Shirk means ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in Lordship (rububiyyah), worship or in His names and attributes.

A rival is a peer or counterpart. Hence Allah forbids setting up rivals with Him and He condemns those who take them (rivals) as gods instead of or besides Allah in many verses of the Quran. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [al-Baqarah 2:22]

“And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’” [Ibrahim 14:30]

In the hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies claiming that Allah has a rival, will enter Hell.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4497; Muslim, 92.

Shirk is the only sin that can doom one to hell!
Hence Allah has decreed that the mushrikin (the doer of Major Shirk) will abide forever in Hell and has told us that He will not forgive them, and He has forbidden Paradise to them, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” [al-Nisa 4:48]

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers” [al-Maidah 5:72]

Every wise and religiously-committed person should fear shirk for himself and should turn to his Lord, asking Him to help him avoid shirk, as al-Khalil [Ibrahim – peace be upon him] said:

“and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols”

[Ibrahim 14:35]

Common Examples
1. Directing worship/prayer/seeking refuge/seeking help to other than Allah e.g. Angels, Muhammad, Jesus, Mary, Ahmada Tijani, Ibrahim Inyas or other idols, items, graves, the dead, humans or animals worshipped! (Note that one can seek help from people based on what they can do as humans. What is forbidden is seeking what you ought to ask from Allah from human. e.g. Going to yeye osun idol, Alfa/Pastor or Babalawo for the fruit of the womb, Increase in wealth, Charms, love portion, etc.)

2. Joining Partners with Allah in worship! This is worshiping Allah and others along with Him. A Muslim going to vigil or visiting the Babalawo Alfas/Pastors for deliverance!

3. Sacrificing to other than Allah!

4. Believing and Trusting other than Allah to be your Lord!

5. The Belief that some village people, witches etc. controls the world, life and death instead of Allah!

6. The belief that someone else can be followed and obeyed religious-wise apart from Allah!

7. The belief that some humans know the unseen as well as Allah! Only Allah knows the unseen!

8. The belief that someone can grant you mercy, forgiveness, etc. in the manner befitting only to Allah!

9. Making fun of Islam!

10. Liking Allah to His creation! There's no one like unto Allah!

11. Belief that any law is superior to the law of Allah! Promulgating such laws and enforcing it on the people! The Shari'ah of Islam is the best law! All other laws are misguidance even as we are subject to them (if they don't negate the tenet of Islam) based on where we live or are born!

12. Emotional attachment and the belief in omen, superstitions, charms, talisman, etc.

13. Venerating people just as you would Allah or making them as partners to Allah in veneration! (Like saying if not because of Allah and so and so)

14. Swearing by other than Allah e.g. Aje, Ogun, biting on slippers/metal, white cloth, etc. Aje is an idol of wealth/sales in Yoruba. It is inappropriate and "Kufrustic" to use it. Only Allah can bring sales not aje! The belief that Aje would bring wealth/sales is disbelief.

15. Showing off to people your acts of worship. This is common especially during Hajj where many of us showcase ourselves on the social media! One may end up losing all the rewards and wasting one's time, money and strength!

16. Incantations, amulet and all the different kind of spells are Shirk. They may exist in any language even Arabic. All those who recite some so-called Khutuba Yaasin will notice the presence of names of jinn in it. Calling on Jinns for help is disbelief. Stick on to the established du'as from the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salam).

17. The belief than any other person can do what Allah does like the provision of rainfall, etc.

18. Attributing a son or wife to Allah!

19. The belief that something can be a cause of bringing benefit or warding harm when Allah has never made it so. Also the belief that something possesses blessings when Allah has not made it so!

20. The belief that anyone could bear Allah's name in the manner that befits only Allah!

So the sincere believer’s fear of shirk should increase as should his desire for his Lord to keep him away from it, and he should say the great du’a which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught to his Companions when he said to them: “Shirk among you will be more subtle than the footsteps of an ant, but I will teach you something which, if you do it, both minor and major shirk will be kept away from you. Say: Allahumma inni a'udhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wa astaghfiruka lima la a’lam (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware).” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’, 3731)

Major shirk puts a person beyond the pale of Islam, so the one who does that is judged to be out of Islam and to have apostatized therefrom, so he is a kafir and an apostate.

Minor shirk does not put a person beyond the pale of Islam, rather it may be done by a Muslim but he still remains in Islam; but the one who does that is in great danger because minor shirk is a major sin. Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “If I were to swear by Allah falsely, that is better for me than if I were to swear by something other than Him sincerely.” So he regarded swearing by something other than Allah (which is minor shirk) as being worse than swearing by Allah falsely, and it is well known that swearing by Allah falsely is a major sin.

We ask Allah to make our hearts steadfast in adhering to His religion until we meet Him, and we seek refuge in His Might – may He be glorified – from going astray, for He is the Ever-Living Who never dies, but the jinn and mankind will die. And Allah knows best and is most wise, and to Him is the final return of all.

And Allah knows best.

We ask Allah to make our hearts steadfast in adhering to His religion until we meet Him

Aameen

Rashduct4luv:
Shirk means ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in Lordship (rububiyyah), worship or in His names and attributes.

A rival is a peer or counterpart. Hence Allah forbids setting up rivals with Him and He condemns those who take them (rivals) as gods instead of or besides Allah in many verses of the Quran. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [al-Baqarah 2:22]

“And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’” [Ibrahim 14:30]

In the hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies claiming that Allah has a rival, will enter Hell.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4497; Muslim, 92.

Shirk is the only sin that can doom one to hell!
Hence Allah has decreed that the mushrikin (the doer of Major Shirk) will abide forever in Hell and has told us that He will not forgive them, and He has forbidden Paradise to them, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” [al-Nisa 4:48]

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers” [al-Maidah 5:72]

Every wise and religiously-committed person should fear shirk for himself and should turn to his Lord, asking Him to help him avoid shirk, as al-Khalil [Ibrahim – peace be upon him] said:

“and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols”

[Ibrahim 14:35]

Common Examples
1. Directing worship/prayer/seeking refuge/seeking help to other than Allah e.g. Angels, Muhammad, Jesus, Mary, Ahmada Tijani, Ibrahim Inyas or other idols, items, graves, the dead, humans or animals worshipped! (Note that one can seek help from people based on what they can do as humans. What is forbidden is seeking what you ought to ask from Allah from human. e.g. Going to yeye osun idol, Alfa/Pastor or Babalawo for the fruit of the womb, Increase in wealth, Charms, love portion, etc.)

2. Joining Partners with Allah in worship! This is worshiping Allah and others along with Him. A Muslim going to vigil or visiting the Babalawo Alfas/Pastors for deliverance!

3. Sacrificing to other than Allah!

4. Believing and Trusting other than Allah to be your Lord!

5. The Belief that some village people, witches etc. controls the world, life and death instead of Allah!

6. The belief that someone else can be followed and obeyed religious-wise apart from Allah!

7. The belief that some humans know the unseen as well as Allah! Only Allah knows the unseen!

8. The belief that someone can grant you mercy, forgiveness, etc. in the manner befitting only to Allah!

9. Making fun of Islam!

10. Liking Allah to His creation! There's no one like unto Allah!

11. Belief that any law is superior to the law of Allah! Promulgating such laws and enforcing it on the people! The Shari'ah of Islam is the best law! All other laws are misguidance even as we are subject to them (if they don't negate the tenet of Islam) based on where we live or are born!

12. Emotional attachment and the belief in omen, superstitions, charms, talisman, etc.

13. Venerating people just as you would Allah or making them as partners to Allah in veneration! (Like saying if not because of Allah and so and so)

14. Swearing by other than Allah e.g. Aje, Ogun, biting on slippers/metal, white cloth, etc. Aje is an idol of wealth/sales in Yoruba. It is inappropriate and "Kufrustic" to use it. Only Allah can bring sales not aje! The belief that Aje would bring wealth/sales is disbelief.

15. Showing off to people your acts of worship. This is common especially during Hajj where many of us showcase ourselves on the social media! One may end up losing all the rewards and wasting one's time, money and strength!

16. Incantations, amulet and all the different kind of spells are Shirk. They may exist in any language even Arabic. All those who recite some so-called Khutuba Yaasin will notice the presence of names of jinn in it. Calling on Jinns for help is disbelief. Stick on to the established du'as from the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salam).

17. The belief than any other person can do what Allah does like the provision of rainfall, etc.

18. Attributing a son or wife to Allah!

19. The belief that something can be a cause of bringing benefit or warding harm when Allah has never made it so. Also the belief that something possesses blessings when Allah has not made it so!

20. The belief that anyone could bear Allah's name in the manner that befits only Allah!

So the sincere believer’s fear of shirk should increase as should his desire for his Lord to keep him away from it, and he should say the great du’a which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught to his Companions when he said to them: “Shirk among you will be more subtle than the footsteps of an ant, but I will teach you something which, if you do it, both minor and major shirk will be kept away from you. Say: Allahumma inni a'udhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wa astaghfiruka lima la a’lam (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware).” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’, 3731)

Major shirk puts a person beyond the pale of Islam, so the one who does that is judged to be out of Islam and to have apostatized therefrom, so he is a kafir and an apostate.

Minor shirk does not put a person beyond the pale of Islam, rather it may be done by a Muslim but he still remains in Islam; but the one who does that is in great danger because minor shirk is a major sin. Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “If I were to swear by Allah falsely, that is better for me than if I were to swear by something other than Him sincerely.” So he regarded swearing by something other than Allah (which is minor shirk) as being worse than swearing by Allah falsely, and it is well known that swearing by Allah falsely is a major sin.

We ask Allah to make our hearts steadfast in adhering to His religion until we meet Him, and we seek refuge in His Might – may He be glorified – from going astray, for He is the Ever-Living Who never dies, but the jinn and mankind will die. And Allah knows best and is most wise, and to Him is the final return of all.

And Allah knows best.

Does this mean people who have done shirk shouldn’t bother to repent and seek forgiveness? Since it’s written they can’t be forgiven and going to hell.

By virtue of point 11, all Muslims in Nigeria including the Op are going to hell for accepting democracy

Omotaday:
Does this mean people who have done shirk shouldn’t bother to repent and seek forgiveness? Since it’s written they can’t be forgiven and going to hell.

Only if one dies without repenting. Allah is Oft-Forgiving

Omotaday:
Does this mean people who have done shirk shouldn’t bother to repent and seek forgiveness? Since it’s written they can’t be forgiven and going to hell.

How it should be understood is that if you do shirk and die on it without repentance!

Anyone who repents sincerely of any sin will be forgiven!

Kukutenla:
By virtue of point 11, all Muslims in Nigeria including the Op are going to hell for accepting democracy

Muslims don't accept democracy as the best form of government. Our Islamic law is superior to all laws!

Rashduct4luv:


Muslims don't accept democracy as the best form of government. Our Islamic law is superior to all laws!

Which form of government did allah accepted?

Rashduct4luv:


Muslims don't accept democracy as the best form of government. Our Islamic law is superior to all laws!

See the pledge you recite as a citizen of Nigeria below:
I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my heart
To defend her honor and glory
So help me God

Where's Sharia in the pledge

Kukutenla:

See the pledge you recite as a citizen of Nigeria below:
I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my heart
To defend her honor and glory
So help me God

Where's Sharia in the pledge

Who remember all this one?

RightChanneI:


Which form of government did allah accepted?

The Islamic Shariah is what is from the Sunnah!!

Rashduct4luv:


The Islamic Shariah is what is from the Sunnah!!

But you're running away from your Islamic countries practicing this, is that not an hypocrite running to USA, CANADA, UK, etc whereas you have IRAN, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, etc where you can practice your sharia!

RightChanneI:


But you're running away from your Islamic countries practicing this, is that not an hypocrite running to USA, CANADA, UK, etc whereas you have IRAN, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, etc where you can practice your sharia!

Who is running away?

People embrace whatever works for them!

Christian doctors too were running to Saudi.

Rashduct4luv:


Who is running away?

People embrace whatever works for them!

Christian doctors too were running to Saudi.

Why not embraced going to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria?


Same way Muslims doctors are running to USA, UK, CANADA, etc but you'll never see them going to Afghanistan, Iraq, etc

RightChanneI:


Why not embraced going to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria?


Same way Muslims doctors are running to USA, UK, CANADA, etc but you'll never see them going to Afghanistan, Iraq, etc

People have freewill to follow what works for them!

We also have people going to Afghanistan! Do you know Godwin Ekpo a local footballer with Wiki Tourist? He was born in Nigeria but is now playing for Benin Republic. He moved to Sudan, Benin, Iran and then Afghanistan (not certain of the order)!

I don't think he's even a Muslim.

Rashduct4luv:


People have freewill to follow what works for them!

We also have people going to Afghanistan! Do you know Godwin Ekpo a local footballer with Wiki Tourist? He was born in Nigeria but is now playing for Benin Republic. He moved to Sudan, Benin, Iran and then Afghanistan (not certain of the order)!

I don't think he's even a Muslim.

Let me just assumed you are not lying, will you give where you get all these about Godwin Ekpo playing in iran and Afghanistan

RightChanneI:


Let me just assumed you are not lying, will you give where you get all these about Godwin Ekpo playing in iran and Afghanistan

You can surf online!

Rashduct4luv:


You can surf online!

Nothing of such online, why did you like to always lie

RightChanneI:


Nothing of such online, why did you like to always lie

So if i show you you'll then be the liar right?

https://punchng.com/my-exploits-in-afghanistan-will-pave-way-for-more-african-footballers-akpo/#google_vignette