2. Verily the Muslim must seek to know the evil so as to be warned

from it and to stay far from it, because if he does not know it, he might fall into it unknowingly. This is proven in the statement of Hudhayfah ~ : "The people used to ask the Messenger of Allaah ~ about the good, and I used to ask the Messenger of Allaah :i about the evil out of fear that I might fall into it." l151 3. Shirk is the greatest of sins due to the following matters : • It resembles the creation with the Creator in characteristics of Uloohiyyah. So whoever associates someone with Allaah, then he indeed resembles him to Him, and this is the greatest injustice, as Allaah ~ says: ,i.. / ~·> / / ,, ,/ ::i.. "'~ - ~c _:uJ ..;!.)Al G~r "Verily Shirk is a great injustice.'' [Luqmaan (31): 13] [15) Bukhaaree [16) Bukhaaree 28 And injustice (zu/m) is to put something out of its proper place.

So whoever worships other than Allaah, then indeed he puts worship out of its proper place, and he directs it to one who does not deserve it, and that is the greatest injustice. • Allaah informed that He does not forgive the one who does not repent from Shirk. "Verily Allaah does not forgive that Shirk be made with Him, but He forgives whatever is below that to whomever He wishes ... " [An-Nisaa' (4): 48] • Allaah has informed that He has made Paradise unlawful upon the one who commits Shirk and that his dwelling place will be in the fire of Hell, Allaah ~ says : "Verily whosoever associates partners with Allaah, then indeed Allaah has made Paradise unlawful for him, and his station is the Fire. And the transgressors will not have any helpers." [AI-Maa'idah (5): 72] • Shirk nullifies all good deeds, as Allaah ~ says: ,i,...),,..,_, •>v ,.. ,,..,.. , ,.., •{-::•1'. :,--:ii.. ,0_µ ~b ~ ~ ~ ly_:;:.:,I Y-'i" "And if they associate others with Allaah, whatever they have done is nullified." [AI-An'aam (6): 88] And Allaah ~ says: 29 "And it was already revealed to you and to those before you, that if you should associate anything with Allaah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be amongst the losers." [Az-Zumar (39): 65] • The blood and wealth of the Mushrik (one who commits Shirk) is lawful, as Allaah ~ says: ~~I; rJ~~t >-'~ ;_;j~~ J.~;. ~1.~H i_;llit~ ~~;: Js ~ "So kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit and wait for them at every place of ambush.'' [At-Tawbah (9): SJ And the Prophet ~ said: t:i \ ,.., .,,. ,. ,,,. J, , ~I ~~ ~~ 'J 0i 13~ ~!

J;_ ~81 ~t_;i 0i ~ ~in , ~l5":I\ ~i'/ ~~I I ' "' / 41 ..r IYY...J ~.J / J-./a...:J/ I ~ ~L-./ ((t:t:- ~ . ~I~ r~l ..Y' / .J 0 f/ r·'~ t;~/ ~: I ~ ~fo 1;~~ ..7 ~ ~ "I have been ordered to fight the people until they say: 'There is none worthy of worship besides Allaah.' So if they say it, their blood and wealth is protected from me, except with due right." l17J [17) Muslim • Shirk is a deficiency and a problem that Allaah ~ has negated from Himself. So whoever associated others with Allaah, then indeed he has affirmed for Allaah what He negated from Himself. And this is the goal of Muhaadah (turning away) from Allaah ~ and the goal of Mu'aanidah (denial) and Mushaaqah (deviation) with Allaah." [is1 If a person commits Shirk and does not make repentance during his lifetime, then Allaah ~ will not forgive this person on the Day of Judgement. Hellfire will be made eternal for him and he will never come out of it. It must also be remembered that Allaah ~ through his justice, has not discriminated in the punishment of this crime .

If a Muslim commits Shirk during his lifetime, and does not make repentance, he too will face the eternal fury of the Hellfire. It is this thought that helps Muslims from becoming too complacent and it is this thought that made Luqmaan warn his son - and by implication, the rest of the Muslims - against the deadly sin of Shirk. In order to understand how Shirk manifests itself in our world, we need to look at how it relates to the categories of Tawheed: Shirk in Allaah's Lordship (Ar-Ruboobeeyah) This category of Shirk has two aspects: i). Shirk by Association - As Muslims we believe that it is Allaah k alone who controls and sustains the universe. Those who ommit Shirk by association believe that Allaah ~ is the Creator, out other parts of the creation also play a role in the running 18] Kitaabut-Tawheed (p. 8-10) - 31 I of the world.

A classic example of this is the Christian concept of Trinity. Christians believe that God (Allaah ~ ) alone does not regulate the affairs of mankind. They believe that the other two parts of the Trinity, Jesus (as) and the Holy Spirit, also play a part in worldly affairs e.g Jesus pronounces judgement on the world and the Holy Spirit helps Christians through their daily lives. Qualities such as these should only belong to Allaah. The Hindus also commit this kind of Shirk, with them having hundreds of different gods for different aspects of their lives.

Unfortunately some Muslims have also fallen prey to this Shirk. There are many who often call out for help upon saints and holy menr191 who have passed away. One of the main saints whom they 9 [l J Du'aa to Other than Allaah is Shirk The Prophet ~ said: ...... , ,. , 1< J01 ~;i I~ ~ ~ 0L. ~Ji " Whosoever dies whilst making Du'aa' (invocation, supplication) to others besides Allaah, will enter the Hell-Fire. " (AI-Bukhaaree) A Proof From the Companions: Anas ~ related : " In times of drought, 'Umar lbnul-Khattaab ~ used to ask 'Abbaas bin 'Abdul-Muttalib ~ to pray for rain on their behalf. He himself would say: "O Allaah we used to ask Your Prophet to supplicate on our behalf to You, and You would bless us with rain.

Now we ask the uncle of our Prophet to supplicate to You on our behalf, so bless us with rain." Anas said : So they would be blessed with rain." (AI-Bukhaaree) Sulaym bin 'Aamir AI-Khabaa'iree ~ relates: "That the sky withheld all rain, so Mu'aawiyah bin Abee Sufyaan ~ went out to pray for rain along with the people of Damascus. So when Mu'aawiyah sat upon the pulpit he said : "Where is Yazeed lbnul-Aswad AI-Jurashee ~ ?" So the people called him and he came stepping between the people. Then Mu'aawiyah commanded him, so he ascended the pulpit and sat at his feet. Then Mu'aawiyah said : "O Allaah ! Today we are asking the best and noblest amongst us to supplicate to You for us. 0 Allaah, today we put Yazeed lbnul-Aswad AI-Jurashee forward to supplicate to You for us. 0 Yazeed!

Raise up your hands to Allaah." So he invoke is 'Abdul-Qadir AI-Jeelanee' whom they call 'AI-Ghawth-eAzam' (the greatest source of help) . ii) Shirk by Negation - Over the centuries many philosophies and ways of life have denied the existence of God. Buddh ism and Jainism are amongst the major world religions which assert this belief. During the 18th and 19th centuries the advancement of scientific knowledge led many philosophers and scientists to claim that God was a figment of man's imagination. By cancelling the role of a supreme legislator, those who claim that God does not exist, ultimately attempt to make themselves masters of their own as well as other people's destinies. Some atheists also give Allaah's Attributes to his creation .

By denying Allaah, they say the world is eternal with no beginning and no end. And we know that this is only for Allaah ~ . iii) Shirk in Allaah's Names and Attributes (Asma Wa Sifaat) This category of Shirk has two aspects: raised up his hands and the people raised up their hands. Then rain -clouds, li ke large shield s, came quickly from the west, and the winds blew, and it rained so much t hat people could hardly reach their houses." (lbn 'Asaakir in Taareekh Dimashq) So why didn't 'Umar ~ and the rest of the Companions who were with him, go to the grave of our beloved Prophet ~ or to the grave of the greatest of the Awliyaa' Aboo Bakr ~ and make Du 'aa (supplication) to them for rain? Why? Because they knew that doing so would constitute Shirk?

Likewise, why didn't Mu'aawiyah, and those of the righteous people with him, not delegate someone to go to AI-Madeenah - to the grave of the Prophet ~ or any of the Compan ions buried there - or directly make du'aa to them from Damascus, in t heir time of distress and great need? Why? Because they knew that doing so would constitute Shirk! 33 a). Shirk by Humanisation - The Tawheed of Allaah's Names and Attributes demands that we believe Allaah to be free from any human likeness. Those who commit Shirk by humanisation give attributes to God which are more appropriate for human beings than an all-powerful Creator.

Christianity is again guilty of this Shirk. In the Bible we find countless examples of God being given human attributes. In the book of Genesis, God is said to have created the world in six days and then rested on the seventh!! In other places God is said to have repented for his bad thoughts and felt sorry because of his actions! These examples of humanisation are indeed an injustice to the Almighty, who responds clearly by saying in the Qur'aan: ,.(_ ~- / .\ e:-;;--- "( ,,,.,,_J !~ ~~.2.11 ._yb . -;: ~/4,- / "-1~ ~.,, "There is nothing like Him and He sees and hears all things." [Ash-Shoorah (42): 11] b).

Shirk by Deification - This form of Shirk occurs when created beings are given the names or attributes of Allaah and thus become deities. This form of Shirk is especially popular with humans, with many people being given a god-like status by ignorant followers. Jesus, Buddha, Rama, Zoroaster and many other famous religious figures of the past have been held to be incarnations of the Almighty. (iv). Shirk in the Worship of Allaah (Uloohiyah/ lbaadah) Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan AI-Fawzaan says: "Shirk is to designate an associate/partner (Shareek) with Allaah in His Ruboobiyyah (Lordship), or His Uloohiyyah (Divinity).

In most cases, the association (fshraak) is in the Uloohiyyah, by calling upon someone along with Allaah, or designating for other than Allaah something from the various types of worship such as: sacrifice, taking oaths, and fear, and hope, and love". This category of shirk has two aspects: a) Major Shirk (Shirk-al-Akbar) -As Muslims we believe that all forms of worship should be for Allaah alone. Those people who physically direct their worship at other than Allaah, commit this major Shirk. By doing this action, mankind commits the greatest act of rebellion and places himself at the doors of eternal Hellfire. Some Muslims, just like those in Christendom, have fallen foul of directing worship and supplication to so-called 'saints' and holy men .l20 J Many of them ·even ask the dead saints to grant them children and to forgive them of their sins!l2 1l All this contradicts the statement of Allaah when He ~ commands us to : (20) Footnote 14 above [21) Taking the Dead as Intercessors Allaah ~ says : 6 ;;JT ~ 1~~ ;&1 ~~ ~~ ~:'.:~ 1 ~~ -o) -G~~ {Qj1 "/~_)j ~ j_,~1 6 )t ~W ~Jf ;1/ ~t o · • >,:·,,, >t'·~ ;&f ~ I ,-\i:' .Jif j I t?:11 ~ I ·> »•/ \; ~ ~ ~ U;, i fJ / !o. ~~ i,. ~~ ,i),,~ "\ J ~£ . / , - ) .. / ,s w.,,, 1 :&1 '~\ ~ 0-" ~ -~'~:: w ·\ ,._;_.)~ /" / ~ c; ,.> "Indeed We have sent down to you the Book in truth, so worship Allaah alone by making the Religion purely for Him.

Surely the Religion, worship and obedience should be for Allaah alone. But those who take as Awliyaa' (friends and protectors) others along with Allaah say: We only worship 35 "Say; Truly my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allaah, Lord of the worlds." [AI-An'aam (6): 162] Major Shirk is rampant amongst the world's population and is ultimately the obstacle to our salvation . Major Shirk (Shirku/- Akbar) is to make something from the various types of worship them so that they may bring us closer to Allaah. Indeed Allaah will judge between them concerning that in which they differ. Indeed Allaah does not guide those who are liars and disbelievers.'' (Az-Zumar 39:2-3) "And they worship those besides Allaah that can neither harm nor benefit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allaah.

Say to them: Do you inform Allaah about that which He does not have knowledge in the heavens and the earth. Glory be to Allaah and how free He is from that which they associate as partners with Him." [Yoonus 10:18] "So Allaah - the Most Perfect - informed us in these two Aayaat that the idolaters had taken others from the creation as Awliyaa' along with Allaah . They worshipped them along with Him, by offering Du'aa (supplication) to them, and directing to them hope (of attaining safety or of being cured from some illness) and fear, sacrifice, vows, and their like claiming that directing such worship to these Awliyaa' would bring them closer to Allaah and that these Awliyaa' would then act as intercessors between them and Allaah. Yet Allaah - the Most Perfect - rejected such claims and made clear its falseness and labeled those who claimed such a thing as being liars and disbelievers!" [fqaamatul-Buraaheen (p. 27) of Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez bin Baaz] for other than Allaah, like sacrificing for other than Allaah, or taking an oath by other than Allaah, or calling upon other than Allaah, or seeking aid from other than Allaah; like those who seek aid from statues and idols and Awliyaa' (close allies of Allaah), and the righteous; upon the basis that this will bring them closer to Allaah. The ruling upon this type of Shirk is that it is disbelief (Kufr) that ejects one from the Religion .

Allaah does not accept anything from the one who commits major Shirk and his dwelling place is the Fire if he dies upon that, as the Prophet ~ said: _,,, ,. -.11. j, << J OI ~;i I~~ ~ ulA ~n "Whoever dies whilst calling upon other than Allaah enters the Fire." 1221 So clearly, major Shirk is the absolute worst sin, and Allaah will never forgive those who die upon it. Allaah ~ says : E / .,,-;:-:- . /\ -:' 11 -:' >. ~,,,, ".t " !',J. t J. . ~,. .j ,;; .- ,;; :i._ ~ 1 ~tr ,(,J. , ,, ~~ ~ ~ ·.) uJ.) .... ~..J ""~ .!.1..-A 0, ~ l "Verily Allaah does not forgive that Shirk be made with Him, but He forgives whatever is below that for whomever He wishes. And whosoever associates others with Allaah in worship, then he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.'" [An -Nisaa' (4): 48) And Allaah ~ says: [22] Bukhaaree "Verily whosoever associates partners with Allaah, then indeed Allaah has made Paradise unlawful for him, and his station is the Fire. And the transgressors will not have any helpers.' [AI-Maa'idah (5): 72] And Allaah ~ explained that whosoever commits major Shirk will not have his actions accepted: ,1.. *'~-; Ji'/ :'>.,,,,,.,--: .,., • •>., 1., ,11 ,.,,::,.}._ 1 ~_'.)_? .,.~ ~ ~ ~ )H i.o G!; ~~.J r "And We will approach what they have done of good deeds and make them like scattered dust." [AI-Furqaan (25): 23]" (23 1 b) Minor Shirk (Shirkul-Asghar) - "Mahmood bin Lubayd ~ reported that Allaah's Messenger ~ said : ~~\ ~.:,_~ I\ ~ jt_;f L; .::.;_,;f ~~ 'The thing that I fear for you the most is minor Shirk~ The companions asked: 'O' Messenger of Allaah, what is minor Shirk?' He replied : 'Showing off (Ar-riyaa'}, for verily Allaah will say on the day [23] Mudhkiratun fi/-'Aqeedah (p. 20-21) of resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, 'Go to those whom you were showing off to in the world and see if you can find any reward from them. 1241 "Minor Shirk does not expel one from the Religion, but it causes a deficiency in Tawheed; it is a way to major Shirk, and it is of two categories: The first category is apparent Shirk, and it consists of words and actions. So the words are like those used in swearing by other than Allaah.

The Prophet ~ said : "Whoever swears by other than Allaah, then he has indeed disbelieved and committed Shirk." 1251 And he said about the statement: 'What Allaah wills and what you will.' "Do you make me one to be called upon along with Allaah? Say: What Allaah alone wills." 1261 As for the actions, then it is like wearing a ring and thread to [24] Authentic-Narrated by Ahmed, Baihaqee and Tabaranee]. [25] Hasan: Related by Abo Dawood (3/570), At-Tirmidhee (3/253), who said: "A Hasan Hadeeth." It was authenticated by Ima am Ash-Shawkaanee in NaylulAwtaar (8/257) and by Al -Al baa nee in lrwaa 'u/-Gha/eel (no. 2561). (26] Hasan: Related by AI -Bukhaaree in AI-Adabul-Mufrad (no. 783), and by Ahmad (1/214), and an-Nisaa'ee in a/-'Amalu/-Yawm Wa-Laylah (no. 995), and lbn Maajah (no. 2117). It was authenticated by AI -Aran'oot in Takhreeju/- Musnad Abee Bakr (p. 55), and by Al -Al baa nee in As-Saheehah (no. 139). lift an affliction, or to remove it, and like the hanging of amulets in fear of the evil eye, and other than it. If it is believed that these things are causes for the raising of an affliction, or removing it, then this is minor Shirk, because Allaah did not make these to be causes.

If it is believed that these things themselves remove the calamity, then this is major Shirk, because that is devotion to other than Allaah ~ - The second category of minor Shirk is hidden Shirk (ShirkulKhafee). It is Shirk in desires and intentions, like riyaa' (showing off), and Sum'ah (seeking good repute). This is like performing an act which brings a person closer to Allaah, and desiring the praise of the people by it. An example of the person who perfects his Prayer, or gives charity, so that the people will praise and commend him for it. Or it is like the person who recites the remembrance (Dhikr) of Allaah with a good voice and recitation, so that the people will hear him and praise and commend him for it.

And Riyaa' (showing off) is when a person mixes his action with that which negates it. Allaah ~ says: ~ ~f dt ~CJ~~ "So whosoever wishes to meet his Lord, then let him perform righteous acts, and let him not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.'' [AI-Kahf (18): 110] The Prophet ~ said: ~~\ ~~\ ~ ~lJt "What I fear for you most is minor Shirk" They said: 'O Messenger of Allaah, what is minor Shirk?' He said: "Riyaa'." 1271 And from it is doing good deeds for the sake of obtaining worldly status; like the one who performs Pilgrimage (Hajj), or calls to Prayer, or agrees with the people for the sake of wealth. Or it is that he attains religious knowledge, or performs Jihaad for the sake of wealth . The Prophet :i said: ((~Jlll ~.J j ~lll ~ ~)) "May the servant of the Deenaar perish, and may the servant of the Dirham (forms of currency) perish ..." 12 s1 In Summary: Shaykh Saalih AI-Fawzaan .&1 ~ says: "To summarize what has passed, the difference between Major Shirk and Minor Shirk is as follows: