Hadith #5349

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

بِدَوامِ الشَّكِّ يَحْدُثُ الشِّرْكُ۔

This can be translated as,

By continued doubt [in God], polytheism comes about.

Let us delve into the connotation of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The key word in this Hadith is (shakk) "شَّكِّ", which means doubt or uncertainty. Doubt can arise in various aspects of our faith, such as questioning the existence of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), the authenticity of the Quran, or the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). This doubt, if left unchecked and allowed to persist, can lead to the grave sin of polytheism or shirk.

The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the importance of certainty and warns against doubt. In Surah Al-Hujurat (49:15), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful.

This verse highlights the significance of unwavering belief in Allah and His Messenger, without any room for doubt.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:28), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states,

How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.

This verse reminds us of the power and ability of Allah to create and resurrect, leaving no room for doubt in His existence and authority.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith warns us about the consequences of allowing doubt to persist. Doubt can lead to questioning the oneness of Allah, which is the foundation of our faith. It can lead to associating partners with Allah, which is the gravest sin in Islam. Polytheism or shirk is the antithesis of monotheism and negates the essence of Tawheed.

For example, if a person begins to doubt the existence of Allah, they may start seeking answers elsewhere and turn to false deities or idols. This gradual progression from doubt to polytheism can have severe consequences on one's faith and spiritual well-being. It can lead to a loss of connection with Allah, a deviation from the true path, and ultimately, eternal damnation.

Therefore, it is essential for Muslims to actively combat doubt and strengthen their faith through seeking knowledge, reflecting on the signs of Allah in the universe, and engaging in acts of worship. By doing so, we can protect ourselves from the perils of doubt and safeguard our belief in the oneness of Allah.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of doubt and its potential to lead to polytheism. It urges us to cultivate unwavering certainty in our faith, rooted in the teachings of the Quran and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). By doing so, we can strengthen our relationship with Allah and protect ourselves from the destructive path of shirk. May Allah grant us steadfastness in our faith and protect us from the whispers of doubt.