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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Anecdotes of Reflection Part 3 Polytheism ============== Allah, the Wise, has said: لاَ تُشْرِکْ بِاللٌّهِ إِِنَّ الشِّرْکَ لَظُلمٌ عَظِيمٌ ”Do not associate aught with Allah; most surely polytheism is a grievous iniquity.” [^1] Imam Baqir (a.s) said: أََلْمَعاَصِيَ الَّتِــي يَرتَکِبُونَ فَهِيَ شِرْکُ طاَعَةٍ أََطاَعُوا فِيهاَ الشَّيطاَنَ “The commitment of sins on the part of people is (in reality) polytheism with respect to obedience (of Allah) - in which they obey the Satan.” [^2] Short Explanation One of the vices of the soul is polytheism in which a person, as a result of ignorance, poverty, scepticism and the like, attributes “Allah-ship” to certain things that do not possess the merit and the ability to be Allah; or regards someone, other than Allah, to be inherently and independently efficacious (in affairs); invokes someone, other than Allah, during worship; or intermingles some other (non-divine) intention and objective with his acts of worship.

A polytheist's act of resorting to someone other than Allah is a sin; increase in polytheistic beliefs is brought about by the deceptions of the Satan and persistence of such views lead to hypocrisy and the nullification of deeds, which in turn bring about damnation in this world and the hereafter.[^3] The Extremist Who Considered Himself a Shia Sahl Ibn ZiyadAdmi relates: “Some of our friends wrote a letter to Imam Askari (a.s) saying: “‘Ali Ibn Hasakah claims to be one of your friends and followers, but is of the belief that you are Allah and he is the 'door' that leads to you and the Noble Prophet (s.a.w).

He is of the opinion that prayers, fasts, zakat and Hajj are nothing but your marifat and according to him, whoever holds this belief is a true and perfect Mu'min and is then relieved of the responsibility of performing the other acts like prayers and fasts.” In reply, the Imam (a.s) wrote: “‘Ali Ibn Hasakah lies. May the curse of Allah be upon him! I do not consider him to be of my friends. By Allah!

Muhammad (s.a.w) and the prophets before him had been sent to preach monotheism and invite the people towards prayers, fasts, zakat, Hajj and wilayah. Never did Muhammad (s.a.w) ever invite anyone towards polytheism, and all of us are the successors of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w) and the servants of Allah, and never do we ascribe partners to Him.

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