what is the meaning of shirk in islam?

The meaning of shirk in Islam is one of the major sins that are not forgiven. It is the act of associating other gods with Allah.

What is the meaning of Shirk? and what are its different types? That’s what we will find out in this article and more. Let’s get started.

What is shirk in Islam?

The meaning of shirk in Islam is associating other gods with Allah which is not allowed in Islam. Because part of the Islamic faith is Tawheed, which means acknowledging the existence of only one god, and he is Allah Almighty (believing in the oneness of Allah).

Allah is the only creator of this world; he is the only source of guidance. Allah says in the Quran:

“˹He is the One˺ Who has made the earth a place of settlement for you and the sky a canopy; and sends down rain from the sky, causing fruits to grow as a provision for you. So do not knowingly set up equals to Allah ˹in worship˺.” [alBaqarah 2:22]

The meaning of the word Shirk in Islam is Taking a partner, meaning worshipping other gods. The one who commit shirk will be punished. Allah Almighty said in the Quran:

وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًۭا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

“They set up equals to Allah to mislead ˹others˺ from His Way. Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Enjoy yourselves! Surely your destination is the Fire.” [Ibrahim 14:30]

Our beloved 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.]

What the Types are of shirk in Islam?

There are two types of Shirk in Islam, Major shirk (shirk akbar) and Minor Shirk (shirk asghar). Here is the meaning of each one of them:

Major shirk.

Major Shirk in Islam refers to worshiping gods or associating them with Allah. For instance, in the time of Jahilyah people used to worship Idols. At the beginning of Islam the hypocrites committed what is called hidden shirk. Because they acted like they believe in only Allah Almighty but the truth is that they worshipping and believing in other gods and they will be punished in the afterlife.

Types of major shirk in Islam.

There are different forms and types of Major Shirk in Islam. For instance, believing that this world and our lives were created by Allah and another god, this is a form of shirk. Some believe that there is another god associated with Allah that must be worshipped and obeyed. Allah Almighty said in the holy Quran:

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًۭا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّۭا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِذْ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعَذَابِ ١٦٥

“Still there are some who take others as Allah’s equal—they love them as they should love Allah—but the ˹true˺ believers love Allah even more. If only the wrongdoers could see the ˹horrible˺ punishment ˹awaiting them˺, they would certainly realize that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is indeed severe in punishment.” [al-Baqarah 2:165]

Another form of the major Shirk in Islam is believing that other can know the unknown and see the unseen which is an attribute that only belongs to Allah Almighty. There is no being on earth that can know and see the unseen.

۞وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَا يَعۡلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَۚ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِۚ وَمَا تَسۡقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعۡلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٖ فِي ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا رَطۡبٖ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَٰبٖ مُّبِينٖ

“And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.” [Surah Al-Anam Ayat 59]

Also, the shirk may be in the form of words, like making dua and seeking help and refuge from other gods, angels or even prophets. Additionally, making fun of the religion is considered a major Shirk in Islam.  

Minor shirk

The minor Shirk in Islam refers to any acts that may lead to committing shirk. Some examples o minor shirk include:

1. Believing that some acts like hanging the hands, or the eye or wearing it as a form of protection or for warding off evil eye is considered a minor shirk.  
2. Swearing by anything other than Allah is considered a minor Shirk in Islam.

What sin is shirk in Islam?

Shirk in Islam is one of the major sins and it is unforgivable. Allah Almighty said in the Quran:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰٓ إِثۡمًا عَظِيمًا

Innal laaha laa yaghfiru ai yushraka bihee wa yaghfiru maa doona zaalika limai yashaaa’; wa mai yushrik billaahi faqadif taraaa isman ‘azeemaa

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.”

Does God forgive shirk?

Yes God forgive Shirk if the person acknowledged his mistake and returned to Allah and asked for forgiveness.

Shirk in Quran.

Here are some Quranic verses about Shirk in Islam:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰٓ إِثۡمًا عَظِيمًا

 “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” [Surah An-Nisa Ayat 48]

قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٖ سَوَآءِۭ بَيۡنَنَا وَبَيۡنَكُمۡ أَلَّا نَعۡبُدَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَلَا نُشۡرِكَ بِهِۦ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا بَعۡضًا أَرۡبَابٗا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُولُواْ ٱشۡهَدُواْ بِأَنَّا مُسۡلِمُونَ

Say, “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.” But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].” [Surah Al-Imran Ayat 64]

لَقَدۡ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَۖ وَقَالَ ٱلۡمَسِيحُ يَٰبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمۡۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ وَمَأۡوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنۡ أَنصَارٖ

“They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.”[ Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayat 72]

 Now you know everything you need to know about Shirk in Islam. We hope you found what you were looking for. If you like the article, share it with your family and friends, and don’t hesitate to drop a comment below.