SHIRK (POLYTHEISM) AND ITS TYPES
Know that the opposite of Tawhîd is Shirk (polytheism; the worship of others along with Allâh) and Shirk is of three types:
1. Ash-Shirk'ul Akbar (Major Polytheism),
2. Ash-Shirk'ul Asghar (Minor Polytheism),
3. Ash-Shirk'ul Khafî (Inconspicuous/Hidden Polytheism).1. Ash-Shirk'ul Akbar (Major Polytheism)
The evidence for ash-Shirk'ul Akbar is the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"Indeed, Allâh does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allâh has certainly gone far astray." (an-Nisâ 4/116)
And the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"The Masîh (Messiah) has said, "O Children of Isrâ'îl (Israel), worship Allâh, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allâh -Allâh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers." (al-Mâ'idah 5/72)
Ash-Shirk'ul Akbar is of four types:a. Shirk'ud Du'â (Polytheism in Supplication/Prayer)
The first type is Shirk'ud Du'â (invocation, supplication, or prayer to other deities besides Allâh), and the evidence for this is the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"So when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allâh, having their faith purely in Him. But when He saves them (and brings them) to the land, in no time they associate others with Him. Thus becoming ungrateful for what We gave them. Let them have some enjoyment, then they will soon come to know." (al-Ankabût 29/65-66)b. Shirk'un Niyyah (Polytheism in Intention)
The second type is Shirk'un Niyyah. Niyyah (Intention) is, Irâdah (purpose) and Qasd (determination), the evidence for this (Shirk'un Niyyah) is the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments -We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived. Those are the ones for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire and vain are the deeds they did therein and of no effect is that which they used to do." (Hûd 11/15-16)c. Shirk'ut Tâ'ah (Polytheism in Rendering Obedience to any Authority against the Order of Allâh)
The third type is Shirk'ut Tâ'ah, and the evidence for this is the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"They (the Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allâh, and (they also took as their Lord) al-Masîh (Messiah), son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded to worship none but One Ilah, La Ilaha Illa Huwa (there is no -true- deity -worthy of worship- except He). Praise and glory be to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)." (at-Tawbah 9/31)
The Tafsîr (exegesis) of this Âyah that has no obscurity is their obedience to the Ulamâ (pl. Âlim; scholars) and Ubbâd (pl. Âbid; monks) in Ma'siyah (sin) to Allâh Subhânahu; it is not them supplicating to the Ulamâ and Ubbâd. Just like when Adiyy bin Hâtim Radiyallâhu Anh asked,
"We do not worship them (i.e. Rabbis and Monks)."
Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam informed him in explanation that such worship is by obeying them in the matters of Ma'siyah (sin) to Allâh.2d. Shirk'ul Mahabbah (Polytheism in Love)
The fourth type is Shirk'ul Mahabbah (showing the love which is due to Allâh Alone to others), and the evidence for this is the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as Andâd (pl. Nidd; rivals, equals, partners to Allâh), they love them as they love Allâh. But those who believe, love Allâh more (than anything else). If only those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment that all power belongs to Allâh and that Allâh is Severe in punishment." (al-Baqarah 2/165)
Until His Taâlâ's statement,
"... and they will never get out of the Fire." (al-Baqarah 2/167)2. Ash-Shirk'ul Asghar (Minor Polytheism)
The second type is ash-Shirk'ul Asghar, which is ar-Riyâ (showing off), and the evidence for this is the statement of Allâhu Taâlâ,
"So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." (al-Kahf 18/110)3. Ash-Shirk'ul Khafî (Inconspicuous/Hidden Polytheism)
The third type is ash-Shirk'ul Khafî (Inconspicuous/Hidden Shirk), and the evidence for this is the statement of Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam,
"Shirk in my Ummah (nation) is much more hidden than the pace of an ant crawling upon a black stone in the darkness of the night."
The Kaffârah (expiation) for it (inconspicuous Shirk) is the statement of Rasûlullâh Sallallâhu Alayhi wa Sallam,
"O Allâh, I seek protection in You from ascribing partners to You knowingly and I seek forgiveness from You for those things which I do not know."
2- At-Tirmidhî, Hadîth no: 3095; at-Tabarî, Tafsîr, 14/209-211, no: 16631-16634.