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Shirk (Assuming partners for God)

Shirk, literally meaning “sharing” or “associating” is polytheism in Islamic terms and is hence the antithesis of Tawheed. In the previous post on Tawheed, I had mentioned how Tawheed may be obliterated. The study of Tawheed will be complete only by studying Shirk too separately. Shirk can be analyzed to contravene Tawheed in the areas of Ruboobeeyah (Lordship), Asmaa wa-Sifaat (Divine names and attributes) or Ebaadah (worship).

Needless to say, shirk is considered as a grave sin in Islam and it is categorically declared to be unforgivable.

“Surely Allah will not forgive the association of partners with Him (shirk), but He forgives sins less than that of whomever He wishes” (4: 48)

Shirk in Ruboobeeyah (Lordship)

This can happen either by association with God (as in religions) or by negation of God (as in atheistic philosophies).

In Hinduism the supreme God “Brahman” is considered as a trinity of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the sustainer) and Shiva (the destroyer). This is hence shirk in Ruboobeeyah, where God’s creative, destructive and preservative powers are delegated to other gods.

Similarly in Christianity, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God’s partners in trinity. Jesus is regarded to sit on the right hand of God and judge the world, whereas the Holy Spirit is considered as the means by which God exercises his creative powers.

The same is the case with Muslims who worship at graves of saints assuming that their souls can fulfill their needs, prevent or aid them in distress.

Shirk by negation is done by various man made philosophies like atheism, rationalism, communism etc, besides some ancient religions like Buddhism and Jainism, who deny the existence of God, which is contravening God’s Lordship, and hence a shirk in his Ruboobeeyah.

Even some Muslims like Sufi Ibn Arabee who deny the separate existence of Allah, and in effect deny His existence, fall under the same category.

Shirk in Asmaa was-sifaat.

This involves giving Allah the attributes of His creation or rather vice-versa. This includes giving God human or other forms, or rather giving created beings including idols God’s names and attributes.

In their zeal to “rationalize” the non-existence of God, atheists and the like hotly dispute “who created God”, which is nothing but assuming attributes of creation to God. At the same time they are ready to accept that the universe itself is self-made, self-sustaining and eternal, which are in fact the attributes of God alone. (In fact, the laws of thermo-dynamics, which form the fundamental axioms of physics, are precisely statements of this). Hence such claims represent shirk in Asmaa was-sifaat.

Shirk in al-Ebaadah

Here acts of worship are directed to various creation and help and succor is sought from them rather than God.

God says: “I have not created Jinn or mankind except for my worship” (51:56)

Shirk in al-Ebadah is manifested in, say, Christians praying to Jesus and Mary, Hindus to their idols or saints as well as Muslims praying to Prophet Muhammad or at Sufi Tombs.

There are indirect connotations too for Shirk in al-Ebadah. Already we have seen how people "worship" their clergy or secular leaders just by giving them the status of lawgivers. In fact “worship” may include even “worship” of money or one’s own desires. For example God says:

“Have you not seen the one who takes his desires as his God” (25:43)

Also there is “minor shirk” (as-Shirk al-Asghar), which is nothing but performing acts of worship in order to be seen and praised by people, rather than solely seeking God’s pleasure.

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