Shirk - To Associate Partners with Allah (swt)

Amongst mankind there are those that commit the most horrendous crimes and sins.
Oppressing and doing transgression against themselves, others and/or society. But one
crime that is overlooked by many, even though it is the worst crime that anyone can
commit, is the crime of shirk. Shirk is to associate or redirect what belongs to Allah
towards others, such as worship, obedience and submission. The severity of this crime
can be understood if we put it into the perspective of who the crime or injustice is against.
This is because even though crimes such as adultery, rape and murder are evil crimes they
violate rights of others, whereas shirk is a crime against our creator, Allah. It is for this
reason that shirk is the worst crime that anybody can commit as it directly infringes on
the rights of Allah and challenges what Allah has set as our purpose of life, as
mentioned;“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship
Me (Alone). “ [EMQ 51:56]

The crime of shirk opposes the very reason for our existence, denying Allah His rights
and it is for this reason the Messenger Muhammad said it was the gravest sin;'Abdullah
reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah (saw): Which sin is the gravest in the eye of
Allah? He (saw) replied: That you associate a partner with Allah (despite the fact) that He
has created you. He (the reporter) said: I told him (saw): Verily it is indeed grave…
[Bukhari]

The severity of the sin is further demonstrated by Allah (swt) refusal to forgive anyone
for committing shirk, as mentioned;"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set
up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases,
and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous
sin.” [EMQ Surah An-Nisa 4:48]Any form of shirk committed without repentance in this
life will never be forgiven by Allah on the Day of Judgment. This is the sheer magnitude
of shirk and it is because of these reasons that the believers should know and fear
committing shirk.

Even the messengers used to ask Allah for protection from committing shirk:“And
(remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: "O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of
peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.” [EMQ
14:35]Furthermore the Messenger (saw) feared that his Ummah may fall into the error of
shirk;“The thing that I fear for you the most is minor shirk'. The companions asked: 'O'
Messenger of Allah, what is minor shirk?' He replied: 'Showing off (ar-riya), for verily
Allah will say on the day of resurrection when people are receiving their rewards, 'Go to
those whom you were showing off to in the world and see if you can find any reward
from them'.”

With all this warning against the evil crime of shirk, still we see it has become an
established reality of our societies; with the majority turning to other than Allah in
worship, following and obedience; with the leaders of the world, whether in the Muslim
or non-Muslim lands, establishing the rule of man rather than the rule of Allah, leading to
oppression and tyranny being widespread and worst of all the punishment of Allah
waiting in the hereafter. And unfortunately, many of the Muslims have been manipulated
into accepting these ideas of shirk. And Allah (swt) speaks about those that claim to be
believers:“And most of them believe not in Allah without committing shirk.” [EMQ
12:106]

This means in belief they accept Allah as their Lord, Creator and Legislator but when it
comes to their actions they associate with Allah (swt). To know of the dangers of shirk
should be of primary importance. We should realise that it is the crime of shirk which has
led to the destruction of nations.