In the name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, seek His aid, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evils of our souls and the evils of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides, none can misguide. And whomsoever Allaah allows to go astray, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, Alone and without any partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
To call for a boycott of Denmark's dairy products and hold protests is not the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallaam), and therefore not the correct response to the ignorance-driven cartoons depicting the Messenger of this Ummah in actions that oppose the Divine message he was ordained to spread. We have been commanded by Allaah - our Creator and Judge - to follow Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallaam) in establishing tawheed upon the legislated Sunnah onto ourselves first, then to our families, then to our communities, and then to mankind at large, not excluding those in Denmark.
[Note: Tawheed (monotheism) is:
A- to single out Allaah (alone) in each and every act of worship, so each act of worship - such as du'aa, intercession, seeking aid, seeking refuge, sacrifice, salat, zakat, hajj, fasting, vowing, etc... - is for Allaah alone without intermediaries;
B- singling Him out in His Lordship, thus affirming that Allaah alone is The Creator and Provider, and Manager of all affairs; and
C- singling Him out in His Names and Attributes, affirming them without denial, distortion, interpretation, resemblance to the creation, or asking how.
Allaah did not create mankind for any other reason except to worship Him alone, and Allaah commanded every single Messenger to call to tawheed, which is Allaah's right on His slaves.
Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). {Adh-Dhariyat 51:56}
And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him (saying): " Laa ilaaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)." {Al-Anbiya 21:25}
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allaah)." {An-Nahl 16:36}
Imam Bukhari (rahimahullaah) in his Sahih, wrote: "Knowledge precedes speech and action, and the proof is the saying of Allaah, the Most High, "So know that Laa ilaaha ilAllaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)..." {Muhammad 47:19}
So it is upon us to first seek authentic knowledge so we may forbid all shirk and bid'ah to ourselves, then affirm and apply tawheed, and then call to Allaah, making tawheed our first call [not science, not hijab, not modesty, not the masjid, not miswak]. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) ordered Mu'aadh ibn Jabal (radiallaahu 'anhu) upon sending him to Yemen: "So let the first thing you call them to be that they worship Allaah alone." [Bukhari, Muslim]
So after establishing tawheed upon the legislated Sunnah to ourselves, then we call the creation to the Creator, and it bears repeating that calling to Allaah must be done upon baseerah (sure knowledge), as Allaah commands: "Say: This is my path. I call to Allaah upon baseerah." {Yoosuf 12:108} And, of course, calling to Allaah is to be done with hikma (wisdom), as Allaah says: Invite (mankind, O Muhammad) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islaam) with hikma and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. {An-Nahl 16:125}
And know that hikma comes from applying the Sunnah, and as Sufyan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullaah) put it: "hikma is putting things in their proper place."
In light of this latest attack from the enemies of Islaam, all the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah have said it is wajib (obligatory) upon all Muslims to hate such a terrible affair with their hearts. At the same time, the scholars advised us against getting carried away with feelings and emotions, against transgressing the boundaries, and against traversing a path other than the path of legislated evidences.
Instead, we are sadly seeing some Muslims (equipped with little or no authentic knowledge) getting emotional, losing perspective, and doing the opposite of what is commanded in the Qur'an and Sunnah - all under the umbrella of "loving and supporting" the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam).
O Muslim, the way to show love and support for the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is not by calling for a boycott of cheese and milk, or staging protests, as genuinely-qualified scholars such as Shaykh Ahmad An-Najmee, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee, Shaykh Ibraheem ar-Ruhaylee, and Shaykh Sulaymaan ar-Ruhaylee (may Allaah preserve them) have clarified and explained in their advice and warnings.
After all, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) did not boycott trading with the Jews in Madina - and the Jews were extremely harsh on the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), insulting him, performing sihr (magic) on him, and even making an attempt on his life. In fact, when the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) died, his breastplate was with a Jew as collateral for about 20 saa' of sha'eer, Shaykh ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee pointed out. Furthermore, Shaykh Ibraheem ar-Ruhaylee reminded us - as had previous scholars - that Allaah made permissible the food of the People of the Book, as well as the animals they slaughter, and even their utensils and dishes.
So beware of seeking to get nearer to Allaah through a means the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) did not command, as he said: "There is nothing that will take you closer to paradise but that I have enjoined it upon you, and there is nothing that will take you closer to hell but that I have warned you from it." [Musnad ash-Shaafi'ee and others]
O Muslim, the way to show your love and support for the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is by following him, and affirming and applying shahadat Laa illaaha il Allaahu Muhammad RasulAllaah. And know, may Allaah guide you, the second part of that kalima - Muhammad RasulAllaah - means four things, as extracted from the Qur'an and Sunnah by the genuine scholars:
1- To obey the Prophet with what he came with
2- To avoid what the Prophet forbade
3- To believe in what the Prophet came with, and
4- To not worship Allaah except how the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) worshipped Allaah, abandoning all other ways that are not legislated in the Qur'an or authentic Sunnah
So if you're a Muslim [and have correct 'aqeedah] and want your deeds to be accepted by Allaah, then you must fulfill the following two requirements (not one, but rather both):
1- Ikhlaas - the deed has to be done sincerely for Allaah alone, seeking only His Face, and not the praise of people, and
2- Legislation - it must be legislated in the Authentic Sunnah
And to those who erroneously insist their intention is sufficient, I invite you to read the following Qur’anic ayah and tafsir carefully and sincerely.
Allaah ('azza wa jall) revealed to His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) the following ayah in Surat Al-Kahf, "So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." {18:110}
Commenting on the ayah, Imaam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) wrote, "So for an action to be acceptable, it has to fulfill two conditions. Firstly, it must be sincere for Allaah alone. Secondly, it must be correct in accordance with the Shari'ah. So if the action is sincere, but not correct, it will not be acceptable." (Tafsirul-Qur'anil 'Adheem (3/114))
Preceding Ibn Katheer in his statement was Al Fudayl Ibn 'Iyaad, a famous taabi'ee (successor of the companions) who said, "The religion of Allaah is the most sincere of it and the most correct of it." It was said, "O Abu 'Ali, what is the most sincere of it and the most correct of it?" He (rahimahullah) said, "If an action is sincere and it is not correct, then it will not be accepted. And if it is correct and it is not sincere, then it will not be accepted until it is sincere and correct. And it will be sincere if it is (done) for Allaah, and it will be correct if it is done upon the Sunnah." (Narrated by Ibn Abi Dunya in his book "Al-Ikhlaas wan Niyyah," p. 50-51, and by Abi Na’eem in "Al Hilyah," v.8 p. 95.)
And preceding Ibn 'Iyaad in his statement was Abdullaah ibn 'Umar (radi Allaahu ‘anhuma) who stated, "Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people regard it as good." [(ad-Daarimee)]
The second requirement for a deed to be accepted by Allaah is that deed's support via authentic proof (authentic Sunnah). So even with ikhlaas (sincerity), the deed will not be accepted by Allaah ('azza wa jall) unless Prophet Muhammad (sallAllaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) did it, or commanded it, or through his tacit approval.
In defense of the noble Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), Shaykh Zaid Al Madhkali said, "As for the Muslims who are truthful in their Islaam, then they don’t see any value in life except when the life contains following the Noble Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). And they seek to get closer to Allaah by loving [His Messenger] just as they seek to get closer to Allaah by following [His Messenger]. As Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says, 'Say (O Muhammad to mankind), if you truly love Allaah then follow me (Muhammad); Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins, and Allaah is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' {Aali-'Imran 3:31} People claimed to love Allaah, although they did not follow the Noble Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), so Allaah tested them with this verse."
So my dear Muslim brothers, after all that has preceded, keep this in mind: Islaam is not based on emotion; rather, Islaam is based on text - the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah. Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyah (rahimahullaah) said: "Knowledge is: Allaah said, His Messenger said, the companions said - without distortion. Knowledge is not your place to shamelessly differ between the Messenger and the opinion of the faqeeh. No!"
So, for the sake of Allaah, I encourage you not to follow the paths of the people of opinions and desires, but rather to refer all matters back to Allaah and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), as Allaah commanded:
...(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. {An-Nisa 4:59}
Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) said, "The Sunnah has been protected from falling into error, and safeguarded from going astray, as the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said in the farewell khutba, 'O people. Indeed, I have left amongst you two things. If you hold firmly to them, you will never go astray: the book of Allaah and the Sunnah of his Prophet.' [Al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, and Ibn 'Abdul-Barr in Jaami'ul-Bayaan]
"The same does not hold true for the opinions and ijtihaadat of men. Due to this, Imaam Malik (rahimahullaah) said, 'I am only a human being. I err and I am correct. So look into my opinions. So everything you find in agreement with the Book [Qur'an] and the Sunnah, then take it. And everything you find that is not in agreement with the Book [Qur'an] and the Sunnah, then leave it off.'" [Jaami'ul-Bayaan (2/32)]
Know, may Allaah guide you, that the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) called first to tawheed and the rectification of 'aqeedah (creed) for 13 years in Makkah before making hijra to Madina, where most of the pillars/rulings of Islaam were sent down. So before the companions performed salat, or gave zakat, or fasted Ramadan or made Hajj, they had rectified their 'aqeedah and had thoroughly learned tawheed.
Is our 'aqeedah the same as the 'aqeedah of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the companions (radiallaahu 'anhum)? Is our minhaj (methodology) the same as that of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the companions? Let's ask ourselves how many times we have sat down with the genuine people of knowledge to learn correct 'aqeedah. Collectively, our embarrassing answers to these questions is why these cartoonists in Denmark and other parts of Europe have the courage to draw those insulting and malicious cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, the seal of all Prophets.
Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "It is about to happen that the nations invite one another to come upon you, just as those invited to a meal come together to eat from a dish." So someone said, "Is that because of our small number on that day? He [the Prophet] said, "Rather, on that day, you will be many, but you will be like the waste-foam found upon flood water. And Allaah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies, and will cast weakness into your hearts." [Abu Dawud (no. 4284), authenticated by Al-Albanee in Silsilatul-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (no. 958)]
The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) - about whom Allaah said: Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only an Inspiration that is inspired. {An-Najm 53:3-4} - told the truth, of course. Recently, the Vatican media announced that Islaam had overtaken Catholicism as the world's most followed religion, yet sadly Muslims today are the dish that non-Muslims gang up to devour. Why? Because many from this Ummah have left off 'aqeedah (even belittling tawheed), fallen into shirk and bid'ah, and have become preoccupied with numbers and dairy products. La Hawla wala Quwata illa billaah. (There is no power or might except by Allaah.)
Shaykh Saalih ibn Abdul-Azeez Aal-Shaykh (may Allaah preserve him) said, "The greatest obligation of the servant is that the servant should be clear about the rights of Allaah from His tawheed, and should call to it, and likewise to warn against shirk and to be free of its people. This is the greatest obligation and that which enters into Allaah's saying: Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Ma'ruf (tawheed and all that Islaam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islaam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. {Aali-'Imran 3:104} Allaah described those who call towards good and prevent from evil as the successful ones. It is not possible to do this except by learning and teaching tawheed."
Yet few are those who today enjoin the good (the greatest ma'ruf being tawheed) and forbid the evil (the greatest munkar being shirk). The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will enjoin righteousness and forbid evil, or Allaah will send a punishment on you from Him. Then, you will supplicate to Him but He will not accept your supplication." [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee]
And this punishment is not limited to the disobedient.
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, “When the people see an evil, and they do not try to change it, then Allaah will cover them all with punishment from Himself.” [at-Tirmidhee, no. 2168]
Shaykh ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: "And when [Allaah's] anger occurs, and His punishment takes place, then it covers both the sinful and obedient, and the protection of Allaah is sought from this. About this, Allaah - The Most High - said: 'And beware of the fitnah (trial and discord) that does not affect in particular only those amongst you who are wrong-doers.'" {Al-Anfal 8:25}
Ibn Baaz said, "From that which there is no doubt about is that sins, and being far removed from the correct Islaamic ’aqeedah (beliefs) – in both sayings and actions – are from the greatest reasons for bringing about crisis and calamities that have befallen the Muslims."
Allaah has revealed: And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. {Ash-Shura 42:30} and Whatever of good reaches you is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you is from yourself...{An-Nisa 4:79}
So these afflictions, calamities and trials we are suffering from are as a result of shirk, bid'ah and sins, and our bewildering refusal to forbid them.
There is hope, all Praise is due to Allaah; we can do something about this, as Allaah says: "O you who believe! If you help Allaah by acting upon what you have been commanded with, then Allaah will plant your feet firmly by giving you victory over your enemies." {Muhammad 47:7}
It is the Sunnah of Allaah that He gives His believers authority in the land and a safe security after their fear, as He gave to His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the companions (radiAllaahu 'anhum), and those before them. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the companions (radiAllaahu 'anhum) secretly called people to tawheed in Makkah, and even in Madina carried weapons night and day out of fear, as long as Allaah willed. Then Allaah revealed "Wa'ada Allaahu Al-Ladheena Aamanu..." (ayah 55 of Surat An-Nur), promising that He would reward the believers with authority in the land, and give them in exchange a safe security after their fear PROVIDED they worshipped Him alone, not associating anything in worship with Him.
Of course, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and the companions (radiAllaahu 'anhum) listened and obeyed. And Allaah - Al-Haqq (The Truth) - did not break His Promise, giving the Prophet, then successor Abu Bakr, then successor 'Umar, then successor 'Uthman victory upon victory upon victory, as they conquered country after country, humiliating disbelieving tyrants such as Kisra, Caesar and Khagan in the process. And by the Permission of Allaah, the Deen of Al-Islaam spread as far West as Spain and as far East as China. [Tafsir Ibn Katheer]
As you can see - may Allaah guide you - there's a condition to this success, and boycotting dairy products is not among them. The condition is: tawheed; we must not worship others along with Allaah. We were born upon this pure fitra (instinct) - all Praise is due to Allaah. And after all, a Muslim is defined as one who submits to Allaah upon tawheed, and upon obedience to Him, freeing himself from shirk and its people.
Yet how many today say "Laa illaaha il Allaah" with the tongue, and alarmingly oppose that very statement by making du'aa (or intercession) to the Prophet, or to the dead/absent, or to a "saint", or by worshipping the graves, or making tawaaf around them (seeking benefit from the dead), or judging by a law other than Allaah's, or believing the soothsayers (or horoscopes), or spreading the kufr-infested ideologies of "Wahdat ul-Wujood" and "Hulool", saying "Allaah is everywhere" or "Allaah is inside me", whereas Allaah has revealed throughout His Noble Qur'an that He is above us, and above His Throne in a manner befitting His Majesty [20:5, 7:54, 10:3, 67:16, 67:17, etc...] - and that He is All-Knowing, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, and His knowledge is everywhere?
Shaykh al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) said, "The greatest danger that faces the Ummah of Islaam is their being far away from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, and replacing them with man-made laws and deviated ideologies. Likewise, the greatest danger that faces the Ummah of Islaam is the misguidance and deviation concerning the 'aqeedah and the infiltration of concepts of kufr, shirk, and bid'ah into it - from the grave-worshippers and the Sufis... The cure for this is to return back to the Book and the Sunnah; learning them, teaching them, judging by them between people, and adopting what they require of morals, manners and character." [Muntaqaa min Fataawaa (I/417; no. 249)]
It's sadly evident that many Muslims today do not know the meaning of Laa illaaha il Allaah [there is none who has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allaah]. Many Muslims today often define Laa illaaha il Allaah erroneously - even stripping worship from the meaning - with definitions that to lead to kufr and shirk, thus partly explaining why a staggering number of worshippers have fallen into worshipping others besides Allaah.
Indeed Wahb Ibn Munabbih, a reliable tabi'ee, was asked, "Is not 'Laa illaaha il Allaah' the key to Paradise?" He replied, "Of course. However, there is no key except that it has teeth. So if you approach it with the correct key, then it will be opened for you. And if not, then it will not be opened for you."
Shaykh Al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him) said, "It's not intended to just say Laa illaaha il Allaah with the tongue and not understand its meaning. It is incumbent that you learn the meaning of Laa illaaha il Allaah. For if you were to say it and not know its meaning, (it would be impossible) for you to believe in that which it points to. For how can you believe in something that you are ignorant of?"
The Shaykh stressed the following advice, "The most important thing in a Muslim's life is to know and understand the meaning of the statement of tawheed (i.e. Laa illaaha il Allaah). It must be understood that the mere articulation of this beautiful statement is not enough to benefit the one who utters it. one must know its meaning, believe in it and act upon it. ...Unfortunately, most of the Muslims today are ignorant of its true meaning." [From the shaykh's work entitled: The True Meaning of the Statement of Tawheed With an Explanation of the False Erroneous Meanings Given to it by Ahlul Bid'ah]
And when evidence is brought to the mushrikeen of this Ummah, many deny, in some cases insisting on intermediaries, arguing that they only seek to get closer to Allaah - oblivious that these were the same exact statements made by the previous polytheists, and oblivious to Allaah's warnings. Among those clear warnings are Allaah's statements: And they worship besides Allaah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allaah." Say: "Do you inform Allaah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?" Glorified and Exalted be He above all that which they associate as partners with Him! {Yunus 10:18}
Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allaah only. And those who take Auliyaa' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allaah." Verily, Allaah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allaah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever. {Az-Zumar 39:3}
Ignorance of the kalima Laa illaaha il Allaah is also the reason why we see ignorant callers - those who don't prioritize correct 'aqeedah nor have knowledge of the categories of tawheed - calling the kufar (disbelievers) to believe in one God, whereas that belief doesn't bring someone into Islam. Shaykh al-Fawzaan said, "If it was sufficient for them to only affirm that Allaah, The Most High, was The Creator and The Sustainer, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam would not have said to the polytheists of Quraysh, 'say Laa illaaha il Allaah.'"
Read Allaah's statement: Say (O Muhammad): "Who provides for you from the sky and from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?" They will say: "Allaah." Say: "Will you not then be afraid of Allaah's Punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allaah)?" {Yunus 10:31}
So the mushrikeen in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) affirmed Tawheed ar-Ruboobiya (the tawheed of Lordship), yet that belief didn't enter them into Islam. Why? Because they set up rivals in worship with Allaah; they devoted some worship to other than Allaah, therefore negating tawheed Uloohiya (the tawheed of worship).
This tawheed of worship is the reason Allaah sent to mankind 313 Messengers who called the people to single out Allaah with all worship. Allaah says: And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him (saying): Laa ilaaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)." {Al-Anbiya 21:25} And it was over this matter of tawheed Uloohiya that the Messengers fought the polytheists, most of whom affirmed the existence of a single Creator and Provider - the likes of Pharaoh excepted - but insisted on worshipping others besides Allaah. Shaykh Al-Fawzaan said, "Laa ilaaha ilAllaah is a great statement which saves from the fire the one who establishes it. All of the Deen (religion) is built upon it, the first of it and the last of it. The call of the Messengers ['alaihimu salam], and every book that was sent down was built upon this statement (Laa ilaaha ilAllaah).”
And know - may Allaah guide you - that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) didn't distinguish between those who worshipped the angels, prophets, righteous, the sun, moon, trees, or stones. He fought them all, as Allaah ordered: And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allaah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allaah (Alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Adh-Dhaalimun (the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.) {Al-Baqarah 2:193}
Shaykh al-Fawzaan said: "For an individual to say 'Laa illaaha il Allaah', but he worships the graves, trees, stones, and seeks to come close to the awliya, the saliheen (righteous people), and also the jinn and the angels, by some act of worship, then he is a mushrik (polytheist) and a kafir (disbeliever) in Allaah. He either affirms Tawheed al-Uloohiyah [singling out Allaah in each and every act of worship] or he will be punished.
"The religion (the meaning of which is worship) like the prayer, fasting, supplication, invocation, fear, hope, a vow, dread, fervent desire, slaughtering, and other than this, all of these are for Allaah alone - all of them. So the person who divides his religion, taking a part for Allaah and another part for other than Him - like the grave or the Wali - then he is a mushrik (polytheist) and a kafir (disbeliever) in Allaah. Allaah said, in a Qudsi hadeeth: 'Verily I am free from associating any partners with Me. So whoever does an action of which he associates with Me, other than Me, then I have left him and left his shirk.'
Allaah says: "And who is more astray than one who calls (invokes) besides Allaah, such as will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls (invocations) to them?" {Al-Ahqaf 46:5}
Compounding matters is that among those from this Ummah who call on other than Allaah - or commit other forms of shirk that exit one from Islaam - are some who don't make tawbah (sincerely repent to Allaah), seemingly blind or fearless of Allaah's severe warnings of dying upon shirk.
Allaah says: Verily, Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allaah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. {An-Nisa 4:48}
Verily! Allaah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom he pleases sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, has indeed strayed far away. {An-Nisa 4:116}
Allaah also warns: Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. ... {Al-Ma'idah 5:72}
Allaah sent these stern warnings to all of mankind, including His Messengers ('alaihimu salam): And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), as it was to those (Allaah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allaah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." {Az-Zumar 39:65}
Allaah commands us to repent to Him for major and minor sins, and to not despair of His Mercy, for the door of Tawbah and Rahmah (Mercy) is expansive.
O you who believe! Turn to Allaah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)... {At-Tahrim 66:8}
Say: "O 'Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. {Az-Zumar 39:53} This Ayah is a call to all sinners, be they disbelievers or others, to repent and turn to Allah. This Ayah tells us that Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, will forgive all the sins of those who repent to Him and turn back to Him, no matter what or how many his sins are, even if they are like the foam of the sea. This cannot be interpreted as meaning that sins will be forgiven without repentance, because Shirk can only be forgiven for the one who repents from it. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
So know - may Allaah guide you - that tawbah (sincere repentence, remorse, resolve to never return to the sin) is the only means of attaining Allaah's forgiveness for major shirk.
Imam Bukhari recorded that Ibn 'Abbas (radiallaahu 'anhuma) said that some of the people of Shirk killed many people and committed Zina (illegal sexual acts) to a great extent; they came to Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and said, "What you are saying and calling us to is good; if only you could tell us that there is an expiation for what we have done." Then the following Ayat were revealed: And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such life as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Tawheed), and do righteous deeds, for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. {Al-Furqan 25:68-70}
For those who make (sincere) tawbah, know - may Allaah accept from you - that Allaah says: And He is Oft-Forgiving, Al-Wadud. {Al-Buruj 85:14}, meaning, He forgives the sin of whoever repents to Him, and humbles himself before [Allaah], no matter what the sin may be. Ibn 'Abbas and others have said about the name Al-Wadud, "It means Al-Habib (the Loving).'' [Tafsir Ibn Katheer]
Allaah also revealed: Declare (O Muhammad) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. And that My Torment is indeed the most painful torment. {Al-Hijr 15:49-50} These two attributes (mercy and punishment) are often mentioned together in the Qur'an, so that people will remain in a state...between hope (for Allaah's mercy) and fear (of His punishment). [Tafsir Ibn Katheer]
Those who are sincere to Allaah will have no difficulty in seeing that shirk and bid'ah are our problem - not cottage cheese - may Allaah bless you. We must learn tawheed, and affirm and establish and then call to tawheed; and we must also learn its opposite (shirk) to avoid falling into it, as we learned from the hadeeth in Sahih Bukhari narrated by Hudhaifa bin al-Yaman, who said, "The people used to ask Allaah's Messenger about the good but I used to ask him about the evil, lest I should be overtaken by them..." Establishing tawheed upon the Sunnah, and forbidding shirk and bid'ah are prerequisits and means of attaining Allaah's Nasr (Help).
May Allaah guide us, unite us upon the haqq (truth), and protect us from hypocrisy, apostasy, kufr, and bid'ah; and may Allaah, who is above His creation, accept our repentance and give us victory over the kufar. Ameen!
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