Sound Creed #29: Shirk in Intentions & Cursing Time

Read by our brother Abu Muadh Taqweem

Summary

  • Acts of worship should be done sincerely for the sake of Allah alone
  • The one who excessively seeks surplus wealth becomes enslaved to it
  • Cursing time, the wind, and other things in creation etc is harmful to one’s aqeedah

Doing acts of righteousness for worldly gain

  • What are the different ways people may perform acts of worship however their intention is not solely for the sake of Allah?
  • The one who does acts of worship but he only does this in order to gain a worldly benefit
  • How is such a person compensated for his action?
  • What’s an example?

Qatadah has said: “Allah, Exalted be He, says that those whose main intent and objective involve seeking the gain of this worldly life, Allah will let them pass this life securely but they will receive no reward in the Hereafter for the good deeds they have offered. By contrast, a believer is rewarded doubly for his good deeds; he is to be rewarded in this worldly life and in the Hereafter as well.”

Showing off

  • Those who do the righteous actions with an intention of showing off. 
  • What are some examples?

Seeking money

  • The one who performs righteous actions  but his intention is money only
  • What would be an example of this? 
  • What about Muslims who are paid to teach Qur’an? Or an Imam who is paid?
  • Note: Point on the deviated group Al-Maghrib Institute

Disbelief

  • The one who does an act of worship sincerely for Allah alone without any partners, however he is doing other actions which takes them outside of the fold of Islam
  • An example of this are the Jews and the Christians
  • Are their actions valid?

Caution and Warning on the above

  • Acts of worship should only be done sincerely for the sake of Allah alone
  • The reward for acts of worship is in the afterlife, a Muslim should not use these acts of worship in order to seek wordly benefits
  • What are the consequences for the one who repeatedly seeks worldly gain?
  • The one who repeatedly seeks worldly gains becomes enslaved to them
  • The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) made a dua against such people
  • The statement of Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah: 
    • The one who seeks after wealth is of two types:
      • First Category: This is seeking after wealth is necessary up to a certain point (e.g. food, housing, etc). A person who seeks this in order o fulfil a need, then this does not enslave him or her to their wealth
      • Second Category: This is wealth that is not needed, e.g. surplus or extra wealth. A Muslim should NOT attach his or her heart this this surplus wealth as this will make him or her enslaved and overtaken by it
  • What are some examples of people who have become enslaved to wealth?
  • What about those taking Haraam income e.g. interest? Gambling? Fraud?

-—The above were all part of the chapter on Minor Shirk (Polytheism in Intentions)-—

Next Chapter: Cursing Time and that which is similar to it

  • From the affairs that people do, sometimes even as a habit, is the matter of cursing the time and that which is similar to it
  • E.g. cursing time, the wind, and other things in creation etc
  • This is harmful to one’s aqeedah
  • The reality is that a person who does this, then indeed his or her curse is essentially directed towards Allah as He is the one who controls all these affairs

“Whosoever desires the life of this world and its adornments We will fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived. Those are the ones for whom there is not in the Hereafter but the Fire and lost is what they did therein, and worthless is what they used to do”

[Qur’an Surah Hud: verse 15-16]
  • The one who says this type of speech rejects the existence of the Creator, and they refer to “mother nature” as the cause for these things and they have not proof or knowledge regarding this, indeed they are only upon guesswork
  • Every statement which is not built upon knowledge is a false statement
  • All of the proofs in creation points towards a Creator, Allah
  • Hadith of Abu Hurairah [reported in Bukhari Muslim], what did Allah say about the servant who curses time?

Questions:

  • In the UK, one hears the people often complain about the weather, and they talk about the elements (e.g. wind, rain) or time with displeasure
  • Some of the people in the UK habitually say “touch wood” or in other places they say “fingers crossed” when hoping to do something, how should a Muslim view this?
  • Can you say to someone “good luck”?
  • What about parents cursing their children?
  • What about children disobeying their parents? Or speaks ill of his parents?
  • What if your parents go against your rights in Islam and they prevent you from something?
  • What if a father disapproves of his child marrying someone and he has no legitimate reasons? What if your parents ask you to marry within your ethnicity or culture?
  • Can a suitor approach a Muslim sister directly without involving the parents?