SHIRK - THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN.

In the name of Allaah the most merciful , the bestower of mercy.

Verily, all praise is for Allaah, we seek his aid , we ask him for guidance, and ask for his forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evil which is in ourselves and the evil of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah guides none can send astray, and whomsoever Allaah sends astray , none can guide him . We testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone and we testify that Muhammad His servant and (final) messenger May Allaah extol him and his followers until the last day.

You have to know - may Allaah have mercy upon you - that the Almighty Allaah has forbidden paradise for those who commit Shirk ( i.e. those who set up partners in worship with Allaah. ) Allaah the most high has told us in the last testament the Qur'aan:

<> (Soorah Al-Maa'idah 5:72)

The Almighty Allaah has also told us that he will never forgive this sin:

<> (Soorah An-Nisaa 4:116)

It is also the greatest sin in the sight of Allaah evident from the Hadeeth in which 'Abdullaah asked the Prophet [saw] , 'What is the greatest sin in the sight of Allaah?' He [saw] replied, ' That you set up a rival unto Allaah though he alone created you.' (Saheeh Al-Bukharee)

Taking all of the above into account, one should tremble with fear , and stay away from this sin , as merely lip declaring that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah does not necessitate being away from this sin as Allaah ,the one who is free from all imperfections and most high says:

<> (Soorah Yoosuf 12:106)

So it is incumbent upon us to take stock of our beliefs and actions and make sure we are not of those people who commit shirk. We must gain knowledge of what Shirk is so we can stay away from it. Here, a brief description of some of the types of shirk is given - Major and Minor shirk.

Major Shirk

Some scholars have explained that there are four kinds of major shirk. These can occur when asking for help, in acts of devotion , when offering obedience and in extending love towards something other than Allaah, in a manner which should be directed to Allaah.

Allaah speaks of supplications with these words:

<> (Soorah Al-'Ankaboot 29:65)

<> (Soorah Al-A'raaf 7:194)

<> (Soorah Al-An'aam 6:17)

Often, those who set up partners with Allaah in this manner, justify their actions by saying, 'We do not call upon others, we call upon Allaah through their mediation.' This is exactly how the pagan Makkans used to justify worshipping their idols, Latt , Uzza and others as is evident in the Qur'aan; when they were questioned about this they would answer: <> (Soorah Az-Zumar 39:3)

Those 'Muslims' who pray to Allaah through the mediation of 'Abdul Qaadir Jilaani, Datta Ganj Bakhsh, other 'peers' and 'saints', 'Alee, Faatimah, Al-Hassan ,Al-Husayn and even the Prophet Muhammad [saw] would do well to reflect upon this verse. Their practice has become widespread throughout the Muslim Nation and is one of the major reasons for its decline. This practice of praying to idols saints and prophets has been further denounced as shirk in the Qur'aan:

<> (Soorah Al-Ahqaaf 46:28)

The Almighty Allaah has made it obvious in his book that he has no need for mediators:

<> (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:186)

The correct way to get closer to Allaah most high is by performing righteous deeds, voluntary and obligatory as Allaah has told our beloved prophet Muhammad [saw] in a Hadeeth Qudsi (A Hadeeth which the Prophet [saw] narrates directly from Allaah) which is as follows , 'The most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and my slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing voluntary deeds till I love him, then I become his sense with which he hears (i.e. the slave only likes to hear what is pleasing to Allaah) , and his sense of sight with which he sees (i.e. he only likes to see what is pleasing to Allaah), and his hand with which he grips (i.e. he only likes to do those works with his hands which are pleasing to Allaah), and his leg with which he walks (i.e. he only likes to go to places which are pleasing to Allaah); and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks my protection (refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. Give him my refuge)' (Saheeh Al-Bukharee)

Concerning the shirk of those who devote themselves to something besides Allaah, He says:

<> (Soorah Hood 11:15-16)

So those who have devoted themselves completely to achieving status in this world, or to earning money only, or only studying for their degrees without bothering to perform any of the duties that the Almighty Allaah has enjoined upon them should take this verse of the Qur'aan as a severe warning because they are guilty of this kind of shirk and they should change their ways immediately.

Concerning those who commit shirk when offering obedience, Allaah the most high says:

<> (Soorah At-Tawba 9:31)

In a Hadeeth narrated by Adiy bin Haatim, When he heard the Prophet [saw] recite this verse, he asked, 'but did we really worship them?', the Prophet [saw] replied, 'Certainly they did, for they forbade them what was permitted and they permitted them what was forbidden, and in this they followed them; this is how they worshipped them.' (At-Tirmidhi)

About those who show love which is due to anyone other than Allaah, He says:

<> (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:165)

Minor Shirk

This is the shirk that Allaah's messenger [saw] feared most for his nation. About this he [saw] said: 'The thing I fear most for you is the minor shirk.' The companions asked, 'Oh messenger of Allaah, what is minor shirk?' He replied 'Ar-Riyaa (showing off), for verily Allaah will say on the day of Resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, 'Go to those whom you were showing of to in the material world and see if you can get any reward from them.' (Ahmad, At-Tabaranee)

He [saw] also said, 'O people, beware of secret shirk!' The people asked, 'O messenger of Allaah, 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.' (Ibn Khuzaima)

Riyaa (showing off) is practicing any form of religious deed to be praised by people. This is easy to fall into, as it only requires a change of ones intention. One must be very careful of it as although it does not take one out of the fold of Islaam as Major shirk does, it can have catastrophic results on the day of judgment which is shown to us in a Hadeeth in which the prophet [saw] said, 'The first of men who will be decided on the day of Judgment will be a man who died as a martyr. He shall be brought. Allaah will make him recount his blessings and he will recount them. Allaah will say: What did you do? He will say: I fought for you until I died a martyr. Allaah will say,' You have told a lie. You fought so that you might be called a brave warrior. And you were called so. Orders will be passed against him and he will be dragged with his face downwards and cast into Hell. Then will be brought a man who acquired knowledge and imparted it and recited the Qur'aan. He will be brought and Allaah will make him recount his blessings and he will recount them. Then Allaah will ask, 'What did you do? He will say, 'I acquired knowledge and disseminated it and I recited the Qur'aan seeking your pleasure.' Allaah will say, 'You have told a lie. You acquired knowledge so that you might be called 'a scholar', and you recited the Qur'aan so that it might be said, 'He is a reciter' and such has been said'. Then orders will be passed against him and he shall be dragged with his face downward and cast into the Fire. Then will be brought a man whom Allaah had made abundantly rich and had granted every kind of wealth. He will be brought and Allaah will make him recount his blessings and he will recount them. Allaah will then ask, 'What have you done?' He will say, I spent money in every cause that you wished that it should be spent'. Allaah will say, 'You are lying. You did so , that it might be said about you , ' He is a generous fellow' and so it was said.' Allaah will then pass orders and he will be dragged with his face downward and thrown into Hell.' (Saheeh Muslim)

Having received this warning we should always seek refuge from shirk, Major and Minor, and the prophet [saw] taught us how to do this by teaching us certain prayers which can be said at any time. Aboo Moosa said, 'One day Allaah's messenger [saw] delivered a sermon saying, 'O people fear shirk as it is more hidden than the creeping of a black ant.' Those whom Allaah wished asked, 'And how do we avoid it if it is more hidden than the creeping of an ant, O messenger of Allaah?' He replied, 'Say: Allaahumma Innaa na'oodhu bika an nushrika shay'an na'lamuh, wa nastaghfiruka limaa laa na'lamuh (O Allaah we seek refuge in You from knowingly committing shirk with You and we ask Your forgiveness for what we do not know about)' (Ahmad, At-Tabaranee)

The main differences between Major shirk and minor shirk are the following: Major shirk takes one out of the fold of Islaam, while Minor shirk renders one a sinner within the fold of Islaam; Major shirk nullifies all the good deeds that one has done, while Minor shirk only nullifies a religious deed associated with it; Major Shirk is unforgivable while Minor shirk is forgivable; Major shirk causes one to be in Hellfire eternally , Minor shirk does not.

In closing, I would like to say that if I have done what is fitting and arrived at what is correct:

<> (Soorah Hood 11:88)

If I have erred or fallen short, then:

<< I free not myself (from the blame ). Verily, the

(human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving and the bestower of Mercy.>> (Soorah Yoosuf 12:53)

May Allaah grant us the ability to stay away from shirk in all its forms.

All praise is for Allaah, Lord of the worlds.

A Reminder :

The righteous will die, and the wicked will die... The warriors who fight jihaad will die, and those who sit at home will die... Those who busy themselves with correct belief will die, and those who treat the people as their slaves will die... The brave who reject injustice will die, and the cowards who seek to cling on to this life at any price will die... The people of great concern and lofty goals will die, and the wretched people who live only for cheap enjoyment will die...

" Everyone will taste death..." (surah ale-Imraan 3:185).