Is It Shirk to Look for Validation from Other Than Allah?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

We do acts of worship for Allah alone. However, in this link it says to look for validation from Allah and His Messenger. How do we do so without making our worship for someone other than Allah?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for your sincerity. Seeking validation from Allah and His Messenger is that you seek to worship Allah alone, as that is what the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught his umma.

Mu`adh narrated, “While I was a companion rider with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), he said, ‘O Mu`adh!’ I replied, ‘Labbaik wa Sa`daik.’ He repeated this call three times and then said, ‘Do you know what Allah’s Right on His slaves is?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Allah’s right on His slaves is that they should worship Him (alone) and should not join partners in worship with Him.’ He said, ‘O Mu`adh!’ I replied, ‘Labbaik wa Sa`daik.’ He said, ‘Do you know what the right of (Allah’s) slaves on Allah is if they do that (worship Him Alone and join none in His worship)? It is that He will not punish them.’” [Bukhari]

Please see these links as well:

• The Meaning of Worship and Submission in Islam
• Did Allah Create Us To Worship Him or To Test Us?
• What Is the Purpose Of Worship?

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.