Shirk

Associating Partner With Allah

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent and merciful

One person (He ought to be a salik), after inquiring with his Shaikh, came up with
the following answer. He classified the Shirk into two Shirke Akbar and Shirke
Asgar or Shirke Latif. Associating a partner with Allah, in worship or worshipping
ghairullah (anything other than Allah) is Shirke Akbar and all those who do it are
Mushrikeens (equators), who will be dealt very severely by Allah. Performing
good deeds or shunning from the bad for the sake of heaven or fear from hell fall
under the category of Shirk Asgar and those who do it are in lower dharaja
(status).

In this article, Insha Allah, I will explain Shirk and its classifications as I learnt
from my shaikh.

Shirk is associating partner with Allah or giving a share (of those which belongs
to Allah alone) to others i.e. ghairullah. Shirk is the most hated sin by Allah. Allah
says in the Qur’an that Shirk is the greatest sin (Inna -al-shirka Zhulm al-azheem
Quran 31:14). He also says that He will forgive all other sins if he wishes, except
Shirk (Quran 4:49). So, it is our duty to be wary of the damage it can cause to our
belief and avoid it.

The Sufis of the Chishti Qadhiri Tariqa (tradition) have classified Shirk into four
categories and have explained them. You cannot learn these things without the
guidance of a kamil (perfect) shaikh.

The four types of Shirk are:

1. Shirke Ismi or Shirke Jali

2. Shirke Fi’li or Shirke Kafi
3. Shirke vasfi or Shirke Akhfa
4. Shirke Zaathi or Shirke Khafiyyul Akhfa

Shirke Ismi or Jali:

This is the most dreaded Shirk. It is associating Ghairullah (anything other than
Allah) with Allah in worship; accepting Ghairullah as fit to be worshipped or
worshipping Ghairullah. One has to be clear of this Shirk to become a Muslim. If a
Muslim falls in this Shirk, all his previous good deeds will be wiped off (habthe
a’mal). May Allah save us all from this.

Shirke fi’li or kafi:

This is a latif (delicate) shirk, which most of us do practice, unknowingly. This

does not make one a Mushrik , who Allah censures in the Qur’an but, it does
deprive the dharajaths (high positions in Allah’s sight) in the path of Sulook (way
towards Allah).

This Shirk is believing or thinking that Ghairullah can give us profit or loss,
victory or defeat, good or bad on their own; believing that a Ghairullah, be it a
Prophet or a Vali (friend of Allah) can give us gain or loss or act without the power
of Allah.

Allah says in the Qur’an, "la hawla wa la quwwatha illa billah" (there is no power
other than the one with Allah). Yes, no one can act on their own, whatever their
status, except with the power and help of Allah. It is Allah who is helping us to
act; even the smallest movement of our fingers is due to Allah providing us His
power. The Mu’jizas and Karamath’s (miracles) of the Prophet’s and Awliya are
but the manifestation of Allah’s power through them. If anyone thought that they
did it on their own, he falls in Shirk Fi’li. In truth, they perform it with the help of
Allah. Praying for the sake of Jannath (heaven) or fearing Jahannam (hell) or
Riya (acting to satisfy Ghairullah) also come under this category of Shirk.

Shirke Vasfi or Akhfa:

It is the Shirk that involves the Zaathi Sifath (own characteristics) of Allah. It is
thinking or believing that the Ummuhathus Sifath (mother of all characteristics),
Hayath, Ilm, Iradha, Khudhrath, sama’ath, basarath and kalam (explained in the
article on kalima) that we find in the creatures are their own. They are in fact
Allah’s and He has been merciful to manifest them on His creatures. At this point I
would like to mention that Allah sees without eyes, hears without ears, speaks
without mouth or sound; His action is without movement. (ALLAH’S
ATTRIBUTES ARE BEYOND HUMAN MEASURE)

This Shirk will hinder the ascension of the salik to higher grades of Makame Kurb
(status of nearness to Allah).

Shirke Zaathi or Khafiyul Akhfa:

Only the great saints and awliya have been saved from this Shirk. It is believing or
accepting the very existence of Creatures of their own. They exist only due to the
subsistence (ujoodh) of Allah. Creatures are but a form that don’t have anything
and Allah supports them with his ujoodh. Shunning from this Shirk is of the very
highest grade of Iman (belief) and those who are encompassed in this Shirk are
denied the state of Shuhoodh or Ihsan.