7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


Shirk is the greatest forbidden acts and the most dangerous and that Allah does not forgive he who dies upon such a state. And since it is a sin and its spreading brings disaster to communities and civilizations, it is pertinent to mention its divisions.

If we contemplate the division of the knowledgeable of shirk, we notice that their divisions does not egress the fact that shirk is of two kinds: major and minor. Except only that scholars differ regarding quantity and variety. We notice them dividing shirk into many divisions, the majority of them draw their divisions based on Divine Godship; some will divide it into major and minor forms, and some will divide into three: major, minor and subtle. Among them are those who divide it according to the tripartite division of Tawheed: Oneness of Divine Godship, Divine Lorship, and Divine Names and Attributes.

Among scholars are those who divide major shirk into four parts, and among those who divide it into two: a part pertaining to the essence of Allah, and a part pertaining to His worship. However the division that gathers all these divisions and consolidates between them is:

Shirk is of two types: major shirk and minor shirk.


7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


Sheikh Hafiz al-Hakami-may Allah have mercy upon him-said:

Shirk is of two kinds major shirk
By it is eternal fire as it is not forgiven
The second type of shirk is minor
It is explained by the seal of the Prophets

To explain shirk with both its two types that annuls Tawheed or annuls complete Tawheed, Sheikh Muhammad ibn abd al-Wahaab -may Allah have mercy upon him-has compiled its components in his book “Tawheed which is the right of Allah upon the servant” wherein he chapterized it in many chapters. Among those chapters is: among shirk is the wearing of a chain or necklace or its kind to do away with tribulations. Allah has evidenced it by:

[الزمر:٣٨] (( أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَاشِفَاتُ ضُرِّهِ ))
Say: "See ye then? The things that ye invoke besides Allah, can they, if Allah wills some Penalty for me, remove His Penalty? [39:38]


7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


Included in this are all those who supplicate to other than Allah be they Angels, Prophets or the righteous not to mention lesser men. And there is a chapter: what has been reported regarding incantations and talismans:

(( أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَاشِفَاتُ ضُرِّهِ )) ابن مسعود -رضيَ اللهُ عنه- قال
رواه الإمام أحمد وأبي داود
Ibn Mas’ood ® said: I heard the Messenger of Allah PBUH say: verily incantations, talisman, and Tawlah are shirk. Reported by Imam Ahmad and Abi Dawood.

From this chapter is blessings from trees and stones and similar practices like: al-Buqa’ and jealousy, and the evil eye and graves etc. Many people from among the grave and tomb worshippers that in their practice is blessing and virtue and because of this they engage in it.
The fact of the matter is that he who seeks blessings in trees and stones is similar to the polytheists in their worship of idols. Thaqeef worshipped Laat, Quraysh and Banu Kannanah worshipped al-Uzzah and Babu Hilaal and Huzail and Khuza’ah worshipped Manat.

7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


And in another hadeeth:
خرجنا مع رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إلى حنين ونحن حدثاء عهد بكفر، وللمشركين سدرة يعكفون ))
يعكفون عندها، وينوطون بها أسلحتهم، يقال لها: ذات أنواط، فقلنا: يا رسول الله اجعل لنا ذات أنواط كما
كما لهم ذات أنواط. فقال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: الله أكبر إنها السُّنَنُ. قلتم والذي نفسي بيده كما
كما قالت بنو إسرائيل لموسى: اجعل لنا إلهاً كما لهم آلهة, قال إنكم قوم تجهلون. لتربكن سنن من كان قبلكم
رواه الترمذي وصححه
Abi Waaqid al-Laythy ® said: ((We left with the Messenger of Allah PBUH to Haneen whilst we were still fresh from being disbelievers. The polytheists had a plant of which they would pay their devotions and hang their weapons: it is called the suspending tree. We said: Oh Messenger of Allah give us a suspending tree like they have. The Messenger of Allah PBUH replied: Allah is the Greatest verily it is accustomed practices. I swear that you have said something similar to what the Children of Israel said to Moses: make us a god like the god they posses, he said verily you are an ignorant people. You will follow the accustomed practices of those that preceded you.)) Reported by al-Tirmidhi who rendered it authentic.


7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


Also among the chapters are: chapter on what has been revealed regarding sacrifice to other than Allah; chapter shirk: rendering oaths to other than Allah, seeking assistance in other than Allah, seek assistance and supplicate to other than Allah; chapter on what has been revealed regarding magic; chapter on what has been said regarding fortune tellers and their like; chapter regarding al-Nashrah which is to do away with magic using magic of its like; chapter regarding the practice of al-Tatayyur which is to shun away from something on account of seeing birds, hearing particular names, words, places and their like; chapter on what has been said regarding astrology which is to believe the influence of celestial activity on worldly matters; chapter regarding seeking rain from storms which is to believe that water is brought by the power of these storms; and the chapter regarding Allah’s words:

[البقرة:١٦٥] (( وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ))
Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah: They love them as they should love Allah. [2:165]


7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


And the chapter regarding Allah’s words:

[الأعراف:٩٩] (( أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ فَلا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ ))
Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah, but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, except those (doomed) to ruin! [7:99]

And Allah’s words:

[الحجر:٥٦] (( قَالَ وَمَنْ يَقْنَطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلا الضَّالُّونَ ))
He said: "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord, but such as go astray?" [15:56]


7.4 The Divisions of Polytheism (Shirk)


This is because security is part of Allah’s plan and despair is Allah’s mercy from the offshoots of shirk. From this arises the chapter on self love, and the chapter on the shirk of a persons will to dedicate his actions for this world, and the chapter on whosoever obeys scholars and princes in prohibiting that which Allah has permitted and permitting that which Allah has prohibited have indeed taken authorities other than Allah. Of this is the chapter regarding Allah’s words:

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ ))
[النِّسَاء:٦٠] (( أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ
Hast thou not turned Thy vision to those who declare that they believe in the revelations that have come to thee and to those before thee? Their (real) wish is to resort together for judgment (in their disputes) to the Evil One, though they were ordered to reject him. [4:60]

This is because to Allah the All Exalted alone belongs the judgement of destiny, and the judgement of law, and the judgement of just reward. If a servant prefers the obedience of princes and scholars to the obedience of Allah and His Messenger PBUH and prefers judgement of tyrants and abstains from the judgement of Allah’s law; this is indeed from the divisions of shirk. We shall suffice with this amount of information regarding the types of shirk as the purpose is to demonstrate not to encompass (the topic).