Causes of Associating Partners with Allah
There are various causes that may lead to associating partners with Allah, broadly categorized into major and minor shirk. The following clarifies these concepts:
Exaggeration in Religion
Exaggeration in religion involves excessive praise and glorification, which can manifest as beliefs, statements, or actions. Such exaggeration can elevate the status of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or any righteous individuals to a level that resembles divinity, which is unacceptable since only Allah (the Almighty) deserves that reverence. This type of exaggeration can be classified as minor shirk.
Moreover, exaggeration may occur when seeking aid from the deceased, for instance, by uttering, “O deceased, forgive my sins.” This constitutes major shirk as it involves reliance and requests directed towards entities other than Allah (the Almighty). Conversely, asking the deceased to pray to Allah for forgiveness, such as saying, “O deceased, ask Allah to forgive my sins,” falls under minor shirk as it does not equate to worshipping someone other than Allah.
Superstitions and Pessimism
Historically, people engaged in superstitions, believing certain omens, called “tatl,” would bring misfortune. This notion arose during the pre-Islamic era when many derived their fears from birds. Some individuals might also associate negative vibes with specific colors, dreams, or even a person’s physical traits, such as being one-eyed. All these beliefs contribute to shirk, as they reflect a lack of trust in Allah and a failure to place religious causes in their rightful context, often relying on unfounded superstitions.
Allah (the Almighty) states in the Qur’an: “Indeed, their omen is with Allah, but most of them do not understand.” This verse admonishes the practice of superstitions and emphasizes that needs do not rest with birds, colors, or individuals, marking such beliefs as characteristics of the polytheists.
Idolatry and Image-Making
Creating images or representations of entities believed to possess a soul falls into the category of major shirk, as evidenced by the sculpting of the righteous from the time of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him). Allah (the Almighty) says: “And they said, ‘Do not abandon your gods. Do not abandon Wadd or Suwa, or Yaghuth and Ya’uq and Nasr.’”
Hanging Amulets
The practice of hanging amulets with the belief that they will bring about healing or ward off the evil eye represents another form of shirk and serves as a cause for its occurrence.
Magic and Divination
Engaging in magic and seeking knowledge through divination is classified as shirk, as it involves dependence on supernatural forces outside of Allah (the Almighty), particularly the devils. Furthermore, such acts entail the false claim of possessing knowledge of the unseen. Allah (the Almighty) states: “And Suleiman did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved, teaching people magic.”
Astrology
Astrology, which interprets celestial phenomena and planetary movements as indicators of events affecting human lives, similarly claims knowledge of the unseen.
Attributing Blessings to Others Besides Allah
Every blessing that a person experiences ultimately originates from Allah (the Almighty), even if certain actions or individuals act as a means to its realization. Thus, attributing any blessing to anyone or anything other than Allah constitutes shirk.
Types of Shirk
Shirk, the opposite of Tawheed (monotheism), is categorized into several types:
- Major Shirk: This involves invoking others besides Allah, obeying entities other than Him, and having intentions, goals, or love directed towards anything other than Allah. Allah (the Almighty) states: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
- Minor Shirk: This encompasses acts of showing off or performing good deeds to please others rather than Allah. Allah (the Almighty) advises: “So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord should do righteous work and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”
- Hidden Shirk: This pertains to subtle forms of shirk present in minor actions, falling within the category of minor shirk which does not expel an individual from the faith.
Warning Against Shirk
Regardless of whether it is major, minor, or hidden, shirk is a grave injustice and a clear falsehood. Allah (the Almighty) says: “Indeed, associating partners with Allah is a great injustice.” The only path for a polytheist to receive forgiveness is through genuine repentance and turning back to Allah while abandoning shirk. Shirk is a serious matter that Muslims must strive to avoid, steering clear of any factors that could lead to it, and remaining vigilant in remembering Allah (the Almighty).