“And most of them do not believe in Allah except that they associate others (with him).”
This verse indicates that most of those who claim to be believers in Allah in fact associate others with Him, their faith is not pure but mixed with the worship of and reliance upon others.
Imam Rida (as) has said that polytheism in this verse does not mean blasphemy and the worship of idols. Rather, it means focusing
one’s attention on anything other than Allah.
(Nur-uth-Thaqalayn )
This again is a very profound verse.
For the majority of the Quraysh, their problem was that they believed in Allāh but along with Allāh they believed in multiple gods.
Here Allāh ‘azza wa jall is pointing out a fundamental fact of our religion:
to believe in Allāh is not the essence of īmān.
The Quraysh also believed in Allāh.
The Quraysh believed Allāh created them and will resurrect them and Allāh is All-Powerful, but that did not make them Muslims.
This is a very important point in our times.
There are people who do believe in all of these things, but they are guilty of very grave crimes of shirk.
For example, common practices that we find sometimes is that people are invoking the dead and making du‘ā’ They make du‘ā’ to this person.
If you were to ask them, “how could you make du‘ā’ to this person? Aren’t you a Muslim?”
He would say, “Of course I am a Muslim. Astaghfirullāh. I believe in Allāh and I believe Allāh created me and will resurrect me.”
All that he has just said is exactly what they Quraysh would say, and this verse clearly shows it.
Most of them believe in Allāh and Allāh says, “They have īmān in Allāh but they do shirk along with that belief.”
Ibn ‘Abbās explained this verse. He said,
“This verse means if you ask them, ‘Who created you?’ They would say, ‘Allāh,’ but when it comes to what they need, they ask other than Allāh.”
They say, “I am too sinful. I cannot approach Allāh directly. I have to go through the wali. I believe in Allāh. I am a Muslim.”
Even Iblīs believes in Allāh.
Does Iblīs deny Allāh exists?
Is he an atheist?
No.
Didn’t Iblīs make a du‘ā’ to Allāh “Qāla Rabbi…”?
What does “qāla Rabbi” mean?
My Rabb. Iblīs is saying, “Allāh is my Rabb.
Allāh is my Lord. Allāh is my Creator.”
Iblīs even makes du‘ā’ to Allāh, “O my Lord, allow me to live until the Day of Judgment.”
Does that make Iblīs a mu’min because he believes in Allāh? Of course not.
A lot of us Muslims don’t know our own religion and think that if we believe in Allāh then we are a Muslim.
Iblīs believes in Allāh.
Abu Lahab believed in Allāh.
By the time testimony of the Qur’ān: “They have īmān in Allāh.”
What did they do?
They would ask others besides Allāh for what they need. They would go to their idols and say,
“O idol, save me. O idol, give me a child. O idol, forgive my sins.”
They thought that these idols would then take their requests up to Allāh.
SubḥānAllāh, the exact same mentality 100% is found in those people who go to the graves and the saints.
They say the exact same thing: “We believe in Allāh, but we need to go through [them].”
This is the *beauty* of Islam.
There is a *direct* channel.
You don’t go through the operator.
There is a direct line between you and Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta‘āla).
Going through individuals is the essence of shirk.
This is a beautiful verse that we can use to prove that believing in Allāh is not sufficient to be a Muslim.
You can have īmān in Allāh and still be a mushrik.
Allāh says, “They have īmān and they do shirk.” When you have īmān and do shirk, the shirk cancels the īmān and it is not accepted by Allāh ‘azza wa jall.
Allāh ‘azza wa jall is saying, “Their problem is that they worship others besides Allāh.”
The Signs of a Sincere Believer
- He who does not expect a reward or thanks from anyone when he spends out something to someone.
“…no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.”(96/9) - In worship: he will only be subservient to Allah and to no one else.
“…and make none sharer to the worship due unto his Lord.” (18/110) - In the propagation of the faith, he will not receive rewards from any other than Allah.
“…my reward is only with Allah…”(34/47) - In matrimony, he will not fear poverty, and he will marry being confident that Allah is true to His promises.
“…if they are needy, Allah will make them free from want out ofhis grace…”(24/32) - In his communication with people, he will surely be more concerned about satisfying Allah (s.w.t.) than satisfying others.
“…Say Allah; then leave them sporting…”(6/91) - In fighting the enemy he will fear no one but Allah.
“…and do not fear anyone but Allah;…”(33/40) - In love and affection, he will love no one as much as he loves Allah.
“…but for those who have faith, their love of Allah is more intensive.”(2/165) - In business and commerce, he will never forget Allah (s.w.t.).
“Men whom neither merchandise nor selling diverts from the remembrance of Allah…”(24/37)