Those who call themselves imams or jihadis, whose declared purpose and dedication is to place themselves as necessary barriers or mediators between any individual soul and Allah, thereby positioning themselves in a role that inherently involves shirk (associating partners with Allah).
The Quran speaks clearly and repeatedly on this matter, condemning any who insert themselves or are inserted by others, as obligatory intermediaries, lords, or authorities that stand between the servant and his Lord, obstructing the direct, unmediated bond that Allah has established with every human being.
Allah addresses this directly in describing how some communities elevated their religious figures to a status rivalling Him:
"They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him." (9:31, Surah At-Tawbah)
This verse criticises the act of obeying human religious authorities (scholars, rabbis, monks, or any self-proclaimed guides) in ways that contradict or override Allah's direct commands, treating their rulings, interpretations, or presence as essential to reaching Allah, rather than turning to Him alone. The Quran declares that people were commanded to worship and obey Allah exclusively, without such barriers. When any imam, leader, or fighter claims or accepts a role where they must stand "between" the individual and God, demanding allegiance, mediation through them, or positioning their authority as indispensable, this echoes the very error condemned here: attributing lordship (rububiyyah) or exclusive access rights to created beings.
Allah further warns against those who distort revelation or follow desires to elevate themselves:
"And they worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say: 'These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say, 'Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?' Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him." (10:18, Surah Yunus)
Here, the false claim of intermediaries who "bring one nearer to Allah" or act as required go-betweens is labeled as association (shirk). No human, be they an imam guiding in prayer, a scholar issuing fatwas, or a jihadi leader calling for struggle, possesses independent power to mediate, intercede, or control access to Allah without His explicit permission. To assert such a default role as essential puts one in the position of those who fabricate partners for Allah.
On intercession itself, the Quran is unequivocal: it belongs solely to Allah, and no one intercedes except by His leave and certainly not as a permanent, self-appointed bridge in worldly affairs:
"Say: To Allah belongs [all] intercession entirely. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Then to Him you will be returned." (39:44, Surah Az-Zumar)
"Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?" (2:255, Ayat al-Kursi)
"And intercession does not benefit with Him except for whom He permits." (34:23; similar in 20:109, 21:28)
No imam, no fighter in the path they claim as jihad, no leader of any group has the right to position themselves as a necessary intercessor or gatekeeper in this life. To do so by intent or design, demanding that individuals go through them for spiritual guidance, forgiveness, victory, or connection to Allah, constitutes a form of shirk, as it divides Allah's exclusive rights (worship, supplication, obedience in religion) with created beings. The Quran calls every soul to direct reliance on Allah:
"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me." (2:186)
"And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.'" (40:60)
The path is direct: repent, supplicate, strive in righteousness, and seek Allah alone. No human intermediary is required or permitted to insert themselves as obligatory.
As for those dedicated to jihad or leadership who assert such mediation, whether by claiming exclusive interpretation of the path, demanding bay'ah (pledge) that rivals obedience to Allah, or positioning their struggle as the sole means to divine favour, the Quran warns against following desires or human inventions that obscure tawhid:
"Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allah has sent him astray due to knowledge...?" (45:23)
"So do not obey the disbelievers, but strive against them with it [the Quran] a great striving." (25:52)
True striving (jihad) in the Quran is for Allah's cause, defending the oppressed, establishing justice, struggling against one's lower self but never to elevate the striver himself as a barrier or lord between people and their Creator.
Beware of any who claim such a default position; it risks the gravest sin. Turn directly to Allah through His words in the Quran, seek His forgiveness, and establish your connection without veils or self-appointed guardians.
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