Class 6
SHIRK
AND ITS TYPES
What is Shirk?
Linguistic Meaning
The word shirk in Arabic means taking a partner, i.e., regarding someone as the partner of another.
Shari`ah
In terms of shari’ah or Islamic terminology, shirk means ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in Lordship (rububiyyah), worship or in His names and attributes.
A rival is a peer or counterpart. Hence Allah forbids setting up rivals with Him and He condemns those who take them (rivals) as gods instead of or besides Allah in many verses of the Quran. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” (al-Baqarah 2:22)
“And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’” (Ibrahim 14:30)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever dies claiming that Allah has a rival, will enter Hell.” (Bukhari & Muslim).
Shirk is the Greatest of Sin
The greatest sin is shirk and transgression against the unique rights of Allah, which are (for Him) to be worshipped and obeyed Alone, with no partner or associate.
Hence Allah has decreed that the mushrikin will abide forever in Hell and has told us that He will not forgive them, and He has forbidden Paradise to them, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” (al-Nisa 4:48)
“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers” (al-Maidah 5:72)
Types of Shirk
Major Shirk
Minor Shirk
The texts of the Quran and Sunnah indicate that shirk and the ascribing of rivals to Allah sometimes puts a person beyond the pale of Islam and sometimes does not. Hence the scholars divided shirk into two types which they call shirk akbar (major shirk) and shirk asghar (minor shirk).
MAJOR SHIRK
The first type, major Shirk , is “Every type of Shirk which the Lawgiver described as such and which puts a person beyond the pale of his religion.”
Types of Major Shirk
1. Shirk may sometimes take the form of beliefs
Such as the belief that there is someone else who creates, gives life and death, reigns or controls the affairs of the universe along with Allah.
Or the belief that there is someone else who must be obeyed absolutely besides Allah, so they follow him in regarding as permissible or forbidden whatever he wants, even if that goes against the religion of the Messengers.
Or they may associate others with Allah in love and veneration, by loving a created being as they love Allah. This is the kind of shirk that Allah does not forgive, and it is the shirk of which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals(to Allah). They love them as they love Allah”(al-Baqarah 2:165)
Or the belief that there are those who know the Unseen as well as Allah. This is very common among some of the deviant sects such as the Rafidis (Shi’ah), extreme Sufis, and Batinis (esoteric sects) in general. The Rafidis believe that their imams have knowledge of the unseen, and the Batinis and extreme Sufis believe similar things about their awliya (“saints”), and so on. It is also shirk to believe that there is someone who bestows mercy in a manner that is befitting only for Allah, so he shows mercy as Allah does and forgives sins and overlooks the bad deeds of his worshippers.
2. Shirk may sometimes take the form of words
Such as those who make du’a or pray to someone other than Allah, or seek his help or seek refuge with him with regard to matters over which no one has control except Allah, whether the person called upon is a prophet, a wali (“saint”), an angel or a jinn, or some other created being. This is a kind of major shirk which puts one beyond the pale of Islam.
Or such as those who make fun of religion or who liken Allah to His creation, or say that there is another creator, provider or controller besides Allah. All of these are major shirk and a grave sin that is not forgiven.
3. Shirk may sometimes take the form of actions
Such as one who sacrifices, prays or prostrates to something other than Allah.
We ask Allah to keep us safe and sound.
MINOR SHIRK
The second type is minor Shirk , which means every kind of speech or action that Islam describes as Shirk, but it does not put a person beyond the pale of Islam.
Types of Minor Shirk
1. Actions, such as swearing an oath by something other than Allah, because the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever swears an oath by something other than Allah is guilty of disbelief or Shirk .
The one who swears an oath by something other than Allah but does not believe that anyone other than Allah has the same greatness as Allah, is a Mushrik who is guilty of lesser Shirk, regardless of whether the one by whom he swore is venerated by people or not. It is not permissible to swear by the Prophet ﷺ, or by the president, or by the Ka`bah, or by Jibril, because this is Shirk, but it is minor Shirk which does not put a person beyond the pale of Islam.
2. Heart / Intention. Another type of minor Shirk is showing off, which means that a person does something so that people will see it, not for the sake of Allah.
3. Belief that something may be a cause of bringing benefit or warding off harm, when Allah has not made it so; or believing that there is barakah (blessing) in a thing, when Allah has not made it so, such as hanging up something like beads or amulets or wearing a talisman or string to dispel or ward off calamity on the grounds that they offer protection or that they ward off the evil eye. But Allah has not made them the means of such protection, either according to shari’ah or according to the laws of the universe.
THE ORIGINS OF SHIRK
Mankind was, in the beginning, a single Ummah (nation) upon Tawheed, the pure worship of Allaah alone. Then Shirk gradually overcame them. The basis for this belief is what Allaah – the Most High – said:
“Mankind was one Ummah (nation), then Allaah sent Prophets bringing good news and warnings.” (Soorah al-Baqarah 2:213).
“Mankind was not except a single Ummah, then they differed.” (Soorah Yoonus 12. 19).
During the time of the Prophet Noah ‘alayhis-salaam, Shirk appeared amongst his people, and they started worshipping idols along with worshipping Allaah.
Allaah – the Most Perfect – said about the people of Noah: “And they said: You shall not forsake your deities / gods, nor shall you forsake Wadd, nor Suwaa’, nor Yaghooth, nor Ya’ooq, nor Nasr.” (Soorah Nooh 71:23).
Ibn ‘Abbaas radiallaahu ‘anhu relates: “These were all idols from Noah’s nation, which eventually ended up amongst the Arabs. Wadd was the idol which was worshipped by the Kalb tribe in the region of Dawmatul-Jandal; Suwaa’ was for the Hudhayl tribe; Yaghooth by the Ghutayf tribe at Jurf near the region of Sabaa; Ya’ooq for the Hamdaan tribe and Nasr was the idol worshipped by the Dhul-Kalaa of the Himayr tribe. Indeed these five idols were the names of righteous men from the nation of Noah. When they died Shaytaan whispered to their people to make statues of them in honour of them, and to place these statues in their places of gathering as a reminder of them, so they did this. However, none from amongst them worshipped these statues, until when that generation passed away and the purpose of the statues was forgotten, the next generation then began worshipping them.“
Muhammad ibn Qays radiallaahu ‘anhu said: “Yaghooth, Ya’ooq and Nasr were a group of righteous men, who were taken as examples to be followed by their people. So when they died their companions said: If we were to make pictures of them it would encourage us to do acts of worship and obedience to Allaah (as they did). So they made pictures of them. However, when they died and the next generation came, Shaytaan whispered to them saying: Your fore-fathers used to worship these righteous men, and it was due to them that it rained. So they began to worship them.”
So the beginnings of Shirk lay in the excessive praise and respect given to certain dead pious Muslims, who – due to peoples’ love for them – became idols that were worshipped and supplicated along with Allaah. So what needs to be understood is why people felt that they had to worship these righteous people along with worshipping Allaah.
TAKING THE DEAD AS INTERCESSORS
Allaah – the One free from all defects – said:
“Indeed We have sent down to you the Book in truth, so worship Allaah alone by making the Religion purely for Him. Surely the Religion, worship and obedience should be for Allaah alone. But those who take as awliyaa (friends and protectors) others along with Allaah say: We only worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allaah. Indeed Allaah will judge between them concerning that in which they differ. Indeed Allaah does not guide those who are liars and disbelievers.” (Soorah az-Zumar 39:2-3).
“And they worship those besides Allaah that can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allaah. Say to them: Do you inform Allaah about that which He does not have knowledge in the heavens and the earth. Glory be to Allaah and how free He is from that which the associate as partners with Him.” (Soorah Yoosuf 10:18).
“So Allaah – the Most Perfect – informed us in these two Aayaat (Verses) that the mushriks had taken others from the creation as awliyaa along with Allaah. They worshipped them along with Him, by offering du’aa (supplication) to them, and directing to them hope (of attaining safety or of being cured from some illness) and fear, sacrifice, vows, and their like claiming that directing such worship to these awliyaa would bring them closer to Allaah and that these awliyaa would then act as intercessors between them and Allaah. Yet Allaah – the the Most Perfect – rejected such claims and made clear its falseness and labeled those who claimed such a thing as being liars and disbelievers!”
“Thus it should be clear to all who have intellect, that the cause of disbelief of the earlier kuffaar (disbelievers) was due to them taking the Prophets, awliyaa, the pious, trees, stones and other things from the creation, as intercessors between them and Allaah, believing that such intercessors would fulfill for them their needs and aspirations, without any permission from Allaah – the Most Perfect – nor His approval. They considered it to be similar to how ministers and advisors intercede on behalf of the people with the worldly kings. So they made a (false) analogy between Allaah – the Most Majestic – and the worldly kings and leaders, saying: lust as a person who wishes to present his needs to a king has to go through the king’s advisors and ministers, then likewise we draw closer to Allaah by making du’aa (supplication) to the Prophets and the awliyaa; taking them as intercessors between us and Allaah. However, this analogy is the height of futility and falsehood. Since Allaah – the One free from all defects – has none that is comparable to Him, nor can analogies be made between Him and His creation. Indeed no one intercedes for His creation, except with His permission. and none will be granted shafaa’a (intercession), except the people of Tawheed. For Allaah – the Most Perfect – has knowledge and power over all things, and is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. He does not fear anyone, nor is frightened by anyone, since He – the Most Perfect – has power and dominion over His slaves and disposes of their affairs as He Wills. This is contrary to the earthly kings and leaders, for they do not have power over everything, nor do they have knowledge about everything. This is why they are dependant upon advisers, ministers and armies to assist them in matters which they, by themselves, are unable to do. They are also in need of being informed about those who are in need, which is another reason for their being surrounded by ministers and advisors. But the Lord – the Mighty and Majestic, the One free from all defects and shortcomings – is free from any type of need or assistance from any of His creation. He is more merciful to them that their mothers and He is the Most Just. And according to His Wisdom, Knowledge and Power, He places all things in their proper place. It is therefore not permissible to compare Allaah with His creation in this manner.”9
DU’AA TO OTHER THAN ALLAAH IS SHIRK
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whosoever dies whilst making du’aa (invocation, supplication) to others besides Allaah, will enter the HellFire.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Tips for Muslims to avoid shirk
Every wise and religiously-committed person should fear shirk (major & minor) for himself and should turn to his Lord, asking Him to help him avoid shirk, as Prophet Ibrahim A.S.said: “and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols” (Ibrahim 14:35).
Now who can claim to be safe from this after Ibrahim A.S.?
So the sincere believer’s fear of shirk should increase as should his desire for his Lord to keep him away from it.
Shirk cannot be completely eliminated unless we exclude the following:
The belief that others share in Allah’s works such as the extreme sufi belief that there are men called Qutub who regulate the universe, even though Allah asked the idolaters: “And who disposes the affairs?” They will say: Allah …“ (V.10:3 1)
The belief that others have the right to be worshipped, such as supplicating to the Prophets and saints for help etc. Allah says: “Say (0 Muhammad ): “I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him.” (V.72:20). And the Prophet ﷺ said: “Supplication is worship.” (Tirmidhi)
The belief that others share in Allah’s Attributes, such as the belief that the Prophets or saints have knowledge of the unseen, Allah says: “Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah.” (V.27:65)
Anthropomorphism (Tashbih), comparing Allah’s Attributes to humans, such as one who says: There must be a mediator between humans and Allah, to whom we address our prayers, just as one cannot meet the ruler or a higher authority (of a nation) except through a mediator, this is comparing the Creator to His creation, a form of Shirk.
And we should say the great du’a which the Prophet ﷺ taught to his Companions when he said to them: “Shirk among you will be more subtle than the footsteps of an ant, but I will teach you something which, if you do it, both minor and major shirk will be kept away from you. Say:
اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ أَنْ أُشْـرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنا أَعْـلَمْ، وَأَسْتَـغْفِرُكَ لِما لا أَعْـلَم
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wa astaghfiruka lima la a’lam
(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware).”
(Ahmad, classed as sahih by al-Albani)
To conclude, lets reflect with gratitude on the immense significance of the words La ilaaha ill Allah—the foundation of our faith, the essence of our submission, and the key to salvation. Lets realise and thank Allah for the greatest blessing of being a Muslim.
Lets Love Tawheed and also recognize the grave consequences of shirk, which opposes the very essence of the Kalimah. Understanding these concepts is not merely academic; it is a call to live our lives consciously devoted to Allah alone, seeking His pleasure in all we do. May what we have learned not remain in words alone, but reflect in our actions, intentions, and hearts.
O Allah, make us among those who truly live by La ilaaha ill Allah in truth and sincerity. Grant us the ability to act upon what we have learned, increase us in knowledge, faith, and certainty. Protect us from shirk and its people, and make us among the sincere believers who live and die upon pure Tawheed with our last words being La Ilaaha Ill Allah.
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TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the Types and meanings.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Recite atleast 3 of the Adhkaar at their recommended times as taught in Class 2. (5 Marks)
IV. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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SUPPORT LEARN ISLAM
Alhamdulillah we have been providing free courses on LEARN ISLAM for over 15years now. We now have employees working in our organisation and need support to fulfil commitments and accomplish goals/projects.
Support LEARN ISLAM in continuing to provide free courses on
Quran & Tajweed.
Various Islamic Topics.
Parenting.
Worldly Skills (like Designing, Excel Sheets etc).
Free Matrimonial Services.
More Projects coming up InShaAllah.