The Ruling on Calling Major Shirk Minor
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
What is the ruling on one who calls major shirk minor, if it is not accompanied by belief and intention, such as supplicating to other than Allah?
Answer:
Major shirk is not called minor, and minor is not called major; each has its limit. Major shirk has its status, and minor has its status. So, supplicating to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, making vows to the dead or to the stars or to idols, and slaughtering for them—this is major shirk, not called minor. This is the shirk of Abu Jahl and his companions. This is major shirk, we seek refuge in Allah. So, the one who supplicates to al-Badawi, or supplicates to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), or supplicates to al-Husayn ibn 'Ali or al-Hasan ibn 'Ali or Fatimah, or supplicates to al-'Idris, or supplicates to the Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani or others, or circumambulates their graves hoping for their intercession or the like of that—this act is major shirk. This is the worship of idols, we seek refuge in Allah. This is the worship of Abu Jahl and his like from the people of Makkah in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for minor shirk, such as [swearing] by the Prophet, and [swearing] by the Prophet, and [swearing] by the Ka'bah, and "what Allah willed and so-and-so willed," and "if not for Allah and so-and-so"—this is minor shirk. And if one swears by the Prophet or by the trust or by so-and-so with the intention that the Prophet is like Allah in being exalted, or that 'Ali is like Allah, this becomes major shirk, we seek refuge in Allah.
And the calamity of attachment to the dead in most countries is a great and major calamity that one must be alert to, from our brothers the pilgrims and others. And the scholars must also be alert to it; because it is the greatest of calamities, and the greatest of sins. So, shirk is among the greatest of crimes, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [An-Nisa: 116], and He said, Exalted is He: [Al-An'am: 88], and He said, the Exalted: [Al-Ma'idah: 72].
So, it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge, and upon the students of knowledge, and upon every Muslim to take care of this matter, especially if it is in countries where this matter occurs, such as Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, and their like. It is obligatory that he take care of this, and that he advise his brothers, advise the one who does this, and warn them from this grave shirk. And he should explain to them that this contradicts the statement "La ilaha illa Allah" and opposes it, and Allah is the One to be sought for help.
What is the ruling on one who calls major shirk minor, if it is not accompanied by belief and intention, such as supplicating to other than Allah?
Answer:
Major shirk is not called minor, and minor is not called major; each has its limit. Major shirk has its status, and minor has its status. So, supplicating to the dead, calling for aid from the dead, making vows to the dead or to the stars or to idols, and slaughtering for them—this is major shirk, not called minor. This is the shirk of Abu Jahl and his companions. This is major shirk, we seek refuge in Allah. So, the one who supplicates to al-Badawi, or supplicates to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), or supplicates to al-Husayn ibn 'Ali or al-Hasan ibn 'Ali or Fatimah, or supplicates to al-'Idris, or supplicates to the Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani or others, or circumambulates their graves hoping for their intercession or the like of that—this act is major shirk. This is the worship of idols, we seek refuge in Allah. This is the worship of Abu Jahl and his like from the people of Makkah in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for minor shirk, such as [swearing] by the Prophet, and [swearing] by the Prophet, and [swearing] by the Ka'bah, and "what Allah willed and so-and-so willed," and "if not for Allah and so-and-so"—this is minor shirk. And if one swears by the Prophet or by the trust or by so-and-so with the intention that the Prophet is like Allah in being exalted, or that 'Ali is like Allah, this becomes major shirk, we seek refuge in Allah.
And the calamity of attachment to the dead in most countries is a great and major calamity that one must be alert to, from our brothers the pilgrims and others. And the scholars must also be alert to it; because it is the greatest of calamities, and the greatest of sins. So, shirk is among the greatest of crimes, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُBut if they had associated others with Allah, then worthless for them would be whatever they were doing.
وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُوا لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَIndeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
إِنَّهُ مَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَاهُ النَّارُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍSo, it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge, and upon the students of knowledge, and upon every Muslim to take care of this matter, especially if it is in countries where this matter occurs, such as Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, and their like. It is obligatory that he take care of this, and that he advise his brothers, advise the one who does this, and warn them from this grave shirk. And he should explain to them that this contradicts the statement "La ilaha illa Allah" and opposes it, and Allah is the One to be sought for help.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.