Shirk Of Attribues {Sifaat}: A Comprehensive Explanation.

“Alhamdu’lillahi Rabil Alameen, Khaliqas’samawati wal ardeen. Was’salatu was’salamu ala say’yeedil mursaleen. Am’ma baad, fa’auzu’billahi ma’nishayta’nir’rajeem.

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Further more there are three more sets categories after which understood correctly, a person can be free from Shirk, and will be able to differentiate between Shirk and Tawheed { Wahdat, Unity of Allah } Its important that we understand these two categories and contemplate on them and carefully fallow the line of reasoning and evidences which are presented.

“Sifaat e Zaati” & “Sifaat e Atahi”

{{ Sifaat e Zaati }} Means a Attribute which is ONES-OWN { Personel }; NOT CONFERED BY ANYONE ELSE. What ever has been given to anyone can not be Zaati. This Sift is ONLY OF ALLAH SUBHAN WAL TALLAH, none has this quality other then Allah. He is One who is not dependant upon anyone, He is self sufficent. This quality of Zaati attributes are His alone.

“Kalamat e Tawheed { Utterances of Tawheed }”

*{}* Allah is Living, He is Eternal Absolute, by His own Self, none as given Him life.
*{}* Allah is All-Seeing, by His own Self, none as given Him sight.
*{}* Allah is Sustainer, by His on Self, None as given Him the means of Sustaining, nor the Right to Sustain
*{}* Allah is All-Knowing By His Own Self, none as told Him anything, He Knows All, nothing is RESTRICTING HIM, TOTALLY INDEPENDANT OF ANY RESTRICTIONS THAT HIS CREATION IS BOUND BY.

{{ Sifaat e Atahi }} Means a attribute which has been confered to SOMEONE by another, but the person does not posses it before. Its exactly the opposite of “Sifaat e Zaati “. This attribute is the quality of Allahs CREATION, WHAT EVER HAS BEEN CREATED BY ALLAH has been given abilities which are not its own, and without Allahs bestowing this the CREATION WOULD NOT EXIST OR POSSES IT EVEN IF IT DESIRED SO.

“Kalamat e Tawheed {Utterances of Tawheed}”

*{}* Allah subhan wa tallah gave life to all living creatures, without his Mercy of Life, no living creature would exist, but our none-existance will neither harm nor benefit Allah in anyway, our existance is dependant upon His existance, and one day I will CEASE TO EXIST, BUT ALLAH IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST, NEITHER HE WAS BORN, NOR HE WILL DIE.

*{}* Allah subhan wa tallah, gave us the ability to See, without His giving us this blessing neither we would see, nor we can make our self see, out of our own will.

*{}* Allah subhan wa tallah has given us the right to sustain, and provided the means to sustain our selves, without His giving of these rights and means, we would not be able to sustain our selves, nor earn the right to sustain our selves.

*{}* Allah subhan wa tallah has made us KNOWING, our knowing is dependant upon Allahs provided means, our five senses, without these we can not know anything, our ability to KNOW is limited to the surrounding we are in, and Allah can take back the ABILITY OF KNOWING WHEN HE PLEASES, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER HIS WILL, Allah limits his MAKHLOOQ.

What Consitutes Shirk:

Sifaat e Zaati as explained above are ONLY THE RIGHT OF ALLAH any Human or Jin claims any of these for himself will commit SHIRK OF ATTRIBUTES, AND SUCH A PERSON AS ABANDONED ISLAM FOR THE CREED OF IDOL WORSHIPPERS.

*{}* “No god gave LIFE TO ME” {I WAS ALWAYS IN EXISTANCE .. I am totally independant of god.}

*{}* “No god gave SIGHT TO ME” {I WAS/AM ALL-SEEING,}

*{}* “No god sustains me, I sustain my self ” { No one made the means with which I sustain my self, I am self sustaining.}

*{}* Such and Suchs knowledge equals Allahs knowledge, Such and Such KNOWS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING that has happened will happen WITHOUT ALLAHS BESTOWAL.

*{}* Malik Ul Maut { angle of death} takes life out of his own choice, he is indepandant of Allah, without Allahs command, he is independant of Allahs authority.

*{}* Allah has no control over birth and death of beings, soley beings are responsiable for these.

Any beleive which resembles the above three points in ABSOLUTE SIMILIAR WAY, IS SHIRK, WHICH IS KUFFR. If one makes these statesments while being a Muslim, he as transgressed the boudaries of Islam, as a result becomes apostate { Murtid }.

” Sift e Maliki’at e Haqiqi & Sift e Maliki’at e Majazi:”

{{Sift e Maliki’at e Haqiqi}} In English it would translate to mean the ‘Attribute { of } True Owner’, the Attribute { of } Real Owner, its a Attribute which none can posses other then Allah subhan wa tallah. It implies that Allah tallah is the True Owner of the entire creation, and what intellectual capacity the creation has, i.e. knowledge, no god or being owns anything in reality, He is the supreme Owner. None other being can have this attribute, except Allah.

“Kalamat e Tawheed {Utterances of Tawheed}”

*{}* Allah subhan wa tallah who created the universe, and He is the Real Owner, the Haqiqi Owner of that exists.

*{}* Rabul Alameen is the ONE who sent Rehmatal lil Alameen {SAW}, He is the Haqiqi Owner of Prophet {SAw}.

*{}* It is Allah who is the Haqiqi Owner of Paradise, and the Beauties which it contains.

*{}* Ghafoor Ur Raheem, is the Haqiqi Owner of Hell, in which the Polytheists and Insulters will burn.

{{Sift e Maliki’at e Majazi}} It means ‘Attribute {of} Temproray Owner, In Sift e Maliki’at e Majazi, you affirm the temporary ownership of a object, material possesions, your own self, but also affirm the HAQIQI OWNERSHIP of Allah subhan wa tallah, so that you do not make your self equal to Allahs HAQIQI OWNERSHIP, but one does not negate the ATTRIBUTE OF HAQIQI OWNERSHIP IT WOULD NOT MOUNT TO SHIRK, because if one affirms the Haqiqi Ownership, then he autometically affirms the Majazi Ownership for the creation of Allah, but its recogmended that one does affirm the HAQIQI aspect as much as possiable, so that we are constantly affirming one form of IMAAN { verbally affirming of a aqeedah classifies as Imaan }.

Its a attribute which is IMPOSSIABLE { MUHAAL } for Allah to have, Allah was and will be the Malik e Haqiqi { Real Owner }, the ‘Malik e Majazi’ attribute is for the creation of Allah subhan wa tallah, Ambiyah { Prophets }, Malaika { Angles }, Awliyah-Allah { Friends of Allah } and general creation what ever they own is their temparory OWNERSHIP, this right of OWNERSHIP HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE CREATION, BY ALLAH. ALLAH CAN GRANT THE RIGHT OF OWNERSHIP TO ANYONE HE WISHES, as He often does, without consent of His Creation, where as His Creation can not excercise their own right.

“Kalamat e Tawheed { Utterances of Tawheed }”

*{}* Allah subhan wa tallah who created the universe, and He is the Real Owner, the Haqiqi Owner of what ever that exists, out of His mercy Allah has granted me a Temparory Abode in this village, without His mercy neither I would have shelter, nor the gift of life.

*{}* My eyes, ears, hands, feet, nose, are bestowed to me by Allah subhan wa tallah, He is the Haqiqi Owner of these organs, and everything else for which makes my existance possiable.

*{}* Allah as granted me the ownership of these animals out of his limitless treasures, He is the Haqiqi Owner of everything that I own, and of me.

What Consitutes Shirk:

*{}* Denial of Allahs Haqiqi Ownership, and attributing it to a creation of Allah.

*{}* Affirming the Haqiq Ownership of Allah, but assigning a EQUALE / SUPERIOR PARTNER WITH Allah [ I.E. SON, MOTHER, FATHER, DAUGHTERS] who governs the creation of Allah with Allah.

One who holds such beleife has become Mushrik, as a result such person is KAFFIR.

“Sift e Qulli & Sift e Baaz”

{{ Sift e Qulli }} It means Attributes of Absolute-ness, Totall, Complete-ness, and All. Its Sift of Allah subhan Watallah, none in the creation of Allah is owner of this Sift. Allah subhana watallah is, for any creation of Allah to posses this Atribute is MUHAAL {IMPOSSIABLE}. Its partly been addressed in the Zaati section of the artilce, but another aspect of the same is connected with this part, therefore its important that it is addressed.

“Kalamat e Tawheed { Utterances of Tawheed }”

*{}* Allah is ALL-Seeing, Allahs vision encompasess ABSOLUTE-ly everything, Allah is COMPLETE-ly observing his creation.

*{}* Allah is ALL-Hearing, Allah Hears ABSOLUTE-ly everything, Allah Hears ALL of His Creation even their wispers, Allah Hears everything, everyone, from the highest of Heavens to the depths of earth, deepest of oceans no creature can escape His Hearing, none is equal to Him.

*{}* Allahs Knowledge is Complete, His Knowledge is Absolute no short commings or mistakes what so ever, Allahs Knowledge is of ALL CREATION THERE IS NOTHING IN CREATION WHICH HE DOESNT KNOW ABOUT.

*{NOTE:}* Allah subhan wa tallahs KNOWLEDGE IS Absolute, none is capable to know as much as Him nor He has granted His ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE TO ANY CREATION WHAT SO EVER. Al Qalm {the Pen} and Al Lawh Al Mahfooz {Perserved Tablet} are mere creations of Allah, and the knowledge they have is in no way equale to Allah, the Knowledge contained in them is not even a drop from the ocean of knolwedge which belongs to Allah. If its beleived that Prophet {SAW} knows whats contained in Al Lawh Al Mahfooz, it will not mount to SHIRK, because he {SAW} is just a creation like Al Lawh Al Mahfooz, if its SHIRK for one creation then to beleive that the other creation has the knowledge should also be SHIRK.
{{ Sift e Baaz }} It means Attribute of Partial, Some, Little, and it implies that creation has qualities which are limited, not equale with Allahs Attributes. Allah does not have any Sift what so ever, which falls into Baaz catergory, Allahs Sifaat are Qulli.

“Kalamat e Tawheed { Utterances of Tawheed }”

*{}* Its the mercy of Allah that He has granted me LIMITED VISION with which I see the beauties of CREATION OF ALLAH.

*{}* Allah the Mercifull has given me ears with which I hear the sounds of birds, the reciting of Kitabil Mubeen in my IMMEDIATE SURROUDINGS.

*{}* Allah Subhan wa tallah, has granted me THE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF THE CREATION through the means {Wasilah} of analysis, scientific research, and Allah is able to break the laws which he as set for creation if He wishes so.

What Consitutes Shirk:

*{}* Attributing the Qulli Sift to a CREATION OF ALLAH, as a result x-person is making a CREATION OF ALLAH A EQUALE IN ALLAH’S ATTIRBUTES – MOUNTS TO AS’SIFAAT SHIRK {Shirk Of Attributes} – WHICH IS KUFR.

*{}* Affirming that Al Lawh Al Mahfooz {Perserved Tablet} & Al-Qalm {the Pen} contains ALL the knowledge of Allah. This is SHIRK AS SIFAAT this beleife makes Al Lawh Al Mahfooz & Al Qalam partners in Allah’s KNOWLEDGE, and none is equale with Allah, in Zaat {in Allah’s Being} and in Sifaat {in Attributes} – AFFIRMING QULLI KNOWLEDGE FOR MAKHLOOQ {AL LAWH AL MAHFOOZ & AL QALAM} IS KUFFR.

“Concluding Remarks:

Readers must bare in mind that Qulli, Zaati, Haqiqi, SIFAAT are only for Allah, and Baaz, Atahi, Majaazi, SIFAAT are for the MAKHLOOK of Allah subhan wa tallah. If one attributes the SIFAAT of Allah to Makhlooq its Shirk, but its SHIRK also if someone attributes the SIFAAT {Qualities} of Makhlooq to Allah.

Further there might arise some confusion regarding the categorisation and some people may use this explanation wrongly and brand others as MUSHRIK for using the words Zaati, Qulli, Haqiqi, in refference to the materials they posses -eg:

*{}* Yeh mera Zaati ILM heh. { This is my PERSONEL KNOWLEDGE. }

*{}* Qulli tor per yeh ILM meRA heh { ALL the KNOWLEDGE is MINE. }

*{}* Haqiqat meh yeh mera ILM heh { IN REALITY THIS IS MY KNOWLEDGE. }

The usage of these words in ordinary life as I have demonstrated with above examples will not mount to SHIRK because the person-x is using the words in connection with other people .i.e. “This is my PERSONEL KNOWLEDGE.” in this statement he merely is stating that he AS COME UP WITH HIS OWN IDEAS, no other human shares HIS IDEAS.

The categorisation of Shirk As Sifaat into three sets has to be understood in TECHNICALLY as explaned, one must not strip these words out of their context and meanings which they are given in this article, EACH TERM {i.e. Zaati, Qulli, Haqiqi} AS A UNIQUE EXPLANATION AND WHAT DETERMINES SHIRK IS THE EXPLANATION NOT THE TERM {i.e. Zaat, Ataahi, Qulli} ITSELF. Readers must ensure that they understand each TERM properly and the explanation before using it as a refference in their future discussions otherwise a THERE IS REAL DANGER OF FITNAH.

Muhammed Ali

Understanding The Concept Of Shirk

Alhamdu’lillahi Rabil Alameen, Khaliqas’samawati wal ardeen. Was’salatu was’salamu ala say’yeedil mursaleen. Am’ma baad, fa’auzu’billahi ma’nishayta’nir’rajeem. Bismilla hir’rahma nir’raheem.

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Bismillah! In this time of Trial & Tribulations the Ummah of RasoolAllah [saw] as been devided among warring sects. The fundamental cause of this dis-unity and spread of Ilhad [atheism] and biddati concepts is misunderstanding of the doctrine of Tawheed & Shirk.

My objective is to deal with the fundamental problem which is deviding the Ummah, once the foundation of all disputes is corrected, Inshallah the remaining disputes which are based on this will autometically be explained.

This article will Inshallah will be expanded to include the evidences for each form of Shirk from Quran & Sunnah.

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Definition Of Shirk according to Shariah: Joining a partner with Allah in absolute terms, to believe that Allah has a equale partner, who shares with Allah power on equal terms.

Shirk Of Attributes: A form of Shirk in which attributes of Allah are given to the CREATION of Allah.

Note: Seeing, Hearing, Knowing, Sustainer, etc: All are Attributes of Allah tallah, but the Makhlooq of Allah does share with Allah these ATTRIBUTES, and stating this fact does not mount to SHIRK. Allah tallah as out of His will as confered these Atributes to His creation, and the quantity of these Attributes differes from invidual to invidual as well as between Allah and His creation.

Attributes Of Allah & Their Qauntity:

Allah, Sees, Hears, Knows ALL, none is hidden from him NOT EVEN A ATOMS WEIGHT, He Sees ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, He Hears ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, He Knows PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING that has happened in these THREE TIME PERIODS. Allahs Seeing, Hearing, Knowing is absolute in every term, neither He makes mistake in judgement on WHAT HE SAW, HEARD, AND KNOWS, nor its part of His Attributes to make such mistakes. He is Perfect in every Attribute.

Attributes of Creation & And Their Limitations:

Creation’s attributes variy, some can see/hear more clearly then the other, some are blind/deaf, some become blind/deaf in old age, some become blind/deaf because of exidents. Their ability of “Knowing” is dependant on the five senses. With exception to Ambiyah {AS} Awliyah-Allah, depending upon their respected position, who are instructed by Wahi {Revelation} or ‘Ilm e Ladunvi’ {<—Urdu’nised rendering,”Divine Guidance” – Surah Al Kahf {18] Verse 65} as well as their five senses which they share with human beings and Jins etc;

Since the quantity of these attributes deppences on he organs which collect the information. Then relay this information to the brain for processing, and then brain determines the quantity, what it saw, heard, and how much it knows. Due to this fact human & Jin knowledge is deffective, incomplete.
What Consitute ‘Shirk Of Attributes’:

*{}* If X claims that He/She SEES everything – JUST LIKE ALLAH
*{}* If X claims that He/She HEARS everything – JUST LIKE ALLAH
*{}* If X claims that He/She KNOWS everything – JUST LIKE ALLAH

Or takes any Attribute of Allah and implies that X is equale with Allah in this Attribute, it would be Shirk Al Akhbar, which in other words results in KUFFR. Any creation if it takes the attribute of Allah which Allah shares with creation and implies that X is ABSOLUTELY EQUALE WITH Allah is this respect, such a person is MUSHRIK & KAFFIR.

It would not mount to Shirk, if a person states that I am seeing or he is seeing, because for it to be SHIRK the similarity has be ABSOLUTE, if there is similarity on PARTIAL basis its not shirk.

{} To make Haram a Halal is, SHIRK OF ATTRIBUTES / To make Halal a Haram is, SHIRK OF ATTRIBUTES :- This right is only with Allah. Who so ever declares a HALAL as HARAM, IS KAFFIR, MUSHRIK, FILTHY KAFFIR WORSE KAFFIR THEN A HINDU KAFFIR [Surah 9:31].

 Example A: A individual was TO BELIEVE IN TOTAL/ABSOLUTE independace of Malik-ul-Maut from Allah authority OR holds to the beleife that Malik-Ul-Maut takes life of out of his own choice, such person commits Shirk of Attributes, such a person is KAFFIR.

{A person who believes that “Malik ul Maut” takes life of a person with the permissision of Allah, with power given by Allah is a Muslim, and such a individual holds to the correct beleife.}

Example B: ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT THESE MIRACLES WERE PERFOMED INDEPENDENT OF ALLAH’S GIVEN POWER AND AUTHORITY COMMIT SHIRK OF ATTRIBUTES SUCH A PERSON TOO IS KAFFIR.

{Correct beleife about the Miracles of the Prophets is that such as Musa [as] miracle of rope turning into a snake, Isa [as] bringing the birds of clay to life, and Prophet Muhammed [saw], the beloved messenger of Allah, splitting the moon, all were performed with the power and permission of Allah.}

Shirk Of Worship: To bow down to a CREATION of Allah with the intention of worshipping that creation.

*{}* BOWING DOWN TO IDOL WITH THE INTENTION OF WORSHIP.
*{}* BOWING DOWN TO A LIVING-PERSON / DEAD-PERSON WITH THE INTENTION OF WORSHIP.
*{}* BOWING TO ANY CREATION OF ALLAH WITH INTENTION OF WORSHIP.
*{}* CONSIDERING A CREATION OF ALLAH TO BE WORTHY OF WORSHIP

Important Note: Dear readers bare in mind that in reality there is no category of ‘SHIRK AL IBADAT’. Because in Shariah the Shirk is not determined by OUTER ACTIONS but by INTENTION/AQEEDAH which is in accordance with the HADITH OF Prophet {SAW} “Qullu Amalu Min’niyat …” {“Every Actions {of a beleiver} is to be determined on INTENTION …”} and every action of a KAFFIR IS TO BE DETERMINED ON HIS AQEEDAH.

In reality the Shirk Al Ibadaat does not exist, because once a KAFFIR, MUSHRIK, TAKES A OBJECT AS GOD OTHER THEN ALLAH, HE BECOMES MUSHRIK, WEATHER HE BOWS TO IT WITH INTENTION OF WORSHIP WILL NOT MATTER … BECAUSE THE ACTION DOESNT DETERMINE HIS AQEEDAH … THE AQEEDAH HE PROFESS DETERMINES HIS STATUS …thus he will be Mushrik even if he doesnt worship it or not. Shirk is not determined by looking at the actions of people, but its determined by the AQEEDAH WHICH THEY PROFESS.
This form Shirk is Kufar.

Shirk of Relations: A form of Shirk in which Allah is associated with partner.

*{}*In which Allah is Associated with Daughters.
*{}*In which Allah is Asscoiated with Parents.
*{}*In which Allah is Associated with Children.

This form of Shirk is KUFFAR.

Shirk of Pride: [Ar-Riya]- A form of Shirk in which a person takes pride because of certain acheivement.

This form of shirk is NOT KUFFAR.

Hidden “Shirk”: This form of Shirk, is of when a person UNINTENTIONALLY attributes with a X object, a attribute which is not its own [Zati] ATTRIBUTE, but it has been conferred [Atah/Atahi] to it by Allah. And that ATTRIBUTE remains in the control of Allah.

*{}* Its is said that knife cuts,
*{}* Its said that fire burns

{<>} Aqeedah of Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jammah is that its not knives nature to cut, because had that been the case, then it would have cut Hazrat Ismail [as] when his father wished to sacrifise him in the cause of Allah.

{<>} Aqeedah of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammah is that fire does not burn because had the nature of fire been to burn it would have burnt Ibrahim [as] when he was thrown into the pit of fire by Mushriqeen.

Important Note: This definition of “Shirk” should not be used in connection with: Ambiyah [as], Awliyah-Allah [ra], Sahabah [rta], Muhammedur’RasoolAllah [saw], who so ever does so, has transgressed the boundaries of Quran and Sunnah. When reffering to this group of people make refference of it has Tawheed Al Akbar, say they believed that EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS IN CONTROL OF ALLAH.

Ibrahim [as] believed that nothing happens without the will of Allah, Knife wont cut without the will of Allah, Ismail [as] believed that Knife will not until Allah wishes so. When Allah commanded the knife to cut, then Allah subsituted Ismail [as] with a lamb.

Ibrahim [as] was thrown in fire, he didn’t call on his relatives to save him from the burning fire, he sat in fire, and when Gibraeel [as] came to help, Ibrahim [as] said O Gibraeel [as] as Allah sent you or have you come out of your own choice, he replied out of my own choice. Then Ibrahim [as] told Gibraeel [as] then don’t assist me, its Allah’s decision. Allah ordered the fire to be COOL. This is Tawheed Al Akhbar.

Second Note: All excluding the above are included in this definition of shirk. This form of “shirk” is neither KUFFAR nor offensive in anyway, because its part of our fitrah. Allah does not hold us accountable for whats our Fitrah, but we are only accountable which are can be controlled by us.

{<>} Its quite dangerous to clasify this as “shirk”. I seek reffuge in Allah from misguidance of Iblis. O Allah I seek your forgiveness if I be the cause of Fitna or play a part in someone being mislead.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a verse in the Quran which states that RasoolAllah [saw] rejection is rejection of all the prophets [cant recall the passage in the Quran] that came before him. How can rejection of one Rasool [saw] be reject of all the Messengers that had come before him? Answer is very simple prophets had brought different Sharia, which suited to the conditions of a nation and those who acted upon this Shariah indeed fallowed the Shariah of the all former Messengers [as]. And the difference in the Shriah of RasoolAllah [saw] would not mean that those people who adhered to the Sharia of former Prophets rejected the Shariah of RasoolAllah [saw]. But all PROPHETS had brought one thing which was unchanged throught ages from ADAM [as] to the time of Muhammed [SAW], and that is the understanding of “Tawheed & Shirk”. In this context one who rejects the message of Tawheed [Shirk] given by RasoolAllah [saw] has rejected all the Prophets. Because every prophet was sent by Allah to take people back to the very reason for which Allah created us, His Worship. Without sound understanding of Allah’s Attributes, and without understanding fundamentals of Tawheed the worship of Allah would have been vain. Therefore Allah sent Prophets/Messengers to distinguish between Tawheed & Shirk and then commonded them to teach their fallowers ways of worship of Allah. Therefore the fundamental message of all Prophets/Messengers was TAWHEED, rejection of RasoolAllah’s [saw] Tawheedi message, would mount to rejecting all the Prophets/Messengers that had come before him.

Definition of Shirk does not change according to time. What WAS shirk at the beginning of the creation WILL REMAIN shirk till the DAY OF JUDGEMENT, because Allah does not change, He remains One and will remain One. The ihkaam which He has subjected His Creation to, will change. Halal will become haram, haram will become halal according to particular situation of a people, but this change of ihkaam, will not be in the regards to the understanding of “Shirk & Tawheed”. One who believes that definition of Shirk was improved upon by Allah attributes ignorance to Allah, and such a person is KAFFIR.

Muhammed Ali