VII. TYPES OF MAJOR SHIRK (SHIRK AKBAR)
VII. TYPES OF MAJOR SHIRK (SHIRK AKBAR)
Q.7 Should we seek help from those who are dead, or from those who are not present?
A. No, we should not seek their help, rather we should seek the help of Allah, as He says:
وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ لاَ يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
أَمْواتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاء وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
سورة النحل آية 20-21
"Those whom they (AI-Mushrikun) invoke besides Allah have not created anything, but are themselves created. (They are) dead, lifeless, and they know not when they will be raised up." -(
V.16:20,21)
إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ
سورة الأنفال آية 9
"(Remember) when you sought help of your Lord and He answered you :' (
V. 8:9)
The Prophet
prayed:
يا حي يا قيوم، برحمتك أستغيث
حسن رواه الترمزي
"0 the Everliving, the Everlasting Allah, I seek help through Your Mercy". (Tirmidhi)
Q.8 Is It permitted to seek help from any other besides Allah?
A. No, it is not permitted, the evidence is Allah's
Saying:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
سورة الفاتحة آية 5
"You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)." (V.1:5)
The Prophet
said:
«إِذَا سألت فاسأل الله وَإِذَا استعنت فاستعن بالله»
[رواه الترمذي].
"If you ask, ask of Allah, if you seek help, seek help of Allah". (
Tirmidhi)
May we seek help from the living?
Yes, in the matters in which they are able (to help), as Allah says:
{وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الْبرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلاَ تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى الإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ}
[المائدة: 2]
"... Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety)... " (
V.5:2)
The Prophet
said:
«واللهُ فِي عونِ العبد مَا دام العبدُ فِي عونِ أخيه»
[رواه مسلم]
"Allah helps His worshipper as long as the worshipper helps his brother" (
Muslim)
Q.10 Is it permitted to swear oaths (make vows) to any other besides in the Name of Allah?
A. No, it is not permitted to swear oaths except in Allah's Name, as Allah mentions the words of Mary's mother:
رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّراً فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي}
[آل عمران: 35].
"... 0 my Lord! I have vowed to You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship),..." (
V.3:35)
The Prophet
said:
«من نذر أَنْ يُطيعَ اللهَ فلْيُطِعه ومن نذر أَنْ يعصِيَه فَلاَ يَعْصِه»
[رواه البخاري].
"Whoever vows to obey Allah should obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Him should not disobey:' (
Bukhari)
Q.11 Is it permitted to sacrifice in any name besides Allah?
A. No, it is not permitted, the proof is Allah's Saying:
{فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ}
[الكوثر: 2].
"Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)." (
V.108:2)
(To sacrifice is to slaughter an animal for food in Allah's Name).
The Prophet
said:
«لعَنَ الله مَن ذبح لِغير الله»
[رواه مسلم].
"Allah curses whoever sacrifices and slaughters in any name other than Allah." (
Muslim)
Q.12 Is it permitted to circumambulate any other structure besides the Ka`ba?
A. No, it is not permitted to circumambulate any other structure besides the Ka'ba, as Allah says:
{وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ}
[الحج: 29].
"... And circumabulate the Ancient House (the Ka'ba at Makka)." (
V.22:29)
The Prophet
said:
«من طاف بالبيتِ سبعاً وصلّى ركعتين كَانَ كعتق رقبة»
[رواه ابن ماجه].
"Whoever circumambulate the House (the Ka'ba) seven times and prays two Rak `a of Salat, it is as if he has freed a slave." (
Ibn Majah)
Q.13 What is the ruling in Islam concerning (the practice of) magic/sorcery?
A. The practice of magic/sorcery is considered rejection of faith (Kufr), as Allah said:
{وَلـكِنَّ الشَّيْاطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ}
[البقرة: 102]
"...But the devils disbelieved, teaching men magic..." (
V. 2:102)
The Prophet
said:
"Avoid seven deadly sins; Shirk, magic (Muslim)
«اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات: الشرك بالله، والسّحر»
[رواه مسلم]
Q.14 Should we believe the claims of fortunetellers and soothsayers (Kahin)?
A. No, we should not believe them, as Allah says:
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ}
[النمل: 65]
"Say: "None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah, ... " (
V.27:65)
The Prophet
said:
«من أتى عرّافاً أَوْ كاهناً فصدّقه بِمَا يقول فَقَدْ كفر بِمَا أُنزل عَلَى محمد»
[صحيح رواه أحمد]
"Whoever goes to a fortuneteller or a soothsayer, and believes what they say, has rejected what has been revealed to Muhammad." (
Ahmad)
Q.15 Does anyone have knowledge of the unseen?
A. No, no one but Allah Alone has knowledge of the unseen. Allah says (referring to Himself):
وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ هُوَ}
[الأنعام: 59]
"And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record." (
V.6:59)
The Prophet
said:
«لاَ يعلم الغيبَ إِلاَّ الله»
[حسن رواه الطّبراني]
"No one has knowledge of the unseen except Allah. (
Tabarani)
Q.16 What is the ruling in Islam concerning applying non-Islamic laws?
A. Abiding the laws which are contrary to Islam and accepting them as superior to Islamic Laws is rejection of Faith. Allah says:
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ}
[المائدة: 44]
"... And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Kafrrun (i.e. disbelievers - of a lesser degree as they do not act on Allah's
Laws'.'(
V.5:44)
The Prophet
said:
«وَمَا لَمْ تحكم أئمّتهم بكتاب الله ويتخيّروا مما أنزل الله إِلاَّ جعل الله بأسهم بينهم»
[حسن رواه ابن ماجه]
"When the leaders do not rule by Allah's Book (Qur'an) and choose from that which Allah has rejected, Allah will cause conflict among them." (
Ibn Majah)
Q.17 What If Satan tempts us with the question: "Who created Allah"?
A. If Satan tempts you with this question you should seek refuge in Allah, as Allah says:
وَإِمَّا يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
سورة فصلت آية 36
"And if an evil whisper from Satan tries to turn you away (0 Muhammad ) (from doing good etc.), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (
V.41:36)
آمنت بالله ورسله، الله أحد، الله الصمد، لم يلد ولم يولد، ولم يكن له كفواً أحد.
ثم ليتفل عن يساره ثلاثاً، وليستعذ من الشيطان ولينته فإن ذلك يذهب عنه
هذه خلاصة الأحاديث الصحيحة الواردة في البخاري ومسلم وأحمد وأبي داؤد
Allah's Messenger
taught us to resist Satan's deceptions by saying:
"I believe in Allah and His Messenger. He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad
(السيد الذي يصمد إليه في الحاجات ) The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him:' Then to spit over the left shoulder three times, seeking refuge from Satan, when this is done the temptation will pass. (
Summary of Ahadith collected by Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmad and Abu Dawud)
One should say in response to this question that Allah is the Creator and that He has not been created, to make this easier to understand, we may say for example:
One comes before two, and nothing comes before one ... Allah is One,
nothing comes before Him. As the Prophet
said:
اللّهُمَّ أنتَ الأوّلُ فلا شيء قَبلكَ
رواه مسلم
"Allah, You are the First, there was nothing before You." (
Muslim)
Q.18 What were the beliefs of the idolaters in Arabia before Islam?
A. They use to pray to saints to earn their pleasure and intercession.
Allah says (referring to their beliefs):
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاء مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى
سورة الزمر آية 3
And those who take 'Auliya ' (protectors and helpers) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. ..(
V.39:3)
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ مَا لاَ يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلاَ يَنفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَـؤُلاء شُفَعَاؤُنَا عِندَ اللّهِ
سورة يونس آية 18
"And they worship besides Allah things that hurt them not, nor profit them, and they say: `These are our intercessors with Allah.' " (
V.10:18)
Some Muslims also seek the intercession of saints thus imitating the idolaters.
Q.19 How do we eliminate (all traces of) Shirk?
A. Shirk cannot be completely eliminated unless we exclude the following:
1.The belief that others share in Allah's works such as the (Sufi) belief that there are men called Qutub (
قطب ) who regulate the universe, even though Allah asked the idolaters:
وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللّهُ
سورة يونس آية 31
"And who disposes the affairs?" They will say:Allah..." (
V.10:31)
2. The belief that others have the right to be worshipped, such as supplicating to the Prophets and saints for help etc. Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَدْعُو رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَدًا
سورة الجن آية 20
"Say (0 Muhammad ): "I invoke only my Lord (Allah Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him." (V.
72:20)
Allah's Messenger
said:
{ الدعاء هو العبادة }
[رواه الترمذي وصححه الألباني]
"Supplication is worship." (
Tirmidhi)
3.The belief that others share in Allah's Attributes, such as the belief that the Prophets or saints have knowledge of the unseen, Allah says:
قُل لَّا يَعْلَمُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
سورة النمل آية 65
"Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah." (
V.27:65)
4.Anthropomorphism (Tashbih), comparing Allah's Attributes to humans, such as one who says: There must be a mediator between humans and Allah, to
whom we address our prayers, just as one cannot meet the ruler or a higher authority (of a nation) except through a mediator, this is comparing the
Creator to His creation, a form of Shirk. Allah says:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ
سورة الشورى آيه 11
"... There is none like unto Him ..." (
V.42:11)
Allah says:
لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
سورة الزمر آية 65
"If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." (
V.39:65)
If one repents and eliminates these practices of Shirk and worship Allah Alone he will once again become a true believer in the Oneness of Allah. 0 Allah let us be among those who worship You Alone, do not make us to be idolaters.
Q.20 What are the dangers and punishment of Shirk Akbar?
A. Shirk Akbar condemns one to eternal damnation in Hell-fire, as Allah says:
إِنَّهُ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللّهُ عَلَيهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
سورة المائدة آية 72
"... Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong- doers) there are no helpers." (
V.5:72)
The Prophet
said:
مَنْ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ النَّارَ
رواه مسلم
"And he who met Allah associating anything with Him entered (Hell) Fire:' (
Muslim)
Q.21 Are good deeds of any benefit to one who worships others besides Allah?
A. No, good deeds are of no benefit to those who worship others besides Allah. Allah says concerning the Prophets:
وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُواْ لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ
سورة الأنعام آية 88
"... But if they had joined in worship others with Allah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them." (
V.6:88)
The Prophet
said: Allah says:
(أَنَا أَغْنَى الشُّرَكَاءِ عَنْ الشِّرْكِ، مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا أَشْرَكَ فِيهِ مَعِي غَيْرِي تَرَكْتُهُ وَشِرْكَهُ)
حديث قدسي رواه مسلم
"I have no need of partners, whoever does any deed in which they associate partners with Me, I reject them and their partners as well." (
Muslim)
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