Shirk - The Greatest Injustice (1/5)
Darussalam
One of the duties parents owe their children is to guide them aright by educating them. [1]They should correct their children's errors and most importantly guide them to live a life that is pleasing to Allah and teach them a means of achieving it. Allah (Subhanahu a Ta’ala) points these duties to parents, particularly the fathers, in His Book (the Qur’an) when He gave the example of Luqmaan and his son.
"And (remember) when Luqmaan said to his son when he was advising him: ‘O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.’"
The first advice given by Luqmaan to his son was to avoid Shirk, the antithesis of Tawheed (singling out Allah alone for worship).
What Is The True Meaning Of Shirk And What Are Its Types?
Murder, rape, genocide, terrorism, economic slavery and child molesting are some of the appalling crimes, which occur in our world today. Many would think that these are the worst possible offences, which could be committed. But there is something that outweighs all of these crimes put together: It is the crime of Shirk. There is no doubt that the above crimes are indeed terrible, but their comparisons with Shirk shows that they do not hold much significance in relation to this travesty.
When a man murders, rapes or steals, the injustice that is done is directed primarily at other humans. But when a man commits Shirk, the injustice is directed towards the Creator of the heavens and the earth; Allah. When a person is murdered, all sorts of reasons and explanations are given. But one thing that the murderer cannot claim, is that he murdered the individual because he provided him with food, shelter, clothing and all the other things which keep humans aloft in this life.
But when a person commits Shirk, they attempt to, willingly or unwillingly, direct an injustice towards the one who has provided them with all these necessary things - and often a whole lot more. This Being who provides us with all our needs and wants is of course Allah, the Lord of this universe. So is it right for us to commit this offence against the one who has provided us with all that we could possibly need and more? This is why Shirk is the ultimate form of ingratitude which humans display, and will eventually cause many people eternal pain.
What is Shirk?
One of the most important obligations is to know the meaning of Shirk, its seriousness and its different types, so that our Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and our Islam may be complete, and our faith may be sound.
Know, may Allah guide you, that the word Shirk in Arabic means 'taking a partner', i.e., regarding someone as the partner of another. It is said (in Arabic): 'Ashraka Baynahuma' (he joined them together) when he regarded them as two of equal status; or 'Ashraka Fi Amrihi Ghayrahu' (he introduced another into his affair) when he made two people involved in it.
In terms of Sharee'ah or Islamic terminology, Shirk means ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in Lordship (Ruboobiyyah), worship (Uluuhiyyah) or in His names and attributes (Asmaa' Wa Sifaat).
A rival is a peer or counterpart. Hence Allah forbids setting up rivals with Him and he condemns those who take them (rivals) as gods instead of or besides Allah in many Verses of the Qur’an. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:
"Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)." [Surah AI-Baqarah (2): 22]
Also, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says:
"And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: 'Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!" [Surah Ibraaheem (14): 30]
In the Hadeeth it is narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
"Whoever dies claiming that Allah has a rival, will enter Hell." [2]
(Continued)
[1] For a full discussion of the rights of children and the duties of the parents, please see O Young Man! Golden Advice Series #9. May Allah ease our tasks!
[2] Bukhari & Muslim.