There are numerous categories of those who reject and deviate from this `Aqidah (creed). They include, among others, those who worship idols, angels, Awliya' (pious people), Jinn (creatures created from fire), trees, and stones. These people have not followed the call of the Messengers of Allah; rather they stubbornly rejected their call. This is exactly what Quraysh and some other Arab tribes did with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They used to beseech their false gods to fulfill their needs, heal their sick, and grant them victory over their enemy. They would also offer sacrifices to them and make vows in their names. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) disapproved of their beliefs and called them to worship Allah Alone and not to associate others with Him in worship, they replied,

The Prophet (peace be upon him) continued calling them to worship Allah Alone, warning them against associating others with Him in worship, and explaining to them the reality of Islam. His efforts eventually paid off when they entered Allah's religion in crowds. Islam became superior to all religions due to the huge efforts made by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet), and those who followed them in righteousness. The situation changed again after ignorance dominated and an overwhelming majority of people reverted to their foolish and ignorant practices such as excessive estimation of Prophets and the Awliya' supplicating and seeking help from them. This is in addition to all forms of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). They did not understand the meaning of Tawhid (monotheism) as the Arab disbelievers did. Allah is the One Whose help is to be sought!

These forms of Shirk are increasingly widespread among people in our present time due to ignorance and the long interval between the age of Prophethood and the present time. The argument these people put forward is not different from that of their predecessors, namely:

Allah refuted this false claim and made it clear to them that worshipping anything else other than Him is Shirk and disbelief. Allah (Exalted be He) says,

In this Ayah (Qur'anic verse), Allah (Glorified be He) clearly indicates that worshipping Prophets, Awliya', and others besides Him is major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), even if those who commit it call it by other names. Allah (Exalted be He) says,

In this Ayah, therefore, Allah makes it crystal clear that the worship they offer to anyone other than Him, whether in the form of invocation, hope, fear, or otherwise, is disbelief. He also calls them liars when they claim that their false gods bring them closer to Allah.

There are a number of false ideologies in our present time that contradict the authentic belief with which the Messengers (peace be upon them) were sent. These false ideologies are like the beliefs of the followers of Marx, Lenin, and others who call to atheism and disbelief and who give their beliefs different names, such as socialism, communism, Ba`thism, etc.

Those atheists reject all religions and claim that there is no God and that life is only matter. They do not believe in the Last Day, Paradise, and Hell. Whoever studies their books will certainly notice their rejection of all religions. Undoubtedly, their ideology contradicts the true belief and those who follow these false ideologies will certainly bear the worst of consequences both in this world and in the Hereafter. Other beliefs which contradict true belief include the Sufis who believe that the so­called Awliya' are Allah's partners in His rule and disposition of the world's affairs. They give them names such as Qutb (Sufi title denoting a "Perfect Master"), Watad (a Sufi title), Ghawth (a Sufi title denoting a "source of succor"), as well as other names which they gave to their gods. Indeed, this is the worst form of Shirk with relation to Allah's Lordship; it is even far worse than the form of Shirk which was prevalent in Pre­Islamic Arabia. Indeed, the Arabs at that time associated partners with Allah only in worship not in His Lordship. They used to associate partners with Allah in the time of prosperity, however, in adversity they used to worship Allah alone. Allah (Glorified be He) says,

They used to believe in the Lordship of Allah alone. He (Glorified be He) says,

In addition to many Ayahs to the same effect. As for those who commit Shirk these days, they are worse than their predecessors for two reasons: First: Some of them associate partners with Allah in Lordship. Second: They commit Shirk in prosperity and adversity. This is quite obvious from their practices at the shrines of Al­Husayn, Al­Badawy, and other places in Egypt, the shrine of Al­`Aydarus in Aden, the shrine of Al­Hady in Yemen, the shrine of Ibn `Araby in Al­Sham (The Levant), the shrine of Al­Sheikh `Abdul­Qadir Al­Jilany in Iraq, This is in addition to other well­known shrines which the common people excessively revere and honor in a way befitting Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) only.

There are only a few people who take great pains to remind these ignorant people of the reality of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism) with which Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as well as the previous Messengers (peace be upon them). Truly, we belong to Allah and to Him is the return. We ask Allah (Glorified be He) to guide them to the Truth and to help Muslim leaders combat and uproot this form of Shirk. He is All­Hearer, Ever Near (to all things).

Again, among the beliefs that contradict true belief with regard to the Names and Attributes of Allah are the beliefs held by Al­Jahmiyyah (a deviant Islamic sect denying some Attributes of Allah, claiming they are ascribed to people and cannot be ascribed to Allah) and Mu`tazilah (a deviant Islamic sect claiming that those who commit major sins are in a state between belief and disbelief) and their likes who denied Allah's Attributes. These sects completely deny Allah's Perfect Attributes. They give Him attributes of inanimate beings. Far is He above what they ascribe to Him! Other sects such as Al­Asha`irah (a Muslim group that bases its creedal issues on logic) deny some of the Attributes while confirming others, thus contradicting clear logical as well as textual evidence. However, Ahl­ul­Sunnah wal­ Jama`ah (those adhering to the Sunnah and the Muslim main body) confirmed all the Names and Attributes that Allah has confirmed for Himself in the Qur'an or through His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). They set Him far above His creation, as there is no one who resembles Him in anything. They refer to all proofs in the Qur'an and the Sunnah without twisting the meaning thereof in the least. In this way, they avoided confusion into which others have fallen. This belief is the way to salvation and bliss in this world and in the Hereafter. It is the Straight Path followed by the Salaf (righteous predecessors) and the leaders of this Ummah (Nation). The condition of the present­day Muslims will not be rectified except by following the same path of the predecessors who adhered to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of His Messenger and shunned all that contradict them.

May Allah grant us success! He (Glorified be He) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us). There is neither might nor power except with Allah! Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Servant and Messenger our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions!