Overview

What is Shirk?

One of the most important obligations is to know the meaning of shirk, its seriousness and its different types, so that our Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and our Islam may be complete, and our faith may be sound. We say – And Allah is the Source of strength and true guidance comes from Him.

Lexical meaning of Shirk

The word shirk in Arabic means taking a partner, i.e., regarding someone as the partner of another. It is said [in Arabic]: ashraka baynahuma (he joined them together) when he regarded them as two of equal status; or ashraka fi amrihi ghayrahu (he introduced another into his affair) when he made two people involved in it.

Meaning of Shirk in Shari`ah Teminology

In terms of shari’ah or Islamic terminology, shirk means ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in Lordship (rububiyyah), worship or in His names and attributes.

A rival is a peer or counterpart. Hence Allah forbids setting up rivals with Him and He condemns those who take them (rivals) as gods instead of or besides Allah in many verses of the Quran. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)”

[al-Baqarah 2:22] 

“And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’”

[Ibrahim 14:30] 

In the hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever dies claiming that Allah has a rival, will enter Hell.”

Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4497; Muslim, 92

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