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The Islamic Bulletin
Issue 11
Chapter 2. -- The CATEGORIES OF SHIRK
The discussion of shirk parallels the categories of Tawheed discussed
in Chapter 1. It includes consideration of Shirk by Association,
by Negation, by Humanization, and by Deification. The chapter
concludes with the subjects of Major Shirk (the worship of any
other than Allah) and Minor Shirk (riyaa, the practice of worship
for show).
Chapter 3. -- ALLAH’S COVENANT WITH ADAM
The subjects discussed include The Barzakh, (the partition be-
tween death and resurrection), Pre-Creation, (the soul of each
child is created prior to its birth on earth), The Fitrah, (an infant’s
natural belief in Allah), the Born Muslim, (is not automatically
guaranteed Paradise), the Covenant, (between man and Allah
made during pre-creation is to practice the principle of Tawheed
into our daily lives). Included is a refutation of the Hindu and
Buddhist concept of reincarnation and Karma.
Chapter 4. -- CHARMS AND OMENS
The subjects discussed include Charms, (such as the Rabbit’s
foot, horseshoes, and the improper use of the Quran), Ruling on
Charms, (Charms are shirk), Omens (belief in omens, or tiyarah,
was practiced in pre-Islamic Arabia, but is shirk in Islam), Fa’l,
(the Good Omen, which has very limited and strict acceptance
only if used as an “optimistic term”), and The Islamic Ruling on
Omens, (belief in omens has been rejected by the Sunnah of the
Prophet (saw).) This chapter concludes with a brief consideration
of some of the more popular “bad luck” omens prevalent in
Western society such as knocking on wood, spilling salt, breaking
a mirror, black cats, and the # 13.
Chapter 5. -- FORTUNETELLING
The subjects discussed are the World of the Jinn, (Jinn are a
creation of Allah which co-exists with man on the earth and
may have occult powers), the Islamic Ruling on Fortunetelling,
(Islam opposes any form of association with those who practice
fortunetelling), Visitation of Fortunetellers, (forbidden), Belief
in Fortune Tellers, (makes a Muslim a disbeliever and includes
those who read the books and writings of fortunetellers, listen
to them on radio, or watch them on television). All the various
methods of fortunetelling used around the world are forbidden,
including palm-reading, I-Ching, fortune cookies, tea leaves,
Zodiacal signs and Bio-rhythm computer programs.
Chapter 6. -- ASTROLOGY
The relatively lengthy principle subject of this chapter is the
Arguments of Muslim Astrologists, (in support of the practice
of astrology including the use of court astrologers by the later
Umayyad caliphs), and the Islamic argument against it. The Is-
lamic Ruling on Horoscopes (is that they are forbidden). This is a
particularly important chapter because of the widespread belief
and influence of astrology in Western society, and apparently
among some contemporary Muslims.
Chapter 7. -- MAGIC
This chapter discusses the Reality of Magic, and the Islamic
Ruling on Magic (the practice and learning of magic is classified
as Kufr). This fascinating chapter includes consideration of the
reality of occult phenomena such as haunted houses, levitation,
possession, clairvoyance, materialization and reincarnation. It
offers some explanations for their causes, such as the influence
of jinns, and concludes with a strong warning against involve-
ment with magic. Like the previous chapter on astrology, this is
another important one because of the widespread belief in the
occult in Western society.
Chapter 8. -- TRANSCENDENCY
This chapter discusses the concept of Allah’s transcendency over
all creation, its Significance in helping man avoid belief in the
erroneous concept of the immanence of Allah, the Danger of
the Immanence Concept which could lead one to treat created
matter as equal to Allah or to believe that one may be possessed
of ivinity equal to Allah, and Clear Proofs of Allah’s transcendency
including consideration of the following proofs: natural proof,
rayer proof, the Mir’raaj proof, Quranic proof, Hadeethic proof,
logical proof, and the consensus of Early Scholars. The discussion
of these proofs is sometimes tends to the abstract and may require
diligent effort on the part of the reader to grasp.
Chapter 9. -- SEEING ALLAH
This chapter discusses several diverse issues related to the ques-
tion of whether or not Allah can be seen by humans. The issues
include whether or not Allah was seen by Moses and Muhammad
(saws), as well as the spiritual wisdom of not being able to see
Allah.
Chapter 10. -- SAINT WORSHIP
This chapter discusses Saint worship and its bases, including Al-
lah’s Favor of some people over others as a test of their spiritual
integrity; Taqwaa, the spiritual power of the pious, which cannot
be judged by others; Wallee: the “Saint”, the error of the Sufi
practices of worshipping saints; Fanaa, the Sufi’s mystical beliefs
and practices which allegedly lead to union of Man with God; and
Roohullaah, the “Spirit” of Allah mentioned in the Quran often
used by Sufis to support the mystic belief in the re-unification of
the human soul with Allah. The author makes a valiant attempt
to discuss these complex ideas as clearly as possible.
Chapter 11. -- GRAVE WORSHIP
This chapter discusses the practice of grave worship in Islam
and rejects it. The discussion includes consideration of Prayers
to the Dead, The Evolutionary Model of Religion, The Degener-
ation Model of Religion, The Beginning of Shirk, The Excessive
Praise of the Righteous, Grave Restrictions, “Taking Graves as
places of Worship”. Masjids with Graves, The Prophet’s Grave,
Salaah in the Prophet’s Masjid (salah may be performed). This
chapter is very clear in its argument against grave worship,
and includes an interesting reference to the Chinese practice
of ancestor worship.
The book ends with a two page “Conclusion” which holds that
...it is the duty of every sincere believer in God to put aside
his or her cultural experiences and emotional ties to family,
tribe or nation, and acquire a working knowledge of Tawheed,
the foundation of faith. For, it is only in the application of that
knowledge that man may achieve salvation. p. 204.
This book is recommended reading. It provides a detailed
exposition of Islamic monotheism written specifically with
the English-speaking reader in mind. The book is a compact
reference source for information on the principle of Tawheed
as well as western and other beliefs and practices which may
violate this principle. The knowledge it provides will help to
keep the devout English-speaking Muslim, and others, on the
Straight Path.