MINOR SHIRK

LETTER NO.9

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem(In the name of ALLAH, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful).

May the Peace and Blessings of ALLAH be upon the Imaam of all Prophets, Imaam of the Ummah, Imaam of Mujahideen, our Holy Prophet-Muhammad (saws), and on those who follow his (saws) guidance till the Day of Judgement.

FROM:- ABU HAFS

TO      :- MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATAHU

Alhamdulillah, we have completed the topic of Waseelah. Now we have an idea about Shirk also. InshaALLAH, in this letter we will know some types of Shirk. Shirk is divided into 2 types, Major Shirk and Minor Shirk.

Out of the two, if a person does the Major Shirk then he will be out of the fold of ISLAM, and will enter Hell forever and will not be taken out. And if a person if he does Minor Shirk then he will go to Hell and will be there till ALLAH pleases, and this typo of Shirk is a Major sin. And not to repent from Minor Shirk might make it Major Shirk.

We know what is Major Shirk, as was mentioned in the previous letters, here I want you to know about Minor Shirk as a lot of us don’t know about it and we just believe that going to a grave is Shirk or asking a dead for help is Shirk, but we never thought that sometimes unknowingly we might do an act which is Shirk.

MINOR SHIRK: Some types of Minor Shirk are as follows:

1. Showing off:

Mahmood bin Lubaid(raa) reprts that the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) warned us: “Of the things which I am afraid of concerning you is Minor Shirk(Polytheism). The companions asked: O Messenger of ALLAH(saws)! What is Minor Shirk(Polytheism)? The Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stated: Showing off.” (Saheeh- Ahmad)

The example of Showing off is given in the hadeeth given below,

Abu Sayeed(raa) relates that the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) visited us. At that time we were discussing ‘Anti-Christ’(Maseeh Dajjal). The Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stated:

“Should I not inform you about a matter which I fear about you more than Anti-Christ? We said: Why not! O Messenger of ALLAH(saws) (Please inform us).

The Messenger of ALLAH(saws) said: That is concealed Shirk(Polytheism). For instance a person stands up to pray and feeling that some one is watching him prolongs his prayer.”(Hasan-Ibn Maaja)

2. Swearing by other than ALLAH:

Umar bin al-Khattab(raa) reports that the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stated: “Whoever swears by a creature has commited Kufr(Heathenism) or commited Shirk(Polytheism).” (Saheeh-Tirmidhi)

3. To tie an Amulet(Tawees)(charm, thread or bead) on the neck or hand, wear a Ring, Bracelet, Chain to safe-guard from evil eye or any illness:

Uqba bin Aamir Al-Juhani(raa) reports that a group of people called on the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) to embrace ISLAM. The Messenger of ALLAH(saws) took the oath of fealty of nine people and withdrew his hand from taking the oath of fealty of the tenth. The group of people said: O Messenger of ALLAH(saws)! You took the oath of fealty of nine person and not of the tenth.

He(saws) stated: “He is hanging an amulet(charm, thread or bead) around his neck.

Consequently, the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stretched his hand and cut the hanging amulet and then took the oath of the fealty, and said : “Whoever hangs a charm commits Shirk(Polytheism).” (Saheeh-Ahmad)

Abdullah bin Mas’ood reports that he heard the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) saying: “Incantation, amulet or charm are acts of Shirk(Polytheism).” (Saheeh-Abu Dawood)

We have so many Muslims who wear these charms and threads around their neck and don’t even bother that it is Shirk. When we ask them to take it out they say it was given by some saint for protection. Moreover the charms have Qur’anic verses written, and people use them for treatment.

I say when you go to a doctor for treatment he gives you some tablets to eat and if you instead of eating it tie those tablets round your neck, will you get treated?

The same is with Qur’an, first it was revealed for our guidance, and even if we do some treatment with it then it is by reading it (that too the way of sunnah) and not just hanging on our necks.

Abu Basheer Ansari(raa) reports he was accompanying the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) in a journey. He(saws) sent a messenger. Abdullah bin Abu Bakr(raa) states: “I think people were then asleep.”

He(saws) commanded: “See that no camel has any charm or any thread of incantation around its neck, and if so, it should be cut immediately.”                         (Saheeh Muslim)

When it is not allowed to tie something on an animal the how can it be allowed for us?

4. Influenced by ill-omen:

Fuzala bin Ubaid Ansari(raa) companion of the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) states:

“Whoever has stopped work because of ill-omen has commited Shirk(Polytheism).” (Saheeh-Ibn Wahab in his Jaame)

5. Abandonment(Leaving off) of Prayer:

Jabir (raa) reports: I heard the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stating:

“Abandonment of Prayer(Salaah) is the criterion between a servant and Shirk(Polytheism) or Kufr(Heathenism).” (Saheeh Muslim)

6. To go to Fortune teller:

Safia(raa) reports from one of the consorts of Purity (wives of Prophet(saws)) that the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stated : “Anyone who approaches a fortune teller to find out about future, his worship of 40 days is not acceptable to ALLAH.” (Saheeh Muslim)

7. Influence of stars:

Abu Huraira(raa) reports that the Messenger of ALLAH(saws) stated:

“Some people denied in the morning that ALLAH sent down rain; although it is ALLAH alone who sends down rain. But those who deny say: It rained because of the influence of such and such a star.” (Saheeh Muslim)

These were some of the types of Minor Shirk which we all must be aware of.

May ALLAH save us from Major and Minor Shirk, which we commit knowingly or unknowingly and forgive us and guide us, aameen.

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ASSALAMU ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI WA BARAKATAHU