Second - Seeking nearness to Allah through the worship of idols
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The Shaykh : And among that is also the forbidden intercession claimed by the polytheists when they say: [Az-Zumar 39:3] They claim that by worshipping the idols, they will be brought closer to Allah. Glory be to Allah! Does this bring one closer to Allah or further away?
The student: It brings one further away.
The Shaykh : It brings one further away from Allah, and it is absolutely impossible to draw near to Allah by disobeying Him. For this reason, if a person wanted to stand up and pray a voluntary prayer after the 'Asr prayer, with no reason for it, would this bring him closer to Allah?
The student: It does not bring him closer.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because there is no prayer after 'Asr.
The Shaykh : Because it is forbidden, even though it is a prayer of worship in which a person stands for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, saying Allahu Akbar, reciting His Book, bowing, and prostrating. And yet we say that this man is not brought closer to Allah by this prayer because it is a sin. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for a person to draw near to Allah by sinning. So we say to these polytheists who say, "We only worship them to bring us closer to Allah," that they are misguided, because the worship of idols does not bring one closer to Allah; rather, it turns one away from Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position
إنما نعبدهم ليقربونا إلى الله زلفىThe student: It brings one further away.
The Shaykh : It brings one further away from Allah, and it is absolutely impossible to draw near to Allah by disobeying Him. For this reason, if a person wanted to stand up and pray a voluntary prayer after the 'Asr prayer, with no reason for it, would this bring him closer to Allah?
The student: It does not bring him closer.
The Shaykh : Why?
The student: Because there is no prayer after 'Asr.
The Shaykh : Because it is forbidden, even though it is a prayer of worship in which a person stands for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, saying Allahu Akbar, reciting His Book, bowing, and prostrating. And yet we say that this man is not brought closer to Allah by this prayer because it is a sin. Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for a person to draw near to Allah by sinning. So we say to these polytheists who say, "We only worship them to bring us closer to Allah," that they are misguided, because the worship of idols does not bring one closer to Allah; rather, it turns one away from Allah the Mighty and Majestic.