Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah)

Definition

Shirk (شرك) is the sin of associating partners with Allah in His lordship, worship, or names and attributes. It is the only sin that Allah has declared He will not forgive if a person dies upon it without repenting: 'Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills' (Quran 4:48).

Categories of Shirk

Shirk Akbar (Major Shirk): Directing any form of worship to other than Allah. This includes: praying to idols, prostrating to any created being, believing that anyone besides Allah has independent power over the universe, sacrificing to other than Allah, and making vows to other than Allah. Major shirk expels a person from Islam. Shirk Asghar (Minor Shirk): Actions that do not constitute worship of others but lead toward it or contain an element of it. The most common form is riya (showing off in worship). The Prophet said: 'The thing I fear most for you is the lesser shirk: showing off' (Musnad Ahmad 23630). Shirk Khafi (Hidden Shirk): Subtle forms of shirk in the heart, such as being dissatisfied with Allah's decree while outwardly appearing content, or secretly relying on worldly means more than on Allah.

Protection from Shirk

Even Ibrahim (Abraham), the father of monotheism, prayed: 'My Lord, make me and my descendants ones who establish prayer, and accept my supplication. My Lord, keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols' (Quran 14:35, 40). If Ibrahim feared shirk for himself, every Muslim should be vigilant against it.