Violating Monotheism – Is It Always Idolatry?

Monotheism is the essence of Islamic belief. The most serious sin in Islam is to violate this through idolatry or polytheism of every kind. There are various ways in which a person can compromise or violate the necessities of monotheism, some more serious than others. Scholars have divided the violations of monotheism into three categories. They do so to make it easy to differentiate between what negates a person's faith altogether, what compromises that faith without negating it, and what amounts to falling short in the perfection of one's faith. These categories are as follows: 1. What violates the very basis of monotheistic faith. 2. What negates the completeness of faith in a sinful way 3. What compromises the perfection of one's faith That which violates the very basis of faith Certain beliefs and practices strike at the very heart of our belief in Allah. Committing such violations is tantamount to idolatry and disbelief. The essence of monotheism is to believe that Allah is the one and only God in every way: in His Lordship and sovereignty over creation, in His exclusive right to be worshipped, and in His divine names and attributes which He shares with no other. If a person commits something that undermines this essential belief, then that person has committed polytheism – in some way or another that person has set up a partner with Allah in His divinity. This would include believing that some other being or entity governs the affairs of creation along with Allah. It would include the belief that it is permissible to worship something or someone other than Allah. It would include reverencing or loving some person with the kind of reverence or love that belongs to Allah alone. That which violates the completeness of faith in a sinful way There is a completeness of faith that a Muslim must have. Falling short of this degree of faith is sinful, but it does not necessarily negate one's faith or cause one to fall into polytheism. Someone might swear an oath by other than Allah, see a bad omen in something, wear an amulet, or do some other act that scholars describe as "minor polytheism". The most common way in which a person commits a violation against the completeness of his or her faith is to show off to others while engaged in some act that should be carried out solely for Allah's sake. We must be aware, however, that these acts can grow in consequence to the point that they become acts of serious polytheism. Take the ubiquitous problem of showing off where the person engages in some act of worship solely so some other person might see it. Or where someone swears an oath to other than Allah, believing that the oath is being thereby solemnized on something greater than Allah Himself. This strikes at the very essence of monotheism. That which compromises the perfection of one's faith Some scholars mention this third category which relates to the highest perfection of monotheism that the heart can attain. Examples of this high degree of perfection would include having a heart free of all pessimism, to be pleased with whatever Allah decrees to the point of being happy and thankful to Allah even in the greatest of misfortunes. It entails never seeking ruqyah, even the kind that is lawful in Islam. All of this indicates a high degree of certainty of faith. However, there is no sin or violation of faith in not doing so. Finally, there are certain acts which compromise monotheism to varying degrees depend on the state of the heart of the person who commits those acts. A good example of this is a person's reliance on natural causes and practical means. All of us as believers are supposed to rely fully upon Allah while at the same time taking the practical steps to reach our goals. For instance, we are supposed to seek medical treatment for our illnesses, while knowing with full certainty that it is Allah who heals us. However, if a person believes that the medicine brings about its effect without Allah's will and power, then such a belief violates the very essence of monotheism. On the other hand, if the person knows that the cause only brings about its effect by Allah's will and decree, but the person relies so strongly on the cause that he or she forgets about Allah, the this is a sinful breach of faith, but it is not a negation of the person's faith altogether. Finally, if the person takes recourse to the cause while relying upon Allah, but his or her heart is attached more to the cause than to the reliance upon Allah, then the person's faith is intact, but falls short of perfection. In each case, the person's action is the same. What matters is the state of the person's heart. May Allah sustain us upon faith throughout our lives.