The Four Foundations of Shirk - QSEP

If you know that Allah created you for His worship, (then know that)
worship is not correct and pleasing to Allah unless it satisfies two
conditions. If either of the conditions is not fulfilled, the worship is
nullified.
First condition: (the worship should be performed) solely for Allah's
Sake without Shirk. If Shirk was to make way into the worship, then it
is nullified just like purification which is nullified by impurity.
Similarly, if you worship Allah, and then commit Shirk, your worship
is nullified.
Second condition: Following the Messenger. Any act that was not
taught by the Messenger is false and rejected because it is an
innovation. The Prophet said, "Whosoever performs an act which
we have not commanded, it is rejected." [Saheeh Muslim] and in
another narration, “Whosoever introduces in this affair of ours that
which is not from it, will have it rejected.” [Agreed upon]
So, the worship has to conform to what the Messenger came
with, and not people's desires, intentions and aims.
If there is no proof from the Shree'ah for the act, then it is an
innovation. It does not benefit the doer. Rather it harms him because
it is a sin even if one thinks that it will take him closer to Allah.
So, it is necessary for the worship to conform to these two conditions;
(i) Ikhlas (sincerity in worshiping Allah) and
(ii) following the Messenger.
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