''Shirk'' ( ar, شرك ''širk'') in
Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
is the sin of
idolatry
Idolatry is the worship of a cult image or "idol" as though it were God. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, the Baháʼí Faith, and Islam) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the A ...
or
polytheism
Polytheism is the belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it contrasts with monotheism, the ...
(''i.e.'', the deification or worship of anyone or anything besides
Allah
Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...
). Islam teaches that
God
In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...
does not share his divine attributes with any partner. Associating partners with God is disallowed according to the Islamic doctrine of ''
Tawhid
Tawhid ( ar, , ', meaning "unification of God in Islam ( Allāh)"; also romanized as ''Tawheed'', ''Tawhid'', ''Tauheed'' or ''Tevhid'') is the indivisible oneness concept of monotheism in Islam. Tawhid is the religion's central and single ...
''
[Kamoonpuri, S: "Basic Beliefs of Islam" pages 42–58. Tanzania Printers Limited, 2001.] (''oneness''). ''Mušrikūn'' (pl. of ''mušrik'' ) are those who practice ''shirk'', which literally means "association" and refers to accepting other gods and divinities alongside God (as God's "associates").
The Qur'an considers shirk as a
sin that will not be forgiven if a person dies without repenting of it.
Etymology
The word ''širk'' comes from the
Arabic root
The roots of verbs and most nouns in the Semitic languages are characterized as a sequence of consonants or " radicals" (hence the term consonantal root). Such abstract consonantal roots are used in the formation of actual words by adding the vowel ...
Š-
R-
K (), with the general meaning of "to share".
In the context of the
Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
, the particular sense of "sharing as an equal partner" is usually understood, so that
polytheism
Polytheism is the belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it contrasts with monotheism, the ...
means "attributing a partner to Allah". In the Quran, ''shirk'' and the related word ''mušrikūn'' ()—those who commit shirk and plot against Islam—often refer to the enemies of Islam (as in
At-Tawbah
At-Tawbah ( ar, ٱلتوبة, ; The Repentance), also known as Bara'ah ( ar, براءة, ; Repudiation), is the ninth chapter (''sūrah'') of the Quran. It contains 129 verses ('' āyāt'') and is one of the last Medinan surahs.
This Surah is ...
verses 9:1–15).
Quran
According to the
Encyclopedia of Islam
The ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''EI'') is an encyclopaedia of the academic discipline of Islamic studies published by Brill. It is considered to be the standard reference work in the field of Islamic studies. The first edition was published in ...
, the Quran states "twice", in surah ''
an-Nisa
An-Nisa' ( ar, ٱلنِّسَاء, ; The Women) is the fourth chapter (sūrah) of the Quran, with 176 verses ( āyāt). The title derives from the numerous references to women throughout the chapter, including verse 34 and verses 127-130.Hale ...
'', verses 48 and 116, "that God can pardon all sins save one", that of shirk ("associationism").
Islamic commentators on the Quran have emphasized that pre-Islamic
Arabic idolatry made a number of godlings, most memorably the three goddesses
Manāt
( ar, مناة pausa, or Old Arabic manawat; also transliterated as ') was a pre-Islamic Arabian goddess worshiped in the Arabian Peninsula before the rise of Islam and the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. She was among Mec ...
,
Al-Lāt
Al-Lat ( ar, اللات, translit=Al-Lāt, ), also spelled Allat, Allatu and Alilat, is a pre-Islamic Arabian goddess worshipped under various associations throughout the entire Arabian Peninsula, including Mecca where she was worshipped alongs ...
and
Al-‘Uzzá
Al-ʻUzzā ( ar, العزى or Old Arabic l ʕuzzeː was one of the three chief goddesses of Arabian religion in pre-Islamic times and she was worshiped by the pre-Islamic Arabs along with al-Lāt and Manāt. A stone cube at Nakhla (near M ...
, equal associates of Allah (as the Quran discusses in the
53rd surat) and the word ''mushrikūn'' (singular: ''mushrik'') is often translated into English as "polytheists".
The
Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
and what the people of
Nuh's community would say in an effort by the idolaters to ignore and mock Nuh. "They (idolaters) have said: "You shall not leave your gods nor shall you leave
Wadd
Wadd ( ar, وَدّ) (Ancient South Arabian script: 𐩥𐩵) is a pre-Islamic Arabian god. He was the national god of the Minaeans of South Arabia, and the snake was associated with him. It is also called Waddum and Wadd'ab.
In Islamic trad ...
, nor
Suwa'
Suwāʿ ( ar, سواع) is mentioned in the Qur'an (71:23) as a deity of the time of the Prophet Noah.
And they say: Forsake not your gods, nor forsake Wadd, nor Suwa', nor Yaghuth and Ya'uq and Nasr. (Qur'an 71:23)
Maulana Muhammad Ali adds ...
, nor
Yaghuth, nor
Ya'uq
According to the Qur'an, Yaʿūq ( ar, يعوق) was a deity worshipped in the days of Noah. A temple dedicated to Rahmanan and named after Ya'uq is mentioned in South Arabian inscriptions as "mkrbn yʿwq".
And they say: Forsake not your gods, nor ...
nor
Nasr." (
Quran 71:23)
Other forms of ''shirk'' include the worship of wealth and other material objects. This is pointed out in the
Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
in
Al-A'raf
Al-Araf ( ar, ٱلأعراف, ; The Heights) is the 7th chapter (''sūrah'') of the Qur'an, with 206 verses ( āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (''Asbāb al-nuzūl''), it is a "Meccan surah", which means ...
in one of the stories of the
Children of Israel
The Israelites (; , , ) were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan.
The earliest recorded evidence of a people by the name of Israel appears in the Merneptah Stele o ...
, when they took
a calf made of gold for worship, and for which Moses ordered them to repent.
Entities worshipped besides God are called ''shuraka''.
[Magic and Divination in Early Islam. (2021). Vereinigtes Königreich: Taylor & Francis.] Although the existence of such entities is not denied, as they can accept sacrifices, their divinity is. After Judgement Day, they will be cast into hell along with fallen angels (shayatin) and evil jinn,
whom the pagans are said to likewise sacrifice in order to gain protection.
Another form of shirk mentioned in the Quran
At-Tawbah
At-Tawbah ( ar, ٱلتوبة, ; The Repentance), also known as Bara'ah ( ar, براءة, ; Repudiation), is the ninth chapter (''sūrah'') of the Quran. It contains 129 verses ('' āyāt'') and is one of the last Medinan surahs.
This Surah is ...
is to take scholars of religion, monks, divines, or religious lawyers as Lord(s) in practice by following their doctrines, and/or by following their rulings on what is lawful when it is at variance to the law or doctrines prescribed by Allah's revelation.
And do not eat of that on which Allah's name has not been mentioned, and that is most surely a transgression; and most surely the Shaitans suggest to their friends that they should contend with you; and if you obey them, you shall most surely be polytheists.
— Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Classical Arabic, Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation in Islam, revelation from God in Islam, ...
, sura « №6», ayah №121.(translated by Shakir Shakir is both a surname and a given name, similar to the surname or name Shakur. Notable people with the name include:
* Ahmad Muhammad Shakir, Egyptian scholar of Hadith (prophetic traditions)
* Faiz Shakir, American Democratic political advisor a ...
)
Theological interpretation
Medieval Muslim and Jewish philosophers identified belief in the
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
with the heresy of ''shirk'' in Arabic (''
shituf
' ( he, שִׁתּוּף; also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ' or '; literally "association") is a term used in Judaism, Jewish sources for the worship of God in Judaism, God in a manner which Judaism does not deem to be purely monothe ...
'' in Hebrew), meaning "associationism", in limiting the infinity of God by associating his divinity with physical existence.
In a theological context, one commits ''shirk'' by associating some lesser being with
Allah
Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...
. The sin is committed if one imagines that there is a partner with ''Allah'' whom it is suitable to
worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition ...
. It is stated in the Quran: "Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him, but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases, to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed" (Quran
An-Nisa
An-Nisa' ( ar, ٱلنِّسَاء, ; The Women) is the fourth chapter (sūrah) of the Quran, with 176 verses ( āyāt). The title derives from the numerous references to women throughout the chapter, including verse 34 and verses 127-130.Hale ...
4:48).
Some followers of a
Sufistic interpretation of Islam tend to regard the belief in any power other than God as a type of polytheism (''shirk''). That includes
false gods but also the belief in other sources of existence. Beliefs usually accepted by
monotheism
Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity, an all-supreme being that is universally referred to as God. Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford ...
, such as a
devil
A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of t ...
as a source of evil or
free will
Free will is the capacity of agents to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded.
Free will is closely linked to the concepts of moral responsibility, praise, culpability, sin, and other judgements which apply only to actio ...
as source for God's creation's own responsibilities, are equated with beliefs in other powers than God and therefore denounced.
The status of the
People of the Book
People of the Book or Ahl al-kitāb ( ar, أهل الكتاب) is an Islamic term referring to those religions which Muslims regard as having been guided by previous revelations, generally in the form of a scripture. In the Quran they are ident ...
(''ahl al-kitab''), particularly Jews and Christians, with respect to the Islamic notions of unbelief is not clearcut. Charles Adams writes that the Quran reproaches the People of the Book with ''kufr'' for rejecting
Muhammad
Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...
's message when they should have been the first to accept it as possessors of earlier revelations, and he singles out Christians for disregarding the evidence of God's unity.
The Quranic verse
Al-Ma'idah
Al-Ma'idah ( ar, ٱلمائدة, ; "The Table" or "The Table Spread with Food") is the fifth chapter (''sūrah'') of the Quran, with 120 verses ('' āyāt''). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (''asbāb al-nuz ...
5:73
("Certainly they disbelieve
'kafara''who say: God is the third of three"), among other verses, has been traditionally understood in Islam as
rejection of the Christian Trinity doctrine,
but modern scholarship has suggested alternative interpretations. Other Quranic verses strongly deny the
deity of Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, and reproach the people who treat Jesus as equal with God as disbelievers, who will be doomed to eternal punishment in
Hell
In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hell ...
. The Quran also does not recognise the attribute of Jesus as the Son of God or God himself but respects Jesus as a prophet and messenger of God, who was sent to children of Israel. Some Muslim thinkers such as
Mohamed Talbi
Mohamed Talbi ( ar, محمد الطالبي), (16 September 1921 – 1 May 2017) was a Tunisian historian and professor. He was the author of many books about Islam.
Biography
Professor Emeritus at University of Tunis, Mohamed Talbi was a Tunisi ...
have viewed the most extreme Qur'anic presentations of the dogmas of the Trinity and divinity of Jesus (
Al-Ma'idah
Al-Ma'idah ( ar, ٱلمائدة, ; "The Table" or "The Table Spread with Food") is the fifth chapter (''sūrah'') of the Quran, with 120 verses ('' āyāt''). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (''asbāb al-nuz ...
5:19, 5:75-76, 5:119)
as non-Christian formulas, which were rejected by the Church.
Cyril Glasse criticises the use of ''kafirun''
l._of_''kafir''.html" ;"title="kafir.html" ;"title="l. of ''kafir">l. of ''kafir''">kafir.html" ;"title="l. of ''kafir">l. of ''kafir''to describe Christians as a "loose usage".
According to the ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'', traditional fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence has ''ahl al-kitab'' being "usually regarded more leniently than other ''kuffar'' [pl. of ''kafir'']," and "in theory," a Muslim commits a punishable offense if he says to a Jew or a Christian, "Thou unbeliever."
Historically, People of the Book permanently residing under Islamic rule were entitled to a special status known as ''
dhimmi
' ( ar, ذمي ', , collectively ''/'' "the people of the covenant") or () is a historical term for non-Muslims living in an Islamic state with legal protection. The word literally means "protected person", referring to the state's obligatio ...
'', and those who were visiting Muslim lands received a different status known as ''
musta'min
Mustaʾmīn or Musta'man ( ar, مستأمن) is a historical Islamic term for a non-Muslim foreigner temporarily residing in Muslim lands with and ''aman'' or guarantee of short-term safe-conduct ('' aman mu'aqqat'') affording the protected status ...
''.
[
]
Greater and lesser shirk
''Shirk'' has been classified into two categories according to Islam:
* Greater ''shirk'' (''Shirk-al-Akbar''): open and apparent
* Lesser ''shirk'' (''Shirk-al-Asghar''): concealed or hidden
Greater shirk
Greater ''shirk'' or ''Shirk-al-Akbar'' means open polytheism and has been described in two forms:
* To associate anyone with Allah as his partner (to believe in more than one god)
* To associate Allah's attributes with someone else (attributing, considering, or portraying Allah's knowledge or might to being those of anyone else)
Other interpretations divide greater ''shirk'' into three main categories. ''Shirk'' can be committed by acting against the three different categories.
Rubūbīyah (Lordship)
This category of ''shirk'' refers to either the belief that others share Allah's lordship over creation as his equal or near equal or to the belief that there is no lord over creation at all.
* ''Shirk'' by association: the ''shirk'' concerned with associating "others" with Allah
* ''Shirk'' by negation: ''shirk'' in rubūbīyah (lordship)
Al-Asma wa's-Sifat (names and attributes)
This category of ''shirk'' includes both the non-believer practices of giving Allah the attributes of his creation and the act of giving Allah's names and attributes to created beings.
* ''Shirk'' by humanization: in this aspect of ''shirk'', Allah is given the form and qualities of human beings and animals. Man's superiority over animals causes the human form to be more commonly used by idolaters to represent Allah in creation. Consequently, the image of the creator is often painted, molded, or carved in the shape of human beings possessing the physical features of those who worship them.
* ''Shirk'' by deification: this form of ''shirk'' relates to cases of created beings or things being given or claiming Allah's names or his attributes. For example, the ancient Arabs had the practice of worshiping idols whose names were derived from the names of Allah. The three main deities were Al-lāt
Al-Lat ( ar, اللات, translit=Al-Lāt, ), also spelled Allat, Allatu and Alilat, is a pre-Islamic Arabian goddess worshipped under various associations throughout the entire Arabian Peninsula, including Mecca where she was worshipped alongs ...
(taken from Allah's name al-Elah), al-'Uzza
Al-ʻUzzā ( ar, العزى or Old Arabic l ʕuzzeː was one of the three chief goddesses of Arabian religion in pre-Islamic times and she was worshiped by the pre-Islamic Arabs along with al-Lāt and Manāt. A stone cube at Nakhla (near ...
(taken from al-'Aziz), and al-Manat (taken from al-Mannan). 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
Rahman (Arabic: or ) may refer to:
*Rahman, one of the names of God in Islam
*Ar-Rahman, the 55th sura of the Qur'an
People
*Rahman (name), an Arabic male personal name
**Short form of Abd al-Rahman
*Rahman (actor) (born 1967), Indian actor
*Rah ...
, which in Islam belongs only to Allah.
Al-'Ibadah (worship)
In this category of ''shirk'', acts of worship are directed to others besides Allah, 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-'Ibadah'' has two main aspects.
This form of ''shirk'' occurs when any act of worship is directed to someone else besides Allah. It represents the most obvious form of idolatry
Idolatry is the worship of a cult image or "idol" as though it were God. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, the Baháʼí Faith, and Islam) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the A ...
against which the prophets were specifically sent by Allah and called the masses of mankind to give it up. Examples of this ''shirk'' are asking for forgiveness and admittance to paradise, which only Allah can provide, from others besides Allah.
Lesser shirk
Lesser ''shirk'', or ''Shirke-e-Asghar'', means hidden polytheism. A person commits it by professing ''tawhid'' (there is no god except Allah) but having thoughts and actions that do not reflect that belief:
Mahmud ibn Lubayd reported, "Allah's messenger said: 'The thing I fear for you the most is ash-Shirk al-Asghar.'"
:The companions asked, "O messenger of Allah, what is that?"
:He replied, "Ar-Riya (showing off), for verily Allah 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.'"
Mahmud ibn Lubayd also said, "The Prophet came out and announced, 'O people, beware of secret Shirk!'"
:The people asked, "O messenger of Allah, 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."
Umar ibn al-Khattab
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate o ...
narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed an act of kufr or shirk." (graded ''hasan'' by Al-Tirmidhi
Abū ʿĪsā Muḥammad ibn ʿĪsā as-Sulamī aḍ-Ḍarīr al-Būghī at-Tirmidhī ( ar, أبو عيسى محمد بن عيسى السلمي الضرير البوغي الترمذي; fa, , ''Termezī''; 824 – 9 October 892 CE / 209 - 2 ...
and ''saheeh'' by Al-Hakim)
According to Ibn Mas’ood, one of Muhammad's companions
The Companions of the Prophet ( ar, اَلصَّحَابَةُ; ''aṣ-ṣaḥāba'' meaning "the companions", from the verb meaning "accompany", "keep company with", "associate with") were the disciples and followers of Muhammad who saw or m ...
said: "That I should swear by Allah upon a lie is more preferable to me than that I should swear by another upon the truth."["Kitab At-Tawheed" by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, chapter 40]
See also
* Black Stone
The Black Stone ( ar, ٱلْحَجَرُ ٱلْأَسْوَد, ', 'Black Stone') is a rock set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba, the ancient building in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is revered by Muslims as an ...
* Haram
''Haram'' (; ar, حَرَام, , ) is an Arabic term meaning 'Forbidden'. This may refer to either something sacred to which access is not allowed to the people who are not in a state of purity or who are not initiated into the sacred knowle ...
* Henotheism
Henotheism is the worship of a single, supreme god that does not deny the existence or possible existence of other deities. Friedrich Schelling (1775–1854) coined the word, and Friedrich Welcker (1784–1868) used it to depict primiti ...
* Islam and blasphemy
In Islam, blasphemy is impious utterance or action concerning God, but is broader than in normal English usage, including not only the mocking or vilifying of attributes of Islam but denying any of the fundamental beliefs of the religion. Examp ...
* Islamic schools and branches
Islamic schools and branches have different understandings of Islam. There are many different sects or denominations, Madhhab, schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and schools of Islamic theology, or ''Aqidah, ʿaqīdah'' (creed). Within Islamic gr ...
* Islamic view of the Trinity
In Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is a single essence who exists, consubstantiality and co-eternally, as a perichoresis of three distinct hypostases ("persons"): the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Islam conside ...
* Islamic views on Jesus' death
The biblical account of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus (''ʿĪsā'') recorded in the Christian New Testament is rejected by most Muslims, but like Christians they believe that Jesus ascended to heaven and he will, accordin ...
* Paganism
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity, early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions ot ...
* Pre-Islamic Arabia
Pre-Islamic Arabia ( ar, شبه الجزيرة العربية قبل الإسلام) refers to the Arabian Peninsula before the History of Islam, emergence of Islam in 610 CE.
Some of the settled communities developed into distinctive civilizati ...
* Shahada
The ''Shahada'' (Arabic: ٱلشَّهَادَةُ , "the testimony"), also transliterated as ''Shahadah'', is an Islamic oath and creed, and one of the Five Pillars of Islam and part of the Adhan. It reads: "I bear witness that there is n ...
(confession)
* Taghut
''Taghut'' ( ar. طاغوت, ṭāġūt. pl. ṭawāġīt. broadly: "to go beyond the measure") is Islamic terminology denoting a focus of worship other than God. In traditional theology, the term often connotes idols or demons drawn to blood ...
(idol)
* Ya-Ali
Notes
References
External links
*
Shirk in legislation
{{Italic title
Islamic terminology
Islamic theology
Polytheism
Sin
Idolatry