Shirk: It’s types and punishments by Ash-Shaikh Zaid Muhammad Al-Madkhalee

Shirk:  It's types and punishments Ash-Shaikh Zaid Muhammad Al-Madkhalee (حفظه اللّه) Q:  What is Shirk, how many categories does it have, and what is the ruling of the one who dies associating partners with Allâh the Most High?     A:  Shirk is the worship of other than Allâh or other than Him with Him  from a person, tree, stone, the sun, the moon, living or dead, or other than that from the creation which was proceeded by non-existence and approached by annihilation and destruction, those whom do not possess for themselves not their worshipers harm nor benefit, life nor death, nor resurrection. Shirk is of two types: 1:  The greater shirk:  this is to direct anything of worship to other than Allâh, and the performer of this type of shirk is eternally in the hellfire if he dies upon it as Allâh the Mighty and Sublime has said:    "Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (everything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin" [An-Nisa: 48]. 2:  The minor shirk:  This is slight hypocrisy, to perform worship so the creation can witness it, and taking an oath with other than Allâh such as with ones trustworthiness, fathers, mothers, the kabah, honor, or nobleness.  It is also what is like the statement "what Allâh has willed and so and so" and "if it wasn't for Allâh and so and so such and such would have happened" knowing that these affairs could be greater shirk according to the intention and belief of the one saying them.  Thusly we seek refuge with Allâh from the greater shirk and the minor shirk and we seek refuge with Allâh from becoming its people.  Allâh the Mighty and Sublime has said:    "So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord" [Al-Kahf: 110].    Excerpt taken from:الأجوبة السديدة على الأسئلة الرشيدة    Translated by:  Eesa John Starling January/5/2006   Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 January 2007 ) taken from: http://www.edawah. com/index. php?option= com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=55