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Polytheism (Shirk, with Allah) in Islam?
By Aleem Faizee

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Allah, The Almighty and The Creature, has created the mankind along with jinn so that they worship Him.

Allah Himself says in the Holy Qur’aan:

“ I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship me.” (Surah 51; Ayah 56)

So when this is the very basis of our creation and if we instead of worshipping Him, worship other than Him, it will definitely be denounced. This is referred as Shirk in Islam.

Shirk is the Arabic word which means associating partners with Allah. Shirk can also encompass any object that a person may hold in regard higher than Allah. Shirk is the most severe of sins and Allah says He will forgive all the sins of the mankind but not shirk.

The Holy Qur’aan says:

“Behold Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: "O my son! Join not in worship [others] with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing." (Surah 31; Ayah 13 )

Shirk is against Tauheed and Tauheed is the basic principal in Islam. Tauheed is the proclamation and faith that “there is no god but Allah”

By believing this a Muslim should have faith in Allah with all His characteristics and these characteristics are described clearly in the Holy Qur’aan and Sunnah, the authentic sayings of the Prophet.

(These are the only and main sources of Islam.)

Shirk is of two main types “Shirk-e–Jalee” and “Shirk-e-Khafee”.

Shirk-e-Jalee is the open association of false god with Allah. Worshipping idols and the graves are Shirk-e-Jalee.

We observe that many Muslims visits the graves and worship them Muslims and Non-Muslims consider these places as some kind of holy place. But it is outright Shirk and Allah, The Almighty, has strictly prohibited doing this. The Prophet, in fact, had prohibited raising the height of graves and making any construction on it. He had denounced visitors, especially women, with very strong words for visiting these places.

“Abul Hayyaj al-Asadi told that Ali Ibn Abu Talib said to him: Should I not send you on the same mission as Allah's Messenger [peace be upon him] sent me? Do not leave an image without obliterating it, or a high grave without leveling 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.”

( Sahih Muslim; Narrated by Ali Ibn Abu Talib)

The Prophet was afraid that his grave might become a place for worship. He was so worried that he mentioned this to his companions to make sure that such thing should not happen.

Aishah, the mother of faithful believers (Radhee Allaho Ta’ala Unha)

reported:

“Allah's Apostle in his fatal illness said, "Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians, for they built the places of worship at the graves of their prophets." And if that had not been the case, then the Prophet's grave would have been made prominent before the people. So [the Prophet ] was afraid, or the people were afraid that his grave might be taken as a place for worship.”

( Sahih Al-Bukhari; Narrated by Aishah the mother of believers)

It is to be noted that The Prophet Mosque today is the mosque and it’s importance is not because of the place being the burial place of the Prophet (PBUH). A visitor to this mosque will definitely be rewarded but one should not, the Prophet said, intend visiting the grave of the Prophet but should intend visiting “ Masjid-e-Nabvi” (the Prophet’s Mosque).

Abu Hurairah (Radhee Allaho Ta’ala Unho):

The Prophet said, "Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques, i.e. Al-Masjid-Al-Haram, the Mosque of Allah's Apostle , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa (Mosque of Jerusalem)."

(Sahih Al-Bukhari; Narrated by Quzaa)

The other type of shirk is Shirk-e-Khafee and it covers very wide range which we don’t care in our daily life. Usage of an amulet is becoming common day by day. The prophet had prohibited using amulet and said:

"If anyone wears an amulet, may Allah not help him in fulfilling his wish. If anyone wears a sea-shell around his neck, may Allah give him no peace."

(Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakim who consider it a sound hadith)

Allah is the one Who feeds us but we consider, the wealth we possess, is because of ones own efforts. We kill the children by abortion, fearing that one will not be able to afford the upbringings of the newcomer. These are all against the faith in the Almighty Allah. These are all against the guarantee, The Almighty Allah had given to the mankind long before our creation.

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