Tenets of Islamic Beliefs; Monotheism/40

What Is Shirk?

TEHRAN (IQNA) – One of the key concepts mentioned and warned against in the Quran is Shirk (polytheism), knowing which is of great significance.

News ID: 3485563

Date: 16 October 2023 - 09:32

A definition of Shirk is associating partners with God.

Shirk means relying on other than God and giving divine status to someone created by God.

Shirk means to glorify a power other than God, the omnipotent.

Shirk means groupism that is not on the path of God.

Shirk means dependence on powers and superpowers.

In the stories of the Holy Quran, there are two issues mentioned a lot.

1- Reviving faith in God’s power, attention to divine favors and aid, and not neglecting divine wrath.

2- Doing away with all fake supports and wrong criteria that leads to Shirk.

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The Quran says about Noah and his son: “And so it (the Ark) ran with them amidst the mountainous waves, and Noah cried out to his son, who was standing apart, ‘Embark with us, my son, do not be with the unbelievers!’ But he replied: ‘I shall seek refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water.’ He (Noah) said: ‘Today, there is no defender from the command of Allah, except those to whom He has mercy.’ And the waves came between them, and he was drowned.” (Verses 42-43 of Surah Hud)

History of Shirk

In old times, when a great figure died, others would make his statute to remember and pay respect to him. This respect gradually grew to worshipping, and this was a reason that Shirk began.

Among other causes of Shirk in society are fear, greed, imitation and friendships.

Types of Shirk

Throughout history, Shirk has had different manifestations. In the past it was manifested in such acts as worshipping the sun, the moon and idols. Today it is manifested in such acts as worshipping money, positions and degrees.

In the past it was manifested in tribalism and tribal prejudices and today in nationalism.

The rules of Tawheed (monotheism), which is the opposite of Shirk, required us to always act in accordance with divine commandments, not sometimes obeying them and refusing to follow them at other times.

Also we must always make achieving God’s pleasure the goal of everything that we do.

Our goal and focus must be God, not interests, relations, races, positions, prejudices, etc.