anything less then that for whomever He wishes. And whosoever associates partners in Allah has gone astray in clear misguidance.” (4:116) 

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said: 

“Shirk is to associate anything with Allah or to say He has a son” (Baihaqi) 

The Uleema of Ahl Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah further explain that, to associate partners with Allah In His Names, Attributes, Action or His exclusive right to be worshiped, obeyed and followed is shirk. 

Al-Shirk can be of two types: 

(i) Al-Masaa’il al-Zaahirah (or al-Masaa’il al-Jaliyyah) 

These are very explicit and apparent, like the one who worships a tree,cross or idol; or the one who claims that Allah has a son or partner. There is no excuse of ignorance for this type of disbelief. 

(ii) Al-Masaa’il al-Khafiyyah 

These are those issues that usually, only the Ulamaa’ know about or those that are studying with scholars (Talabut Ilim). However, if a scholar comes out and makes the matter known, making it apparent to everybody, then they have no shield or excuse (Hujjah) on the day of judgment (e.g. Voting for Man-made law is Shirk Akbar, but it is not known by all people, especially in the west). 

2. al-Tawassul (Intercession) 

If someone puts anybody or anything in between himself and Allah as an intercessor, whether the grave of Imam Shafi'i, the Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) or any priest or pious person, then he will leave the fold of Islam. 

The Prophet (pbuh) said “Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques (place of worship); I forbid you to do that.” (Muslim) 

The Prophet (pbuh) used to said: 

“Do not make my grave a statue to be worshiped.” (Bukhari) 

Intercession in the sense of asking someone who is alive to make Du’a for you or to ask someone’s hand in marriage on your behalf, is allowed. This type of intercession is permissible, but it is not permitted after his death.

However, to ask even a living person to guarantee you paradise or forgiveness is not allowed as that is the function of Allah alone. Indeed, if the ‘intercessor’ accepts this request, they will both become Kaafir. 

Allah said: “Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say):"We only worship them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.” (39:3) 

3. Rejecting to declare the Jews, Christians, polytheists and atheists disbelievers (Kuffar); or to have any doubt about the fact that their Deen (beliefs and way of life) are Kufr; or praising their Deen. 

Whosoever rejects to declare the one whom Allah declared Kaafir to be Kaafir (Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab, Jews, Christians etc,) or doubts that their deen is Kufr or if He praises the Deen of the Kuffar; he will leave the fold of Islam and become Kaafir. There is Ijma’ Al Sahabah on this.

Allah said: 

“Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: “Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah: we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone (Tawheed).” (60:4) 

“And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allâh. That is their saying with their mouths, resembling the saying of the those who disbelieved aforetime. Allâh's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!” (9:30) 

4. Whosoever believes that any guidance besides that of the Messenger Muhammad is better or similar to his guidance 

That is believing or saying that Democracy, Freedom or Communism, etc are the same or better than the Shariah. 

Allah said: “By your lord, they are not believers until they refer to you in all matters, and they should not find any hardship in any matter, and should submit fully.” (4:65) 

“Say (O Muhammad PBUH): "Obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH)." But if they turn away, then Allâh does not like the disbelievers” (3:32) 

5. Whoever hates any part of the Shariah of al-Islam Even if the person fulfills the Shariah while hating it, he is a Kaafir (e.g. if he hates his Salah, Hajj, fasting, even though he performs them). 

Allah said: “That is because they hate the Revelation of Allah. So He has made their deeds fruitless.”(47:9) 

6. al-Istihzaa’ (Whoever ridicules the Deen of al-Islam) 

Anybody who ridicules or insults the Deen of Allah, or any of its punishments or rewards will leave the fold of Islam (e.g. to say “to cut the hand of the thief is barbaric” or to mock the belief in Hurun ’Een etc).

Allah said: “If you ask them, they will say “we were only joking.” Say: “are you joking and mocking Allah and his verses? Don’t bring excuses; you are Kaafir after you were Mu’min...” (9:65-66) 

You find that people today will mock the sincere and truthful Mujahideen and Duaat, yet Allah revealed ayahs prohibiting such actions and even calling such things kufr in certain circumstances and these are attributes of the Kuffar (check the tafsir and azbab nuzool of the ayahs given) 

“And when you proclaim the call for As-Salât [call for the prayer (Adhân)], they take it (but) as a mockery and fun; that is because they are a people who understand not. (58) Say: "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do you criticize us for no other reason than that we believe in Allâh, and in (the revelation) which has been sent down to us and in that which has been sent down before (us), and that most of you are Fâsiqûn [rebellious and disobedient (to Allâh)]?"” (5:58-59) 

7. al-Sihr (Magic) 

Allah said: 

“They followed what the evil ones gave out (falsely) against the power of Solomon: the blasphemers were, not Solomon, but the evil ones, teaching men Magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these taught anyone (Such things) without saying: "We are only for trial; so do not blaspheme." They learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife. But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's permission. And they learned what harmed them, not what profited them. And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls, if they but knew!” (2:102) 

In this ayah Allah called those who involve in magic disbelievers. All types of magic, contacting Jinn, using the Jinn, or harming others via the jinn etc and going to a magician or someone asking them to use the jinn on your behalf are forms of Shirk and takes a person out of the fold of Islam. 

8. al-Muwalaat al-Kaafireen ‘ala al-Muslimeen (Alliance with the disbelievers against Muslims) 

Supporting the Kaafireen in fighting against Islam and Muslims, whether by tongue, body or heart is Kuffar Akbar taking a person out of the fold of Islam completley. 

Allah said: “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guides not a people unjust.” (5:51) 

9. Whoever believes that he is not obliged to follow the Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) or that he can leave Islam to follow another Deen. Whoever believes so is Kaafir. 

Those say “I am not obliged to follow the shariah or Islam etc” will leave the fold of Islam.

Allah said:” If anyone desires a Deen other than Islam, it never will be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost. (3:85) 

10. al-I’raad (Turning your back to the Deen) 

Whosoever turns their back to the Deen, even after its been clarified for him/her and the hujjah established, neither studying it, nor practicing it is Kaafir (e.g. when someone deserts the prayer completely).

Allah said: “Who is more oppressor than the one whom when he recites the verses (is told the Hukm), and then he turns his back to it. Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) Retribution.” (32:22) 

So beware of my dear brothers and sisters of the Nawaaqhid ul Islaam, it is from the way of the salaf us salih to fear from the shirk, kufr and nifaaq, in fact they used to say the one who does not fear from them, then it is a sign he is a munafiq or Kaafir. 

It is our Father Ibrahim (a.s), the Nabi of Tawheed who used to ask Allah to save Him and his sons from shirk – So what about us my dear Brother and Sisters??? 

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Whoever possesses the following three qualities, will have the sweetness (delight) of Imaan: 

1. To love Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) more than anything else. 

2. To love a person only for Allah's sake. 

3. To hate to return to disbelief as he hates to be thrown into the fire. 

(Bukhari and Muslim) 

May Allah saves all from committing the Nawaaqhid Ul Islaam, knowingly or unknowingly - Ameen!