Spiritual Disease and Its Cure by Imam Shams-ud-Deen Muhammad bin Abi Bakr bin Qayyim AlJ awziyyah

It is an act of polytheism to swear by others, besides Allah ~. Abdullah bin 'Umar ~ said: "Do not swear by anything besides Allah, for I have heard the Prophet say: ' He who swears by anything beside Allah is guilty of an act of disbelief ( or of associating something with Allah). "'7 It is al so an expression of polytheism when one person says to another: "What Allah wills and what you will." It was reported that a man said a similar expression to the Prophet ~' and so he ~ told him: "Have you made me a partner of Allah?" You should say: "What Allah wills, Alone. " Everything in this universe operates according to the Will of Allah ~ ' even though Allah has said in the Qur' an: ( To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight.) 8 There are other expressions of polytheism, such as: "I rely on Allah and on you." "I have none but Allah and you. " "This is of the Blessings of Allah and your blessings." "I have Allah in the heavens and I have you on earth." "By Allah and the life of so and so ... " "I swear by Allah and so and so . .. " "I ask Allah and so and so ... " It is known that all such acts of worship, such as: reliance , fear, righteousness, repentance , taking oaths, prostration, bowing, making tas beeh , making tahleel, praising, and seeking forgiveness , are the Rights of Allah, Who, Alone , should be worshipped and sought, for anything, by His Servants. A man was brought to the Prophet ~' after he had committed a sin, and when he stood before the Prophet ~ ' he said: "O Allah, I repent to you, and not to Muhammad." The Prophet ~ said: " Allah ~ has made the truth known to these people." 1

This is an example which has no limit, like a sea which has no shore ; and only a few people are safe from it. Whoever seeks, in his/her action, other than the Face of Allah ~ . and intends anything else, apart from getting closer to Allah and asking His Reward, has committed an act of polytheism towards his Lord, in his/her intention and will. Sincerity in worship means that a person should make his/her words, intentions and actions sincerely for Allah ~ - It is the pure religion of Ibrahim ~I and the only religion accepted by Allah ~ from His Servants; for He ~ said: ( Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.) 2