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we avoid it when it is more inconspicuous than the footfall of an ant?”. He
replied: “Say: ‘O Allah we seek refuge in You from committing shirk knowingly,
and we ask forgiveness for that which we do unknowingly’.” (Ahmed)
The expiation of the sin for swearing an oath in the name of someone or
something other than Allah has been mentioned by the Prophet () in his
saying: “Whoever swears an oath by Laat and Uzza 1 , let him say Laa Ilaaha
Ill-Allah.” (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The expiation of the sin for believing in omens has been mentioned by the Prophet
() in his saying: “Whoever turns back from his need due to an omen has
committed shirk.” The Companions asked: “What is the expiation of that?”
He replied: “To say: O Allah, there is no good except that it comes from you, there is
nothing evil except that it is by Your Will, and there is no god besides You” (Ahmad)
How many types of showing off is there? There are four types of showing
off: 1) That the showing off is the basic reason for a deed. This is the state of the
hypocrites. 2) That the deed is done both for Allah as well as showing off. This
type of deed as well as the previous type are rejected, and the person is punishable.
3) The deed is done for Allah, but then the intention of showing off enters into it. If
the person fights against this intention to show off and turns away from it, it will
not harm him. If his intention changes and he succumbs to his desires, this will
destroy the good deed he was performing. 4) That one feels the intention to show
off after the completion of the deed. This is merely whispering and has no effect on
the deed or the one who does it.
There are other inconspicuous ways which may lead one to show off in one’s
actions, so you must be very careful of them.
How many types of disbelief (kufr) are there? Disbelief is of two kinds: the
greater kufr and the lesser kufr:
a. The greater kufr deems its perpetrator out of the fold of Islam, and this has
five categories: 1) the kufr of denial; 2) the kufr of arrogance (even after affirming
the truth); 3) the kufr of doubt; 4) the kufr of turning away; 5) the kufr of hypocrisy;
b. The lesser kufr which is regarded as a sin, but does not take its perpetrator
outside the fold of Islam. An example of this type is killing a Muslim.
What is the ruling concerning swearing a vow 2 ? The Prophet ()
discouraged it, saying: “Indeed it does not bring about any good.” (al-Bukhari)
This applies to vows made purely to Allah. 3 If, however the vow was made to
one other than Allah, like a grave or a wali, then it is considered impermissible 4 ,
and one is not to fulfill it. 1
1 These were two idols worshipped during the time of the Prophet ().
2 A vow is when a person promises to fulfill a certain act of worship if his need is fulfilled.
3 Making a vow to Allah is makrooh (disliked), due to this hadeeth. It is as such because it makes it
seem that the person only does the act of worship if his need is fulfilled, otherwise he would not
have performed it. If a person does make a vow to Allah, however, it becomes obligatory to fulfill it.
4 Rather, in most cases it is considered shirk, because the person trusts that due to this vow made to
the grave or wali, his need will be fulfilled.