Shirk

89762

The Quran mentions various forms of polytheism in verses 4:48, 10:31-2, 9:31, 25:4. Which type of Shirk is unforgivable?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 week ago

Polytheism شرك is to worship with Allah some one or something else. Those who did polytheism in the past then left it and became Muslims will be forgiven because they have left polytheism, but those who insisted on polytheism and died with it, will not be forgiven as you read in (Quran 4:48).

Wassalam.

88644

Shirk . Shahada . Adhan

What is the evidence supporting the mention of Aliyyun Waliullah in the Kalima and Azan? Is there any situation in which this can count as Shirk?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 1 month ago

Shirk is calling someone God, assigning divinity to someone other than God, or assigning the offices of divinity to someone other than God.

Saying "'Ali is the wali of God" is not shirk, because it is not doing any of the above.

Furthermore, the Qur'an speaks of the "awliya' Allah" (plural of wali) with respect to human beings. Therefore, it is not shirk to say that Imam 'Ali is the wali of Allah, since Allah uses that phrase Himself. Given his high level of spirituality and service to Islam, very few Muslims would disagree with the idea behind saying "'Ali is the wali of Allah," although this phrase has become associated with Shi'ism.

Therefore, the biggest objection that someone could put forward to saying this in the adhan is that it does not belong in the adhan, not that it is shirk or an untrue statement.

It is not necessary to say "'Ali is the wali of Allah" in the adhan or kalimah. It is optional to say that. Shi'is generally do not consider it part of the adhan or salat. If it is said in the adhan, it is said as an optional thing which is said for blessings, or because it is seen as recommended, not as an actual part of the adhan. This is similar to how one might recite salawat after the Prophet's name during the adhan - it is done as an optional thing and not out of the belief that it is a formal part of the adhan.

For matters of religious law, such as the salat or converting to Islam, it is enough to say "there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet".

However, due to the Shi'i belief in the Imamate, some Shi'is might feel it is a more complete or comprehensive statement of faith to also say "'Ali is the wali of Allah" (because the 3 statements cover monotheism, prophethood, and imamate); one might also say it to indicate a desire to convert specifically to Shi'ism. But it is not necessary.

Among Shi'is, it has become common to say "'Ali is the wali of Allah" during the adhan. There are some narrations indicating that this was said in the presence of the Prophet, for instance, that on the Day of Ghadir Salman al-Farsi recited it during the adhan, and the Prophet approved of it.

Similarly, regarding the kalimah, there are narrations in Sunni and Shi'i books connecting endorsement of Imam 'Ali to endorsement of Allah and the Prophet. For instance, it is said that it is written on the Throne of God: "There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is My servant and messenger, and 'Ali was his supporter."

Sadly, today, some Muslims attack each other over very small details of practice. They dislike some things because they are different from the Islam they are familiar with, or because they are symbolic of a different sect. It would be better to move towards a spirit of tolerance and acknolwedge that there are multiple ways in which Islam is lived today. After all, even if two people are reciting the adhan differently, they are still reciting the adhan. There are many people who don't care about God at all. Why not focus on the big things such as discussing the existence and relevance of God, rather than focusing on small details and trying to "prove" who is right?

(This is not directed at you personally since I am sure it is a genuine question, and it is a good question to ask and know about, but rather it is an overall comment regarding the situation of the Muslim world today and the types of arguments that are had over how to do wudhu and so forth.)

86831

Shirk . Zina . Illness

If a Muslim commits Shirk and Zina during a mental illness will he be held accountable?

Vinay Khetia, Shaikh Vinay Khetia has studied at various traditional Islamic seminaries in London, Iraq and Syria. He has an undergraduate degree in Religious and Near Eastern Studies from the University of... Answered 1 month ago

Salaamun Alaykum,

Accountability is determined by the exercise their own free will and understanding of what they are doing. So for example a 4 year old child hitting another child or stealing is wrong but does the child fully understand yet- the implications of their actions. Are they held accountable in the eyes of Allah swt- the answer is no. This is also because their aql and rational/intellectual faculty is not yet developed fully.

Hence those suffering with serious mental illness in which their aql is severely affected such as severe bi-polar or severe mood disorders, or forms of schizophrenia my have entire breaks from reality, they may for example even think "they are the president of the United States" and actually believe it. These are cases in which such a person is not rational whatsoever and hence would most likely not be held accountable by Allah. Otherwise we are expected to control ourselves and not attribute excuses to simply being "crimes of passion" whereas we are expected to control our passions/impulses and not be controlled by them as human beings that is what distinguishes us from other creatures on this Earth.

wa Allahu al-'Alim,

And Allah is all knowing,

Sh.Vinay

86037

Shirk . God (Allah) . Forgiveness . Prophet Moses . Qur'anic Verse

How can one understand the idea that Allah never forgives Shirk while in the Quran 4:153 Allah seems to forgive the people of Moses when they committed Shirk?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 1 month ago

as salam alaikum

The Qur'an says: "Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him but forgive anything else" (4:48). However many people who were mushrikin became Muslims and Allah forgave all their past sins. One of the interpretations of the above-mentioned verse is that as long as you are associating something with Allah, you won't be able to go back to Him through tawbah while it is possible if you are committing other sins.

With prayers for your success.

Shirk . God (Allah) . Forgiveness . Prophet Moses . Qur'anic Verse

How can one understand the idea that Allah never forgives Shirk while in the Quran 4:153 Allah seems to forgive the people of Moses when they committed Shirk?

Those who insist on Shirk and die with Shirk will not be forgiven, but those who repented and left Shirk will be forgiven.

Millions of people who committed Shirk,then became Muslims, were forgiven.

The Hadeeth says: Believing in Islam cuts off whatever was before it الاسلام يجُبّ٫ ما قبله

Wassalam.

80274

Tawassul . Shirk . Ahl al-Bayt

Is Tawassul to the Prophet (s) or the Ahlulbayt (a) a form of Shirk?

Tawassul is in fact a form of worshiping Allah and sincere Tawheed, that is why Allah (SWT) ordered the believers to do Tawassul to get forgiveness. In Sura Annisaa' verse 64: (Had they when they did injustice to themselves (committed sins) come to you then seek forgiveness and the messenger prayed for their forgiveness, they would have found Allah accepting repent and Merciful.

Allah (SWT) has ordered the believers to do Tawassul ( Sura 5, verse 35).

Tawassul does not mean worshiping other than Allah ( to be looked at as Shirk by some ignorant Wahabis) but it means seeking the blessings of the most humble servants of Allah to seek from Allah (SWT).

We believe that no wish can be granted through Tawassul but only by Allah (SWT).

In Quran we read in Sura Yousuf when his brothers requested their father (Prophet Yaqoob) to seek forgiveness from Allah for them and he accepted and said: I will seek forgiveness for you. (Sura Yousuf, verse 97). If it was wrong, the prophet Yaqoob should have told them when they did Tawassul through him.

Wassalam.

75212

Lie . Shirk

If a person swears by his father, for fear of swearing falsely by Allah, and tells a lie that his father is dearer to him than Allah, then has that person committed Shirk?

Shirk is worshipping or believing in worshipping any one or thing beside Allah (SWT). False oath or swearing is a sinful act but it is not Shirk.

Wassalam.

71727

Shirk . Conversion to Islam . Hindusim

My name is Prasad which means an offering to god in Hindi in the context of Hinduism. I do like my name but, as a new convert to Islam, I am wondering if I have to necessarily change it?

It is not obligatory on new Muslim to change his non Muslim name as far as the name does not contain wrong meaning.

Wassalam.

61894

Shirk . Sin . Forgiveness . God (Allah)

Why is Shirk such a major sin against God that He will not forgive, despite His unlimited compassion and mercy, when for sins against other people we are asked by God to seek their forgiveness?

as salam alaikum

the Qur'an says: "Surely Allah does not forgive that a partner be associated with Him but He forgives everything else to whomsoever He wills" (4:48). On the other hand, He says: "Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed He forgives all sins: (39:53).

To understand this, we need to understand that Allah forgives anyone who believes in Him: "Surely I am Forgiving to him who turns in repentance to Me and believes and do righteous deeds and sticks to the guidance" ( (20:82).

Shirk is not something to be forgiven by Allah in the sense that it is the mushrik to put himself out of Allah's mercy. A wrongdoing committed against yourselves can be forgiven through Allah's mercy, a wrongdoing committed against another person also can be forgiven in a similar way, as long as we are pure enough to turn to Him and be receivers of His mercy. Shirk however cannot be forgiven in such way because by limiting Allah's presence in your heart, you are limiting Allah's mercy on you as well. It is reported in a hadith qudsi that Allah said:

أنا عند ظن عبدي بي

"I am as My servant thinks I am"

It is only through faith and by fully relying on Him, that we can uproot shirk and hope in His mercy and Forgiveness.

In conclusion we can say that there is no limit to Allah's mercy as long as the servant does not limit himself and turns away from it.

With prayers for your success.

59985

Movies . Shirk . Sports . God (Allah) . Video Game

Is watching movies or playing games allowed in which some characters call themselves god or are referred to as god? Is it considered Shirk when you don't actually believe it and watch or play just for entertainment?

No, it is not allowed to play or encourage such movies and games.
It can mislead lay people, and goes against the main fact of the existence which is Tawheed.

Wassalam.

53872

Shirk

Is bending your back slightly towards someone else considered Shirk?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 1 year ago

Bismihi ta'ala

If you mean bowing, then there is no particular problem with bowing itself, as long as one is not doing it with the intention of "worship".

It is prostrating that is a problem, as sujud is to Allah ta'ala and Him alone.

And Allah knows best.

50119

Shirk . Repentance (Tawbah)

If a person commits shirk, thereby wiping out his good deeds, but then repents afterwards, is he forgiven and are his earlier good deeds reinstated?

The Hadeeth says : The repenting person who returns to Allah leaving the sinful acts, is like a person who had no sins. (التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب له). This means that if the person has really repented and returned to Allah, his previous sins will be removed as well as the effects of such sins. His original good deeds will be reinstated by the Grace of Allah.

Wassalam.