Q 47: What is [As-Shirk Al-Asghar] Minor Shirk (polytheism)?
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Q 47: What is [As-Shirk Al-Asghar] Minor Shirk (polytheism)?
A--- The Minor Shirk is Ar-Riya' (i.e. acts performed to show off). Any act of worship or any religious deed done in order to gain praise, fame or for worldly benefit, falls under this category. Almighty Allah says:
{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, 110)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says:
"The most fearful thing I fear for you is Minor Shirk". He (Peace be upon him) was asked about it, and he said: "It is [Ar-Riya'] showing off". Then, he (Peace be upon him) explained it saying, "A man stands in prayer, performs it more beautifully and properly than ever, because he notices someone looking at him".
(Imam Ahmed)
Such polytheism includes taking oaths by people and things such as fathers, idols, honesty, etc, instead of Allah. Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says:
"Do not take oaths in the name of your fathers, mothers, or those you set up as rivals with Allah".
(Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Al-Baihaqi)
He (Peace be upon him) also says:
"Do not say 'By the Ka'bah', but say 'By the Lord of the Ka 'bah"'.
(Imam Ahmed)
He (Peace be upon him) says:
"Do not take an oath in anyone other than Allah ". (An Authentic Hadith)
He (Peace be upon him) says:
"Whosoever takes an oath in the name of honesty is not from amongst us (i.e. a true believer) ".
(Abu Dawud and Ahmed)
He (Peace be upon him) says:
"Whosoever takes an oath in the name of anyone other than Allah becomes a disbeliever or a polytheist ". And in another Narration, "he becomes a disbeliever and a polytheist".
(Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Ahmed)
Also, it is forbidden to say: 'What Allah and you will'. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked someone who said this: "Do you make me an equal to Allah? Say, "What Allah Alone wills".
(Ahmed and Bukhari)
It is also forbidden to say the following expressions: Had it not been for Allah and you!, I have no one but Allah and you!, I begin in the name of Allah and your name! etc.
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says:
"Do not say 'what Allah and so and so, willed', but say 'what Allah, then so and so, willed"'.
(Abu Dawud and Ahmed)
Scholars say: it is permissible to say, "Had it not been for Allah then so and so". But, "Had it not been for Allah and so and so", is not permissible to be said.
