The role of the monotheists in fighting religious innovations:

Question

Some pilgrims in Makkah and Al-Madeenah commit some religious innovations and acts of polytheism corrupting their creed with fables and superstitions. What is the role of the true monotheists and what is your advice?

Answer

Allah The Almighty honored and blessed the Two Holy Mosques and the whole religion of Islam with this blessed state, which has protected Islamic monotheism from the blemishes of polytheism and superstitions. Whoever reviews the history of Makkah and Al-Madeenah before establishment of the Saudi State will know the greatness of this blessing upon Islam and Muslims. People used to commit countless religious innovations and believe in superstitions. Money was consumed unlawfully by the people with the aim of reviving religious innovations of the deviated people, while the behavior of the honorable Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, was abandoned.

However, Allah The Almighty bestowed this light upon His slaves to remove darkness and oppression, and strengthen the lights of monotheism and the Message of the Prophet . This was of great benefit to our Ummah (nation), as it rectified its affairs to great extent, praise be to Allah The Almighty.

Indeed, some visitors commit mistakes and they should be instructed, taught, and guided to what is better and to the right path of Tawheed.

We advise whoever sees anyone committing anything that contradicts the creed of monotheism and devotion to explain the truth and guide others to it seeking the support of Allah The Almighty, Who defends the truth. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.} [Quran 21:18]

Thus, every seeker of knowledge, caller and monotheist believer should feel a protective zeal for Tawheed (Islamic monotheism). The hoopoe came to Solomon after seeing the polytheists worshipping the sun. It was a bird, but felt a protective zeal for Tawheed. The earth, heavens, and mountains also feel jealous of Tawheed. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation. That they ascribe a son to the Beneficent Allah. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. He has enumerated them and counted them a [full] counting.} [Quran 19:89-94]

The mountains almost rupture out of their protective zeal for Tawheed and Faith. Hence, a believer, whose heart believes in Allah The Almighty and fears Him, should do the same for a greater reason.

However, this should be through good instruction and one must be knowledgeable about what he calls towards. One should instruct those people explaining to them that what they do is impermissible because they are acts of Shirk and it may take them out of the fold of Islam. One word or act may transform a believing person into a polytheist (what means): {… And he who associates with Allah - it is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or the wind carried him down into a remote place.} [Quran 22:31]

In short, one should be keen on instructing such people, who are in most cases ignorant about the rules and teachings of the religion. They follow anyone as the Prophet told us. Hence, they should be advised and guided to what is good leniently, wisely and compassionately.

This ensures that the advice and instruction will be influential and this is a great blessing as you may be a cause behind saving a person from Hell, which will be greatly rewarded.

Talbiyah is the slogan of monotheism:

Question

Many pilgrims do not recognize the virtue of saying Talbiyah and its emotional influence to the extent that you can hardly find someone saying it loudly. Would you please give advice regarding this issue?

Answer

Talbiyah is the slogan of Tawheed. Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullah said, “The Prophet started with Tawheed saying: "Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka laa Shareeka laka Labbayk. Innal-Hamda wanni'mata laka wal-mulk, laa Shareeka lak." (O Allah, here I am at Your service. There is no partner to be associated with You. Praise, graces and dominion are Yours. There is no partner to be associated with You).”

The meaning of “None is worthy of worship except Allah” is completely contained in the Talbiyah, which comprises confirmation and negation. By making Talbiyah, you confirm and believe in all that Allah The Almighty attributed to Himself and negate describing anyone else with these attributes‎. Allah The Almighty Said (what means): {Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him…} [Quran 4:36]

Hence, Talbiyah is a covenant between the pilgrim and his Lord and a pledge made by the slave to be always monotheist and devoted and to do everything for the Sake of Allah The Almighty. When the pilgrim makes Talbiyah, he in fact says to his Lord, “I turn my face towards you in Tawaaf, prayer, Sa'y (rite of jogging between Safa and Marwah) and all the other rituals of the Hajj.”

Hence, Talbiyah summarizes the meaning of Tawheed and devotion and one must feel its meaning. Scholars say that if one says the verbal Thikr (remembrance) without contemplating its meaning, it will not benefit him completely.

Therefore, one must contemplate the meaning of Tawheed when reciting Talbiyah, because all of its meanings are centered on obedience, worship and devotion as well as condemnation of polytheism and polytheists.

Talbiyah also states that Praise is to Allah The Almighty. Indeed, all praise is due to Allah The Almighty in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah The Almighty praised Himself in introduction of the Quran. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):  {[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -} [Quran 1:2]

He would also conclude the whole Day of Judgment with praising Himself; Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And it will be judged between them in truth, and it will be said, "[All] praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”} [Quran 39:75]

To Allah is due all praise in the first life and the Hereafter, day and night, publicly and secretly. Exalted is He and His Names, and there is none worthy of worship except Him.

Grace is also to Allah The Almighty. When the Muslim says Talbiyah, he should feel the meaning that all graces are from Allah The Almighty Alone. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allah…..} [Quran 16:53]

Allah The Almighty is the Owner and Giver of grace and favor. This applies to all supplications of Hajj.

One should raise his voice when making Talbiyah, as the Prophet encouraged his Companions to say Talbiyah aloud so that stones, trees, and the soil which hear him will testify for one on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet said to one of his Companions: “I see that you like living among your sheep in the wilderness. So whenever you are with your sheep and alone; announce Athaan in a loud voice, because whoever hears the Athaan, whether a human or jinn or stones, or dry mud, will testify for you on the Day of Resurrection (i.e., that you announced the Athaan).”

When you make Talbiyah, the earth testifies for you. It was reported in Ibn Maajah’s Sunan that the Prophet said: “When the Muslim pronounces Talbiyah, all stones, trees and mud to his right and left pronounces Talbiyah until the whole earth pronounces Talbiyah.”

The inanimate beings like the remembrance of Allah The Almighty. 

We supplicate to Allah The Almighty to revive this act of Sunnah at our hands and enable us to apply it. One should not feel embarrassed or anything of the kind when uttering Talbiyah aloud.  Peddlers shout loudly to promote their goods without any embarrassment. A peddler is proud doing that. A Muslim, for a greater reason, should be proud to utter Talbiyah loudly.

Because he trades this for the reward of the Hereafter. Talbiyah is a statement of Tawheed, and that is the most truthful of words.

Therefore, it is improper for one to feel shy. So, if you are among heedless people, raise your voice with Talbiyah and be proud of your religion and Lord.

The Muslim must be zealous, discerning and lenient.

In short, one should never feel shy when performing the rites of his religion; we supplicate to Allah The Almighty to make us proud of our religion.

Allah Knows best.

Questions on the Rites of Hajj - II