✿ Derived from:
Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1
Question:
What is the meaning of the ḥadīth:
“By Allāh, I do not fear shirk for you after me”
(al-Bukhārī: 1344, Muslim: 2296)
Some people present this ḥadīth as evidence to claim that shirk will never occur in the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ. Is this correct?
Answer:
To understand the meaning of this ḥadīth, it is necessary to consider other ḥadīths and relevant Qur’ānic statements.
Meaning of the Ḥadīth
This ḥadīth does not completely negate the occurrence of shirk in the entire Ummah. Rather, it means that the entire Ummah will not collectively fall into shirk. In every era, there will be people who will remain free from shirk and firmly uphold pure tawḥīd. However, there will also be individuals who will fall into shirk.
Clarification from Other Ḥadīths
✔ Tribes of the Ummah Joining the Mushrikīn:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until tribes from my Ummah join the mushrikīn and tribes from my Ummah worship idols.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7116, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2906)
This ḥadīth clearly indicates that some members of the Ummah will indeed fall into shirk.
✔ The Women of the Tribe of Daws Circumambulating Dhū al-Khalṣah:
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until the women of the tribe of Daws circumambulate around Dhū al-Khalṣah (an idol).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7116, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2906)
This also confirms the presence of shirk in the Ummah.
Clarification from the Qur’ān
✔ Salvation for Those Who Keep Faith Free from Shirk:
Allāh Almighty says:
“They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice (shirk), for them there is security, and they are rightly guided.”
(Sūrah al-Anʿām: 82)
The Prophet ﷺ explained in a ḥadīth reported by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (may Allāh be pleased with him):
When this verse was revealed, the companions became concerned and said:
“Who among us does not commit some injustice?”
The Prophet ﷺ clarified:
“Here, injustice refers to shirk, as Luqmān said to his son: ‘Do not associate anything with Allāh; indeed shirk is a great injustice.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Key Points
✔ General Meaning of the Ḥadīth:
The ḥadīth means that not all members of the Ummah will fall into shirk. Some individuals will, but it will not encompass the entire Ummah.
✔ Increase of Shirk Near the Day of Judgment:
As the Day of Judgment approaches, incidents of shirk will become more widespread, as described in various ḥadīths.
✔ Explanation in the Light of the Qur’ān and Ḥadīths:
Both the Qur’ān and authentic ḥadīths confirm that while some individuals in the Ummah will fall into shirk, a portion of the Ummah will always remain protected from shirk.
Conclusion:
From these clear evidences, it becomes evident that shirk can and does occur within the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ. However, it will never encompass the entire Ummah at any point. Those individuals or groups involved in shirk will become more apparent as the Day of Judgment nears, as described in authentic narrations.
Therefore, it is incorrect to use this ḥadīth as proof to claim that shirk can never occur in the Ummah.
Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1
Question:
What is the meaning of the ḥadīth:
“By Allāh, I do not fear shirk for you after me”
(al-Bukhārī: 1344, Muslim: 2296)
Some people present this ḥadīth as evidence to claim that shirk will never occur in the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ. Is this correct?
Answer:
To understand the meaning of this ḥadīth, it is necessary to consider other ḥadīths and relevant Qur’ānic statements.
Meaning of the Ḥadīth
This ḥadīth does not completely negate the occurrence of shirk in the entire Ummah. Rather, it means that the entire Ummah will not collectively fall into shirk. In every era, there will be people who will remain free from shirk and firmly uphold pure tawḥīd. However, there will also be individuals who will fall into shirk.
Clarification from Other Ḥadīths
✔ Tribes of the Ummah Joining the Mushrikīn:
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until tribes from my Ummah join the mushrikīn and tribes from my Ummah worship idols.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7116, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2906)
This ḥadīth clearly indicates that some members of the Ummah will indeed fall into shirk.
✔ The Women of the Tribe of Daws Circumambulating Dhū al-Khalṣah:
In another ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until the women of the tribe of Daws circumambulate around Dhū al-Khalṣah (an idol).”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7116, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2906)
This also confirms the presence of shirk in the Ummah.
Clarification from the Qur’ān
✔ Salvation for Those Who Keep Faith Free from Shirk:
Allāh Almighty says:
“They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice (shirk), for them there is security, and they are rightly guided.”
(Sūrah al-Anʿām: 82)
The Prophet ﷺ explained in a ḥadīth reported by ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (may Allāh be pleased with him):
When this verse was revealed, the companions became concerned and said:
“Who among us does not commit some injustice?”
The Prophet ﷺ clarified:
“Here, injustice refers to shirk, as Luqmān said to his son: ‘Do not associate anything with Allāh; indeed shirk is a great injustice.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
Key Points
✔ General Meaning of the Ḥadīth:
The ḥadīth means that not all members of the Ummah will fall into shirk. Some individuals will, but it will not encompass the entire Ummah.
✔ Increase of Shirk Near the Day of Judgment:
As the Day of Judgment approaches, incidents of shirk will become more widespread, as described in various ḥadīths.
✔ Explanation in the Light of the Qur’ān and Ḥadīths:
Both the Qur’ān and authentic ḥadīths confirm that while some individuals in the Ummah will fall into shirk, a portion of the Ummah will always remain protected from shirk.
Conclusion:
From these clear evidences, it becomes evident that shirk can and does occur within the Ummah of Muḥammad ﷺ. However, it will never encompass the entire Ummah at any point. Those individuals or groups involved in shirk will become more apparent as the Day of Judgment nears, as described in authentic narrations.
Therefore, it is incorrect to use this ḥadīth as proof to claim that shirk can never occur in the Ummah.
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