SHIRK

 SHIRK IN THE QUR'AN

What does this word mean in the Qur'anic context and application?

Firstly, polytheism or idol worship is a poor, misguided, narrowband translation of "shirk" implying that multiple gods or another god replaces the one God in worship. This understanding prevents people from seeing the true meaning and extent of shirk as per Qur'an.

The Qur'an defines shirk as association or partnership with God, meaning that God is not totally replaced, but that someone or something is placed alongside God to give that IDOL the power to add to, or change religious commandments and/or prohibitions.

The Qur'an presents many examples of things people associate with God (19:81) - they include:

🔹 other names besides God’s name (19:65, 39:45, 40:12), 

🔹 pagan gods and goddesses (53:20), 

🔹 statues for veneration (7:138-139), 

🔹 intercession on Judgment Day (10:18, 30:13),

🔹 dead prophets and saints (3:79-80, 16:20-21, 35:14, 46:5-6), 

🔹 the scripture itself (6:19, 22:26), 

🔹 ancient images, icons, and shrines (35:13-14, 7:194), 

🔹 golden calf (7:148-150), 

🔹 money, wealth, and children (18:42, 7:190), 

🔹 own ego and selfish desire (25:43), 

🔹 uncontrolled libido (24:3), 

🔹 wishful thinking (45:23), 

🔹 destructive urges in human psyche (14:22), 

🔹 celebrities, cult figures, spiritual leaders, religious scholars, prophets (9:31)

and so on …

Any and all of these have the ability to subvert the guidance embedded in us (Al-Zikr) if we allow them to, and present as a case of association or ‘shirk’ (19:65). 

In the most common and unnoticeable form of shirk, we still serve God, but we've allowed something or someone to attach itself to our service of God.

For example, God says in the Quran says to establish Salat and explains within the Qur'an everything necessary - but we allow an associate to redefine salat and reconstruct it. Clearly, the promised results of salat - amal maaruf nahi munkar - cannot be seen in societies that do this.

But we humans are all inclined to or involved in shirk in one form or other (12:106).

By: Brother Feisal Kamil