Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (3/334)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

divinity (1). For that which does nothing is unfit to be worshipped as a lord (2), and Allah has not commanded that it be worshipped. Hence, Allah has demonstrated the impossibility of divinity (3) belonging to any besides Him: at times by showing that it is not a creator, and at other times (4) by showing that He did not command us to worship it (5), as He Most High says:

“Say, ‘Have you considered those whom you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or whether they have any share in the heavens. Bring me a scripture preceding this one, or some vestige of knowledge, if you are truthful.’”

[Surah al-Ahqāf: 4].

This is because (6), concerning the worship of anything besides Allah Most High (7), it might be said that Allah permitted it on account of some benefit it contains (8). He—Glorified is He—therefore made clear that He had not prescribed it, as He Most High says:

“Ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We ever appoint gods besides the Most Merciful to be worshipped?”

[Surah al-Zukhruf: 45]

This is discussed at length elsewhere.

The point here is that this verse demonstrates the impossibility of divinity from the standpoint of the ruin arising from (9) the worship of anything besides Allah Most High. For created beings can attain no well-being except through an object of worship that is desired for its own sake, as the ultimate end of their actions and the final goal of their movements; and anything besides Allah

(1) Manuscripts (N) and (M): *al-ulūhiyya* (divinity). (2) “To be a lord” is omitted from manuscripts (N), (M), and (‘Ayn). (3) Manuscripts (N) and (M): *al-ulūhiyya* (divinity). (4) Manuscripts (A) and (B): “a creator, and at other times by the fact that He”; manuscript (N): “a creator,” with the addition “that He”; manuscript (M): “a creator, and at other times,” with the addition “that He.” (5) “For us” is omitted from manuscripts (N) and (M). (6) Manuscripts (A) and (B): “by the fact that.” (7) “Most High” is an addition in manuscripts (A) and (B). (8) Manuscripts (N) and (M): “some beneficial interest.” (9) Manuscript (N): “and that arising from”; manuscript (M): “and that arising out of.”

الْإِلَهِيَّةِ (١) فَإِنَّ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَا يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَبًّا (٢) يُعْبَدُ وَلَمْ يَأْمُرِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُعْبَدَ؛ وَلِهَذَا بَيَّنَ اللَّهُ امْتِنَاعَ الْإِلَهِيَّةِ (٣) لِغَيْرِهِ تَارَةً بِبَيَانِ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِخَالِقٍ، وَتَارَةً (٤) أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَأْمُرْ بِذَلِكَ لَنَا (٥) كَقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ اِئْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ هَذَا أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ} [سُورَةُ الْأَحْقَافِ: ٤] . وَذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ (٦) عِبَادَةَ مَا سِوَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى (٧) قَدْ يُقَالُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَذِنَ فِيهِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْمَنْفَعَةِ (٨) ، فَبَيَّنَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَشْرَعْهُ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: {وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رُسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ دُونِ الرَّحْمَنِ آلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ} [سُورَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ: ٤٥] وَهَذَا مَبْسُوطٌ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ. وَالْمَقْصُودُ هُنَا أَنَّ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ بَيَانُ امْتِنَاعِ الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ مِنْ جِهَةِ الْفَسَادِ النَّاشِئِ عَنْ (٩) عِبَادَةِ مَا سِوَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ; لِأَنَّهُ لَا صَلَاحَ لِلْخَلْقِ إِلَّا بِالْمَعْبُودِ الْمُرَادِ لِذَاتِهِ، مِنْ جِهَةِ غَايَةِ أَفْعَالِهِمْ وَنِهَايَةِ حَرَكَاتِهِمْ، وَمَا سِوَى اللَّهِ

(١) ن، م: الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ. (٢) يَكُونُ رَبًّا: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) ، (م) ، (ع) . (٣) ن، م: الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ. (٤) أ، ب: بِخَالِقٍ وَتَارَةً بِأَنَّهُ، ن: بِخَالِقٍ زِيَادَةٌ أَنَّهُ، م: بِخَالِقٍ وَتَارَةً زِيَادَةٌ أَنَّهُ. (٥) لَنَا: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) ، (م) . (٦) أ، ب: بِأَنَّ. (٧) تَعَالَى: زِيَادَةٌ فِي (أ) ، (ب) . (٨) ن، م: مِنَ الْمَصْلَحَةِ. (٩) ن: وَالنَّاشِئِ عَنْ ; م: وَالنَّاشِئِ مِنْ.