Beginners guide to Islam (Vol-01)

Shirk (شرك)

Now that I have concluded my writings on Tawheed, it is time to shed some light on the exact opposite subject which is Shirk (شرك). Shirk in simple terms is to ascribe a partner or rival of any sort to Allah in Lordship, worship and in His names and attributes. Comparing Allah to any other being or object in any way is to be considered Shirk and establishing any sort of resemblance like- making a picture of Allah is also to be considered Shirk. Some notable examples of Shirk are: to call upon anyone except Allah, to prostrate to the graves of saints, to swear by anyone except Allah, to sacrifice in the name of any other being besides Allah, to worship man made idols and objects, etc. Allah forbids us from committing Shirk in His Quran:

[4:36]

وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَيْـًٔا

"Serve Allah and ascribe no partner to Him."

[2:22]

فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

"Do not, then, set up rivals to Allah when you know (the Truth)."

Just like Tawheed was preached by all the Prophets (عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام), similarly, Shirk was the common act that all the Prophets (عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام) warned their people about. For instance, Jesus (عليه السلام) warned his people about Shirk:

[5:72]

لَقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ يَٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ

"And surely they disbelieved when they said: 'Christ, the son of Mary, is indeed God'; whereas Christ had said: 'Children of Israel! Serve Allah, Who is your Lord and my Lord.' Allah has forbidden Paradise to those who associate anything with Him in His Divinity and their refuge shall be the Fire."

Just like when Luqman, the Wise, warned his son about Shirk :

[31:13]

یٰبُنَیَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللّٰهِ اِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِیْمٌ

"O my son! Never ascribe anything as a partner to Allah; indeed, ascribing partners to Him is a grave injustice."

In Islam, the worst sin by a man is Shirk and Allah clearly mentions in the Quran:

[31:13]
اِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيْمٌ

"Indeed, ascribing partners to Him is a grave injustice."

From this Ayah of the Quran, it has been made clear that the worst sin is Shirk, the scholars of Islam unanimously agree. The dangers of Shirk is very threatening to all. First of all, Shirk nullifies all good deeds, as mentioned in the Quran:

[39:65]

وَلَقَدْ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَٰسِرِينَ

"It has been revealed to youand to those before you, if you commit Shirk your good deeds shall be nullified and you shall certainly be of the losers."

Moreover, any action except Shirk may be forgiven in the sight of Allah without the sinner making Tawbah (repentance) as He is the Most Merciful. Shirk is absolutely not forgiven unless a Mushrik (one who involves in Shirk) makes Tawbah (repentance) . By this it is meant that, anyone who dies in a state of Shirk, enters hell and is punished there for eternity. There is no salvation for someone who died a Mushrik. Only sincere Tawbah (repentance) is his salvation and a way out of Allah's wrath. The evidence for it is in both Quran and Sunnah. Allah in the Quran says:

[4:48]

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

"Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin."

[14:30]

وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

"They have set up rivals to Allah that they may lead people astray from His way. Tell them: 'Enjoy for a while. You are doomed to end up in the Fire!' "

From the Prophet (ﷺ) in a Sahih Hadith:

"‏ مَنْ مَاتَ وَهْوَ يَدْعُو مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ نِدًّا دَخَلَ النَّارَ ‏"

"Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire)."

In the next few chapters, I will be covering Shirk in more details if Allah wills it.