Shirk vs Islam

[FatimaAsSideqah]

as-salaam alaykum

Shirk Means Setting up partners in worship with Allah, swt which is Unforgivable sin

Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin [Al-QUR'aN Surah:4:48]

And Allah judges with truth, while those to whom they invoke besides Him, cannot judge anything. Certainly, Allah! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. [Al-QUR'aN Surah Ghafir (40) Ayah 20]

Hadith - Qudsi 5: I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus he who does an action for someone else's sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.

From that which has been established in the Sharee'ah (prescribed law) is that mankind was - in the beginning - a single nation upon true Tawheed, then Shirk (directing any part or form of worship, or anything else that is solely the right of Allah, to other than Allah) gradually overcame them. The basis for this is the saying of Allah - the Most Blessed, the Most high:

"Mankind was one Ummah, then Allah sent prophets bringing good news and warnings." (Surah Baqarah 2:213)

Ibn 'Abbas - radiallaahu 'anhu - said: "Between Nooh (Noah) and Adam were ten generations, all of them were upon Sharee'ah (law) of the truth, then they differed. So Allah sent prophets as bringers of good news and as warners" Related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree in his tafseer (4/275) and al-Haakim (2/546) who said: "It is authentic according to the criterion of al-Bukhari." Adh-Dhahabee also agreed

Ibn 'Urwah al-Hanbalee (d.837 H) said: "This saying refutes those historians from the People of the Book who claim that Qaabil (Cain) and his sons were fire-worshippers" Al-Khawaakibud-Duraaree fee Tarteeb Musnadul-Imaam Ahmad'alaa Abwaabil-Bukhaaree (6/212/1), still in manuscript form

I say: In it is also a refutation of some of the philosophers and Atheists who claim that the (natural) basis of man is Shirk, and that Tawheed evolved in man! The preceding aayah (verse) falsifies this claim, as do the two following authentic hadith:

Firstly: His (the prophet (saw)) saying that he related from his Lord (Allah) :

"I created all my servants upon the true Religion (upon Tawheed, free from Shirk). Then the devils came to them and led them astray from their true Religion. They made unlawful to people that which I had made lawful for them, and they commanded them to associate in worship with Me, that which I had sent down no authority." [Related by Muslim (8/159) and Ahmad (4/162) from 'Iyaadh ibn Himaar al-Mujaashi'ee radiallaahu 'anhu]

Secondly: His (the prophet (saw)) saying: "Every child is born upon the Fitrah(1) but his parents make him a jew or a christian or a magian. It is like the way an animal gives birth to a natural offspring. have you noticed any born mutilated, before you mutilate them."

Abu Hurayrah said: Recite if you wish: "Allah's fitrah with which He created mankind. There is to be no change to the creation (Religion) of Allah." (Surah ar-Rum 30:30) Related by Al-Bukhaaree (11/418) and Muslim (18/52)

After this clear explanation, it is of the upmost importance for the Muslim to know how Shirk spread amongst the believers, after they were muwahhideen (people upon Tawheed)

Concerning the saying of Allah - the most perfect - about the people of Nooh:

"And they have said : You shall not forsake your gods, nor shall you forsake Wadd, nor Suwaa', nor Yaghooth, nor Ya'ooq, nor Nasr." (Surah Nooh 71:23)

It has been related by a group from the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) in many narrations, that these five deities were righteous worshippers. However, when they died, Shaytaan (Satan) whispered into their people to retreat and sit at their graves. Then Shaytaan whispered to those who came after them that they should take them as idols, beautifying to them the idea that you will be reminded of them and thereby follow them in righteous conduct. Then Shaytaan suggested to the third generation that they should worship these idols besides Allah - the most high - and he whispered to them that this is what their forefathers used to do!!!

So Allah sent to them Nooh (as), commanding them to worship Allah alone. However none responded to hiscall except a few. Allah - the mighty and majestic - related this whole incident in surah Nooh

Ibn 'Abbas relates: "Indeed these five names of righteous men from the people of Nooh. When they died Shaytaan whispered to their people to make statues 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 they died and the purpose of the statues was forgotten. Then (the next generation) began to worship them." Realted by al-Bukhaaree (8/534)

The likes of this has also been related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree and others, from a number of the salaf (Pious Predecessors) - radiallaahu 'anhum.

In ad-Durral-Manthoor (6/269): 'Abdullaah ibn Humaid relates from Abu Muttahar, who said: Yazeed ibn al-Muhallab was mentioned to Abu Ja'far al-Baaqir (d.11H), so he said: He was killed at the place where another besides Allah was first worshipped. Then he mentioned Wadd and said: "Wadd was a Muslim man who was loved by his people. When he died, the people began to gather around his grave in the land of Baabil (Babel), lamenting and mourning. So when Iblees (Shaytaan) saw them mourning and lamenting over him, he took the form of a man and came to them, saying : I see that you are mourning and lamenting over him. So why don't you make a picture of him (i.e. a statue) and place it in your places of gatherings so that you maybe reminded of him. So they said: Yes, and they made a picture of him and put in their place of gathering; which reminded them of him.

When Iblees saw how they were (excessively) remembering him, he said : "Why doesn't every man amongst you make a similar picture to keep in your own houses, so that you can be (constantly) reminded of him."

So they all said "yes". So each household made a picture of him, which they adored and venerated and which constantly reminded them of him.

Abu Ja'far said: "Those from the later generation saw what the (previous generation) had done and considered that........to the extent that they took him as an ilah (diety) to be worshipped besides Allah. He then said :"This was the first idol worshipped other than Allah, and they called this idol Wadd"(2)

Thus the wisdom of Allah - the Blessed, the Most High - was fulfilled, when he sent Muhammad (saw) as the final prophet and made his Sharee'ah the completion of all divinely Prescribed Laws, in that He prohibited all means and avenues by which people may fall into Shirk - which is the greatest of sins.

For this reason, building shrines over graves and intending to specifically travel to them, taking them as places of festivity and gathering and swearing an oath by the inmate of a grave; have all been prohibited.

All of these lead to excessiveness and lead to the worship of other than Allah - the Most High. This being the case even more so in an age in which knowledge is diminishing, ignorance is increasing, thre are few sincere advisors ( to the truth) and Shaytaan is co-operating with men and jinn to misguide mankind and to take them away from the worship of Allah alone - the Blessed, the Most High.

wa-salaam alaykum

[FatimaAsSideqah]

SHIRK: THE ULTIMATE CRIME

Murder, rape, child molesting and genocide. These are all some of the appalling crimes which occur in our world today. Many would think that these are the worst possible offenses which could be committed. But there is something which outweighs all of these crimes put together: It is the crime of shirk.

Some people may question this notion. But when viewed in a proper context, the fact that there is no crime worse then shirk, will become evident to every sincere person.

There is no doubt that the above crimes are indeed terrible, but their comparison with shirk shows that they do not hold much significance in relation to this travesty. When a man murders, rapes or steals, the injustice which is done is directed primarily at other humans. But when a man commits shirk, the injustice is directed towards the Creator of the heavens and the earth; Allah. When a person is murdered, all sorts of reasons and explanations are given. But one thing that the murderer cannot claim, is that the murdered was someone who provided him with food, shelter, clothing and all the other things which keep humans aloft in this life.

But when a person commits shirk, they attempt to, willingly or unwillingly, direct an injustice towards the one who has provided them with all these necessary things - and often a whole lot more. This Being who provides us with all our needs and wants is of course Allah, the Lord of this universe. So is it right for us to commit this offense against the one who has provided us with all that we could possibly need? This is the ultimate form of ingratitude which humans display, and will eventually cause many people eternal pain. The severity of this crime has been established in shaa Allah, but until now you may have been wondering 'what exactly is shirk?'

The Reality of Shirk

In the previous issue we talked about Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah). Shirk is its exact opposite. Linguistically, shirk means a partnership or to share or associate. However, Islamicly it is to give to other than Allah, that which belongs solely to Allah. This means that parts of Allah's creation are given powers and attributes which belong to Allah, thus, ultimately sending worship to other then Allah alone. These parts of the creation therefore become partners with Allah.

The purpose of our creation is outlined in the Qur'an when Allah says: "I did not create the Jinn[1] and mankind except to worship Me" (Surah Ad-Dhariyat 51:56)

Our very existence on this earth is to worship Allah alone. By committing shirk, a person ends up denying this very purpose of our creation. To Allah, this is the gravest of sins and thus unforgivable.

Allah says: "Surely Allah will not forgive the association of partners (shirk) with Him, but He forgives (sins) less then that to whomever He wishes" (Surah An-Nisa 4:48)

This means that everything can be forgiven except shirk. However we should not misunderstand this into thinking that those who commit shirk are totally doomed. Allah calls himself by al-Ghafoor (The Most Forgiving), and truly he is the Most Forgiving. If a person commits shirk and then wishes to make repentance, Allah accepts his repentance and wipes the slate clean. But if the person does not make repentance during his lifetime, then Allah will not forgive this person on the Day of judgment. Hellfire will be made eternal and he/she will never come out. It must also be remembered that Allah through his justice, has not discriminated in the punishment of this crime. If a Muslim commits shirk during his lifetime, and does not make repentance, he too will face the eternal fury of the Hellfire. It is this thought which helps Muslims from becoming too complacent and arrogant like some of the previous nations.[2]

Some people say that eternal Hellfire is unjust. But indeed Allah is the Most Just. While some will go to Hell forever for committing shirk, there will be others who will go to Paradise forever for upholding Tawheed. Those who say that Allah is unjust for sending some to Hell forever, should therefore also say that Allah is unjust for sending others to Paradise forever! But we know that those who claim this, would never themselves refuse an everlasting reward such as Paradise, thus showing the weak human understanding of this argument.

By committing shirk we should not fool ourselves into thinking that we harm Allah in anyway. Rather we harm ourselves with the threat of Allah's punishment. It is as if humans stick two fingers up at Allah after He has favored them with so much. Thus a crime is committed against Allah, yet it does not harm him - Such is the magnitude and greatness of our Creator. In order to understand how shirk manifests itself in our world, we need to look at how it relates to the categories of Tawheed (mentioned in the last issue).

Shirk in Allah's Lordship (Ruboobeeya)

This category of shirk has two aspects:

(i)- Shirk by Association - As Muslims we believe that it is Allah alone who Controls and Sustains the universe. Those who commit shirk by association believe that Allah is the Creator, but other parts of the creation also play a role in the running of the world. A classic example of this is the Christian concept of Trinity. Christians believe that God (Allah) alone does not regulate the affairs of mankind. They believe that the other two parts of the Trinity, Jesus (as) and the Holy spirit, also play a part in worldly affairs e.g. Jesus pronounces judgment on the world and the holy spirit helps Christians through their daily lives. Qualities such as these should only belong to Allah. The Hindus also commit this kind of shirk, with them having hundreds of different Gods for different aspects of their lives.

Unfortunately some Muslims have also fallen prey to this shirk. There are many from the Indian subcontinent who often call out for help upon saints and holy men who have passed away. One of the main saints whom they invoke is 'Abdul-Qadir al-Jeelanee'[3] whom they call 'Al-Ghawth-e-Azam' (the greatest source of help).

(ii)-Shirk by Negation - Over the centuries many philosophies and ways of life have denied the existence of God. Buddhism and Jainism are amongst the major world religions which assert this belief. During the 18th and 19th centuries the advancement of scientific knowledge led many philosophers and scientists to claim that God was a figment of mans imagination. By canceling the role of a supreme legislator, those who claim that God does not exist, ultimately attempt to make themselves masters of their own destinies. Some atheists also give Allah's attributes to his creation. By denying Allah, they say the world is eternal with no beginning and no end. And we know that this is only for Allah.

Shirk in Allah's Names and Attributes (Asma wa Sifaat)

This category of shirk has two aspects:

(i) -Shirk by Humanization - The Tawheed of Allah's names and attributes demands that we believe Allah to be free from any human likeness. Those who commit shirk by humanization give attributes to God which are more appropriate for human beings than an all-powerful Creator. Christianity is again guilty of this shirk. In the Bible we find countless examples of God being given human attributes. In the book of Genesis, God is said to have created the world in six days and then rested on the seventh!! In other places God is said to have repented for his bad thoughts and felt sorry because of his actions!

This form of shirk has even taken some people beyond the limits of sanity. In India there are many Hindus who worship the Shiva Lingam Deity. This is an idol which is shaped and sized to represent the male genitals. For the Hindus it represents the reproductive powers of God, and they display their affection by massaging the deity with milk, water and butter!

These examples of humanization are indeed an injustice to the almighty, who responds clearly by saying in the Qu'raan:

"There is nothing like Him and He sees and hears all things" (Surah Ash-Shoora 42:11)

(ii) - Shirk by Deification - This form of shirk occurs when created beings are given the names or attributes of Allah and thus become deities. This form of shirk is especially popular with humans, with many people being given a Godlike status by ignorant followers. Jesus, Buddha, Rama, Zoroaster and many other famous religious figures of the past have been held to be incarnations of the all mighty. The twentieth Century has also seen many cults emerge, from which many leaders have claimed divinity. Sai Baba [4], David Koresh [5], Guru Rajnishi [6] and many more have all claimed this attribute which only belongs to Allah.

Shirk in the Worship of Allah (Eebaadah)

This category of shirk has two aspects:

(i) - Major Shirk (Shirk-al-Akbar)- As Muslims we believe that all forms of worship should be for Allah alone. Those people who physically direct their worship at other then Allah, commit this major shirk. By doing this action, mankind commits the greatest act of rebellion and places himself at the doors of eternal hellfire.

Worship in Christianity is usually devoid of God's name, and Christians often bow down in front of statues of Christ, Mary and many other saints of Christendom. The Muslims have also fallen foul to this evil. Thousands, if not millions, of ignorant Muslims make pilgrimages to the graves of saints and holy men. At the graves they perform acts which clearly violate the principles of Tawheed. They perform prayers (literally!) at the graveside, they sacrifice in the name of the dead saint and they make tawwaaf (circumambulation) of the grave. Many of them even ask the dead saints to grant them children and to forgive them of their sins! All this contradicts the statement of Allah when he commands us to:

"Say; Truly my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds" (Surah Al-An'aam 6:162)

Major shirk is rampant amongst the world's population and is ultimately the obstacle to our salvation.

(ii)- Minor Shirk (Shirk-e-Asghar) - "Mahmood bin Lubayd reported that Allah's Messenger (saws) said: 'The thing that I fear for you the most is minor shirk'. The companions asked: 'O' Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?' He replied: 'Showing off (ar-riya), for verily Allah will say on the day of resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, 'Go to those whom you were showing off too in the world and see if you can find any reward from them'" [7].

When doing righteous deeds our intentions should be to please the one who sustains and keeps us alive. It should not be to please those who have done nothing in comparison to what the Creator has done. Showing off has become a disease amongst humans, and tears away at any sincerity which may be present inside a person. Thus Islam is probably the only way of life which regulates this minor action, and places its danger in a proper context.

To know of the dangers of shirk should be of primary importance. Whether we are Muslim or not, we should realize that it is the crime of shirk which has led to the destruction of our world. By taking man away from the worship of Allah, it has led him to the worship of other men, leading to oppression and tyranny. By confining man to the narrowness of this world, it will deny him the vastness of the hereafter, which leads to justice and success. Therefore surely . . . . shirk is the ultimate crime.:grumbling

[NahidSarvy]

Murder, rape, child molesting and genocide. These are all some of the appalling crimes which occur in our world today. Many would think that these are the worst possible offenses which could be committed. But there is something which outweighs all of these crimes put together: It is the crime of shirk.

Associating partners with God is worse that child rape and genocide?

Yeesh. I'd hate to see you in control of the government.

[Farhiya]

Associating partners with God is worse that child rape and genocide?

Yeesh. I'd hate to see you in control of the government.

:sl:

I do think that shirk is worse then those other crimes mentioned….even thou they are grievous crimes and detested by everyone. But shirk is far worse because it’s a crime against Allah (SWT)….and Allah (SWT) punishment if far worse then the government.

And I rather have her in charge of the gov then you… because she hates what Allah hates the most and not what people hate the most….jazakuAllah kheran for the thread sis.:sister: ;D

:w:

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[FatimaAsSideqah]

And I rather have her in charge of the gov then you… because she hates what Allah hates the most and not what people hate the most….jazakuAllah kheran for the thread sis.

Thanks you for post like this..I hate what Allah hates most..i am only follow to Him! :sister:

[NahidSarvy]

And I rather have her in charge of the gov then you… because she hates what Allah hates the most and not what people hate the most…

Um... you'd rather have someone who chases shirk and not murder and other crimes?

Okkkk...

[Ummu Amatullah]

Um... you'd rather have someone who chases shirk and not murder and other crimes?

Okkkk...

:sl: my dear sister in Islam,

But Ukhti Itaku'llah my sister,how can you even fear men and not the creator of men?How can one be a muslim or an Awliyah of Allah if he doesn't hate and like for Allah's sake?Allah is suppose to be the most beloved thing to the Mu'min even more dearer to him then his own soul.
If the one most beloved to you then any other is being disrespected,then you're suppose to not just stand there,but do something about it.Sister Murder and etc......... are trials and afflictions from the one above,and he is the one whom afflicts and blesses.So my dear sister please don't utter words that belittle Allah,especially on an Islamic forum.Islamic which is based upon the oneness of Allah and his lordship(Tawheedul-Uluuhiyah Wa Tawheedul-Rububiyah).

Sister please don't feel offended I just couldn't believe what I read,especially from a "Muslim"

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

:sl: Sister Nahid Sarvy,

Associating partners with God is worse that child rape and genocide?

Yeesh. I'd hate to see you in control of the government.

The fact that Shirk is the worst crime possible is something established by both the Qur'an (4:48, 5:72, 39:65, etc.) and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh. Someone who commits genocide will certainly be punished in Hell-fire for a great period, but if he had even an atom's weight of faith, he will eventually attain paradise. By contrast, the Mushrik who does not repent from his shirk prior to death will remain in hell forever.

Shirk is the most abominable and abhorrent sin because when someone commits a genocide they are refusing to implement God's mercy and justice, but the Mushrik has rejected God's mercy and justice in its entirey, and thus has laid the foundation for all evil. Violating the rights of the creation is certainly abhorrent injustice as in the case of genocide, but how about violating the rights of the Creator Himself? The magnitude of the injustice is unimaginable.

:w:

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

Um... you'd rather have someone who chases shirk and not murder and other crimes?

Okkkk...

As for governing in this life, the punishment for shirk is something that God alone will deliver and is not included in the societal punishments of Islamic penal law. As such, the issue is irrelevant to the issue of governing. But it is worth noting that the one who is truly averse to shirk obviously has conciousness of God, and if such a person has rejected the greatest injustice they can easily reject the injustices towards creation.

:w:

[NahidSarvy]

But Ukhti Itaku'llah my sister,how can you even fear men and not the creator of men?How can one be a muslim or an Awliyah of Allah if he doesn't hate and like for Allah's sake?Allah is suppose to be the most beloved thing to the Mu'min even more dearer to him then his own soul.
If the one most beloved to you then any other is being disrespected,then you're suppose to not just stand there,but do something about it.Sister Murder and etc......... are trials and afflictions from the one above,and he is the one whom afflicts and blesses.So my dear sister please don't utter words that belittle Allah,especially on an Islamic forum.Islamic which is based upon the oneness of Allah and his lordship(Tawheedul-Uluuhiyah Wa Tawheedul-Rububiyah).

What? I didn't say a single thing that belittles God. How can one belittle God? God is God.

I said that I am more concerned with a government who protects its citizens in this life. Matters of the soul are not subject to legislation and protection; shirk is not a matter to be dealt with by the government. I shudder to imagine a government empowered to punish shirk.

Sister please don't feel offended I just couldn't believe what I read,especially from a "Muslim"

You question my faith by putting Muslim in quotes after you tell me not to feel offended?

[Ansar Al-'Adl]

:sl:

I shudder to imagine a government empowered to punish shirk.

As I mentioned earlier, no punishment has been prescribed for shirk in Islamic law as it is something that will be dealt with by Allah in the hereafter. This does not negate the fact that the crime is more serious than all others.

:w:

[Ummu Amatullah]

What? I didn't say a single thing that belittles God. How can one belittle God? God is God.

I said that I am more concerned with a government who protects its citizens in this life. Matters of the soul are not subject to legislation and protection; shirk is not a matter to be dealt with by the government. I shudder to imagine a government empowered to punish shirk.You question my faith by putting Muslim in quotes after you tell me not to feel offended?

:sl: sister,

Sister please do pardon me,I'm very sorry to have offended you or to have questioned your faith,since that obviously isn't in my power,nor am I God,but sister basically when you said

Um... you'd rather have someone who chases shirk and not murder and other crimes?

Okkkk...

I from that post got the impression that you thought shirk was a lesser wrong in comparison to murder and other heneous crimes.I didn't mean to question your faith,nor to offend you,and for doing that sister I'm greatly sorry.