Shirk — Its Major Types
terms
Level: intermediate
aqeedah
trm-017
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ
— النساء 48
Definition: Associating a partner with Allah in what is exclusive to Him.
Major shirk (exits Islam): Directing supplication to other than Allah; acting for other than Allah; obeying creation in making forbidden lawful; love equaling love of Allah. "Allah does not forgive shirk." (4:48)
Minor shirk (does not exit Islam): Most famous: ostentation — "The thing I most fear for you is minor shirk — they asked: what? He said: ostentation." (Ahmad — Sahih)
Source: Ahmad (5/429) — Sahih; Muhammad ibn Abd Al-Wahhab, Kitab Al-Tawhid
Question: What is the most famous example of minor shirk?
Answer: Ostentation (riya') — acting to be seen by people. The Prophet called it "hidden shirk" because it corrupts worship from within.