Is one who directs love or reverence to other than Allah, or who loves and reveres other than Allah more than he loves Allah, a polytheist committing major shirk?
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The questioner : Is one who directs love or reverence to other than Allah, or who loves and reveres other than Allah more than he loves Allah, a polytheist committing major shirk?
The Shaykh : Yes, if he loves someone as he loves Allah, or reveres someone as he reveres Allah, he is a polytheist committing major shirk. Or if he reveres someone as he reveres Allah, even if he reveres the Ka'bah as he reveres Allah, or reveres the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as he reveres Allah, he is a polytheist committing major shirk.
The questioner : What do we say about those who circumambulate the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah)? They love them and revere them, but we do not know whether their love is stronger than their love of Allah or not?
The Shaykh : We say in detail, and then we ask this person: Do you love this person more than you love Allah?
The questioner : He loves and reveres, but I mean...?
The Shaykh : There are people who love the Messenger more than they love Allah. I recall that some of the pilgrims, while we were in Jeddah in the mosque, the time came when travel to Medina was prohibited. I think it was after the fourth of Dhul-Hijjah, when they were prevented from traveling to Medina for fear of them being delayed. So he began to cry intensely. Why? He said: "The light of my eye is from the light of his eye?" Meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He said, "I did not come except for this. I am the light of my eye, I did not come except for him." In my opinion, the love of the Messenger in his heart is greater than the love of Allah. So for such people, it must be made clear to them, and it should be said: Were it not for the love of Allah, we would not have loved the Messenger. And were it not that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, we would not have loved him with this love, nor would we have preferred his love over ourselves, our families, and our children. From where did it become obligatory for us to revere the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him)? Because he is the Messenger of our Lord, not because he is Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah. Is this clear? So for these common people, it is made clear to them: Do not make anyone alongside Allah, absolutely.[Al-Baqarah 2:165]
The Shaykh : Yes, if he loves someone as he loves Allah, or reveres someone as he reveres Allah, he is a polytheist committing major shirk. Or if he reveres someone as he reveres Allah, even if he reveres the Ka'bah as he reveres Allah, or reveres the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as he reveres Allah, he is a polytheist committing major shirk.
The questioner : What do we say about those who circumambulate the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah)? They love them and revere them, but we do not know whether their love is stronger than their love of Allah or not?
The Shaykh : We say in detail, and then we ask this person: Do you love this person more than you love Allah?
The questioner : He loves and reveres, but I mean...?
The Shaykh : There are people who love the Messenger more than they love Allah. I recall that some of the pilgrims, while we were in Jeddah in the mosque, the time came when travel to Medina was prohibited. I think it was after the fourth of Dhul-Hijjah, when they were prevented from traveling to Medina for fear of them being delayed. So he began to cry intensely. Why? He said: "The light of my eye is from the light of his eye?" Meaning the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). He said, "I did not come except for this. I am the light of my eye, I did not come except for him." In my opinion, the love of the Messenger in his heart is greater than the love of Allah. So for such people, it must be made clear to them, and it should be said: Were it not for the love of Allah, we would not have loved the Messenger. And were it not that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, we would not have loved him with this love, nor would we have preferred his love over ourselves, our families, and our children. From where did it become obligatory for us to revere the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him)? Because he is the Messenger of our Lord, not because he is Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah. Is this clear? So for these common people, it is made clear to them: Do not make anyone alongside Allah, absolutely.