❖ Introduction
This article is derived from the book Islam Mustafa ﷺ by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi. It presents examples of shirk (associating partners with Allah) prevalent in contemporary Muslim societies. The aim is to enlighten readers, hoping that those who have deviated may return to the straight path, leading to salvation for both them and us.① Grave Worship
Visiting the graves of deceased saints to seek fulfillment of needs, relief from hardships, or assistance constitutes grave worship. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited this, stating:"لعنة الله على اليهود والنصارى اتخذوا قبور أنبيائهم مساجد"
"May Allah curse the Jews and Christians; they took the graves of their prophets as places of worship."
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prayer, Hadith 435]
He also said:
"ألا وإن من كان قبلكم كانوا يتخذون قبور أنبيائهم مساجد، ألا فلا تتخذوا القبور مساجد فإني أنهاكم عن ذلك"
"Beware! Those before you took the graves of their prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship; I forbid you from that."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques, Hadith 1188]
Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله stated:
"والذين يزورون قبور الأنبياء والصالحين ويحبون إليهم ليدعوهم وليسألوهم أوليعبدوهم ويدعوهم من دون الله هم مشركون"
"Those who visit the graves of prophets and righteous individuals to invoke them, ask them, or worship them besides Allah are polytheists."
[Al-Radd 'ala al-Akhna'i, p. 52]
② Vows and Offerings to Others Besides Allah
Making vows or offerings to anyone other than Allah is shirk. The Prophet ﷺ said:"من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه، ومن نذر أن يعصي الله فلا يعصه"
"Whoever vows to obey Allah should do so, and whoever vows to disobey Allah should not fulfill it."
[Musnad Ahmad, 6/208]
Al-Haskafi wrote in Al-Durr al-Mukhtar:
"واعلم أن الذي يقع للأموات من أكثر العوام وما يؤخذ من الدراهم والشمع والزيت ونحوها إلى ضرائح الأولياء الكرام تقربًا إليهم فهو بالإجماع باطل وحرام"
"Know that what is given to the dead by most common people, such as money, candles, oil, etc., to the shrines of noble saints as a means of drawing near to them, is unanimously invalid and forbidden."
[Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, 1/155]
③ Sacrificing for Others Besides Allah
Sacrificing animals in the name of anyone other than Allah is prohibited. Allah says:"إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ"
"He has only forbidden you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah."
[Al-Baqarah: 173]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"لعن الله من ذبح لغير الله"
"May Allah curse the one who sacrifices for other than Allah."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Hadith 1978]
④ Magic and Divination
Practicing magic is disbelief and one of the major destructive sins. Allah says:"وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ"
"They learn what harms them and does not benefit them."
[Al-Baqarah: 102]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"من أتى كاهنًا أو عرّافًا فصدقه بما يقول فقد كفر بما أنزل على محمد"
"Whoever goes to a soothsayer or fortune-teller and believes what he says has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad."
[Musnad Ahmad, 2/429]
⑤ Belief in the Influence of Stars on Events
Believing that stars influence events or human life is shirk. The Prophet ﷺ said:"أربع في أمتي من أمر الجاهلية لا يتركونهن: الفخر بالأحساب، والطعن في الأنساب، والاستسقاء بالنجوم، والنياحة"
"Four things remain in my nation from the pre-Islamic era: pride in ancestry, defaming lineage, seeking rain through stars, and wailing."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Funerals, Hadith 934]
⑥ Swearing by Others Besides Allah
Wearing amulets to ward off evil or bring good fortune is shirk. The Prophet ﷺ said:"من تعلق تميمة فقد أشرك"
"Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk."
[Musnad Ahmad, 4/156]
Aisha رضي الله عنها said:
"ليست التميمة ما تعلق به بعد البلاء، إنما التميمة ما تعلق به قبل البلاء"
"An amulet is not what is worn after the affliction; rather, it is what is worn before the affliction."
[Al-Mustadrak, 4/217]
⑦ Swearing by Others Besides Allah
Swearing by anyone other than Allah is shirk. The Prophet ﷺ said:"من حلف بغير الله فقد كفر أو أشرك"
"Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed disbelief or shirk."
[Musnad Ahmad, 2/125]
He also said:
"إن الله ينهاكم أن تحلفوا بآبائكم، فمن كان حالفًا فليحلف بالله أو ليصمت"
"Allah forbids you from swearing by your fathers. Whoever wants to swear should swear by Allah or remain silent."
[Sahih Bukhari, Book of Oaths, Hadith 6646]
⑧ Declaring the Lawful as Unlawful and Vice Versa
Considering lawful what Allah has made unlawful, or vice versa, is a form of major shirk. Allah says:"اتخذوا أحبارهم ورهبانهم أربابًا من دون الله"
"They took their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah."
[At-Tawbah: 31]
Adi ibn Hatim رضي الله عنه said:
"We did not worship them."
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"Did they not make lawful what Allah made unlawful, and you accepted it? And did they not make unlawful what Allah made lawful, and you accepted it?"
He said:
"Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"That is your worship of them."
[Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi, 10/116]
