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The Meaning of Shirk

MyM

Well-Known Member

Shirk, in Islam, means ascribing partners or rivals unto Allah in lordship, in worship or in names or attributes.


There are two types of Shirk, Minor and Major.

Major
Shirk will take someone out of the fold of Islam.
It may also take form in beliefs.
Example: Believing that someone else created the universe, who gives life and brings death.
Also a belief that someone else must be obeyed instead of Allah. Also if you love a being as you love Allah and associate partners with Allah in that love. Also to believe in others that know the unseen as well as Allah. There is also a belief in those who show mercy on the same level as Allah like forgiving etc.

Those who pray to other than Allah or supplicate to other than Allah will take them out of the fold of Islam. Example: One who prays to saints and others as intermediaries such as calling on the help of prophets, people, jinn or loved ones etc.

Shirk can also be in a form of actions. Example someone sacrificing to other than Allah. Praying and making prostration to other than Allah. Also when those who support the disbelievers against the believers and acts that go against the Islamic faith.

Minor
Minor shirk may sometimes take the form of outward actions, such as wearing talismans, strings, amulets and the like and other words and deeds.
And sometimes it may be hidden, like a little bit of showing off. It can also take the form of a belief that this is what caused something to happen etc. Example in that is like saying something can be caused by the stars etc. Also the belief that certain things will protect you from something of harm other than Allah.


Narrated that Mahmud ibn Labid said: The Messenger of Allah pbuh said: “The thing that I fear most for you is minor shirk.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?” He said: “Showing off, for Allah will say on the Day when people are recompensed for their actions: ‘Go to those for whom you were showing off with your deeds in the world, and see what reward you find with them.’” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 951)

Allah says in the Quran:

“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 Thaalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers” al-Maidah 5:72
 
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