Did the early scholars explicitly state the dangers of shirk (idolatry) as explicitly as Ibn Taymiyyah and those who followed him among the Salafi scholars, or did they only allude to it indirectly? If they did not explicitly state it, what was the reason?

The Holy Quran is replete with verses calling for monotheism and warning against polytheism, such as polytheism in supplication, obedience, and love.

In the Sunnah of the Prophet, there is clarification regarding polytheism in obedience, swearing by other than Allah, showing off (riya'), and the curse upon whoever slaughters for other than Allah.

Most types of polytheism appeared in the fourth and fifth centuries AH, after the Rafidah Al-Ubaydiyyeen gained control over the Maghreb, Egypt, and Hijaz. They glorified graves, erected shrines, and established mawlids (celebrations of the Prophet's birthday or saints' birthdays), which led to the spread of polytheism.

Shaykh Saleh Al Al-Shaykh mentioned that the Ismailis, especially the Ikhwan Al-Safa (Brethren of Purity), were the first to return Muslims to the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era of ignorance) in belief concerning spirits and graves. They were followed by the Musawiyyun (Twelver Shi'ites) in sanctifying the interred.

With the emergence of this polytheism, scholarly discourse condemning it became abundant.

The article presented the statements of scholars on this matter:

1. Qatadah: He explained that polytheism occurs by invoking another deity alongside Allah, prostrating to other than Allah, or dedicating sacrifices to other than Allah. 2. Abu Muhammad Al-Barbahaaree: He mentioned that apostasy from Islam occurs by rejecting a verse from the Book of Allah, or a narration from the Sunnah, or by slaughtering for other than Allah, or praying to other than Allah. 3. Ibn Aqil Al-Hanbali: He considered glorifying graves with what the Shariah has forbidden, such as lighting fires, kissing them, and addressing the dead, as disbelief. 4. Al-Razi: He clarified that polytheists worship idols to take them as intercessors with Allah, and that this resembles the glorification of graves of great figures by many people to take them as intercessors.

Scholars continued to clarify monotheism and its opposite, and this clarification intensifies when there is a dire need due to the spread and prevalence of polytheism.