What is Shirk?

The Meaning of Shirk

Shirk (polytheism), on the other hand, is such an abominable behavior that it was unanimity forbade in every Shari'ah and was not permitted even for a tenth of a second. In the Shari'ahs of the previous Prophets, there have been various actions that were permitted in one Shari'ah but prohibited in another. And how was shirk tolerated in the first place? (the greatest of major sins).

In the well-known novel Lisan-ul-'Arab, it is mentioned:

He has partnered with Allah, which means he has partnered with Allah in His realm, even though Allah is Exalted above that. Shirk is defined as the act of considering a deity other than Allah as one's lord. However, Allah Almighty is exempt from both partners and peers due to the fact that He is One and cannot be compared to anybody or anything else. (Summarized from Lisan-ul-Arab, vol. 1, p. 2023)

Shirk is defined as declaring a co-deity with Almighty Allah, i.e., in the sense of becoming Wajib-ul-Wujood like the Magians do or thinking someone deserving of devotion like the polytheists do," says Allamah Sa'd-ul-Deen Taftazani (RAH) in the well-known book Sharh 'Aqaaid Nasafiyah, which is taught in Islamic seminaries. (Page 203 of Sharh 'Aqaaid Nasafiyah)

In light of the teachings of Imam Sa'd-ud-Deen Taftazani, it is evident that shirk requires the discovery of one of the following three things:

1. To regard someone else, even though they are not deemed deserving of worship, as Wajib-ul-Wujood (for example, whose presence is necessary and whose non-being is illogically inconceivable).

2. To deem someone else deserving of worship in addition to Allah Almighty, even though that person is not regarded as Wajib-ul-Wujood.

3. To regard someone or something as both Wajib-ul-Wujood and deserving of worship besides Allah Almighty.

It will be regarded as shirk if any one of these three situations is discovered. If any of these circumstances are not discovered, it might not even be Shirk.

The Damages Inflicted by Shirk

The antithesis of faith is shirk. Shirk and religion can never coexist under the aegis of Islam, the same way that daytime light and night time darkness coexist. Shirk was condemned by all the renowned Prophets. Sages and saints also preached against Shirk. For instance, Sayyiduna Luqman, the Wise, gave his son the following advice, which is recorded in the Qur'an:

My son!" Never attribute anything to Allah as a companion; doing so would be a severe injustice.

[The Quran's translation, Kanz-ul-Iman] (Part 21, Surah Luqmaan, Verse 13)

Shirk is a sin that, for the one who commits it, permanently closes all entrances to paradise and makes Hell his place of abode, according to Almighty Allah.

Without a certain, whomever believes that Allah has partners, Allah has made Paradise unlawful for him; his home is Hell, and there is no one to aid the wicked 

(Verse 72 of Surah Al-Ma'idah in Part 6 of Kanz-ul-Iman (Qur'anic Translation)

The Polytheist's Worst Case Scenario

The Quran uses the illustration of a person who drops from a height and is subsequently torn to pieces by birds or split into pieces by the wind and thrown into a far-off valley to describe the fate of a polytheist. This is the most foreboding and horrible way to die. Similar to this, a person who associates with Allah after placing their faith in Him descends from the height of faith into the valley of doubt. Then, just like the birds that consume his flesh and take off flying in various directions, his lusty cravings scatter his attention, and the devil's whispers carry him off like the wind and was thrown into the valley of unbelief. A polytheist leads himself into the worst disaster in this manner. Therefore, the Holy Quran makes reference to it.

And whoever attributes partners to Allah is like someone who has fallen from the sky, been snatched by birds, or been blown away by the wind.

[The Quran's translation, Kanz-ul-Iman] (Part 17, Verse 31 of Surah Al-Hajj)

Even if do not Equate Anything with Allah.

Sayyiduna Mu'aaz Bin Jabal (R.A) was given the following advice by our beloved Prophet (S.A.W): 

Never equate anything with Allah., even if you are slain or set on fire. (Hadees: 22136; Musnad Imam Ahmad, vol. 8, p. 249)

Were the Makkan Atheists Polytheists?

Beware! Nobody should ever question how the non-Muslims in Makkah could be polytheists if they did not regard their false gods as Wajib-ul-Wujood. As is evident from the words of "Sharh Aqaaid," shirk includes both believing that someone other than Allah is Wajib-ul-Wujood and considering that person to be deserving of worship. As it is written in the Holy Quran: 

The unbelievers of Makkah used to idolize their false gods and thought them to be deserving of adoration.

And they worship something instead of Allah that neither harms nor benefits them and claim that they serve as Allah's intercessors.

([The Quran's translation, Kanz-ul-Iman] Verse 18 of Surah Yunus, Part 11.)

Polytheists mostly worship idols and see them as their representatives before Allah Almighty. They had two offences, obviously:

1. Considering other beings besides Allah to be

2. Giving closeness to people who are in no way close to Allah (SWT).

The Makkan disbelievers were unquestionably polytheists as a result.