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Doctrine and Sects

The difference between a mushrik and a kaafir

source: silsilat ul-hudā wa nnūr ~ the series of guidance and light ~ tape no. 727 Question #7: “Is every mushrik (one who associates partners with Allāh) a kāfir (disbeliever), but not every kāfir is a mushrik? Or are they the same?” Shaykh al-Albāni answers: “This is the established understanding in people’s minds, except few of them. I will explain that with an example: a man bears witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allāh and that…

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The Origins of Shirk

Author: Shaykh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani From that which has been established in the Sharee’ah (prescribed law) is that mankind was – in the beginning – a single nation upn true Tawheed, then Shirk (directing any part or form of worship, or anything else that is solely the right of Allaah, to other than Allaah) gradually overcame them. The basis for this is the saying of Allaah – the Most Blessed, the Most High: “Mankind was one Ummah, then Allaah sent…

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Mocking the religion is major disbelief

Q: “With regard to mocking the religion, which was mentioned in Allaah’s Statement: {Say: Was it Allaah and His Aayaat (verses, revelations, proofs, lessons, signs) and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed},1 is the disbelief here kufr i`tiqaadi (disbelieving by one’s heart) or kufr `amali (disbelieving by one’s limbs)?”2 Shaikh al-Albaani: “No doubt, this is kufr i`tiqaadi, indeed this is disbelief with two horns (i.e. it is clear disbelief) because it…

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Ahmadiyyah

Ahmadiyyah (Part 1 of 3): The Prophet, may God praise him, said: ‘I asked God for three things, He gave me two and didn’t give me one. I asked God to save my nation from being destroyed by natural calamities and He gave it to me. I asked God to protect my nation from defeat at the hands of a foreign enemy and He gave it to me. I asked God to save my nation from being destroyed from within,…

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The Names of God

In any discussion about the Names of God, it is important to understand that Muslims believe in One True God, the only Creator, the One Who has Dominion over all that exists, has ever existed or will come to exist. A Muslim worships the same One God whom all the Prophets worshipped. “…were you witnesses when death approached Jacob? When he said unto his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They said, ‘We shall worship your God, the God…

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Who are the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

(part 1 of 3): Christians or cult members? In 2011 it was estimated that there were more than 7.6 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in over 109 thousand congregations, in more than 200 countries.[1] As the name suggests, it is an evangelical religion. Members, of both genders and of all ages, actively go from door to door, attempting to share their version of the Bible with the public in their communities. You may have noticed them in your own community; usually small…

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What is Taoism?

(part 1 of 2): An Introduction Taoism is an ancient Chinese tradition of philosophy and religious belief also referred to as Daoism which is said to be a more accurate way of saying the Chinese word in English. The Tao (in Taoism) is usually translated as ‘the way’. It is very difficult to estimate the number of Taoists in the world, especially in mainland China where religion was outlawed under the strict communist rule. However estimates have ranged from 30…

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Shinto

(part 1 of 2): What is Shintoism? According to the Princeton online dictionary Shintoism is the ancient indigenous religion of Japan. It lacks a formal dogma and is characterised by the veneration of nature spirits and ancestors.[1] The name Shinto comes from Chinese characters for Shen (‘divine being’), and Tao (‘way’) and means ‘Way of the Spirits’.[2] It is extremely difficult to estimate the number of Shinto adherents throughout the world. Some sources give numbers in the range of 2.8…

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Mormonism

(part 1 of 2): Who are the Mormons? Mormonism – the doctrines and practices of the Mormon Church based on the Book of Mormon.[1] Mormons are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name Latter-day comes from the belief that after the death of the early apostles, the Christian church fell into apostasy and needed to be restored in the “latter days”.[2] The Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS) was established in 1830 and since that time…

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Wicca

(part 1 of 2) What is Wicca? The word wicca comes from the Saxon root wicce, loosely translated as “wise” or “to bend or shape the unseen forces.” Wicca is the largest of the Neopagan[1] religions which are reconstructions of ancient abandoned pagan belief systems, including Celtic, Egyptian, Greek, Norse, Roman, and other traditions. Thus as an earth-centered religion, Wicca’s origins predate Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Wicca could be termed one of the oldest religions in the world;…

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