Wednesday, June 01, 2011

ASH-SHIRK

Definition:

Shirk basically is a polytheism,i.e.,the worship of others along with Allah.Its also implies attributing Divine attributes to any other besides Allah.It particularly implies associating partners in worship with Allah or believing that the source of power,harm or blessing is from others besides Allah.

Types:

There are three types of shirk,namely:
1) As-shirk-al-akbar,i.e major shirk
2)Ash-shirk-al-asghar,i.e. minor shirk
3)Ash-shirk-al-khafi,i.e.inconpicuous shirk

Manifestations:

1)As-shirk-al-akbar( the major shirk),
the major and serious polytheistic form has four aspects:
(a) Shirk-ad-dua,i.e. invocation.This aspect implies invoking,supplicating or praying to other deities besides Allah.
Almighty Allah says:

"And when they embark on a ship they invoke Allah,making their Faith pure for Him only,but when he brings them safety to land,behold,they give a share of their worship to otheres,"(v.29:65)

b) Shirk-an-niyyah wal irada wal-qasd. This aspect implies intentions,purpose and determination in acts of worship or religious deeds not for the sake of Allah but dircted towards other deities.
Almighty Allah says:

"Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter,to them we shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein,and they will have no diminution therein.they are those for whom there is nothing in the hereafter but fire;and vain are the deeds they did therein.And of no effect is that which they used to do,"
(v.11:15,16)

c) Shirk-at-Ta-ah.This aspect implies rendering obedience to any authority against the order of Allah.
Almighty Allah says:

"They (Jews and Christians)took theirs rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or UN lawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah),and(they also took as their lord)Messiah,son of mar yam (Mary),while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded (in the Torah and the Gospel) to worship none but one Ill ah(God i.e.,Allah),La ilaha illa huwa (none has the right to worshiped but he).
"Praise and Glory is to him(far above is he )from having the partners they associate (with him),"
(v.9:31)

Once,while Allah's messenger s.a.w was reciting the above Verse, 'Adi bin Htim r.a. said "o Allah's prophet!they don't worship them (rabbis and monks)."Allah's messenger said,"they certainly do.They (i.e. rabbis and monks )made legal things illegal,and illegal things legal,and they (i.e. Jews and Christians) followed them;and by doing so they really worshipped them."
Narrated by Ahmad,at tirmidhi,and ibn-e-jarir).(tafseer at-tibri,vol 10 page no.114)

d)Shirk-al-Mahabbah.This implies showing the love which is due to Allah Alone to others than him.
Almighty Allah says:

"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah).They love them as they love Allah.But those who believe,love Allah more (than anything else).
If only those who do wrong could see,when they will see the torment,that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment."
(v.2:165)

2)Ash-Shirk-al Asghar-Riya
(The minor shirk,i.e. acts performed to show off) any act of worship or any religion deed done in order to gain praise,fame or for worldly benifit,falls under this category.
Almighty Allah says:
"Say (O Mohamamad s.a.w): i am only a man like you,it has been revealed to me that your Illah (God) is one Illah (God i.e. Allah).So who ever hopes for the meeting with his lord,let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord,"
(v.18:110)

3) Ash Shrik-al-Khafi (the inconspicuous Shrik).
This type implies being inwardly dissatisfied with the inevitable condition that has been ordained for one by Allah;conscientiously lamenting that had you done or not done such and such or had you approached such and such you would have had a better status,etc.

The noble prophet Mohammad s.a.w said:

Ash-shirk al-khafi in the muslim nation is more inconspicuous than the creeping of a black ant on black rock in the pitch-darkness of the night." And this in conspicuous shirk is expiated by saying thrice the following sentence everyday: "O Allah! i take your refuge from that i shuold ascribe aything as partner in your worship,being conscious of that,and i beg your pardon for that sin which i am not aware of." (Aameen)

2 comments:

Nawaqif Rehnuma said...

Excellent post and very useful.

fairy said...

Tamam tareefein Allah k liye hain jis ne likhnay ki taoufeeq di...hujiyat-e-hadees per aap k comments ka intezar rahey ga