What is Shirk and Its forms?
The first pillar of Islam is the belief in Allah and Allah alone; shirk is the sin of idolatry or associating beings or things with Allah Most High, therefore an action of shirk betrays the most fundamental Islamic belief.
Shirk can occur in:
(1.) belief, i.e. to believe that other than Allah has the power to benefit or harm without the will of Allah, or that they are equal to him in status or have the merit to be worshiped beside Him; major shirk
Examples: belief in the so-called trinity, believing a priest has the power to forgive your sins, believing "saints" can answer one's supplications, etc.
(2.) action, i.e. to bow, prostrate or to do any other acts of worship to a person, object, or entity other than Allah: major shirk
Examples: carrying out any of the examples given for belief (above)
(3.) speech, i.e. to swear by other than Allah; minor shirk
(See some more examples of these below)
Shirk is considered the gravest sin in Islam. Here is one ayah remarking on shirk to illustrate:
Shirk can occur in:
(1.) belief, i.e. to believe that other than Allah has the power to benefit or harm without the will of Allah, or that they are equal to him in status or have the merit to be worshiped beside Him; major shirk
Examples: belief in the so-called trinity, believing a priest has the power to forgive your sins, believing "saints" can answer one's supplications, etc.
(2.) action, i.e. to bow, prostrate or to do any other acts of worship to a person, object, or entity other than Allah: major shirk
Examples: carrying out any of the examples given for belief (above)
(3.) speech, i.e. to swear by other than Allah; minor shirk
(See some more examples of these below)
Shirk is considered the gravest sin in Islam. Here is one ayah remarking on shirk to illustrate:
"Surely whoever associates (others) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden to him the garden, and his abode is the fire; and there shall be no helpers for the unjust,” Surah al-Mā’ida 5:72
There are in Qur'an which remark on the great sin that is shirk.
Examples of Shirk
Sometimes shirk is something one does knowingly, and perhaps more commonly, something committed unknowingly (please see du'aa below for seeking protection from shirk). Sometimes the culture you were raised in will participate in actions which are contrary to Islam and its principles. If you are from a western country, you have probably seen or heard MANY examples of shirk in popular culture. Here are a few additional examples of shirk, to be avoided:
Secret Shirk
In a hadith reported by Mahmud ibn Lubayd, "The Prophet SAW came out and announced, 'O people, beware of secret Shirk!'" The people asked, "O messenger of God, what is secret Shirk?" He replied, "When a man gets up to pray and strives to beautify his prayer because people are looking at him; that is secret Shirk."
Examples of Shirk
Sometimes shirk is something one does knowingly, and perhaps more commonly, something committed unknowingly (please see du'aa below for seeking protection from shirk). Sometimes the culture you were raised in will participate in actions which are contrary to Islam and its principles. If you are from a western country, you have probably seen or heard MANY examples of shirk in popular culture. Here are a few additional examples of shirk, to be avoided:
- Using beads or amulets as a means to seek protection from the "evil eye" or seeking other benefit (such as healing) from it; there is no basis in Qur'an or hadith for such a practice (it is an innovation); In fact, the Prophet (SAW) said: "If anyone wears an amulet, may Allah not help him in fulfilling his wish. If anyone wears a sea-shell around his neck, may Allah give him no peace," ().
- Belief in fortune tellers or soothsayers; The Prophet SAW said: “Whoever goes to a ‘psychic,’ asks him about something, and believes him, will not have his prayer accepted for forty days,” (Sahih Muslim).
- Believing in: superstitions, bad omens, astrology, horoscopes, numerology, etc.; these are all examples of shirk, as they give faith to an entity other than Allah the Most High.
- Indicating extreme enjoyment (of a performance, for example) by raising ones hands/arms in front of ones self and lowering them, as if in worship.
- Referring to someone as a "fill-in-the blank god" or "goddess" (so that "god" or "goddess" is used as an adjective); I've heard this a lot when people want to emphasize someone is extremely good at something.
- Using the emphatic phrase "Jesus Christ!" (astaghfirillah), such as in expressing extreme surprise or revulsion.
- Crossing your fingers (for good luck, or behind one's back when telling a lie); its origin is in early Christianity when people used to be persecuted to be Christian. When asked by officials regarding their faith, they would lie while crossing their fingers behind their backs (sign of the cross), hoping this sin would be forgiven. The same would be true if someone were to state that they "cross their heart," as in making a promise.
- Referring to "Mother Nature" when speaking of the weather/natural occurrences and/or any of Allah's creations (i.e. as in medicinal plants, etc.)
- Applying or ascribing anthropomorphic attributes (human traits or characteristics) to Allah; this could be seen, for example, in a cartoon rendering, or heard when people suggest "The man upstairs," etc.
Secret Shirk
In a hadith reported by Mahmud ibn Lubayd, "The Prophet SAW came out and announced, 'O people, beware of secret Shirk!'" The people asked, "O messenger of God, what is secret Shirk?" He replied, "When a man gets up to pray and strives to beautify his prayer because people are looking at him; that is secret Shirk."
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Du'aa Seeking Protection from Shirk
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ O Allah, I seek refuge with You lest I should commit shirk with You knowingly and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly. |
Transliteration:
Allaahumma innee a‛oodhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a‛lamu, wa astaghfiruka li maa laa a‛lam |
Muslims must be aware of what shirk is and its forms, and take sincere and conscious steps to avoid it. May Allah guide us all, Ameen.
More Du'aa
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