A Summary of Important Information that the Slave of Allah should Know:

First: The greatest obligatory duty on the Muslims is to worship Allah, who has no partner, Alone. In confirmation of this, Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

   *  {And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.} [Quran 51:56]

   *  {And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taaghoot [false objects of worship]."…} [Quran 16:36]

   *  {Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him….} [Quran 4:36]

Whoever dedicates any act of worship to other than Allah The Almighty has indeed fallen into Shirk (i.e. associated partners with Allah in worship), for Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

   *  {Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.} [Quran 4:48]

   *  {….Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice.} [Quran 31:13]

Shirk is of Two Types:

The first type is Major Shirk, which results in apostasy. Below are many examples of it:

1)   To invoke other than Allah The Almighty, such as to go to the grave of a Prophet or a righteous man and say, “Intercede for me”, or, “cure me”, or the like.

2)   To slaughter for the sake of other than Allah The Almighty, such as to slaughter for the jinns and devils, or for Prophets and righteous men at their graves.

3)   To circumambulate around graves.

4)   To judge in opposition to what Allah The Almighty has revealed, as mentioned in detail in the books of creed.

5)   To hang amulets around the neck, the hand, the bodies of children, or in the house or the car, thinking that they bring about benefit or avert harm.

6)   Sorcery.

The second type is Minor Shirk. Although it is regarded a great sin, it does not result in apostasy; this includes:

1)   Ostentation when performing good deeds (Riyaa’). The Messenger of Allah said: “What I fear for you most is minor Shirk.” When he was asked about what this mean, he said: “Ostentation.” [Ahmad, and its chain of transmission is Hasan]

2)   To take an oath by other than Allah The Almighty, such as to say, “I swear by the Prophet,” or, “I swear by my life,” or, “I swear by my father,” or, “I swear by my honor”, and the like. It is narrated on the authority of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever swears by other than Allah has certainly disbelieved and associated partners with Allah (in worship).” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood and others] [Saheeh]

3)   To say, “As Allah wills and so and so wills.” It is narrated on the authority of Huthayfah that he said, “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Do not say: ‘As Allah wills and so and so wills’, but rather say: ‘As Allah wills, and then so and so wills.’” [Abu Daawood] It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas and his father, that a man said to the Prophet “As Allah wills, and you will.” Upon that the Prophet said to him: “Have you made me an equal to Allah? Rather (say): ‘As Allah Alone wills.’” [Ibn Maajah]

Second: Worship is not valid except with three conditions:

1)   Islam: Worship is not valid if it is done by a non-Muslim like a Jew, or a Christian, or others.

2)   Sincerity: Whoever commits association (of partners with Allah) in worship, be it major or minor like ostentation, his worship is considered invalid.

3)   Following the example of the Prophet : Whoever, for example, adds a sixth prayer (to the five obligatory prayers), or prays five Rak‘ahs (units for the Thuhr prayer instead of the four, his deed becomes a religious innovation and he thereby commits a sin and his prayer is invalid, even if he is sincere in performing it, and even if his intention, as he puts it, is to increase his reward. This is in confirmation of what the Prophet said: “Whoever innovates anything new from our affairs (in religion), it will be rejected.” [Muslim]

Third: A group of Sharee‘ah prohibitions have become widespread among the people. So, you should take heed of them, O Muslim, and beware of falling into them. They include:

1)   Beware of delaying the (obligatory) prayer beyond its due time, for it is among the greatest major sins in Islam.

2)   Beware of neglecting congregational prayer in the mosque, especially the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers.

3)   Beware of going to magicians and sorcerers.

4)   Beware of seeking the blessings of what is impermissible, like seeking the blessings of graves of Prophets or righteous people, or the curtains and building of the Ka‘bah.

5)   Beware of drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

6)   Beware of attaining wealth through unlawful means like usury, theft, cheating in transactions, and giving less than its due in weight (and measure).

7)   Beware of the crime of adultery as well as the causes leading to it like neglecting lowering one’s gaze and intermixing with women.

8)   Beware of being undutiful to parents and severing kinship ties.

9)   Beware of the slips of the tongue such as lies, backbiting and tale bearing.

10)  O female Muslims, beware of exposing anything of your ‘Awrah (body parts that must be covered according to Islam) before non-Mahram (i.e., marriageable) men like the face, the hair, the hands, the legs, or abstention from wearing the 'Abaayah (outer garment). You must wear a Hijaab that screens all  parts of your body.

That is the end of the treatise, and all perfect praise be to Allah, and may He send His peace and blessings upon His Final Prophet.