7.3 The Various uses of the Knowledgeable regarding Polytheism
When the terms shirk is used, we are not sure if it is the major form of shirk which takes you out of the folds of religion, or if it is the minor form that is intended? Except that the common usage is two, and as not to understand major shirk when it is minor shirk that is intended or vice versa, we must first understand the legal definition of shirk has three common meanings:
Firstly: the belief that exists partners to Allah the all Exalted in His kingdom and Divine Lordship, creation, sustenance and managing the universe. So whosoever believes that there exists another who manages and operates the universe has committed shirk in the case of Oneness of Divine Lordship and has disbelieved in Allah the All Exalted. The evidences for the invalidity of lordship to other than Allah are plenty and manifest both from the realm of the seen and heard. As for the seen evidence it is what we witness from this miraculous universe with its precise mechanisms and perfect operations from the sky to the earth to the mountains, trees, stars and planets. These creations say in their own tongues: believe in my Great Creator Who has originated me and designed me. This inference is reached by all those with pure vision and sane intellect. And in an example: camel droppings are evidence of a camel and prints are evidence of travel.
A person has said it right:
In all things is a sign
that bears evidence that He is One.
7.3 The Various uses of the Knowledgeable regarding Polytheism
This form of shirk was not existent in all of the disbelievers in the time of the message. Some of them affirmed that Allah is the Creator of the world and Manager of its affairs. Allah says:
| [العنكبوت:٦١] |
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وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ |
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If indeed thou ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law), they will certainly reply, "(Allah)". How are they then deluded away (from the truth)? [29:61]
Secondly: To believe that other than Allah has the power to harm or benefit and that this other is an intermediary between Allah and creation, turning to him and dedicating to him forms of worship. This form of shirk is shirk in the Oneness of Divine Godship. Most of Quraysh prescribed to this form of shirk. They used to say of their gods:
| [الزمر:٣] |
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مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلا لِيُقَرِّبُونَا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى |
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"We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." [39:3]
7.3 The Various uses of the Knowledgeable regarding Polytheism
| [غافر:١٢] |
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ذَلِكُمْ بِأَنَّهُ إِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ كَفَرْتُمْ وَإِنْ يُشْرَكْ بِهِ تُؤْمِنُوا فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ |
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(The answer will be:) "This is because, when Allah was invoked as the Only (object of worship), ye did reject Faith, but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! The Command is with Allah, Most High, Most Great!" [40:12]
If they supplicated to Allah alone they denied Him Oneness of Divine Godship but they would accept if a polytheist ascribed partners to Him. Allah testifies to this:
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وَعَجِبُوا أَنْ جَاءَهُمْ مُنْذِرٌ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ هَذَا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ* أَجَعَلَ الآلِهَةَ إِلَهاً وَاحِداً إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عُجَابٌ |
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So they wonder that a Warner has come to them from among themselves! And the Unbelievers say, "This is a sorcerer telling lies!"Has he made the gods (all) into one Allah. Truly this is a wonderful thing!" [38:4-5]
7.3 The Various uses of the Knowledgeable regarding Polytheism
Thirdly: double dealing to other than Allah in speech and action.
This is to perform double dealings where one includes others in matters which Allah alone solely deserves. This form of hypocrisy could manifest itself in actions: such as hypocrisy itself just as it could be in speech whereby one prescribes equals to Allah in something he/she says even if they don’t believe in it themselves. As for double dealings in actions; it can take place in religious worship like when a person outwardly prays long prayers with long bows and prostrations just to show off, or fasts just to show people he fasts, he says to others: do you know if today is Monday or Thursday? Are you not fasting? There are similar cases in respect to Hajj and Jihad where only his ulterior motives or his true purpose. Scholars cite a story pertaining to this whereby a person with ulterior motives was praying in a Masjid wherein he performed a good prayer making it a point to show his concentration all time feeling someone’s eyes upon him. When he completed his prayers the person whose eyes were on him greeted him with salam and remarked: what a beautiful prayer. At this the person asked would you like to know something else? The person replied: yes. So he said: I’m also fasting.
As for double dealings regarding speech as an outward show of piety is like a person who engages a gathering wherein he reminds them and preaches them memorizing anecdotes specific for gatherings using them to discuss and debate with people. He outwardly shows them that he is a person of understanding and posses deep knowledge and is meticulous in his understanding of the righteous predecessors (salaf). However you find him in reality far removed from the life of the Salaf and their noble character. All these acts forbid the enactor from complete sincerity and Tawheed.
7.3 The Various uses of the Knowledgeable regarding Polytheism
There are plenty of evidences that shun and belittle self love (riya’), among them are:
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قال الله -تباركَ وتَعالى-: أنا أغنى الشِّركاء عن الشِّرك من عمل عملاً أشرك فيه معي غيري تركته وشركه |
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What is narrated by Abu Hurayrah ® said: The Messenger of Allah PBUH said: Allah the all Exalted said: I am above any partners and partnerships. Whosoever equates another with me an act I will have indeed left him and his polytheism. Reported by Muslim.
7.3 The Various uses of the Knowledgeable regarding Polytheism
In another supporting evidence: what has been narrated by Amr on Mahmood ibn Labeed that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
| إن أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشِّرك الأصغر. قالوا: وما الشِّرك الأصغر يا رسول الله؟ قال: الرياء، ويقول الله عز |
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| عز وجل لهم يوم القيامة إذا جزى الناس بأعمالهم: اذهبوا إلى الذين كنتم تراؤون في الدنيا، فانظروا هل |
| رواه الإمام أحمد |
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تجدون عندهم جزاء |
The fear I fear most for you is minor shirk. They said: what is minor shirk oh Messenger of Allah? He said: hypocrisy (الرياء), Allah the All Glorious says to them on the Day or Resurrection where all men earn what they sowed: go to those people to whom you showed off in the world and see if they will give you rewards. Reported by Imam Ahmad.