Assalamualaikum,

SHIRK - COMPREHENSIVELY EXPLAINED Contents:

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Definition of shirk with examples and clarification about the miracles Proof that Allah(Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will not forgive shirk unless repented Proof that Shirk Nullifies all deeds(big or small) Proof that calling dead people besides Allah or calling them with ALLAH is shirk Refutation of building the Mazars and Dargahs

Foreword:

All praise is for Almighty ALLAH Alone and it is enough (Alhamdulillahi wa kafaa). And May ALLAH exalt the mention of his prophet Muhammad-The Mercy for the Worlds(Rahmatulil Aalameen). May peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him and his companions and his household and those who follow them in righteousness.

And indeed the best speech is the speech of ALLAH(the book of allah Quran) and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

And so amongst men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colours. Truly Those who fear Allah, among His Servants, are those who have knowledge [Quran 35, Ayat 28 (Fatir [The Angels, Originator])]

Verily We have revealed the Book to thee in Truth, for (instructing) mankind. He, then, that receives guidance benefits his own soul: but he that strays injures his own soul. Nor art thou set over them to dispose of their affairs. [Qur'an, 039, Ayat 41 (Az-Zumar [The Troops, Throngs])]

1) DEFINITION OF SHIRK

Shirk in Islamic theology means to associate anything (a tree, an idol, a mountain, a river, sun, moon, cow, Fire, a person(whether living or dead whther ordinary or high status) etc. in the worship of Allah or to ascribe a partner in anything which is solely for ALLAH. Shirk in summary is to associate anything with ALLAH(associating while believing these in ALLAH) or without ALLAH (associating while not believing these in Allah) in the following four things:

a) ALLAH's Self b) ALLAH's Attributes c) ALLAH's Authorities d) ALLAH's Worship

(ALLAH KI ZAAT) (ALLAH KE SIFAAT) (ALLAH KE EKHTIYAARAAT) (ALLAH KE EBADAAT)

Shirk can also be easily understood as to associate anyone in

a) ALLAH's LORDSHIP b) ALLAH's Divinity or Worship c) ALLAH's NAMES and Attributes

(RUBOOBIYA i.e., RABBANI SIFAAT) (ULOOHIYA i.e., BANDAGI ) (ASMAA WA SIFAAT)

Some scholars say that going against the teachings of prophet(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) or not obeying him is shirk in Allah's worship.

Some Examples(including both greater and lesser shirk and that which causes deficiencies in Tawheed):

 Associating a wife or a son or a husband or a brother or a father to allah (because the brother of a human is a human and the brother of an animal is an animal, similarly wife, son, sister, father)  Believing that ALLAH is everywhere physically(by His Zaat); In this case you will join everything(not a single thing) in the Zaat of allah subhanahu wa ta'ala; Allah is with us by his knowledge and other attributes but ALLAH is above His Arsh in a manner that suits His majesty as declared in many ayats of Quran.  Believing that Allah has appointed deputies from humans or some Majzoobs(mentally upset people) to assist in managing the worlds or balancing the earth etc.   Attributing the cause of rain or any happenings to stars or the movement of planets/stars Believing that some human knows the unknown everything past and present

 Believing that someone far away or someone in a grave or on a mountain or on a cloud or a cave will hear you when you call and will help you in your difficulty (i.e., seeking help, refuge from other than ALLAH) or in short keeping trust/hope in people other than ALLAH and turning to them seeking help  Seeking blessings from trees or walls or people by touching them or asking them for blessings, Keeping photos of any 'baba' or 'soofee ji', Keeping diagrams (NAKSHAY) and Numbered Tables etc., and or other such tables like "Louh e Qurani" etc., in houses, offices and other places like hotels, auto rickshaws, cars etc. with the belief of seeking blessing and thereby profit (and barakat)  Doing deeds for show off getting appraisal from people or kings or to be heard by others and to seek worldly gains  Praying or seeking religious education or byhearting Quran solely for money or to be heard of people

 Performing sacrifices for other than ALLAH or associating others with the sacrifice in the name of ALLAH, or Tawaaf i.e.,taking circles to any thing other than the Kaabah  Wearing rings, bangles/bracelets, talismans, special stones, special clothes, special sandals with a view that they avoid misfortune or difficulties  Blindly following the scholars in Haraam and Halaal without checking ALLAH's and Prophet's(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) guidance  Believing that whatever someone wills happens (other than ALLAH) or believing that Allah will not will something not pleasing to someone   Believing in the theory "Energy can Neither be created nor be destroyed" Believing in soothsayers and astrologers

 Nazar i.e., offerings for other than ALLAH like offering sweets for someone who died hundreds of years ago   Taking a vow or oath of other than ALLAH ( "ALLAH KE ILAWA KISI AUR KI QASAM KHAANA") Believing in omens in traveling or flight bookings or appointments

 Taking names like Abdun Nabi(Slave of Nabi), Abdul Hussain, Abdul Kabah etc. is not permissible and believing in such names is shirk

For more details read a good book of Tawheed.

Prophet(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) taught Dua to seek refuge from shirk: Invocation for fear of Shirk:

"ALLAHUMMA INNI AAOOZUBIKA An' ushrika Bika Wa Ana Aalamu Wa Astaghfiruka Lima La A'alamu" O ALLAH I seek refuge in You that I associate anything with you and I know it and I ask forgiveness for that I know not [Musnad Ahmad 4/403. See Also Al-Albani, Sahihul-jami As-Saghir 3/233 and Sahihut-Targhib Wat-Tarhib 1/19]

Note: Muslims believe in the miracles of the awliya of allah:

These miracles are not a characteristic of the Auliya. But, instead they are done by ALLAH. And Auliya(helpers etc.) are those who are good muslims. And a Slave of ALLAH cannot come closer to ALLAH by rejecting faith or leaving Fardz Prayers or disobeying or contradicting the Prophet(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). For example people playing musical instruments and propagating that this is worship cannot be Auliya of ALLAH.

Some example of miracles given to Slaves of ALLAH in the light of authentic texts,    the speaking of some children in the cradle mentioned in Ahadeeth curing the disease, giving life to dead (by the leave of allah) by Esa (alaihis salaam) the miracles of the stick of Prophet Musa(alaihis salaam)

 the power given to Prophet Sulaiman(alaihis sallam) so that he can speak and control the Jinn and Animals  breaking of the moon by Prophet Muhammad(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to show nonmuslims  water gushing forth from the finger of Prophet Muhammad(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) on some occasions  the screening of the prophet(salle alalhu alaihi wa sallam) when the wife of Abu Lahab came and the prophet(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) was sitting with Abu Bakr(radzi allahu anhu) and she saw abu bakr but not the prophet(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam)

Many more miracles were performed by the prophets (alaihim us salaam) sometimes they knew and sometimes they did not even knew that the miracle will happen. For example when the magicians showed snakes in the palace of Fir'aun , Musa the prophet of ALLAH (alaihim us salaam) got frightened.

He either thought that what he can do(throwing of stick and the stick turning into a snake), can be done by these magicians or he was frightened by the snakes. Then ALLAH revealed to Musa(alaihis salaam). "O musa throw your stick". When he threw the stick it became a big snake and the tricks of the magicians were destroyed and the magicians knew easily that it is not a magic but a miracle shown by allah.

In this event, Musa(alaihis salaam) even though he was the prophet of Allah did not know that the stick will nullify the magic of the magicians.

VIEW:

The Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama'at believes that it is permissible to call to the Awliyah Allah (radi Allahu anhum) for assistance or help as this is not associating partners with Allah Taala. We believe that Allah Taala has given the Awliya Allah special powers to assist the creation with His permission.

REALITY:

This is not the Aqeedah of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama'at but some of the Soofees. May ALLAH guide them. The Ahle Sunnah wal Jama'at means the taba'een and the Imams like Imam Malik, Abu Haneefa, Shafai, Ahmad, Tabari, Auzaai, Sufyan Thouree, Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidzi, abu dawood and those after them(rahimahumullah) who followed the companions of the prophet(salle alalhu alaihi wa sallam). These people companions and the taba'een(students of the companions) are called the Salaf of the Ummah.

It is shirk to call anyone besides ALLAH in any times for help. You can call those who can hear and have the capability to help you for example you are walking and you fell down in a Drain then you can call for help.

But believing that someone DEAD or someone sitting in some place very far like in the Himalayas or someone is sitting in the clouds and will automatically hear your call and can help you miraculously is Shirk.

Because, this type of help is the quality of the Almighty ALLAH. And believing someone like Shaikh Abdul Qadir or some chisti auliya or any other who died hundreds of years before will hear you and come for your help is Shirk. Even if you go at their grave and ask for help it is shirk.

Even if they hear you its shirk. For example asking a cow or angels or devils (jinn) or you ask a human to change your destiny or award you that which only ALLAH can give.

Ofcourse the dead in the graves cannot hear you. [See Surah Fatir Ayat 19-22, ]

You can ask a human to pray ALLAH to solve you in your difficulty. But, again the people in the graves cannot hear.

There is no proof from the practice of companions or the students of the companions of any such act at the grave of prophet(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) or any other's grave.

Surah Kahf, Ayat 102

Surah Zumar, Ayat 43 & 44

Surah Zumar, Ayat 003

2) ALLAH WILL NOT FORGIVE SHIRK UNLESS REPENTED

Verily ALLAH forgives not setting up partners in worship with HIM but He forgives whom He pleases sins other than that and whoever sets up partners in worship with ALLAH has indeed strayed far away.
[Surah Nisa 4, Ayat 116]

Surely they have disbelieved who say: "ALLAH is the Messaih(esa/jesus), son of Maryam; But the Messaih said: "O children of Israel ! Worship ALLAH my lord and your lord: verily whoever sets up partners in worship with ALLAH then ALLAH has forbidden paradise for him, and Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimoon there are no helpers
[Surah Ma'ida, Ayat 72]

3) ALL DEEDS(BIG OR SMALL) WILL NULLIFY BECAUSE OF SHIRK

1) In Surah Zumar Chapter 39, verse 65, ALLAH says if Prophet(sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) commits shirk even his deeds will go in vain. Prophets are sent to advise and warn people against shirk prophets can never do shirk.

2) In Surah An'aam after mentioning many of the prophets and acknowledging that all of them were Saaliheen(pious people) ALLAH mentions that even if they commit shirk all their deeds will go in vain

4) CALLING ANYONE OTHER THAN ALLAH IS SHIRK

Basic translation:

Min Doonillah:

Other Than Allah

Ma'Allah:

With Allah

The following are some of the Ayats of Quran in which ALLAH orders us to Ask Dua only to HIM. Also there is no power in any other besides allah.

1) In this ayat ALLAH says CALL only ALLAH

Surah Ghafir 40, Ayat 58

2) In this Ayat, from Surah Yunus, ALLAH denies the claim of those people who say that we only ask them to recommend ALLAH.

3) These ayats from surah Nahl clearly specify that ALLAH here is referring to people not Idols. Because, idols will be not resurrected on the day of judgement.

4) This ayat also clearly states that ALLAH is referring to people not Idols as idols will not be resurrected on the day of judgement. And idols cannot deny the people who called them.

5) This Ayat from surah faatir clearly state that those the people call besides allah cannot do anything.

They are helpless and they have no power. Then ALLAH says that O PEOPLE YOU ARE ALL NEEDY AND ONLY ALLAH IS THE RICH. And those besides ALLAH cannot provide even the layer over a Date seed(Khitmeer).

5) REFUTATION: RAISING STRUCTURES AND BUILDING MAZAARS

Islam is a perfect religion. When Islam prohibits anything, it also closes the doors that lead to it. For example, Islam prohibits Illegal Sex or Adultery (Zina) and of course Rape. So, Islam also prohibits the doors that lead to it, the following are some of them.

a) b) c)

Alcohol Mixing of men and women Women revealing their attractions to Non-Mahrams

d) Similarly, Islam orders men and women to lower their gaze and avoid staring at nonmahram men and women respectively e) f) Any man to be alone with any woman Women going outside without Mahrams

In the same manner, Shirk is the one of the greatest sins and an oppression against ALLAH and one's self (shirk without repentance leads to Hell and un-ending torment).

Shirk nullifies all deeds and worship. Since, Shirk is the negation of Tawheed of ALLAH and anyone commits shirk and has not repented will definitely be one of the losers and all his/her deeds will be rejected by ALLAH. This is the decree of Allah.

The prophet of ALLAH (Muhammad), Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam warned against shirk and closed the doors to Shirk in many ways. For example,

a)

By prohibiting making pictures of leaders, righteous people etc.

b) By prohibiting plastering, raising graves, building structures around them (as this kind of acts and will include decoration and thereby will not make the person who visits remember death but the opposite) c) d) By prohibiting excess praise for prophet(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) By prohibiting raising his(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) grave

e) By ordering muslims not to make his(salle allahu alaihi wa sallam) grave a worshipped idol

A muslim is allowed to visit graves for remembering death or to offer the "namaz e- janaaza" if he was unable to offer it before the burial of the person. [refer Bukhari and Muslim]

Proofs:

1) Saheeh Muslim Book 4, Number 2114: Thumama b. Shafayy reported: When we were with Fadala b. 'Ubaid in the country of the Romans at a place (known as) Rudis, a friend of ours died. Fadala b. 'Ubaid ordered to prepare a grave for him and then it was levelled; and then he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) commanding (us) to level the grave.

2) Saheeh Muslim, Book 4, Number 2115: Abu'l-Hayyaj al-Asadi told that 'Ali (b. Abu Talib) said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without levelling It. This hadith has been reported by Habib with the same chain of transmitters and he said: (Do not leave) a picture without obliterating it.

3) Saheeh Muslim, Book 4, Number 2116: Jabir said: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade that the graves should be plastered or they be used as sitting places (for the people), or a building should be built over them.

4) Saheeh Muslim, Book 4, Number 2122: Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not pray facing towards the graves, and do not sit on them.

5) Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 427: Narrated 'Aisha and 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas: When the last moment of the life of Allah's Apostle came he started putting his 'Khamisa' on his face and when he felt hot and short of breath he took it off his face and said, "May Allah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their Prophets." The Prophet was warning (Muslims) of what those had done.

6) Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 660: Narrated 'Aisha and Ibn 'Abbas: On his death-bed Allah's Apostle put a sheet over his-face and when he felt hot, he would remove it from his face. When in that state (of putting and removing the sheet) he said, "May Allah's Curse be on the Jews and the Christians for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets." (By that) he intended to warn (the Muslim) from what they (i.e. Jews and Christians) had done.

7) Saheeh Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 213: Narrated 'Aisha: Um Habiba and Um Salama mentioned a church they had seen in Ethiopia and in the church there were pictures. When they told the Prophet of this, he said, "Those people are such that if a pious man amongst them died, they build a place of worship over his grave and paint these pictures in it. Those people will be Allah's worst creatures on the Day of Resurrection . "

IN ABOVE PROOFS ONLY THOSE HADEETH WHICH ARE THERE IN BUKHARI AND MUSLIM ARE REPORTED. THERE ARE A LOT MORE IN OTHER BOOKS OF HADEETH