What is the basis for Ibn al-Qayyim's statement that "attributing to Allah without knowledge is greater than shirk"? Is it minor shirk?
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The questioner : What is the basis for Ibn al-Qayyim's statement that "attributing to Allah without knowledge is greater than shirk"? Is it based on minor shirk?
The Shaykh : It is based on major shirk, because Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) holds that Allah's saying:[Al-A'raf 7:33] is from the perspective of starting with the easiest and lightest. This is because attributing to Allah without knowledge has a great danger; it misleads people. Have you seen the imams of the people of innovation? If this imam were a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah), his harm would be only to himself; he would die and it would be over. But if he is a mubtadi' (innovator) who attributes to Allah what he does not know, nations are misled by him. For this reason, attributing to Allah without knowledge is greater than shirk from this perspective.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, because it entails lying about Allah and misleading the servants of Allah.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : The issue of kufr (disbelief) requires further detail.
The Shaykh : It is based on major shirk, because Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) holds that Allah's saying:
Say, "My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَاناً وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَThe questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, because it entails lying about Allah and misleading the servants of Allah.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : The issue of kufr (disbelief) requires further detail.