False worship and false religion are based upon certain assumptions and beliefs on the basis of which servitude, devotion and enslavement are shown to deities besides the Originator and Creator of the heavens and Earth, Allāh the Exalted.
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) wrote on this subject and explained that Allāh has invalidated all the roots of Shirk in these verses of the Qurʾān:
Say: "Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allāh, they do not possess even the weight of an atom, either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor is there for Him any supporter from among them. And no intercession profits with Him except for him whom He permits." [1]
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) has explained this in his commentary on these verses, saying:[2]
Thus, the Mushrik (worshipper of others besides or alongside Allāh), he takes something as his object of worship on account of what he believes that on account of it he will attain some benefit. And benefit cannot be brought about except from one who has any of these four characteristics:
- Either an owner (mālik) of whatever his worshipper seeks from him
- So if he is not an owner, then he is a partner (sharīk) to the owner [in what he owns]
- And if he is not a partner to him [in what he owns], then he is a helper (muʿīn) and an aider (ẓahīr) to him
- And if he is not an aider and nor a helper, then he is one who intercedes with him (i.e. the owner).
So, He, the Sublime, negated all of these four levels, in a successive manner, moving from the one that is the highest to the one that is less than it. So he negated dominion, (mulk, i.e. ownership), and partnership (sharikah), and aiding, assisting (muẓāharah), and intercession (shafāʿah) which the Mushrik thinks to be so [but in reality it is Shirk]. And then He affirmed the [true, affirmed] intercession in which there is no portion for the Mushrik, and this is the intercession that occurs with His permission.
So sufficient is this verse as light, and evidence, and deliverance, and purity in Tawḥīd, and cutting off the foundations of Shirk, and its underlying roots, for the one who understands it.
01 Hence, there is a rejection of the claim of there being the right of worship for any god or gods upon the (false belief) of them owning something, independently, from the creation. This is a refutation of the foundation of the Shirk (paganism) of certain cultures, civilizations and nations, historically and present.
02 Then there is the negation of the claim of the right of worship for deities upon the (false belief) that they share in the ownership of something in the creation (along with Allāh). This is also a refutation of another level of the paganism of certain cultures, civilizations and nations, historically and present.
03 Then there is the negation of the claim of the right of worship for deities upon the (false belief) that they aid and help Allāh in the regulation and management of His creation without them sharing in the ownership of anything with Allāh. This is a refutation of yet another level of the paganism of certain cultures, civilizations and nations, historically and present.
04 Finally, there is the negation of the claim of the right of worship for deities upon the (false belief) that they are able to effect intercession independently, in their own right, without the permission of Allāh (for them to intercede) and secondly (what is found in other verses), without their knowledge of Allāh's pleasure with the one for whom they are interceding for. This is a refutation of a further level of the shirk that is found amongst many civilizations, religions and cultures, and is also found amongst those ascribing to Islām.
Exercise: Go and take a look at all nations, civilizations and cultures in history, and you will find that what they worshipped besides Allāh were deities with respect to which they held at least one of these four claims.
The Books were revealed and Prophets and Messengers were sent to call the people to the worship of Allāh alone, and that is the upright religion and the truth for which the heavens and the earth were created.
You should also note that, if we reverse the order of these four levels, then the first level opens up the door to the greater and more grave levels of Shirk (associationism):
- The belief of sure benefit through intercession without Allāh's permission for it to take place and without pleasure (ridāh) for the one for whom it is being made.
- The belief of their being aiders or helpers to Allāh with respect to management of His creation.
- The belief in the sharing or partnering with Allāh in ownership of anything in the creation.
- The belief in the sole ownership of anything in the creation.
It is for this reason that you find amongst gnostic, esoteric Sufis that they start of with the issue of seeking intercession, and eventually they are led to affirming qualities of Rubūbiyyah for those (living or dead) whom they take as deities besides Allāh. For example, the belief that those whom they seek have power over benefit and harm, sharing with Allāh in that, or that Allāh has granted them that power, as they claim. So with this verse, Allāh has cut off the roots of all false religion and false worship.
Footnotes
1. Al-Sabaʾ (34:22-23)2. Madārij us-Sālikeen (1/351)