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Salvation of all mankind from the greatest sin against Allah
(Shirk and Kufr i.e. polytheism and disbelief) I consider it
essential to mention here some details of the greatest sin which
will not be forgiven by Allah. This unpardonable sin is Shirk
Shirk implies ascribing partners to Allah or ascribing divine
attributes to others besides Allah and believing that the source
of power, harm and blessings comes from another besides Allah.
Almighty Allah says:
"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with
Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to
whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in
worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin."(V. 4:48).
Almighty Allah says:
"Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no kinship among
them that Day, nor will they ask of one another.
"Then those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, - these!
they are the successful.
"And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, - they are
those who lose their ownselves; in Hell will they abide."
"The Fire will burn their faces, and they will grin with
disfigured lips (disfigured)."
"(It will be said) 'Were not My Verses (this Qur'ân) recited to
you and then you used to deny them?'
"They will say: 'Our Lord! Our wretchedness overcame us and we
were (an) erring people.
"Our Lord! Bring us out of this; if ever we return (to evil)
then indeed we shall be Zâlimûn (polytheists, oppressors,
unjust, and wrongdoers etc.).'
"He (Allah) will say: 'Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak
you not to Me!' (V. 23:101-108).
"And whoever invokes (or worships) besides Allah, any other îlâh
(god), of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with
his Lord. Surely! Al-Kafirûn (disbelievers in Allah and in the
Oneness of Allah, polytheists, pagans, idolaters, etc.) will not
be successful." (V. 23:117).
ASH-SHIRK POLYTHEISM AND ITS VARIOUS MANIFESTATIONS
Definition: Shirk basically is polytheism, i.e., the worship of
others along with Allah. It also implies attributing divine
attributes to any other besides Allah. It particularly implies
associating partners in worship with Allah or to believe that
the source of power, harm or blessings is from others besides
Allah.
Types: There are three types of Shirk, namely:
(1) Ash-Shirk-al-Akbar, i.e. major Shirk
(2) Ash-Shirk-al-Asghar, i.e. minor Shirk
(3) Ash-Shirk-al-Khafi, i.e. inconspicuous Shirk.
Manifestations: (1) Ash-Shirk-al-Akbar (The major Shirk): The
major and serious polytheistic form, it has four aspects:
(a) Shirk-ad-Du'â, i.e. invocation.This aspect implies invoking,
supplicating or praying to other deities besides Allah.
Almighty Allah says:
"And when they embark on a ships they invoke Allah, making their
Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land,
behold, they give a share of their worship to others," (V.29:65)
(b) Shirk-al-Niyyah wal-Iradah wal-Qasd. This aspect implies
inten-tions, purpose and determination in acts of worship or
religious deeds not for the sake of Allah but directed towards
other deities.
Almighty Allah says:
"Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to
them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein,
and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for
whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are
the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they
used to do."(V. 11:15,16)
(c) Shirk-at-Tâ'a. This aspect implies rendering obedience to
any authority against the Order of Allah.
Almighty Allah says:
"They (Jews and Christians) took their Rabbis and their monks to
be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which
they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires
without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their
lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and
Christians) were commanded (in the Torah and the Gospel) to
worship none but One Ilâh (God i.e., Allah), Lâ ilâha illâ Huwa
(none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and Glory
be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they
associate (with Him)." (V.9:31).
Once, while Allah's Messenger SAW was reciting the above Verse,
'Adi bin Hatim said, "O Allah's Prophet! They do not worship
them (rabbis and monks)." Allah's Messenger said, "They
certainly do. They (i.e. Rabbis and monks) made legal things
illegal, and illegal things legal, and they (i.e. Jews and
Christians) followed them; and by doing so they really
worshipped them."(Narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Jarir).
(Tafsir At-Tabari, Vol.10, Page No. 114).
(d) Shirk-al-Mahabbah. This implies showing the love which is
due to Allah Alone, to others than Him.
Almighty Allah says:
"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides
Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah.
But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If
only those who do wrong could see, when they will see the
torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is
Severe in punishment." (V. 2:165)
(2) Ash-Shirk-al-Asghar Ar-Riyâ' (The minor Shirk, i.e. acts
performed to show off). Any act of worship or any religious deed
done in order to gain praise, fame or for worldly purposes,
falls under this minor form.
Almighty Allah says:
"Say (O Muhammad SAW ) : 'I am only a man like you, it has been
inspired to me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God i.e Allah).
So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work
righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of
his Lord.' " (V. 18:110)
(3) Ash-Shirk-al-Khafi (The inconspicuous Shirk). This type
implies being inwardly dissatisfied with the inevitable
condition that has been ordained for one by Allah;
conscientiously lamenting that had you done or not done such and
such or had you approached such and such you would have had a
better status, etc.
The Noble Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
"Ash-Shirk-al-Khafi in the Muslim nation is more inconspicuous
than the creeping of black ant on black rock in the
pitch-darkness of the night." And this inconspicuous Shirk is
expiated by saying thrice the following sentences within a day
and a night: "O Allah! I take Your refuge from that I should
ascribe anything as partner in Your worship, being conscious of
that, and I beg Your pardon for that sin which I am not aware
of."
AL-KUFR-DISBELIEF AND ITS VARIOUS MANIFESTATIONS
Kufr is basically disbelief in any of the articles of Faith in
Islam.
The articles of Faith are: To believe in -
(1) Allah,
(2) His angels,
(3) His Messengers,
(4) His revealed Books,
(5) The Day of Resurrection, and
(6) Al-Qadar, Divine Preordainments (Fate i.e. whatever Allah
SWT has ordained must come to pass).
There are two aspects of disbelief:
(1). The major disbelief (Al-Kufr-al-Akbar): This aspect
excludes one completely from the fold of Islam. There are five
types (of this major disbelief):-
(a) Kufr-at-Takdhîb. This implies disbelieving the divine truth
or denying of any of the articles of Faith.
Almighty Allah says:
"Then who does more wrong than one who utters a lie against
Allah and denies the truth [this Qur'ân, the Prophet (Muhammad
SAW), the Islamic Monotheism, the Resurrection, and the reward
or punishment according to good or evil deeds], when it comes to
him. Is there not in Hell an abode for the disbelievers? " (V.
39:32)
(b) Kufr-al-Ibâ' wat-Takabbur ma'at-Tasdîq. This implies
rejection and pride to submit to Allah's Commandments after
conviction of their truth.
Almighty Allah says:
"And (remember) when We said to the angels: 'Prostrate yourself
before Adam.' And they prostrated except Iblis, he refused and
was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to
Allah)." (V. 2:34).
(c) Kufr-ash-Shak waz-Zan. This implies doubting or lacking of
conviction in the six articles of Faith.
Almighty Allah says:
"And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and
disbelief) unjust to himself. He said: 'I think not that this
will ever perish. And I think not the Hour will ever come, and
if indeed I am brought back to my Lord (on the Day of
Resurrection) I surely shall find better than this when I return
to Him.' His companion said to him during the talk with him: 'Do
you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your
father Adam), then out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and
female discharge), then fashioned you into a man? But as for my
part (I believe) that He is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I
associate as partner with my Lord.' " (V.18:3538)
(d) Kufr-al-I'râd. This implies turning away from the truth
knowingly or deviating from the obvious signs which Allah has
revealed.
Almighty Allah says:
"We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is
between them except with truth and for an appointed term. But
those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are
warned." (V.46:3)
(e) Kufr-an-Nifâq. This implies hypocritical disbelief.
Almighty Allah says:
"They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus
they hinder (men) from the Path of Allah. Verily, evil is what
they used to do. That is because they believed, then
disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed, so they
understand not." (V.63:2-3)
(2) The minor disbelief (Al-Kufr-al-Asghar): This aspect of
disbelief does not exclude one from the fold of Islam. It is
also termed Kufr-an-Ni'mah. This implies disbelief manifesting
itself in ungratefulness for Allah's Blessings or Favours.
Almighty Allah says:
'And Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makka), that
dwelt secure and well-content; its provision coming to it in
abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the
Favours of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste
the extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil,
i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad SAW ) which they (its people) used
to do." (V.16:112).
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