Title of the Sermon: "I am Disassociated from What You Worship"
Elements of the Sermon
1. Disassociation from disbelief is the way of the prophets.
2. The meaning of disassociation from disbelief.
3. The signs of disassociation from disbelief and falsehood.
4. The excellent example in Ibrahim, the close servant of the Most Merciful.
All praise be to Allah, the Clear Truth, who hurls the truth against falsehood until it vanishes. He establishes the truth and nullifies falsehood even if the criminals dislike it. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone, without partner, a testimony affirming His oneness and free from polytheism, disbelief, and secularism. And I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger, sent by Allah with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religion. May Allah bless him and his family and companions abundantly.
To proceed, fear Allah, servants of Allah, with true piety, and watch Him in secret and in private.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
"O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims." [Alu ‘Imran: 102]
Servants of Allah:
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them) mentioned that the chiefs of Quraysh gathered one day at al-Hijr and talked about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They said: "We have never seen anyone who endured as much as we have from this man. He has derided our intelligence, insulted our forefathers, criticized our religion, divided our community, and insulted our gods. We have borne from him a grievous matter!" One day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appeared before them, and they all leaped at him as one man and surrounded him, saying: "Are you the one who says such-and-such things about our gods and our religion?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: "Yes, I am the one who says that." (Narrated by Ahmad).
This is how our Prophet ﷺ teaches us the oneness of Allah, instructing us with words and actions. He proclaims it with utmost clarity, without compromise or fear: Yes, I am the one who says that!
Servants of Allah:
The word of Tawhid has two pillars: belief in Allah alone without partners and disassociation from disbelief and polytheism and their adherents. Allah the Almighty says:
فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
"So, whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing." [Al-Baqarah: 256].
This is the methodology with which Allah sent His noble messengers. Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
"And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid Taghut.’" [An-Nahl: 36].
All the prophets and messengers upheld this and declared it clearly without deception or confusion.
Ibrahim, the close servant of Allah, upheld this as Allah said:
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ * إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ * وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ﴾
"And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, ‘Indeed, I am disassociated from what you worship * Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me.’ And he made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it]." [Az-Zukhruf: 26-28].
Hud upheld this, declaring it after they threatened him:
إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ وَاشْهَدُوا أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ * مِنْ دُونِهِ فَكِيدُونِي جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ لَا تُنْظِرُونِ
"Indeed, I have made Allah witness, and witness [yourselves], that I am free from whatever you associate with Allah * Other than Him. So, plot against me all together; then do not give me respite." [Hud: 54-55].
Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to uphold it, saying:
قُلْ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهَادَةً قُلِ اللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَأُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ لِأُنْذِرَكُمْ بِهِ وَمَنْ بَلَغَ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً أُخْرَى قُلْ لَا أَشْهَدُ قُلْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَإِنَّنِي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
"Say, ‘What thing is greatest in testimony?’ Say, ‘Allah is witness between me and you. And this Qur'an was revealed to me that I may warn you thereby and whomever it reaches. Do you truly testify that with Allah there are other gods?’ Say, ‘I do not testify.’ Say, ‘He is but one God, and indeed I am free of what you associate with Him.’" [Al-An'am: 19].
This is how Allah's prophets and messengers declared it: I am free of what you associate with Him.
So, what does it mean to disassociate from disbelief and polytheism? It means to despise, distance oneself, and sever ties, to separate and oppose, to declare enmity towards disbelief, polytheism, and falsehood in all its forms, whether it be an idol, a deity, an ideology, or a methodology contrary to the truth that came from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
It is an act of the heart that stems from faith in Allah, and its effects are shown through the tongue and limbs. You see the believer who believes in Allah alone, loves Him, submits to Him in servitude, obedience, and humility—likewise, you see him hating and opposing all false religions and deviant ideologies, declaring his disassociation from them all, denouncing them with his tongue, showing their disbelief and misguidance, and distancing himself and his actions from them and their adherents.
Disassociation from polytheism, disbelief, false religions, and deviant ideologies has signs and markers that must be fulfilled:
First: Belief in their falsehood and disbelief in them. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever says: ‘There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah’ and disbelieves in what is worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and blood become inviolable, and his reckoning is with Allah.” (Narrated by Muslim).
Second: Hatred and loathing towards it. You will not find a believer in Allah who has affection and love for a Taghut worshipped besides Allah, or for a disbelieving creed, or a deviant ideology. Belief in Allah as the only deity with no partner necessitates love and reverence for Him, and jealousy for Him, love for His religion and law, love for Him and for His sake. It also necessitates hatred for every false deity, and detestation for everything that contradicts the glorification and oneness of Allah, opposes belief in His revelation and divine inspiration, from creeds, ideologies, and methodologies. Indeed, the believer would prefer to be thrown into the fire rather than be upon a creed, deviation, or misguidance that opposes the infallible revelation.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "None of you will taste the sweetness of faith until he loves a person only for the sake of Allah, and until he would prefer to be thrown into the fire rather than return to disbelief after Allah has saved him from it, and until Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anything else." (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).
The Prophet ﷺ also said: "Whoever gives for Allah, withholds for Allah, loves for Allah, hates for Allah, and marries for Allah, has perfected his faith." (Narrated by Tirmidhi).
Third: Avoidance and distancing from it. The believer does not witness a scene or stand in a place where the bonds of monotheism are broken, where Allah is disbelieved in, or where Taghut is praised and glorified. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said to his people:
وَأَعْتَزِلُكُمْ وَمَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَأَدْعُو رَبِّي عَسَى أَلَّا أَكُونَ بِدُعَاءِ رَبِّي شَقِيًّا
"And I will leave you and what you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy." [Maryam: 48].
The companions of the cave advised each other, saying:
وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنْشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ مِنْ رَحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مِرْفَقًا
"And when you have withdrawn from them and that which they worship other than Allah, retreat to the cave. Your Lord will spread out for you of His mercy and will prepare for you from your affair facility." [Al-Kahf: 16].
Fourth: Clearly declaring the falsehood of every creed that contradicts the creed of monotheism, and disassociation from every idol, false deity, misguidance, or idea that opposes the religion of truth or contradicts the infallible revelation.
The chiefs of Quraysh came to the Prophet ﷺ and promised him wealth, making him the richest man in Mecca, offering him whatever women he wanted to marry, and pledging to follow him if he would stop insulting their gods. They said: "This is for you, O Muhammad, if you will refrain from insulting our gods. If you do not, then we offer you one thing that will be beneficial for both you and us." He asked: "What is it?" They said: "Worship our gods for one year: Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, and we will worship your God for one year." Then Allah revealed the great Surah Al-Kafirun:
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ * لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ * وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ * وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَا عَبَدْتُمْ * وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ * لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ
"Say, O disbelievers. * I do not worship what you worship. * Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. * Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. * Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. * For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." [Al-Kafirun: 1-6]. (Narrated by At-Tabari).
The polytheists wanted from our Prophet ﷺ what is now called religious tolerance, which is nothing but a form of blending and confusing truth with falsehood, dissolving the distinctions and boundaries between the creed in Allah and the creed in partners and associates. The answer from heaven came decisively and unequivocally: "Say, O disbelievers."
A clear declaration, calling things by their names, without adornment or embellishment. People are divided into two groups: believers and disbelievers. Whoever does not believe in Allah and His messengers— the last of whom is our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ— and all the pillars of faith, and does not adhere to the laws of Islam, accepting it as a religion and legislation, is among the disbelievers.
Then there is clarity in methodology and path, that the believer worships only Allah, and adheres only to monotheism, which is the right of Allah upon His servants, and does not follow any false religion introduced by people, whether from the deviant creeds and religions. Every religion attributed to Allah other than Islam is not the religion of truth; rather, they are false religions that must be disassociated from, hated, opposed, and their falsehood and misguidance exposed.
What a great distinction and separation between the two paths: "For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." Meaning, you are on one path, and I am on another path!
This is the second Surah of sincerity, which the Prophet ﷺ advised some of his companions to recite before going to bed, saying: "Recite 'Say, O disbelievers,' for it is a declaration of disassociation from polytheism." (Narrated by Tirmidhi).
Today, we see disbelieving creeds such as Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, and secularism, and what they falsely call the new Abrahamic religion, and false ideologies that contradict the essence of religion and its rulings, such as grave worship, secularism, socialism, capitalism, democracy, liberalism, modernity, enlightenment, feminism, and permissiveness. Each has its devotees and priests who uphold it. The hypocrites among the Muslims wanted to blend with these, accept them, and acknowledge their validity, or at least claim that they might be correct, and perhaps some of them are content with silence about them under the guise of religious convergence, dialogue of civilizations, and coexistence with others. All this is mixing truth with falsehood, indeed, it is extinguishing its light, but Allah will complete His light even if the disbelievers detest it.
May Allah bless me and you in the great Quran and benefit me and you with the verses and the wise reminder within it. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness; indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Second Sermon
All praise be to Allah, and may Allah exalt and send blessings to the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
Servants of Allah:
Allah the Exalted has made an excellent example for us in Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and those with him. Allah says:
قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَآءُ مِنْكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ
"There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people, 'Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah.'" [Al-Mumtahina: 4].
Disassociation from disbelief, polytheism, misguidance, and all deviant creeds and sects, and their adherents, is the path of truth that Allah has commanded us to follow, which all the prophets and messengers adhered to.
Allah has promised His allies, who uphold this, victory, triumph, and establishment. Allah the Exalted says:
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ * وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ
"Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed—those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship]. * And whoever is an ally of Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed—indeed, the party of Allah—they will be the predominant." [Al-Ma'idah: 55-56].
O Allah, rectify for us our religion which is the safeguard of our affairs, and rectify for us our worldly affairs in which is our livelihood, and rectify for us our Hereafter to which is our return. O Allah, do not make our calamity in our religion, and do not make the world our greatest concern nor the extent of our knowledge.
O Allah, we ask You for steadfastness in Islam, monotheism, and the Sunnah until we meet You. O Allah, support Your oppressed servants, destroy the Jewish criminals, and by Your mercies, save Your oppressed servants.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and make our authority belong to those who fear You, follow Your pleasure, and adhere to Your commands.
Servants of Allah, remember Allah abundantly, and glorify Him morning and evening. The last of our supplications is: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
