Symposium 8
Glorifying Ahl Al-Bait (PBUT) is not Polytheism
Anwar:You promised to show me some Quranic Evidence that our submission and imploring for Imams (PBUT) or parents is considered worship or any forms of polytheism. Will you tell us how?
Hasan:We all know about conscience. It is acceptable if someone implores or obeys or submits to someone else out of respect or veneration as long as the one you obey and submit to is not considered god or divinity. There are several Verses from the Noble Quran that I am going to mention to prove this:
(And when We said unto angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate…)2;34.
Here the Almighty Allah illustrates that prostrating to Adam (PBUH) is not worshiping him but it is a form of honoring and veneration to the status of Adam (PBUH).
(And he place his parents on the dais and they fell down before him prostrate…)12;100.
The family of Yusuf (PBUH) prostrate before him is not for the sake of worshiping but again it is a way to honor him. This is exactly the Shi’a do when they bow or prostrate before the shrine of the Imams (PBUT); they do so only out of honor, respect and veneration to the Imams (PBUT) and not because they are gods or deities – Glorious Allah forbid!
Anwar:Great! This is a defeat to those slanderers who say we worship the Imams (PBUT).
Hasan:Yes, it is actually obvious for discerning people.
Anwar:I have a question here, as long as we are speaking about worshiping and worshippers.
Hasan:Yes, please!
Anwar:I read somewhere that Amir Al-Mu’menin (PBUH) said worshippers are of three kinds: traders, slaves and free people. Is he here showing his disapproval to the first two groups?
Hasan:Not at all. Imam Ali (PBUH) is not disapproving any of them; actually, he is trying to illustrate types of worships in order to present us with the best one. There is no harm in someone worshipping Allah seeking The Paradise for that; it is fine on condition that we still worshipping Allah.
The same if someone worships Allah for fear of The Fire; this is all right too. However, the best type is to worship Allah, Praised Be His Name, away from seeking or fearing but for the love of the Glorious Allah for the countless blessings He has bestowed on us.
Anwar:I have loads of questions on worshipping, but can any sane person really worship anything but the Almighty Allah?!
Hasan:Yes, there are so many people who got caught in the traps of Iblis; they fall for some tricky ideological uncertainties. There are also people who believe in
Allah, yet they worship other people.
Anwar:Strange! How come? Will you explain that?
Hasan:I would like to add something before I explain. If people are told by Allah Himself that they will not go to heaven if they do not worship Him, but they won’t go to Hell either. How many of the worshippers you think will remain?
Anwar:I think only those who worshipped Allah for the love of the Allah himself will stay, and they are few.
Hasan:Now, I can explain what you wanted. Some people have concrete gods like pagans who worship idols or the sun or the moon or even actual people. Some others have abstract gods like worshipping passion, power or praise. These people might know about the existence of Allah but they worship different other things in order to have power or be constantly praised. I seek refuge with Allah from that! Oh, I’ve just noticed you looking at your watch.
Anwar:Yes, I have an appointment. We’ll continue later, God Willing!
Symposium 9
Demonstration of Other Types of Monotheism
Hasan:I have some questions on monotheism.
Anwar:Please!
Hasan:Are there other types of monotheism?
Anwar:Religious scholars and experts have mentioned that there are other types of monotheism part from ‘essential monotheism’, ‘quality monotheism’ and ‘deeds monotheism’; they are ‘legislation monotheism’, ‘obedience monotheism’, ‘resorting monotheism’ and ‘love monotheism’.
Hasan:God bless you! This is very beautiful! Will you explain these types?
Anwar:Yes. They have mentioned that legislation monotheism is to know that law making is Allah’s; He is the creator and He knows His creatures and what is good for them. No legislators or lawmakers can be aware of the intrinsic nature of human being or his outward appearance better than the Glorious Allah, not to mention the hidden reasons that only the Almighty Allah knows and no one else; that is why man-made laws and constitutions are insufficient and narrow.
Hasan:But we know that Prophets (PBUT) have the right legislate. How come?
Anwar:Yes, they do have this right but with permission and authorization from the almighty Allah. This is backed by evidence from the Hadith and the Quran, especially when we all know that the Prophets speak what the Glorious Allah reveals to them.
Hasan:All right. Please, explain the other types.
Anwar:I’m at your service, Anwar! I am pleased to see your insistence for learning. It exemplifies this Hadith of
the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH):(Seek knowledge from cradle to grave).
Now, the second type is obedience monotheism and it simply refers to the fact that worship is only for the Almighty Allah; obeying any one part from Allah or beside Allah might be considered polytheism (Shirk).
Hasan:How do you say that? We obey the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), the Imams (PBUT), our parents and teachers. Is this polytheism?
Anwar:Not at all. Do not let this sort of ambiguity confuse your reason. The whole point is that our obedience to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), the Imams (PBUT) and our parents must not be against our obedience to the Glorious Allah; our obedience to them has to be part of our obedience to the Almighty Allah. That is what I meant by ‘might be considered polytheism’.
Hasan:So, how should we put it then?
Anwar:We have to say the absolute obedience is for the Almighty Allah, and our obedience to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and the Ahl Al-Bait (PBUT) has to be
part and parcel of our obedience to the Almighty Allah as He put it in the Noble Quran:(Oh ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the messenger and those of you who are in the authority…)4;59.
So, we obey them because the Almighty Allah ordered us to do so; this also makes our obedience to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and- his householders- the Ahl Al-Bait (PBUT) part of and actually an extension to our obedience to Allah, Praised Be His Name.
Hasan:And how possibly can we obey someone else alongside the Glorious Allah that it would be considered polytheism or Shirk?
Anwar:We can find out that it is possible with a bit of reasoning!
Hasan:How is that, if you please?
Anwar:Allah, Praised Be His Name, permits some doings and prohibits some other ones; so, he orders us to worship Him and to not disobey Him. Yet, we see people following the Devil who orders them commit wrongdoings. They obey the Devil and not the Almighty Allah, and this way they are worshipping the Devil which