Majmooa'al-Fatwa of Sheikh Ibn Bazz(R)
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English Translations of Majmoo’al-Fatawa of late Scholar Ibn Bazz (R) Second Edition By: Sheikh `Abdul `Aziz Bin `Abdullah ibn `AbdulRahman ibn Bazz (May Allah forgive and reward al-Firdouse to him and his parents) He was The Mufti of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Chairman of Department of Scholarly Research and Ifta' This English Translations are collected from http://www.alifta.com Portal of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta' This file is volume No.04 of 30 ( Part No : 4, Page No: 1) ( Part No : 4, Page No: 2) ( Part No : 4, Page No: 3) ( Part No : 4, Page No: 4) ( Part No : 4, Page No: 5) Clarification of the meaning of the phrase "La Illaha Illa Allah" All praise be to Allah Alone. May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, his family, Companions, and those who followed his example and guidance until the Day of Judgment. O brothers in Islam! The committee which undertakes organizing the seminars and lectures in this country decided that the speech should discuss the clarification of the meaning of the phrase "La ilaha illa Allah (there is no deity but Allah)". Indeed, this phrase is the root of religion and the primary concern of Islam. A Muslim is distinguished from the Kafir (disbeliever) according to the application of the meaning of this phrase. Allah (Exalted be He) has revealed the Books and sent the Messengers for this purpose. He has created humans and Jinn (creatures created from fire) only to worship Him Alone with no partners and this is the real purpose of their creation. The Messengers are all sent to people with this message of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism) and books were revealed to clarify this message and the whole creation, whether humans or jinn, are created to understand this meaning and live accordingly. Our father Adam (peace be upon him) called to this meaning; he and his offspring until the era of Nuh called to this principle. When the people of Nuh committed Shirk, Allah (Exalted be He) sent Nuh to call them to Tawhid. In this regard, Allah (Exalted be He) says: "O my people! Worship Allâh! You have no other Ilâh (God) but Him. Similarly, Hud, Salih, Ibrahim, Lut, Shu`ayb and the other messengers (may Allah be pleased with them all) called their people to Tawhid and to be devoted to Allah (Exalted be He) and to abandon worshipping anyone other than Him. Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the last and the seal of them, was also sent to do the same. He told them to say what is stated in Allah's saying (Exalted be He), O people! Say: There is no god but Allah so that you will be successful. and he ordered them to worship Allah sincerely and abstain from the prohibitions that include committing Shirk and worshipping idols, icons, trees, rocks and other things worshipped by their fathers and ancestors. However, the Mushrikun denounced this call and said what is stated in Allah's saying (Exalted be He), "Has he made the âlihah (gods) (all) into One Ilâh (God Allâh). Verily, this is a curious thing!" They were accustomed to worshipping idols, pious people, trees, and so on, making vows for them, slaughtering animals for their sake, and asking them to fulfill their needs and relieve their hardship. ( Part No : 4, Page No: 6) They denounce this phrase as it contradicts their forefathers worshipping anything other than Allah (Exalted be He). Allah (may He be Praised) says in Surah AlSafat, Truly, when it was said to them: Lâ ilâha illallâh "(none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)," they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). And (they) said: "Are we going to abandon our âlihah (gods) for the sake of a mad poet?" Owing to their misguidance, ignorance, and pride, they labeled the Prophet (peace be upon him) as a mad poet, even though they knew very well that he is the wisest and the most truthful and faithful. This is because they ignorantly, wrongfully, and falsely wanted to confuse people. Whoever does not verify and act according to this phrase is not a Muslim. It is obligatory upon a Muslim to believe in Tawhid and dedicate his worship to Allah alone in all forms of worship such as Salah, Sawm (fast), making Du`a', and vows, slaughtering animals, and seeking help. He should be sure that Allah alone is worthy of worship and anything or anyone other than Him including the prophets, the angels, pious people, idols, jinn, trees, or the like do not deserve to be worshipped. `Ibadah is the right of Allah alone, that is why He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. It means that Allah (Exalted be He) has commanded to worship none but Him. This denotes that there is none worthy of worship but Allah. At the same time, it negates that any act of worship should be offered to anyone but Allah (Exalted be He). It also affirms that Allah Alone, with no partner, deserves all forms of worship. The qualities of deism ascribed to anything or anyone other than Allah are false. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, That is because Allâh — He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Bâtil (falsehood). Allah Alone is worthy of being worshipped without associating partners with Him. Performing worship to other than Allah is false, as Allah (Exalted be He) says, O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al Muttaqûn (the pious See V.2:2). He (may He be Praised) says in Surah AlFatihah ( Part No : 4, Page No: 7) which is the best Surah in the Qur'an, You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). Allah (Exalted be He) has commanded the believers to say, You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything). i.e. we worship You Alone and seek Your help alone. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, Worship Allâh and join none with Him (in worship) and And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him) He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allâh making (your) worship pure for Him ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ says, So, call you (O Muhammad (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh’s sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship), however much the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh) may hate (it). and So worship Allâh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh’s sake only. Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only. There are many Ayahs indicating that Allah (may He be Praised) is worthy to be worshipped and that no part of creation may be worshipped. This is the implication and explanation of the phrase "La Illaha Illa Allah". It is wellknown that there are people who worship things other than Allah. [For example,] idols, Pharaohs, angels, messengers, and pious people were worshipped other than Allah (Exalted be He). This act contradicts the truth as Allah Alone deserves to be worshipped. As mentioned above, this phrase negates that any act of worship should be offered to anyone but Allah (Exalted be He). It also affirms that Allah Alone, with no partner, deserves all forms of worship. Relating the situation of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he rejected his father's and people's worship of idols, Allah (Exalted be He) says, Verily, I am innocent of what you worship "Except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allâh Alone) Who did create me; and verily He will guide me." And he made it [i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh Alone)] a Word lasting among his offspring, (True Monotheism) and ( Part No : 4, Page No: 8) Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allâh: we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allâh Alone" This is the attitude of all messengers because of His saying Indeed, there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and those with him refers to all messengers whose call was not different. They all disavow the act of worshipping other than Allah as well as the people who are worshipped other than Allah and accepted and called to this. The believer has to disavow those persons and denounce this act and to worship Allah who alone is worthy of this act. Allah (Exalted be He) tells us in the previous Ayah about Ibrahim, who disowned his father's and people's worship saying, Verily, I am innocent of what you worship Except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allâh Alone) Who did create me Allah (Exalted be He) is the One Who created him and all others.