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The difference between Kufr and Shirk, two commonly misused and misunderstood words.
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Understanding the meaning and types of kufr and shirk is an obligation upon each and every Muslim.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive that” partners are set up for Him (and worshipped alongside Him, the gravest of sins) but He forgives whatever is less than that of for whomever He wills.“
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive that” partners are set up for Him (and worshipped alongside Him, the gravest of sins) but He forgives whatever is less than that of for whomever He wills.“
The gravest sin that Allah ﷻ doesn’t forgive if the person dies upon, is shirk (and as we’ll see later kufr is included)
Therefore it is an obligation upon every Muslim to know that which his Lord will not forgive him for, and that’s the most basic of tasks.
So let’s learn it.
Therefore it is an obligation upon every Muslim to know that which his Lord will not forgive him for, and that’s the most basic of tasks.
So let’s learn it.
Part 1: Lingusitically
In the Arabic language, root words are generally comprised of 3 letters that form a basic meaning. These roots can be later altered through the addition of other letters.
Kufr (كفر) and Shirk (شرك) are both their own respective 3 letter root words that do not stem from more basic words. They cannot be broken down further, only built upon.
Part 2: Within the Islamic terminology
Kufr (كفر):
In his Lisaan al-‘arab, a lexicon of the Arabic language, Ibn Mundhoor spends some 8 odd pages explaining this word.
All of which we will summarize into a single sentence.
In his Lisaan al-‘arab, a lexicon of the Arabic language, Ibn Mundhoor spends some 8 odd pages explaining this word.
All of which we will summarize into a single sentence.
الكفر جحد الحق وستره
“Kufr is the rejection and concealment of the truth”
“Kufr is the rejection and concealment of the truth”
Any rejection of that which Allah ﷻ revealed is an act of kufr.
It is commonly misunderstood as “complete rejection of the religion”, like how Christians and Jews are Kuffar (and yes they are there is no room for debate).
It is commonly misunderstood as “complete rejection of the religion”, like how Christians and Jews are Kuffar (and yes they are there is no room for debate).
This understanding is incorrect as rejection of a single obligation is kufr. Someone who denies the obligation of salah has committed Kufr even if they believe in every other part of the religion. Or if someone denies the obligation of zakat even if they believe in the rest.
If someone rejects (insert x obligation) they have committed kufr even if they accept the rest of the religion in totality. Complete rejection of the religion is not necessary.
Kufr is of two types, Major and Minor.
Major Kufr directly renders someone outside the fold of Islam, while minor kufr does not but is still from the severest of major sins.
Minor kufr also leads to major kufr down the line and if oft repeated can become major kufr.
Major Kufr directly renders someone outside the fold of Islam, while minor kufr does not but is still from the severest of major sins.
Minor kufr also leads to major kufr down the line and if oft repeated can become major kufr.
Examples of major kufr would be rejection of any obligation such as salah, hajj etc.
Examples of minor kufr would be making unjust takfeer of a Muslim, as the Hadith says “whoever declares his brother to be a disbeliever then he is a disbeliever (kaffir).”
Examples of minor kufr would be making unjust takfeer of a Muslim, as the Hadith says “whoever declares his brother to be a disbeliever then he is a disbeliever (kaffir).”
As the muhaditheen mention, this does not mean that you are outside the fold of Islam for calling a Muslim a kaffir, rather you have participated in the actions of the kuffar and have committed a major sin.
Repeating this can eventually lead you to major kufr like the Khawarij.
Repeating this can eventually lead you to major kufr like the Khawarij.
Shirk (شرك):
Ibn Mundhoor likewise spends multiple pages explaining the definition of shirk. Which we will again summarize into a single sentence.
Ibn Mundhoor likewise spends multiple pages explaining the definition of shirk. Which we will again summarize into a single sentence.
الشرك هو صرف بعض العبادة لغير الله
“Shirk is directing any act of worship to other than Allah”
“Shirk is directing any act of worship to other than Allah”
Any act of worship by definition is for Allah alone and any act of worship done for other than Allah is shirk.
And it’s forms are many, hidden and apparent all around us.
Slaughtering for other than Allah is shirk bc slaughter is an act of worship.
Making dua to other than Allah, such as calling upon the dead, is shirk bc dua is an act of worship.
Slaughtering for other than Allah is shirk bc slaughter is an act of worship.
Making dua to other than Allah, such as calling upon the dead, is shirk bc dua is an act of worship.
Doing (insert x act of worship) for other than Allah is shirk no matter the act because it is to be directed towards Allah alone.
Shirk is also of two types, major and minor.
And similar to kufr, major shirk takes someone outside the fold of Islam directly while minor shirk is a major sin but the person is still muslim.
Minor shirk can easily lead to major and this is from the plots of shaytan.
And similar to kufr, major shirk takes someone outside the fold of Islam directly while minor shirk is a major sin but the person is still muslim.
Minor shirk can easily lead to major and this is from the plots of shaytan.
Examples of major shirk would be dua, slaughter, prayer, zakat for other than Allah.
Examples of minor shirk would be riyaa (showing off), doing acts of worship so people see you doing them. Or swearing upon other than Allah such as swearing by the ka’abah, prophet, mother etc.
Examples of minor shirk would be riyaa (showing off), doing acts of worship so people see you doing them. Or swearing upon other than Allah such as swearing by the ka’abah, prophet, mother etc.
The former directly takes someone outside the fold of Islam, the latter does not.
Part 3: Wrapping them together
As the ulamā mention, among them al-imam Bin Baz رحمه الله, every kufr is shirk and every shirk is also kufr.
How is that?
How is that?
If someone commits an act of shirk they have also committed kufr because they have rejected the obligation of not associating patterns with Allah.
And if someone commits kufr they have also committed shirk because they have worshipped their desires over Allah ﷻ.
These words have their individual specific meanings, but their general meanings encompass each other and this is an important distinction to make so that we do not hold one as more severe than the other and so on.
For everything that I didn’t directly cite in this thread, refer to Ibn Uthyameen’s, Bin Baz’s, and Fawzan’s explanations of thalathatul Usool.
As well as Abdul Aziz aal ash-shaykh’s, Ahmad an-Najmi’s, and Fawzan’s explanation of Masaa’il al-Jahiliyyah.
As well as Abdul Aziz aal ash-shaykh’s, Ahmad an-Najmi’s, and Fawzan’s explanation of Masaa’il al-Jahiliyyah.
All of these address everything I’ve said directly and both do these books are a necessity for every Muslim to read and understand.
Pick an aforementioned explanation of each and read them insha’Allah.
Pick an aforementioned explanation of each and read them insha’Allah.
Insha’Allah this was of benefit and Allah knows best.
End.
End.
