What is shirk ?
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Shirk according to Parwez
Shirk / Mushrik / Mushrikeen - (Sheen-Ra-Kaf).
Ash-Shirko is to get mixed up, to remain stuck (Moheet).
Sh'arakto Fulanan - I became someone's associate. Musharika means to join someone in some work.
Ash-Sharako is a snare, a trap, the net of hunter. Also those small openings which come out of big path and then get lost. Its singular form is Sharakatun (Taj).Shirk is a special term used by the Quran, which means
- to consider other authorities equal to Allah's,
- to consider someone having the same right or power which Allah has, or
to consider man-made laws equal to the Laws given by Allah.
The concept of the Quran is that as all human beings are created equal, no one is superior to someone else in his capacity as a human being, and therefore, no one has the right to rule anyone else. Moreover, since everything existing in the universe has been subjugated to Man, there is nothing superior to him, with one exception Allah. To consider someone superior to man, therefore, amounts to degrading one's own self, and also putting that entity at par with Allah. This is Shirk. It makes no difference to Allah, but only to man, as he falls down from his superior position.
The Quran, therefore, considers Shirk as the biggest crime against man as it takes away his rightful position from him (31/13). Obedience of just one authority, that is Allah, through his revealed Book, and command and control over the entire universe is Tauheed (Unity of Allah, monotheism), slightest deviation from which is Shirk. Its noun is Mushrik and plural Mushrikeen.At the time of emergence of Islam, there were two categories of people. The first were those who claimed to be the followers of previous Rusul, like Jews or Christians, whom the Quran called Ahl-ul-Kit'ab. The other category was those who neither claimed nor obeyed any Divine Book, but followed their own codes or other man-made laws. Some of them also recognised Allah but along with Him, also acknowledged other forces or powers. They were called Mushrikeen. But since both the categories did not accept the Quran, they were together called K'afireen.
In actual life, whether a person belongs to Ahl-ul-Kit'ab (Jews, Christian, etc.) or not, if he obeys laws made by man, according to the Quran he is a Mushrik, however pious or saintly he may be. Deen and Tauheed is a straight path. Various factions and sects are the diversions which take him away from this path, and if he travels long enough on these diversions, the true path gets eventually lost. The Quran has, therefore, termed sectarianism as Shirk (30/31-32). Every sect leads to and ends up with some person as the last authority, whereas in Deen the final authority is only the Holy Quran.
As commonly believed, the worship of idols or dead persons is not the only aspect of Shirk; the greatest Shirk is to equate man-made laws with the Laws of Allah. The Quran says that such people consider themselves Momineen, whereas in actual fact they are Mushrikeen (12/106)
To sum up
- To equate or associate someone in those qualities and Laws which are Attributed to Allah alone, is Shirk.
- To consider anyone, or any authority superior than one's own-self except Allah is Shirk.
- To obey any other code, except the one given in the Quran is Shirk.
Enforcement of Ad-Deen would bring unity among people whereas division into various factions is Shirk.
Obeying the only code of life given by Allah, and the emergence of one Ummah that results from following that one code and one system is Tauheed; anything against it is Shirk. That is why the Quran says that it is possible that ill-effects of all (minor) shortcomings may be removed through good actions, but no protection is available to those who commit Shirk. It is such a serious and un-forgivable sin (4/116).http//www.toluislam.com/pub_online/exposition/glossary_s_to_t.htm#_Toc428590318
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Shirk according to Bashir Abid
Human beings, commit numerous wrong-doings and heinous
crimes to gain personal advantages or to safeguard the
national interests. They shed blood in the name of
democracy and justice; they spread mischief in the
name of order and peace; they exploit human labor and
plunder natural resources in the name of economic
development; they promote depravity and bestiality in
the name of art, culture and liberalism and many more.
Although, God knows all these destructive doings of
His Creature but yet He singled out 'SHIRK' as the
most devastating crime against humanity. The question
is why ? Here we will try to find the answer in the
light of Quran.The Quran, in Surah Luqman verse thirteen has
condemned 'SHIRK' as 'The highest wrong-doing' (Inn
al-Shirka La-Zulmun Azeem) and in Sura al-Nissa as 'An
Unpardonable Crime'. It says "God forgiveth not
'SHIRK', but forgiveth anything else according to His
Will" - (448-116).If we translate 'God's Will' into 'God's Laws or God's
Value System' and 'God's Forgiveness' into 'God's
Protection from the consequences of the violation of
these Laws and Values' then we can confidently say
that if any person or any nation committed 'SHIRK' he
or she is doomed to disgrace in this world and torment
of fire in the hereafter.'SHIRK' is generally defined and understood as to set
up partners with God or to join other gods with Him.
This is pretty good definition as far as worship of
God is concerned. Every one knows that we should not
worship any person or object other than God and keep
our worships pure for Him alone. This form of 'SHIRK'
is clear and understandable. No Muslim commits it and
rarely it is committed in the rest of the world.Nevertheless, as Muslims our duty is not only to
worship God but also to obey Him. Our concept of God
is that He is The Sovereign in the whole Universe both
visible and invisible. He has established the rule of
law for every thing. He has given the man a code of
life which they have to follow and put certain duties
and responsibilities which they have to enforce in
order to achieve the distinction and honor conferred
by God on them - (1770).He has raised man to a position of honor above the
brute creation. He has granted him talents by which he
can dominate over nature and its spontaneous forces.
He has provided all the means for the sustenance and
growth of every part of his nature. However, these are
realized only when he obeys none besides God.Thus, worship and obedience both belong to God alone.
Accordingly, if we look closely at the above mentioned
definition of 'SHIRK' we find it insufficient and
difficult to comprehend. It confuses many people. They
consider that 'SHIRK' is the worship of persons and
objects only. They do not consider the obedience to
persons besides God is also 'SHIRK'. As a result, they
can easily avoid the former and fell prey to the
later. However, obeying others besides God is the
worst form of 'SHIRK' and much more devastating than
any other form of 'SHIRK.When we do not practice Quranic Values System in
pristine purity or relinquish it as a whole it makes
us either 'Itheem' or put us on an absolutely wrong
track (Fa Qad Dhalla Dhalalum Ba'heeda) which never
get us to our noble destiny i.e an honorable life in
this world and a blissful world in the hereafter.
'Itheem' is a beautiful Quranic terminology which
often translated as 'Sins'. Its incorrect. Actually,
it denotes a set of conditions in which people lose
effiency, productivity, and interest in life. Their
societies become sick and lose dynamism -(448 & 116).It is for these reasons, august and noble, that God
has severely condmned 'SHIRK'. It is not out of some
sorts of greed or fear (Ma'az Allah). He can never be
defied or defeated even if the whole world turned into
a class of 'MUSHRIKEEN'. All that what He said in the
Quran about 'SHIRK', for example, 'Lam Yakun Lahu
Shareekun Fil Mulk - He has no partner in His
Dominion' or 'La Yushrik Fi Hukmehi Ahada - He does
not share His Command with anyone' or 'La Yushrik
Be-aba'det-e-Rabbeh Ahada - No person should worship
or obey anyone else besides God', is meant to protect
the honor and dignity of man.(17111, 1826 & 110).Man is the latest specie on earth and God conferred on
him special favours, above a great part of His
creation - (1770). God wants us to maintain this
honor and elevate us to further glory through His
Guidance in the Quran -(7176). Therefore, we should
follow Him alone. If we bows before stocks and stones
which are inferior to us or follow the people who are
similar to us then we are definitely degrading
ourselves. Our 'SHIRK' can not do any good or harm to
God. It is forbidden because it is a contempt of human
honor and dignity. It makes us 'Itheem' and gets us
out of the Right Track.http//groups.yahoo.com/group/WideMinds/message/43398
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From jewish perspective (as a rabbi friend told me once)
SHIRK = Abandoning / leaving
SHIRK-ING FROM G-D / SHIRK-ING FROM YHVH = Abandoning His commandments/law or Serving / worshipping other God(s) / idols.The jews often use the SHIRK word in their common everyday life, like SHIRK from School, SHIRK from parental duties etc...
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Shirk according to Mawdudi
If anyone regards the word of someone else to be deserving of obedience without any sanction from God, he is as much guilty of the offence of shirk as the one who prays to or worships someone other than God. And if someone regards himself as the lord and master and absolute monarch of any part of the earth in the political sense, his act too amounts as much to a claim to godhood as it would if he were to tell people that he was their helper and patron and guardian in the supernatural sense.
http//www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/M_four_term/t4_ilah.htmPS the linked page is worth to be read !
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Peace,
I believe that anyone who is considering something or someone as "sacred" or "holy" is commiting "shirk". Such people are clearly in the darkness of ignorance, they cannot emancipate unless if they let go their vain and irrationnal beliefs that drowns them into torrents of nonsense. It's hell, and nobody can take them out of it.
This is "al-bayt al-haram" or "the forbidden clause" which states that "we should not associate anything with the god". And when we comply to it, and have adhered to "the forbidden submission" or "al-masjid al-haram", anyone who come under such submision would feel safety and peace, as promised by the god the creator.
Those that are in this position can see the torrents of false ideologies flowing beneath them, drowning people in the midst of nonsense.
All the solicitation and thanks belong to the god the lord of the knowledgeables.
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Peace,
I believe that anyone who is considering something or someone as "sacred" or "holy" is commiting "shirk". Such people are clearly in the darkness of ignorance, they cannot emancipate unless if they let go their vain and irrationnal beliefs that drowns them into torrents of nonsense. It's hell, and nobody can take them out of it.
Could you bring the verses of the quran that back your position ?
What is the word for "sacred" or "holy" in the quran ? Is it used in conjunction to shirk ?
Is this the only form of shirk ?This is "al-bayt al-haram" or "the forbidden clause" which states that "we should not associate anything with the god". And when we comply to it, and have adhered to "the forbidden submission" or "al-masjid al-haram", anyone who come under such submision would feel safety and peace, as promised by the god the creator.
Those that are in this position can see the torrents of false ideologies flowing beneath them, drowning people in the midst of nonsense.
All the solicitation and thanks belong to the god the lord of the knowledgeables.
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Could you open a new thread and give some explanations about your understandings of these concepts ?
Thanks in advance,
Peace
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PEACE, /JM/
Main Entry GUIDANCE/HADA AL-QURAN the instructions on how to live a righteous life in this world , so that, one may successfuly pass the test of conduct , so that, one may avoid the destiny of Hell and gain the destiny of Paradise .
2185 The month of Ramazan is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion...that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks
Only Allah guides, hence, anyone who takes anyone, anything, or any concept for his/her guidance outside of Allah or along with Allah...is doing shirk.
Peace.
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Peace,
I believe that anyone who is considering something or someone as "sacred" or "holy" is commiting "shirk". Such people are clearly in the darkness of ignorance, they cannot emancipate unless if they let go their vain and irrationnal beliefs that drowns them into torrents of nonsense. It's hell, and nobody can take them out of it.
Could you bring the verses of the quran that back your position ?
What is the word for "sacred" or "holy" in the quran ? Is it used in conjunction to shirk ?
Is this the only form of shirk ?This is "al-bayt al-haram" or "the forbidden clause" which states that "we should not associate anything with the god". And when we comply to it, and have adhered to "the forbidden submission" or "al-masjid al-haram", anyone who come under such submision would feel safety and peace, as promised by the god the creator.
Those that are in this position can see the torrents of false ideologies flowing beneath them, drowning people in the midst of nonsense.
All the solicitation and thanks belong to the god the lord of the knowledgeables.
--
Could you open a new thread and give some explanations about your understandings of these concepts ?
Thanks in advance,
Peace
Peace JM, all
I have started my previous post with "I believe", meaning it is only my opinion based on my understanding of the scripture in general, not any specific verse. I will respond to your questions with an other question
Do you know of anything/anyone worth it to be considered "holy" or "sacred", besides the god the creator? I hope you see the limit. )
And for the second part of my post, maybe a new thread would be fine to verify my understanding, since those concept were highly corrupted in the past.
Meanwhile, please meditate on this verse which states clearly the position of "al-bayt"
2224
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Shirk according to Bashir Abid (2)
EANING OF 'SHIRK' CHANGED
'Shirk' is a comprehensive term. Idol worship is its
simplest form. In fact, people worship idols because
they think these got the power to changes their
destiny. However, it is an inferior thinking of man.
God has created man as superior being among many of
His creatures (1770). It is not proper for him to
submit to anyone who are either inferior to him (idols
or his lowly desires) or who are mortal beings like
him self (priest and rulers). Man should submit
himself to the authority of God alone. He is the
creator and He knows what the purpose of man's
creation is? (6714). Therefore, no one could think
better than God what is best for man. When Quran says;
" authority belongs to God..." (657) or when God
condemn 'Shirk' as the biggest and un-pardonable crime
(3113;44, it does not mean that God dislikes
deities and asserts Himself as a sovereign. He is far
above emotions and far above what we associate with
Him. If man associates hundreds of deities, it does
not affect God's sovereignty in the universe.
Secondly, He Himself has condemned compulsion in
'Al-Deen' (2256). So, how could He threat or force
human beings against their will, to follow a
particular path? Actually, these admonitions are meant
to inculcate the truth that man can accomplish his
goals by no other means except God's laws. He can
reach his destination by following God's path alone.
Therefore, the real 'shirk' is not the worship of
idols or deities but it is the following of paths
other than the one, which God has recommended. These
paths (in other words, various man-made systems)
misguide man and take him far away from his
destination (4116). Values and principles in man-made
systems are not enough to guide man in the right
direction. By following man-made systems, he cannot
emancipate from animal-instincts and lowly desires; He
cannot rise to become a noble and dignified human
being. It is possible only by following the value
system of the Quran (2885). It is stated in the
Quran"God wants to raise man to the exalted ranks of
humanity through the value system of the Quran. But,
man follows the earthly desires which eventually
brings him low to the position of beasts and worse."
(7176). This downfall is exclusively attributed to
'Shirk' in another verse, which reads as follow;"Hunafaa lillahe ghaira Mushrikeena beh - Being true
in faith to God, and never assigning partners to Him -
Wa manyushrik billahe - if anyone assigns partners to
God - Fa ka ann ma kharra minusamai - he is as if he
had fallen from heavens - Fa takhtafh-o-tairo au
tahvee behir reeho fi makanin saheeq - and been
snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped and
thrown him into a far-distant place." (2231)God's given value system grooms human personality. It
imparts enlightenment, and excellence of taste through
intellectual and aesthetic training. It provides him
protection against the spontaneous forces of nature
and the society.Accordingly, we conclude that real 'Shirk' is to
follow values and principles, which are against the
Quran. The real 'Shirk' is to follow the systems,
which are based on non-Quranic values and principles.
Quran has emphatically stated"La yushrik fi hukmehee ahada - God does not share His
Command (values & principles) with anyone whatsoever".
(1826)This definition of 'Shirk' is much more important and
practically related with the welfare of the society.
If understood rightly and taken care of, it would have
liberated the masses from the evil's systems, which
exploit national resources and man's labor to
safeguard the interests of privileged classes against
the common man's interests. The masses would have
never submitted to such systems because submission to
these man-made systems is no less a big crime than
'Shirk'. But the religious scholars did not pay due
attention on this concept and laid undeserved emphasis
in condemning idol's worship as a form of 'Shirk'.
They diverted the focus of attention of the people
from a dangerous and fatal form of 'Shirk' towards a
simple and harmless form of 'Shirk'. Consequently, as
earlier said, the Muslim masses can tolerate and bow
their heads before any evil ruler no matter how much
his rule is against the rule of God's Will; they can
live in any man-made system no matter how much its
values and principles are degraded and against the
noble values of the glorious Quran, but they would
never tolerate bowing before an idol. They hated
idol's worship like they hate pigs whereas idols has
no power either to harm or to benefit them. The
religion's opium has worked rightly on them. They
forgot their primary obligations to strive hard
against ignorance, poverty, and undemocratic values.
They never realized that idols of human desires are
worst than stone's idols. These noble ideas never
touched them but they dream to be known as
'Butshikan'. They have become the true embodiment of
what the Quran said in this verse"And most of them believe not in God without
associating (others as partners) with Him". (12106)http//www.galaxydastak.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=314123119137264
