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Shirk (Arabic: شرك‎) is the Islamic concept of the sin of polytheism specifically, but in a more general way refers to worshipping other than Allah, associating partners with Him, giving His characteristics to other than Him, or not believing in His characteristics. The Shahada ( Arabic: ar الشهادة, from the verb ar شهد "to testify" is the Islamic Creed. "Taghout" redirects here for the village in Azerbaijan see Ataqut. Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' (plural ‎ or) is the Arabic for " Deity " or "god" Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple Gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated Mythology and Rituals Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' Within Islam, shirk is not a forgivable sin, and Muslims consider that anyone who dies subject to this sin will never enter paradise. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion It is the vice that is opposed to the virtue of tawhid, literally "declaring [that which is] one", often translated into the English term monotheism. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] ^[1]

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Definition 2.1 Qur'an 2.2 Theology 3 Categories of Shirk 3.1 Shirk in Rubūbīyah (Lordship) 3.2 Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat (the names and attributes of God) 3.3 Shirk In al-'Ibadah (Worship) 3.4 Ar-Riya 4 See also 5 References

Etymology

The word shirk is derived from the Arabic root Š-R-K (ش ر ك). Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Shin (also spelled Šin or Sheen) is the twenty-first letter in many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew for the town in Nepal see Resh Nepal Resh is the twentieth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician Kaph (also spelled Kap or Kaf) is the eleventh letter of many Semitic abjads, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew This consonantal root has the general meaning of "to share" (A. A. Nadwi, Vocabulary of the Qur'an). In the terminology used to discuss the grammar of the Semitic languages and some other Afro-Asiatic languages, a triliteral ( Arabic: جذر ثلاثي Abdullah Abbas Nadwi is an Islamic scholar He is the author of the Vocabulary of the Holy Qur'an (1983 ISBN 1-56316-115-X The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran In the context of the Qur'an, the particular sense of "sharing as an equal partner" is usually understood, so that polytheism is "attributing a partner to God". Polytheism is belief in or worship of multiple Gods (usually assembled in a pantheon) together with associated Mythology and Rituals In the Qur'an, shirk and the related word (plural Stem IV active participle) mushrikūn (مشركون) "those who commit shirk and plot against Islam" often clearly refers to the enemies of Islam (as in verse 9. Arabic is a Semitic language See Arabic language for more information on the language in general 1-15) but sometimes it also refers to erring Muslims. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion

Definition

Shirk is defined in various ways.

Qur'an

Islamic commentators on the Qur'an have emphasized that pre-Islamic Arabic idolatry made a number of godlings (most memorably the three goddesses al-Manāt, al-Lāt and ˤUzzā) equal associates of God (as the Qur'an discusses in the 53rd surat) and the word mushrikūn is often translated into English as "polytheists". Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. Mentioned in the Qur'an ( Sura 53:20 al-Lāt (Arabic اللَّات was a pre- Islamic Arabian Goddess who was one of the three Mentioned in the Qur'an ( Sura 53:19 al-‘Uzzá "the Mightiest One" or "the strong" (derived from the root ʕzz) was a pre- Surat An-Najm (سورة النجم (The Star is the 53rd sura of the Qur'an with 62 Ayat.

Other forms of shirk include the worship of wealth and other material objects. This is pointed in the Qur'an in one of the story of the Children of Israel, when they took a calf made of gold for worship (Qur'an 7:148-150). The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Another form of shirk is to revere a leader (religious or not) beyond limits, as mentioned in Qur'an (9:31).

Theology

In a theological context one commits shirk by associating some lesser being with God (Arabic: Allah). Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' This sin is committed if one imagines that there is some other spirit than God whom it is suitable to worship. This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W Many Islamic theologians extend the sense of worship to include praying to some other being to intercede with God on one's behalf, rather than taking one's case to God Himself. This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W The limits of the concept of worship are quite elastic and theologians often describe excessive veneration of some artifact here on earth as shirk. This article refers to the religious act For the album by Michael W In Archaeology, an artifact or artefact is any object made or modified by a human culture, and often one later recovered by some archaeological

Atheism is described as shirk because it denies the position of God as the unique creator and sustainer of the universe (tawhid ar-rububiyya, the unity of creation). Atheism In the same way, the act of shirk is extended to include such things as the notion that God possesses humanlike anthropomorphic qualities as well as acts of worship or piety whose inward goal is pride, caprice, or a desire for public admiration. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely Human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings natural and supernatural phenomena material states and objects In spiritual terminology piety is a Virtue. While different people may understand its meaning differently it is generally used to refer either to religious devotion Pride is a lofty view of one's self or one's own Pride often manifests itself as a high opinion of one's Nation (national pride Ethnicity (ethnic pride or appearance

Categories of Shirk

Derived from the Qur'an and the prophetic tradition (Sunnah), there are four main categories of Shirk in Islam

Shirk in Rubūbīyah (Lordship)

This category of Shirk refers to either the belief that others share God's Lordship over creation as His equal or near equal, or to the belief that there exists no Lord over creation at all. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Sunnah ar (سنة plural سنن Sunan literally means “trodden path” and therefore the sunnah of the prophet means “the way and the manners of the prophet”

• Shirk by association - This is the shirk concerned with associating 'others' with God. Among some Muslim people, Shirk in Rubūbīyah is manifested in their belief that the souls of saints and other righteous humans can affect the affairs of this world, even after their deaths. Therefore, grave worshippers assign to human souls the divine ability to cause events in this life which in fact only God can cause.
• Shirk by negation - This sub-category represents the various philosophies and ideologies which deny the existence of God either explicitly or implicitly. That is, in some cases God's non-existence is stated (Atheism), while in other cases His existence is claimed, but the way in which He is conceived actually denies His existence (Pantheism).

Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat (the names and attributes of God)

Shirk in this category includes both the common pagan practice of giving God the attributes of His creation as well as the act of giving created beings God's names and attributes.

• Shirk by humanization - In this aspect of Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat, God is given the form and qualities of human beings and animals. Due to man's superiority over animals, the human form is more commonly used by idolaters to represent god in creation. Consequently, the image of the Creator is often painted, moulded or carved in the shape of human beings possessing the physical features of those who worship them.
• Shirk by deification - This form of Shirk in al-Asma was-Sifat relates to cases where created beings or things are given or claim god's names or His attributes. For example, it was the practice of the ancient Arabs to worship idols whose names were derived from the names of God. Their main three idols were: al-Lat taken from God's name al-Elah, al-'Uzza taken from al-'Aziz and al-Manat taken from al-Mannan (see The Satanic Verses). Satanic Verses is an expression coined by the historian Sir William Muir in reference to a few verses delivered by Muhammad as part of the Qur'an During the era of Muhammad there was also a man in a region of Arabia called Yamamah, who claimed to be a prophet and took the name Rahman which, in Islam, belongs only to God.

Shirk In al-'Ibadah (Worship)

In this category of Shirk, acts of worship are directed to other than God and the reward for worship is sought from the creation instead of the Creator. As in the case of the previous categories, Shirk in al-'Ebadah has two main aspects.

• Ash-Shirk al-Akbar (Major Shirk) - This form of Shirk occurs when any act of worship is directed to other than God. It represents the most obvious form of idolatry which the prophets were specifically sent by God to call the masses of mankind away from.
• Ash-Shirk al-Asghar (Minor Shirk) -
  • Minor Shirk

Mahmud ibn Lubayd reported, "God's messenger said: "The thing I fear for you the most is ash-Shirk al-Asghar (minor shirk). "

The companions asked "Oh! messenger of God, what is minor Shirk?"

He replied "Ar-Riya (showing off), for verily God will say on the Day of Resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, 'Go to those for whom you were showing off in the material world and see if you can find any reward from them. "

• Secret Shirk

Mahmud ibn Lubayd also said, "The Prophet came out and announced, 'O people, beware of secret Shirk!'

The people asked, 'O messenger of God, what is secret Shirk?'

He replied, 'When a man gets up to pray and strives to beautify his prayer because people are looking at him; that is secret Shirk. "

• Swearing by other than Allah

This is Minor Shirk unless he thinks that the one sworn by is worth what Allah is worth or worth to be worshiped like Allah.

Ar-Riya

Riya is the practice of performing any of the various forms of worship in order to be seen and praised by people. This sin destroys all the benefits that lie in righteous deeds and brings on the one who commits it a serious punishment.

See also

• Pre-Islamic Arabia
• Paganism
• Idolatry
• Polytheism
• Kafir
• Tawhid

References

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