Dear Readers AA
Human beings, commit numerous wrong-doings and heinous
crimes to gain personal advantages or to safeguard the
national interests. They shed blood in the name of
democracy and justice; they spread mischief in the
name of order and peace; they exploit human labor and
plunder natural resources in the name of economic
development; they promote depravity and bestiality in
the name of art, culture and liberalism and many more.
Although, God knows all these destructive doings of
His Creature but yet He singled out 'SHIRK' as the
most devastating crime against humanity. The question
is why ? Here we will try to find the answer in the
light of Quran.
The Quran, in Surah Luqman verse thirteen has
condemned 'SHIRK' as 'The highest wrong-doing' (Inn
al-Shirka La-Zulmun Azeem) and in Sura al-Nissa as 'An
Unpardonable Crime'. It says: "God forgiveth not
'SHIRK', but forgiveth anything else according to His
Will" - (4:48-116).
If we translate 'God's Will' into 'God's Laws or God's
Value System' and 'God's Forgiveness' into 'God's
Protection from the consequences of the violation of
these Laws and Values' then we can confidently say
that if any person or any nation committed 'SHIRK' he
or she is doomed to disgrace in this world and torment
of fire in the hereafter.
'SHIRK' is generally defined and understood as to set
up partners with God or to join other gods with Him.
This is pretty good definition as far as worship of
God is concerned. Every one knows that we should not
worship any person or object other than God and keep
our worships pure for Him alone. This form of 'SHIRK'
is clear and understandable. No Muslim commits it and
rarely it is committed in the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, as Muslims our duty is not only to
worship God but also to obey Him. Our concept of God
is that He is The Sovereign in the whole Universe both
visible and invisible. He has established the rule of
law for every thing. He has given the man a code of
life which they have to follow and put certain duties
and responsibilities which they have to enforce in
order to achieve the distinction and honor conferred
by God on them - (17:70).
He has raised man to a position of honor above the
brute creation. He has granted him talents by which he
can dominate over nature and its spontaneous forces.
He has provided all the means for the sustenance and
growth of every part of his nature. However, these are
realized only when he obeys none besides God.
Thus, worship and obedience both belong to God alone.
Accordingly, if we look closely at the above mentioned
definition of 'SHIRK' we find it insufficient and
difficult to comprehend. It confuses many people. They
consider that 'SHIRK' is the worship of persons and
objects only. They do not consider the obedience to
persons besides God is also 'SHIRK'. As a result, they
can easily avoid the former and fell prey to the
later. However, obeying others besides God is the
worst form of 'SHIRK' and much more devastating than
any other form of 'SHIRK.
When we do not practice Quranic Values System in
pristine purity or relinquish it as a whole it makes
us either 'Itheem' or put us on an absolutely wrong
track (Fa Qad Dhalla Dhalalum Ba'heeda) which never
get us to our noble destiny i.e an honorable life in
this world and a blissful world in the hereafter.
'Itheem' is a beautiful Quranic terminology which
often translated as 'Sins'. Its incorrect. Actually,
it denotes a set of conditions in which people lose
effiency, productivity, and interest in life. Their
societies become sick and lose dynamism -(4:48 & 116).
It is for these reasons, august and noble, that God
has severely condmned 'SHIRK'. It is not out of some
sorts of greed or fear (Ma'az Allah). He can never be
defied or defeated even if the whole world turned into
a class of 'MUSHRIKEEN'. All that what He said in the
Quran about 'SHIRK', for example, 'Lam Yakun Lahu
Shareekun Fil Mulk - He has no partner in His
Dominion' or 'La Yushrik Fi Hukmehi Ahada - He does
not share His Command with anyone' or 'La Yushrik
Be-aba'det-e-Rabbeh Ahada - No person should worship
or obey anyone else besides God', is meant to protect
the honor and dignity of man.(17:111, 18:26 & 110).
Man is the latest specie on earth and God conferred on
him special favours, above a great part of His
creation - (17:70). God wants us to maintain this
honor and elevate us to further glory through His
Guidance in the Quran -(7:176). Therefore, we should
follow Him alone. If we bows before stocks and stones
which are inferior to us or follow the people who are
similar to us then we are definitely degrading
ourselves. Our 'SHIRK' can not do any good or harm to
God. It is forbidden because it is a contempt of human
honor and dignity. It makes us 'Itheem' and gets us
out of the Right Track.
Thanks
Bashir Abid
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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