Lesson Seven

Lesson Seven:
Explanation of the Meaning of Alkufru bi-ttaghut [i.e, Rejection of false deities].
Allah (the Most high) said:
﴿لَآ إِكۡرَاهَ فِي ٱلدِّينِۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشۡدُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيِّۚ فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَاۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ٢٥٦﴾ [البقرة: 256].
Meaning: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become distinct from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in taghut [false objects of worship] and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing". Q2: V256. And [Allah] the Most high said:
﴿وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٖ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ﴾ [النحل: 36].
Meaning:" And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid taghut [false objects of worship]". Q16: V36.
And [Allah] the Most high said:
﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجۡتَنَبُواْ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ أَن يَعۡبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ﴾ [الزمر: 17]
Meaning:" And those who have avoided taghut, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allah, for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants". Q39: V17.
Thus, rejection of false deities and servitude to Allah with sincerity and without associating any partner to Him is the [real] meaning of Attauheed [Islamic monotheism]. A servant will not be a Muslim who practices Monotheism until he disbelieves in Attaghut [false deities].The word Attaghut refers to any deity worshiped besides Allah, whether by invoking him, seeking help from him, relying on him, slaughtering for his sake [i.e, to offer sacrifices with the intention of worship to anyone other than Allah] and making vows to him or following him in legalizing what is unlawful and prohibiting the lawful or by referring legislation to him and being satisfied with his judgment.
Ibn Jareer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:" the right [opinion] to me concerning the [meaning of] Attaghut is that, it is a [general term that could be applied to] any oppressor [who claims to be deity], and is worshiped besides Him [i.e, Allah] whether by compulsion from him on the worshiper, or by compliance from the worshiper himself, be it Mankind or Devil or an idol or whatever the deity may be".
Attaghut is one who reaches the greatest extent in tyranny, and averts from the way of Allah frequently and lead astray to a great extent.
There are many false dieties worshiped besides Allah. The most famous and worst among the categories of false deities are three; the accursed Satan, the idols which are worshiped besides Allah and those who prefer to legislate with other than what Allah has revealed.
The first category is; the accursed Satan. He is the source of All acts of shirk and Tyranny. In fact, all acts of worship devoted to deities other than Allah are [in reality] the worship of Satan because he is the source and cause of it. Allah the Exalted said:
﴿۞أَلَمۡ أَعۡهَدۡ إِلَيۡكُمۡ يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ أَن لَّا تَعۡبُدُواْ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوّٞ مُّبِينٞ ٦٠ وَأَنِ ٱعۡبُدُونِيۚ هَٰذَا صِرَٰطٞ مُّسۡتَقِيمٞ ٦١﴾ [یس: 60-61].
Meaning: "Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan – for indeed, he is to you a clear enemy- And that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path". Q36: V60 and 61.
And [He] the Exalted said:
﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَٰلَۢا بَعِيدًا ١١٦ إِن يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ إِنَٰثٗا وَإِن يَدۡعُونَ إِلَّا شَيۡطَٰنٗا مَّرِيدٗا ١١٧ لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنۡ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبٗا مَّفۡرُوضٗا ١١٨ وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمۡ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمۡ وَلَأٓمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ وَلَأٓمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ وَلِيّٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ خَسِرَ خُسۡرَانٗا مُّبِينٗا ١١٩ يَعِدُهُمۡ وَيُمَنِّيهِمۡۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا ١٢٠ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ مَأۡوَىٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ عَنۡهَا مَحِيصٗا ١٢١﴾ [النساء: 116-121].
Meaning: "Indeed Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray (116) They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan (117), Whom Allah has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion(118) And I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will split the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah." And whoever takes Satan as ally instead of Allah certainly sustained a clear loss(119) He [i.e, Satan] promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion(120) The refuge of those will be Hell, and they will not find from it an escape(121). Q4: V16-21.
Allah the (Almighty) has already decreed that the punishment of those who turn away from His remembrance is the domination of devils over them. Allah (the Most high) said:
﴿وَمَن يَعۡشُ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضۡ لَهُۥ شَيۡطَٰنٗا فَهُوَ لَهُۥ قَرِينٞ ٣٦ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهۡتَدُونَ ٣٧ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَنَا قَالَ يَٰلَيۡتَ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكَ بُعۡدَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ فَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡقَرِينُ ٣٨ وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ إِذ ظَّلَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡعَذَابِ مُشۡتَرِكُونَ ٣٩﴾ [الزخرف:36-39].
And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the most merciful- We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion(36) And indeed, they [i.e, the devils] avert them from the way [of guidance] while they think that they are [rightly] guided(37) Until, when he comes to Us [at judgment], he says [to his companion], how I wish there was between me and you the distance between the east and west; and what a wretched companion(38) And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment (39). Q43: V36-39.
And keeping away from this Attaghut is achieved by seeking refuge with Allah from him [i.e, devil] and taking precaution from his deception, and abstention from following his steps, because he is an enemy who clearly misleads.
﴿كُتِبَ عَلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُۥ مَن تَوَلَّاهُ فَأَنَّهُۥ يُضِلُّهُۥ وَيَهۡدِيهِ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ٤﴾ [الحج: 4].
It has been decreed for him [i.e, every devil] that whoever turns to him- will misguide him to the punishment of the blaze. Q21: V4.
Being an ally to the devil is by following his steps believing in his promises and looking up to his desideratum and committing what he decorates among the evil deeds and turning away from Allah's guidance. So, whoever does that has become an ally to the devil.
And the devil attends to Mankind in all of his affairs, just as in an authentic tradition from the Prophet (S.A.W) reported by Muslim in [his book] Assaheeh from the narration of Jabir the son of Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them).
prevention from the devil is achieved by a sincere resort to Allah (the Exalted), and following the guidance of Allah Who protects from the evil of Satan and his polytheism.
And among the things that Allah guided us to, with which we will be protected from the evil of Satan, is by frequently seeking refuge with Allah from him[i.e, Satan], believing in Allah, relying on Him, sincerity to Him, frequent remembrance of Allah and the legislated incantations.
Allah has warned us from following the tracks of Satan, and from committing things with which Satan prevails over, which are contrary to the above mentioned. Thus, weakness in faith, weakness in reliance and sincerity, being heedless of the remembrance of Allah (the Exalted) and negligence of legislated incantations, all these are causes of the prevalence of the devil over a person.
Likewise, that with which Satan gets an inlet into over powering a person, like intense anger, Extreme joy, poring over desires, deviation from the community, solitary, most especially on journey, Gossiping between people, seclusion of man with a woman, evil assumption and frequent visits to suspicious places must all be avoided.
It is legislated for a person to say Bismillah [i.e, in the name of Allah] in every aspect of his life in order to gain blessing and protection from the deception of Satan. So, a servant should say Bismillah when he eats, drinks, enters or leaves his house, when he wakes up in the morning, when he reaches evening, when he rides, when he has sexual intercourse, when he enters into the toilet, and when he intends to sleep.
In saheeh Muslim from the narration of Abu Sa'id Alkhudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that verily, the Prophet (S.A.W) said:
«إذا تَثَاءَبَ أحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَكْظِمْ ما اسْتَطَاعَ؛ فإنَّ الشَّيْطانَ يَدْخُلُ في فِيهِ».
Meaning: "If one of you yawns, he should inhibit as much as possible, because the devil enters into his mouth.
In another narration of Ahmad and Abdurrazzak:
«إِذَا تَثَاءَبَ أَحَدُكُمْ، فَلْيَضَعْ يَدَهُ عَلَى فِيهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَدْخُلُ مَعَ التَّثَاؤُبِ».
Meaning: "If one of you yawns, he should put his hand over his mouth, because the devil enters along with the yawning.
So whoever follows Allah's directives from the guidance, he will be in a fortresses, secured from the evils of Satan, and whoever neglects (the guidance), will not be saved from being affected by some evils , harm and seduction of Satan, due to his negligence.
The second category: the idols that are worshiped besides Allah the (Almighty). These false deities are of different kinds:
Among them are; the idols and statues that are sculptured in the form of images, either images of men or animals, or other things. Among the polytheist are those who claim that these things can benefit and harm, and among them are those who claim that they can intercede for whoever calls on them and seeks closeness to them through sacrifices, vows and ask for the fulfillment of their needs. Allah (the Exalted) said:
﴿قَالَ أَتَعۡبُدُونَ مَا تَنۡحِتُونَ ٩٥ وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمۡ وَمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ ٩٦﴾ الصافات: 95-96].
Meaning: "Do you worship that which you [yourselves] carved. While Allah created you and that which you do? Q37: V95 and 96.
And (the Most high) said:
﴿وَٱتۡلُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَبَأَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٦٩ إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ ٧٠ قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ أَصۡنَامٗا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ ٧١ قَالَ هَلۡ يَسۡمَعُونَكُمۡ إِذۡ تَدۡعُونَ ٧٢ أَوۡ يَنفَعُونَكُمۡ أَوۡ يَضُرُّونَ ٧٣ قَالُواْ بَلۡ وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفۡعَلُونَ ٧٤ قَالَ أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡبُدُونَ ٧٥ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُمُ ٱلۡأَقۡدَمُونَ ٧٦ فَإِنَّهُمۡ عَدُوّٞ لِّيٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٧٧ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهُوَ يَهۡدِينِ ٧٨ وَٱلَّذِي هُوَ يُطۡعِمُنِي وَيَسۡقِينِ ٧٩ وَإِذَا مَرِضۡتُ فَهُوَ يَشۡفِينِ ٨٠ وَٱلَّذِي يُمِيتُنِي ثُمَّ يُحۡيِينِ ٨١ وَٱلَّذِيٓ أَطۡمَعُ أَن يَغۡفِرَ لِي خَطِيٓ‍َٔتِي يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ ٨٢﴾ [الشعراء: 69-82].
Meaning: "And recite to them the news of Abraham(69),
When he said to his father and his people, what do you worship?(70)
They said, we worship idols and remain to them devoted(71)
He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate?(72)
Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?(73)
They said, "But we found our fathers doing that.(74)"
He said, "Then do you see what you have been worshiping,(75) You and your ancient fore fathers?(76)
Indeed they are enemies to me except the Lord of the worlds(77) Who created me and [it is He] who guides me(78)
And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink(79)
And when I am ill, it is He who cures me(80)
And who cause me to die and then bring me to life(81)
And who I aspire that He will forgive me my seen on the day of Recompense (82). Q26: V69-82.
And (the Most high) said:
﴿۞وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ رُشۡدَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِۦ عَٰلِمِينَ ٥١ إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنتُمۡ لَهَا عَٰكِفُونَ ٥٢ قَالُواْ وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا لَهَا عَٰبِدِينَ ٥٣ قَالَ لَقَدۡ كُنتُمۡ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُمۡ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ ٥٤ قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ أَمۡ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱللَّٰعِبِينَ ٥٥ قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمۡ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ ٥٦ وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصۡنَٰمَكُم بَعۡدَ أَن تُوَلُّواْ مُدۡبِرِينَ ٥٧﴾ [الأنبیاء: 51-57].
Meaning: "And We had certainly given Abraham his sound judgment, before, and We were of him well- knowing (51)
When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?" (52)
They said, "We found our fathers worshipers of them (53)
He said, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error (54)
They said "Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?" (55)
He said, "No, rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify (56)
And [I swear] by Allah, I will surely plan against your Idols after you have turned and gone away" (57) Q21: V51-57.
And among [the examples of] idols, are some trees and stones that are dignified, in which some polytheists have Infidel beliefs. Thus, they believe that it [possesses] benefit and harm, and that they intercede with God almighty for those who invokes them and draw near to them.
Indeed the idols, trees and stones that were worshiped in the pre-Islamic era were too many, even around the Kaaba alone; there were three hundred and sixty idols, which were destroyed by the Prophet (S.A.W) on the conquest of Makah. There were in some Arab neighborhoods, trees and many stones that are glorified and worshiped besides Allah Almighty.
And among [the examples of] idols, are the graves, scenes, sepulchers and shrines that are worshiped besides Allah Almighty. Thus, they circumambulate around it, for the sake of worship, they offer sacrifices to them, offering vows and wealth to them. On some of them were custodians and male servants keeping (people) away from the path of Allah, and eating their wealth unlawfully, and decorating for them, the act of seeking fulfillment of needs from the dead and repulsion of afflictions.
The Prophet (S.A.W) has already said:
«اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْ قَبْرِي وَثَنًا يُعْبَدُ» [رواه مالك].
Meaning:" O God, do not make my grave an idol that is worshiped. Reported by Malik.
In fact, the Prophet (S.A.W) forbade taking graves for mosques, to avoid worshiping the deceased buried there in.
Jundubu the son of Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: verily the Prophet (S.A.W) said:
«إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانُوا يَتَّخِذُونَ قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ وَصَالِحِيهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ، أَلاَ فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوا الْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ، إِنِّي أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ» [رواه مسلم].
Meaning: "verily, those who preceded you used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that. Reported by Muslim.
And Abu Ubaidah Amir the son of Aljarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
«كَانَ آخِرُ مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ نَبِيُّ اللهِ : أَنْ أَخْرِجُوا يَهُودَ الْحِجَازِ مِنْ جَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِ، وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ شِرَارَ النَّاسِ الَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ الْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ» [مسند أحمد].
Meaning:" The last statement spoken by the prophet of Allah was; expel the Jews of Hijaz from the Arabian Peninsula, and know that the evil people are those who take graves as places of worship. Reported by Ahmad.
Taking graves as places of worship means to pray on it, or towards it, or to build mosque on it. Whoever does one of these three has fallen into a forbidden act.
And among idols are; those things that symbolize shirk and worship of [deities] besides Almighty Allah, such as slogans and suspensions. As in sunan Attirmidhy, the Prophet (S.A.W) saw on the neck of Adyy the son of Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) a cross made of gold, he said to him:
«يَا عَدِيُّ اطْرَحْ عَنْكَ هَذَا الوَثَنَ».
Meaning: "O Adyy! Throw away from you this idol.
The point is that whatever is worshiped besides Allah is a taghut, be it an idol, stone, grave or anything else. Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (S.A.W) has indeed said:
«يَجْمَعُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَقُولُ: مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ شَيْئًا فَلْيَتَّبِعْهُ، فَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الشَّمْسَ الشَّمْسَ، وَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الْقَمَرَ الْقَمَرَ، وَيَتْبَعُ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الطَّوَاغِيتَ الطَّوَاغِيتَ» [متفق عليه].
Meaning:" On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will gather all the people and say, 'Whoever used to worship anything should follow that thing. So, he who used to worship the sun will follow it, and he who used to worship the moon will follow it, and he who used to worship false deities will follow them. (Agreed upon).
This followership will be to the Hell fire, as Allah (the Exalted) said:
﴿إِنَّكُمۡ وَمَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ حَصَبُ جَهَنَّمَ أَنتُمۡ لَهَا وَٰرِدُونَ ٩٨ لَوۡ كَانَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ءَالِهَةٗ مَّا وَرَدُوهَاۖ وَكُلّٞ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٩٩ لَهُمۡ فِيهَا زَفِيرٞ وَهُمۡ فِيهَا لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ ١٠٠﴾ [الأنبیاء: 98-100].
Meaning: "Indeed, you [disbelievers] and what you worship other than Allah are the firewood of Hell. You will be coming to [enter] it (98) Had these [false deities] been [actually] gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein (99) For them therein is heavy sighing, and they therein will not hear (100). Q21: V 98-100.
These verses indicate that these idols will not benefit its worshipers [with anything] rather; it will be thrown into the [Hell] fire on the Day of Judgment together with those who worship it besides Almighty Allah severely.
But he who is worshiped besides Allah while he is not pleased with it is not a taghut. On the contrary, it is the polytheists that have taken him as deity, Lord, and taghut thereby exaggerating in his rights because of their belief in him. Allah (the Exalted) said:
﴿ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡمَسِيحَ ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَٰهٗا وَٰحِدٗاۖ لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ ٣١﴾ [التوبة: 31].
Meaning: "They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. Q9: V31. And (the Most high) said:
﴿إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقَتۡ لَهُم مِّنَّا ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ عَنۡهَا مُبۡعَدُونَ ١٠١ لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ حَسِيسَهَاۖ وَهُمۡ فِي مَا ٱشۡتَهَتۡ أَنفُسُهُمۡ خَٰلِدُونَ ١٠٢ لَا يَحۡزُنُهُمُ ٱلۡفَزَعُ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّىٰهُمُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ هَٰذَا يَوۡمُكُمُ ٱلَّذِي كُنتُمۡ تُوعَدُونَ ١٠٣﴾ [الأنبیاء:101-103].
Meaning: "Indeed, those for whom the best [reward] has preceded from Us- they from it [i.e, hell fire] far removed (101) They will not hear its sound, while they are, in that which their souls desire, abiding eternally (102) They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will meet them, [saying],"This is your day which you have been promised"- (103). Q21: V101-103.
Likewise, the pious servants of Allah that are worshiped by the polytheists unjustly and falsely are innocent of this polytheism. But he who agreed to be worshiped besides Allah, or called people to worship him, no doubt is [among the] False deities, as Pharaoh said to his companions:
﴿مَا عَلِمۡتُ لَكُم مِّنۡ إِلَٰهٍ غَيۡرِي﴾ [القصص: 38].
Meaning: "I have not known you to have a god other than me,"
The third category: Those who legislate with other than Allah's revelation.
Whoever has authority over people in a [particular] city among the cities, and turns away from referring legislation to the laws of Allah in them, and rule them with his own legislations, thereby legalizing for them what Allah prohibited and prohibiting for them what Allah legalized, then he is a taghut, who wishes to be worshiped besides Almighty Allah, and worshiping him means obeying him in legalizing the unlawful and prohibiting the lawful.
The proof for that is an authentic narration from Addy the son of Hatim Atta'iyya (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet (S.A.W) reciting the sayings of Allah (the exalted):
﴿ٱتَّخَذُوٓاْ أَحۡبَارَهُمۡ وَرُهۡبَٰنَهُمۡ أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ﴾ [التوبة: 31].
Meaning: "They have taken their scholars and monks as Lords besides Allah. Q9: V31.
He said; I then said, truly we do not worship them. He [the Prophet] then said:
«أليسَ يُحَرِّمونَ ما أحَلَّ اللهُ فتُحَرِّمُونَه، ويُحِلُّونَ ما حَرَّمَ اللهُ فتَسْتَحِلُّونَه؟»
Meaning:" do they not forbid what Allah legalized and you accept it forbidden? And legalize what Allah prohibited and you accept it lawful? I said: indeed.
«فَتِلْكَ عِبَادتُهم». [رواه البخاريُّ في التاريخِ الكبيرِ، والتِّرمذِيُّ والطَّبَرانِيُّ، واللفْظُ له]
He said: 'that is [what is meant by] worshiping them". Narrated by Albukhari in [his book] tarikhul kabir, and Attirmidhy and Attabarany and these wordings are his.  
And Hudhaifah the son of Al-Yamaan (may Allah be pleased with them) said:
«أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا لَهُمْ، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مَا أَحَلُّوا لَهُمْ مِنْ حَرَامٍ اسْتَحَلُّوهُ، وَمَا حَرَّمُوا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْحَلاَلِ حَرَّمُوهُ؛ فَتِلْكَ رُبُوبِيَّتُهُمْ». [رواه سعيدُ بنُ مَنصورٍ]
Meaning: "Certainly, they have not prayed to them, but they are compliant to what they legalize for them from the unlawful, and what they forbid on them from the lawful they accept it unlawful. Hence, that is Deism".
And among the False deities are the Soothsayers, fortune tellers and the magicians, who claim to have knowledge of the unseen, and the ignorant and misguided are referring legislation to them. Allah the Exalted said:
﴿أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَزۡعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبۡلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَقَدۡ أُمِرُوٓاْ أَن يَكۡفُرُواْ بِهِۦۖ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمۡ ضَلَٰلَۢا بَعِيدٗا ٦٠﴾ [النساء: 60].
Meaning: "Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to taghut while they were commanded to reject it, and Satan wishes to lead them far astray. Q4: V60.
The Prophet (S.A.W) forbids going to the fortune-tellers and magicians.
Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Indeed, the Prophet (S.A.W) said:
«مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ، فَقَدْ كَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم». [رواه الإمامُ أحمد من حديثِ أبي هُريرةَ].
Meaning: "Whoever goes to a soothsayer or fortune-teller, and believed him in what he says, has indeed, disbelieved with what is revealed to Muhammad (S.A.W). Reported by Ahmad from the narration of Abu huraira (may Allah be pleased with him).
Ibnu Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
«مَن أتى كاهِنًا أو سَاحِرًا فصَدَّقه بما يقولُ فقد كَفَرَ بما أُنْزِلَ على مُحَمَّدٍ». [رواه البَزَّارُ].
Meaning: "Whoever goes to a soothsayer or magician, and believed him in what he says, has indeed, disbelieved with what is revealed to Muhammad (S.A.W). Reported by Al-Bazzar.
And turning away from the Rules of Allah and referring to His legislation, and requesting for the laws of taghuts is among the acts of Hypocrites which Allah dispraised in His Holy book. Thus, Allah said:
﴿وَيَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعۡنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٞ مِّنۡهُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ ذَٰلِكَۚ وَمَآ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٤٧ وَإِذَا دُعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ إِذَا فَرِيقٞ مِّنۡهُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ ٤٨ وَإِن يَكُن لَّهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ يَأۡتُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِ مُذۡعِنِينَ ٤٩ أَفِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ أَمِ ٱرۡتَابُوٓاْ أَمۡ يَخَافُونَ أَن يَحِيفَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَرَسُولُهُۥۚ بَلۡ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ٥٠ إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوۡلَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ لِيَحۡكُمَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَاۚ وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٥١ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَيَخۡشَ ٱللَّهَ وَيَتَّقۡهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡفَآئِزُونَ ٥٢﴾ [النور: 47-52].
Meaning: "But they [i.e, the Hypocrites] say, "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are not believers (47) And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them, at once a party of them turns aside [in refusal] (48) But if the right is theirs, they come to him in prompt obedience (49) Is there disease in their hearts? Or have they doubted? Or do they fear that Allah will be unjust to them, or His Messenger? Rather, it is they who are the wrong doers [i.e, the unjust] (50) The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey." And those are the successful (51) And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger and fears Allah and is conscious of Him- it is those who are the attainers (52). Q24: V47-52.
Chapter: And whoever follow False deities, his followership will only increase him in misguidance, losses and darkness. However, whoever disbelieves in taghut and believed in Allah and follow His guidance, verily Allah will take him out of darkness to light, and guide him to the ways of peace and admit him into His mercy and grace.
Allah the Exalted said:
﴿ٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ يُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَوۡلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّٰغُوتُ يُخۡرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِۗ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِۖ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ٢٥٧﴾ [البقرة: 257].
Meaning: "And Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into the light. And those who disbelieve – their allies are taghut. They take them out of the light into darkness. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide eternally therein. Q2: V257.
Hence, those false deities will be thrown together with their allies into the darkness of polytheism, ignorance, misguidance, puzzled doubt, depressed life and bad [condition] in the present [life] and the end (hereafter).
Whereas those who believe in Allah, the Almighty Allah is their ally that will drive them out of darkness to the light. Thus, He will drive them out of the darkness of polytheism to the light of monotheism, and from humiliation of sin to the glory of obedience, and from aberration of innovations to the way of Sunnah, and from puzzlement of doubt to the coolness of certainty. And He will drive them out of narrowness and straits to affluence and comfort, and from worry, fear and sadness to tranquility, peace and calmness. Allah increases those who are guided, in guidance. Thus, every day they are in [a continuous] increment in good and guidance, their stages are [always] in advance and their rewards are duplicated.
﴿ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٤﴾ [الجمعة: 4].
This is the bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. Q62:V4