Shirk among Muslims – Must read
By Shais
- Meaning & Common understanding of Shirk
- Sin of Shirk
- Shirk among Muslims
(a) going to the grave and calling upon the dead
(b) wearing of Talisman
(c) Democracy
(d) Fatwa Shopping
(e) Palmistry and Fortune telling
(f) Asking someone to intercede with Allah (SWT)
(g) Riya Showing off
(h) Excessive love of someone or something
(i) Worship of Money
(J) Making your own nafs as a god (Worshipping your passions)
- Conclusion
- Meaning & Common understanding or shirk:
In this article, I would not be mentioning the various aspects of shirk. This article is mainly about common types of shirk which is done by Muslims.
The word “shirk” is derived from the word “Sharaka” which means “to share”. In Islamic context it means, associating of rivals and partners with Allah. It includes bringing down God to the level of his creation e.g. many religions believe in the concept of God becoming a man (anthropomorphism). It also includes, making someone equal to God. It also includes, attributing of someone lowly and human quality to Almighty God etc.
The common understanding which many Muslims have is that shirk is only done by non-Muslims. The common understanding of shirk among Muslims is worshipping idols, believing or worshipping some other god, attributing lowly qualities to Almighty God etc.
- Sin of Shirk
Shirk indeed is the biggest sin in Islam. It is the sin that Allah (SWT) will not forgive. The Holy Quran says
“Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin Most heinous indeed.” (Quran 4:48)
“Allah forgiveth not (The sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right).” (Quran 4:116)
“Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: "O my son! join not in worship (others) with Allah. for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing." (Quran 31:13)
“They do blaspheme who say: "(Allah) is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of
Hence shirk is the greatest of all sins. Therefore, it is the most important topic to discuss and we all MUST be aware of it.
- Shirk Among Muslims
As I mentioned that it’s a common understanding among the Muslims that shirk is only done by non-Muslims. But No! It is not so. Shirk is also prevalent among Muslims. I’ll mention and explain some of the common types of it which we find among Muslims.
(a) Going to the grave and calling upon the dead.
Many people who profess to be Muslims, go to the Dargah and call upon a dead person in the grave and they think that by doing so they will have their needs fulfilled. What is the difference between that and worshipping an idol? It is one and the same thing!!
Some people argue that they go to the Dargah (mausoleum) as it is a ‘Holy place’ and they do not call upon the dead. But the question is why do they need to visit the Dargah (mausoleum) and how can Dargah (mausoleum) be a
That is why Prophet (pbuh) forbade the raising of graves and he commanded people to level the graves. Prophet (pbuh) knew that it would be a door to shirk.
Thumama b. Shafayy reported: When we were with Fadala b. 'Ubaid in the country of the Romans at a place (known as) Rudis, a friend of ours died. Fadala b. 'Ubaid ordered to prepare a grave for him and then it was levelled; and then he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) commanding (us) to level the grave. (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2114)
“Abu'l-Hayyaj al-Asadi told that 'Ali (b. Abu Talib) said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without levelling It. This hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (Do not leave) a picture without obliterating it.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2115)
“but thou canst not make those to hear who are (buried) in graves.” (Quran 35:22)
It is also forbidden in Islam to build a mosque over grave.
(b) Wearing of Talismans, amulets and charms (Taweez)
Wearing of amulets, talisman (taweez) etc. is also shirk Since you attribute it the power to protect you. Even putting 1”x 1” Quran is not permitted. That Quran is not made with the intention of reading, because to read it one would require a microscope. Therefore, even that is prohibited according to many scholars. I personally agree with the view of those scholars and Prophet (pbuh) never wore such a thing in his neck for his protection, he could have written a verse or two of the Quran and put it around his neck for protection but he never did so. Prophet (pbuh) said
“Zaynab, the wife of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, told that Abdullah said: I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) saying: spells, charms and love-potions are polytheism.” (Abu Dawud, Hadith 3874)
So its totally forbidden for Muslims to wear such things.
(c ) Democracy:
How can Muslims demand democracy? Democracy means “rule of the people”. It is people who decide what is lawful and what is unlawful. What is halal (lawful) and what is haraam (unlawful), by what laws they should abide by and by what laws they shouldn’t abide by. The sovereignty belongs to people and NOT to Allah.
How can this be compatible with Islam? When we are demanding democracy, we are saying that Allah should not be sovereign and instead people should be sovereign.
When we demand democracy, we deny that Allah is Al-Hakim (The judge) and we deny that Allah is Al-Hakeem (The most wise), because if we consider Allah to be Al-Hakim(The judge) and Al-Hakeem (The most wise) then how can we say that we should abide by the laws of people and not by the laws of Allah?
It is indeed Shirk. The Quran says
“They (The Jews and Christians) take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah,” (Quran
There used to be one Sahaba (companion) of the Prophet (pbuh) who used to be a Christian. He said that we did not use to worship our priests, we dint use to bow down in front of them. Then the Prophet (pbuh) went on to explain the meaning of this verse.
He said that did they not make lawful what Allah (SWT) made unlawful and did they not make it unlawful what Allah made lawful and he said “yes”. The prophet (pbuh) said that it was their worship of them.
In short, any human being who believes that some other human being has a right to legislate regardless of whether it goes against Allah or not then he has done the same thing what the Jews and Christians did and he has taken that person to be as a god along with Allah!
To know more on democracy and Islam, read this article Islam and Democracy – Compatible or Incompatible? See how Allah declares those people who demand democracy as “kafirs, Zalims and Fasiq” (Unbelievers, Wrongdoers and rebels)
(d) Fatwa shopping
Some Muslims shop for fatwas for certain things. They hunt for a fatwa which suits their perverted beliefs, and when they get it, they rely upon it and continue doing what they are doing even though its ruling is crystal clear in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). When such Muslims, take the fatwas of Scholars or Muftis to suit their perverted beliefs, even after the ruling is clear in the Quran and the Sunnah, they do exactly the same thing what the Jews and Christians had done. The Quran says
“They (The Jews and Christians) take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah,” (Quran
There used to be one Sahaba (companion) of the Prophet (pbuh) who used to be a Christian. He said that we did not use to worship our priests, we dint use to bow down in front of them. Then the Prophet (pbuh) went on to explain the meaning of this verse.
He said that did they not make lawful what Allah (SWT) made unlawful and did they not make it unlawful what Allah made lawful and he said “yes”. The prophet (pbuh) said that it was their worship of them.
The scholar is after all a human being and he can make a mistake or he may not be aware of the secular knowledge.
I’ll give some examples of Fatwa shopping.
(i) Riba:
It is very clear from many verses of the Quran including 2:275-279, 3:130 that riba (interest) is prohibited in Islam. Though majority of scholars agree that bank interest is prohibited in Islam and its very clear from the Quran and the Sunnah. Yet certain Muftis have given fatwas that it is permissible for Muslims living in the west to deal in interest.
Muslims normally hunt for such fatwas and continue dealing in riba even though its prohibition is crystal clear in the Quran
(ii) Hijaab:
When
So Dear Muslims follow what Allah and his Messenger (SAW) say and stop hunting for fatwas to suit your perverted beliefs.
(e) Palmistry and Fortune-telling:
We find palmistry and fortune-telling in so many parts of the Muslim world. Its also very common in
All sorts of fortune telling including palmistry and horoscopes are prohibited in Islam. Only Allah (SWT) knows the future and only he has the knowledge of the unseen. One of the attributes of Allah is “Aalim ul Gaib” (Knower of the Unseen) mentioned in Quran 59:22. Only Allah has the knowledge of the unseen and he gives some of it only to his chosen messengers.
“26. "He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make any one acquainted with His Mysteries,- 27. "Except an apostle whom He has chosen: and then He makes a band of watchers march before him and behind him, “ (Quran 72:26-27)
It is shirk because you attribute one of the qualities of Allah to human beings who do not have the knowledge of the unseen. The Quran says
“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.” (Quran 5:90)
Prophet (SAW) said
“Safiyya reported from some of the wives of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) having said: He who visits a divner ('Arraf) and asks him about anything, his prayers extending to forty nights will not be accepted.”(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 5540)
(f ) Asking someone to intercede with Allah
Some Muslims ask Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and also other saintly people to intercede with Allah. It is no doubt a shirk (associating of partners with Allah). This is the same mistake that the pagan Arabs had made. Many of them believed in Allah and his Lordship (Quran
“They serve, besides Allah, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah." (Quran 10:18)
It is prohibited to ask someone to intercede with Allah. He commands us to pray and supplicate to him directly. The Quran says
“And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell - in humiliation!" (Quran 40:60)
In Islam we do not believe that the dead can hear the living. The Quran says
“but thou canst not make those to hear who are (buried) in graves.” (Quran 35:22)
But certain people still intercede with Allah. Many Shia Muslims ask Hazrat Ali to intercede with Allah (The same mistake many pagan Arabs made. Quran 10:18, read above)
I'll simply ask these people a question. Why do you need anyone to intercede with Allah when Allah commands you to ask him directly and he hates when people ask somebody to intercede with him. Allah also tells us that the dead can't hear the living. So why do you still do so?
But even if I with many shias that the dead can hear the living and Hazrat Ali can intercede with Allah. But wait a minute, how many shias are there in the world? They are atleast more than 100 million in the world today. Many shias, infact thousands of them call upon Hazrat Ali at the same time. How many can Hazrat Ali hear at one time? Suppose only 10 people spoke to you at a time. I am sure you won't be able to listen and answer back to 10 people at the same time who ask different things so how can Hazrat Ali who is only a human being can hear thousands at a time? and if you believe he can, then you no more describe him as a human being but describe him as Allah because its only Allah who is without limitations and can hear everybody at the same time.
I rest my case, If you still want to do so after all these proofs then the choice is yours. You will be accountable to Allah on the day of judgment for that.
(g) Riya (Showing off)
It is a minor shirk. Riya (Showing off) is that you do your deeds to show off to people and not to appease Allah. Prophet (SAW) said
“"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'" (Authentic-Narrated by Ahmed, Baihaqee and Tabaranee)
“Mahmood ibn Lubayd also said, "The Prophet (saws) came out and announced, 'O people, beware of secret Shirk!' The people asked, 'O messenger of Allah, 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.' (Reported by Ibn-e-Khuzaima)
Doing your deeds to show off is also a type of shirk. If you beautify your prayer because people are watching you, its showing off. On the other hand, if you shorten your prayer thinking that if I pray, the way I do normally people might think I am showing off, you are still showing off. Your deed is influenced by people and the sincerity is not there for Allah.
Riya (showing off) is very dangerous, so beware of it.
(h) Excessive Love of someone or something
Loving someone or something excessively is also shirk. Many Muslims beat themselves to commemorate someone who has passed away. They do so because of their excessive love. They get dissatisfied with the will of Allah. Loving someone or something more than Allah (SWT) is also shirk. The Quran says
“Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah.: They love them as they should love Allah” (Quran 2:165)
In the same verse the Quran also goes on to say that the believers are overflowing in their love for Allah
“But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah.” (Quran 2:165)
The love for Allah is being obedient to him and his messenger (SAW). The Quran says
“Say: "If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran 3:31)
Ultimate obedience of any Muslim should be to Allah. The Prophet (pbuh) forbade us from praising him excessively like Isa ibn maryam was praised
(i) Worship of Money
Putting your ultimate trust in money is also a form of shirk i.e. If a person has money, he is happy and if he doesn't have it he is not.
If Money is something that makes one please when he has it and makes him displeased when he doesn't. This is what the Prophet (pbuh) referred to as the worship and slavery of money. The Prophet (pbuh) said
" The Prophet said, "Let the slave of Dinar and Dirham of Quantify and Khamisa (i.e. money and luxurious clothes) perish for he is pleased if these things are given to him, and if not, he is displeased!" (Sahih Bukhari vol. 4, Hadith 137)
Dirham and Dinar were the currencies at the time of the Prophet.
A Muslim is the one who submits his will to Allah. If you submit to anyone else other than Allah, you have taken that thing or that person as a god other than Allah. It even includes your nafs. If you submit to your nafs and do whatever you want to do regardless of what Allah commands, then you have made it your god. This is very well supported by the Quran. The Quran says
“Did you see the one who took his own wishes and whims as his god?” (Quran 25:43)
“Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire?” (Quran 45:23)
Conclusion:
These are the different types of Shirk which exist among Muslims. Many of us or may be most of us are involved in one or another. As I mentioned, that shirk is the most heinous of all sins in Islam, the sin that Allah will not forgive if a person hasn’t repented to Allah in this world.
Dear brothers and sisters, If you are involved in any type of shirk, give it up before its too late. I also request you to share this message with other people. All I have written is backed with evidence so you have no reason to doubt what I have said.
May Allah (SWT) guide us all. Ameen
