WILAYAH AT-TAKWINIYYAH AND "SHIRK" (POLYTHEISM)

[Taqavi]

Is Wilayah at-takwiniyyah "shirk"(polytheism)?

 

In Islam, there is nothing more important and fundamental than " Tawhid" (monotheism). As there is no belief more dangerous, corrupt and false than "Shirk"(polytheism):

" To consider things equal to God is like one falling from the sky who is snatched away by the birds or carried away by a strong wind to a far distant place."[1]

In the matter of Wilayat at-takwiniyyah and Wilayah at-tashri’iyyah, the authorities and virtues of the Prophets and Saints, full attention should be paid to these two issues(Tawhid and Shirk).

"Tawhid" should be preserved 100% and the creature is not recognized as the creator, and excessive belief in the status of prophets and saints and the expression of their guardianship in a way that causes "shirk" should be avoided.

On the other hand, defect should also be avoided and one should not deny the virtues and positions held by prophets and imams under the pretext of avoiding polytheism.

At-tafwiz (devolution), which is invalid and contrary to monotheism, has two meanings:

First, the servants should be independent and active in their works, and there is no divine judgment and destiny, the actions of the servants should be outside the scope of the divine will and order in the world of creation.

Second, the matter of creation, sustenance, rebirth, healing of the sick, planning of the universe have been left to prophet, imam or to others who are independent agents in these matters, and God has withdrawn from the planning of affairs and actions. and entrusted the world to someone else. It is clear that at-tafwiz (devolution) in these two meanings is against rational and Shariah proofs.[2]

But the servant's ability, in a related and non-independent manner and by God's permission, to do such as rebirth, healing of the sick, planning of the universe, not as managing affairs and creating creatures independently, of course  it is not "shirk". [3]

Based on this, although God is the true owner of the wilayah, He gives it to whomever He wants, that person's wilayah is also a part of the divine wilayah, as He gave this wilayah to Jesus, and Jesus resurrected a dead person who according to nature should not be alive again, or gave life to a statue with God's permission[4]. And the difference with the Wilayat of Allah is that Allah’s authority is universal, absolute, permanent, and original while for the infallibles it’s restricted, partial and borrowed since they have received it from Allah (swt). So this guardianship of prophets and infallible imams does not enter into the circle of disbelief and polytheism.

 

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[1]. Al-Hajj: 31, ""وَمَن یُشْرِکْ بِاللّه ِ فَکَأَنَّما خَرَّ مِنَ السَّمآءِ فَتَخْطَفُهُ الطَّیْرُ أَوْ تَهْوِی بِهِ الرِّیحُ فِی مَکانٍ سَحِیق

[2] . Uyun Akhbar al-Reza/Vol.1/p.124, «مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللّه َ عَزَّوَجَلَّ یَفْعَلُ أَفْعالَنا، ثُمَّ یُعَذِّبُنا عَلَیْها، فَقَدْ قالَ بِالْجَبْرِ. وَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللّه َ فَوَّضَ أَمْرَ الْخَلْقِ وَالرِّزْقِ إِلی حُجَجِهِ علیهم السلام ، فَقَدْ قالَ بِالتَّفْوِیضِ. وَالْقآئِلُ بِالْجَبْرِ کافِرٌ، وَالْقآئِلُ بِالتَّفْوِیضِ مُشْرِکٌ"

[3] . Wilayah at-takwiniyyah and Wilayah at-tashri’iyyah /Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani/p22-26.

[4] .Al-Imran: 49, " "أَنِّي أَخْلُقُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَةِ الطَّيْرِ فَأَنْفُخُ فِيهِ فَيَكُونُ طَيْرًا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ...