Emaan on Allah & Shirk as per Quran
In our last post we have discussed the two foundations of Deen: 1- Ayaat of Allah and 2- Emaan. Today we are going to discuss the first and the basic fundamental of Emaan i.e. Emaan on Allah and what does it mean by Shirk as per Quran.
What is Emaan on Allah- Emaan on Allah is an undisputable, widely understood and basic criteria of being a Muslim i.e. Emaan on Allah as THE ONE and only supreme being; as the one and only deity, the Eternal Refuge, who neither begets nor is born and nothing is equivalent to HIM. The most relevant ayah in Quran which describes GOD ALMIGHTY as supreme being is:
[Quran 112:1-4] “(1) Say, “He is Allah, One (2) Allah, the Eternal Refuge. (3) He neither begets nor is born, (4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
ALLAH as a being is beyond our human understanding and comprehension, but Allah has described HIMself times and times again in Quran in various ayahs as creator of each and every thing in this universe, heaven and earth, the most powerful, the most wise, the only lawmaker in Deen, the most merciful, the Rahman and the Raheem. For example the following ayah is explaining the concept of GOD almighty in a very unique way i.e. through an example of light from a lamp- a unique lamp, which does not belong to any race or sect, east or west, which gives guidance/hidayah to those who are willing to be guided, and the light of the lamp is available in our own house not any where else! What a beautiful illustration.
[Quran- 24:35-36] “(35) Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly star lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things. (36) in the houses which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings.”
**Our only connection to ALLAH is through HIS Ayaat & Emaan on Allah means Emaan on Allah’s Ayaat** We are connected and linked to Allah through the work of God- that is the many creations of God almighty scattered all around us in universe, heaven & earth and through the word of God – that is HIS revelations – the Quran, through which GOD has communicated all his commandments, laws and hidayahs to us.
Allah as the only lawmaker in the matters of Deen have been clearly mentioned in following ayahs;
[Quran 6:114] “Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge/Hikm while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?” And those to whom We gave the book know that it is sent down from your Lord in Haq- Absolute truth and justice, so never be among the doubters.
[Quran 7:2-3] “a Book revealed to you, – so let there not be in your heart distress/heaviness/difficulty therefrom – that you may warn thereby and as a Zikr to the Momineen. Follow, what has been revealed to you from your Rab and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you do Zikr/remember.
The above ayahs are clearly highlighting that we can not follow anyone, any other allies but ALLAH in matters of Deen. Since Quran is the only connection between GOD and us, therefore Emaan on Allah means Emaan on Allah’s Ayaat- Both words of God as in Quranic Ayahs and Work of God- Allah’s Creations.
What is Shirk as per Quran- The word ‘Shirk’ in Arabic means taking a partner, i.e. considering someone as the partner of another. As per Quran ‘Shirk’ means ascribing a partner or rival to Allah in ruboobiyyah, Hikm – lawmakers/judge in matters of Deen and in areas where there is no one but ALLAH. In Quran Allah forbids setting up partners with Him.
[Quran 2:22] Then do not set up rivals unto Allaah while you know”
Please refer to the following ayahs.
[Quran 59:22] “He is Allah, other than whom there is no God/deity/divinity; Knower of the Ghaib-unseen and the witnessed. He is the Most merciful/Rahman the Raheem/especially merciful.”
[Quran 59:23] “He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity/God/Divinity, the Malik/Sovereign, the Qoddoos/ Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Mutakkabir/Superior. Subhan Allah – Exalted is Allah above whatever they do shirk with Him.”
Please notice that BOTH of the above mentioned ayahs starts with the expression “ He is Allah, other than whom there is no Deity/God/Divinity……this means that these ayahs not only identify the many qualities of God Almighty, these are precisely those qualities in which there is no deity/no God/no Divinity but Allah…these couple of ayahs then end with the phrase that Allah is exalted above whatever they do shirk with HIM…that is whoever does shirk, i.e. associate with Allah anyone else as shareek/partner in these qualities; Allah is above and beyond such shirk.
Please refer following Ayah – which is extremely thought provoking showing that **most of Muslims do not believe in Allah, except along with doing Shirk**. – Notice the use of the word- Aksar meaning most.
[Quran 12:106] And most of them believe not in Allah except while they associate others with Him.
[Quran 2:165] And among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals. They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah.
[Quran 42:21] Or do they have ‘shuraka’ (partners) who legislate for them of the Deen what Allah did not authorise? If it were not for a decisive Word, judgement would have already been passed over them. Indeed, the transgressors shall have a painful punishment.
The above ayahs are clearly highlighting that since the only Hikm – the lawmaker in the matters of Deen is Allah – God Almighty and these God-Given Laws have been revealed to us through Quran; if we follow any laws of Deen outside of Quran or any lawmaker in DEEN other than Allah, we are in fact making that person aligned with Allah and God forbid are doing SHIRK.
Do keep in mind that in Quran, Allah says that he will forgive any sin but will not forgive SHIRK. Hence, we should be extremely careful not to assign partners with Allah i.e. not to do SHIRK. And the ONLY way we can save ourselves by understanding and following the God-Given Rules as per DEEN in QURAN. This is the basis of Emaan on Allah and the whole Foundations of Deen is based on this important fundamental of Emaan.
May Allah give us hidayah, strengthen our Emaan and keep us save from doing shirk with Allah in any form shape or manner whatsoever.