Shirk and Kufr

I consider it essential to mention here some details of the greatest sin which will not be forgiven by Allah. This unpardonable sin is Shirk

Shirk implies ascribing partners to Allah or ascribing divine attributes to others besides Allah and believing that the source of power, harm and blessings comes from others besides Allah.

Almighty Allah says:

"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be ascribed to Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases; and whoever ascribes partners to Allah in worship, has indeed invented a tremendous sin."(V. 4:48).

Almighty Allah says:

"Then when the Trumpet is blown, there will be no kinship among them on that Day, nor will they ask of one another.
"Then those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy,these! they are the successful.
"And those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, - they are those who lose their ownselves; in Hell will they abide."
"The Fire will bum their faces, and they will grin with displaced lips (disfigured)."
"(It will be said) 'Were not My Verses (this Qur'an) recited to you and then you used to deny them?'
"They will say: 'Our Lord! Our wretchedness overcame us and we were an erring people.
"Our Lord! Bring us out of this; if ever we return (to evil) then indeed we shall be Ziilimun (polytheists, oppressors, unjust, and wrongdoers).'
"He (Allah) will say: 'Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not to Me!' (V. 23:101-108).

And Almighty Allah say:

"And whoever invokes (or worships) besides Allah, any other Ilah (god), of whom he has no proof, then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah and in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful." (V. 23:117).



Definition: Shirk basically is polytheism, i.e., the worship of others along with Allah. It also implies attributing Divine attributes to any other besides Allah. It particularly implies. associating partners in worship with Allah or believing that the source of power, harm or blessings is from others besides Allah.

Types: There are three types of Shirk, namely:

(1) Ash-Shirk-al-Akbar, i.e. major Shirk
(2) Ash-Shirk-al-Asghar, i.e. minor Shirk
(3) Ash-Shirk-al-Khafi, i.e. inconspicuous Shirk.

Manifestations:
(1) Ash-Shirk-al-Akbar (The Major Shirk)

The major and serious polytheistic form has four aspects:

(a) Shirk-ad-Du'a, i.e. invocation. This aspect implies invoking, supplicating or praying to other deities besides Allah.

Almighty Allah says:

"And when they embark on a ship they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others," (V.29:65)

(b) Shirk-an-Niyyah wal-Iradah wal-Qasd. This aspect implies intentions, purpose and determination in acts of worship or religious deeds not for the sake of Allah but directed towards other deities.

Almighty Allah says:

"Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire; and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do." (V. 11:15,16)

(c) Shirk-at-Ta'ah. This aspect implies rendering obedience to any authority against the Order of Allah.

Almighty Allah says:

"They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded (in the Torah and the Gospel) to worship none but One Ilah (God, i.e., Allah), La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and Glory is to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)." (V.9:31).

Once, while Allah's Messenger was reciting the above Verse, 'Adi bin Hatim said, "0 Allah's Prophet! They do not worship them (rabbis and monks)." Allah's Messenger said, "They certainly do. They (i.e. rabbis and monks) made legal things illegal, and illegal things legal, and they (i.e. Jews and Christians) followed them; and by doing so they really worshipped them."(Narrated by Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Jarir). (Tatsir At-Tabari, Vol 10, Page No. 114).

(d) Shirk-al-Mahabbah. This implies showing the love which is due to Allah Alone to others than Him.

Almighty Allah says:

"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment." (V. 2:165)

(2) Ash-Shirk-al-Asghar - Ar-Riya (The minor Shirk, i.e. acts performed to show oft).

Any act of worship or any religious deed done in order to gain praise, fame or for worldly benefit, falls under this category.
Almighty Allah says:

"Say (0 Muhammad ) : 'I am only a man like you, it has been revealed to me that your Ilah (God) - is One llah (God i.e. Allah). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.' " (V. 18:110)

(3) Ash-Shirk-al-Khaji (The inconspicuous Shirk).

This type implies being inwardly dissatisfied with the inevitable condition that has been ordained for one by Allah; conscientiously lamenting that had you done or not done such and such or had you approached such and such you would have had a better status, etc.

The Noble Prophet Muhammad said:

"Ash-Shirk-al-Khafi in the Muslim nation is more inconspicuous than the creeping of a black ant on black rock in the pitch-darkness of the night."

And this inconspicuous Shirk is expiated by saying thrice the following sentences every day: "0 Allah! I take Your refuge from that I should ascribe anything as partner in Your worship, being conscious of that, and I beg Your pardon for that sin which I am not aware of."

To continue Insha Allah

Kufr is basically disbelief in any of the articles of Faith in Islam. The articles of Faith are: To believe in -

(1) Allah,
(2) His angels,
(3) His Messengers,
(4) His revealed Books,
(5) The Day of Resurrection, and
(6) Al-Qadar, Divine Preordainments (i.e. whatever Allah has ordained must come to pass).

There are two aspects of disbelief:

(1) The major disbelief (Al-Kufr-al-Akbar):
This aspect excludes one completely from the fold of Islam. There are five types (of this major disbelief):-

(a) Kufr-at-Takdhib. This implies disbelieving the Divine truth or denying of any of the articles of Faith.

Almighty Allah says:

"Then who does more wrong than one who utters a lie against Allah and denies the truth [this Qur'an, the Prophet (Muhammad ), the Islamic Monotheism], when it comes to him. Is there not in Hell an abode for the disbelievers? " (V. 39:32)

(b) Kufr-al-Iba' wat-Takabbur ma'at-Tasdiq. This implies rejection and arrogance to submit to Allah's Commandments after conviction of their truth.

Almighty Allah says:

"And (remember) when We said to the angels: 'Prostrate yourself before Adam.' And they prostrated except Iblis, he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah)." (V. 2:34).

(c) Kufr-ash-Shakk waz-Zann. This implies doubting or lacking of conviction in the six articles of Faith.

Almighty Allah says:

"And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and disbelief) unjust to himself. He said: 'I think not that this will ever perish. And I think not the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord (on the Day of Resurrection) I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him.' His companion said to him during the talk with him: 'Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam), then out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then fashioned you into a man? But as for my part (I believe) that He is Allah, my Lord, and none shall I associate as partner with my Lord.' " (V.18:35-38)

(d) Kufr-al-I'rad. This implies turning away from the truth knowingly or deviating from the obvious signs which Allah has revealed.

Almighty Allah says:

"We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned." (V.46:3)

(e) Kufr-an-Nifaq. This implies hypocritical disbelief.

Almighty Allah says:

"They have made their oaths a screen (for their hypocrisy). Thus they hinder (men) from the path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do. That is because they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed, so they understand not." (V.63:2-3)

(2) The minor disbelief (Al-Kufr-al-Asghar): This aspect of disbelief does not exclude one from the fold of Islam. It is also termed Kufran-Ni'mah. This implies disbelief manifesting itself in ungratefulness for Allah's Blessings or Favours.

Almighty Allah says:

'And Allah puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well-content; its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favours of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad ) which they (its people) used to do." (V.16:112).

Source: Appendix II The Noble Qur'an
by Dr Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan.
A Darussalam Publication.