Erasing the Accusation of Shirk

hospital) and began to recite a verse from the Qur’an at the top of her voice. She used the verse to
prove that to film using a camera was shirk! What disturbed me further that almost everyone in
the hall immediately accepted what she was saying. Why? Because of the intimidation they felt.
Unease filled the room as all the sisters thought to themselves, she must know better than us, she
knows Arabic, she is a doctor and the tone of her voice shows certainty. It is this very personality
that scoops people into this incorrect ideology. But let me show you the ignorance of these people
by telling you the verse she presented:
“Therefore, set right your face for the obedience of Allah being one devoted to Him only. The
established pattern of Allah upon which He has created mankind. No change in the created things
of Allah. This is the only right religion. But most of the people know not.” 1
It was by the grace of Allah that I had a copy of Sahih al-Bukhari with me at the talk. I asked the
sister to come forward and asked her to read the Tafsir of the Prophet Muhammad ( may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) of this verse from Sahih al-Bukhari which said:
Narrated Abu-Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "No child is born except on al-Fitra (Islam)
and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian, as an animal produces a
perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?" Then he recited: ‘The
religion of pure Islamic Faith (Hanifa), [i.e. to worship none but Allah], The pure Allah's
Islamic nature with which He (Allah) has created mankind. Let There be no change in
Allah's religion (i.e. to join none in Allah's worship). That is the straight religion; but
most of men know not...’” (30.30). 2
Upon reading this the Sister left the hall. Afterwards many of the sisters came to me and thanked
me for removing the doubts she had placed in their hearts. The sister filming was almost close to
tears as she too thanked me. She said she could not comprehend how her intention of filming the
event could compromise the Tawhid of Allah! I then explained that in Islam some acts have been
defined as shirk, however many actions have also been categorized as Haram (Forbidden),
Makruh (disliked) and La Yajaaz, (Not recommended). Those people though they only wish to
use the term shirk, even for minor acts, it seems they do not receive any piece of mind until they
use this word!
MEANING OF SHIRK AND TAWHID
FROM CLASSICAL ARAB DICTIONARIES
Meaning of Tawhid: The belief in One
In Islam, Tawhid means that Allah is One in His essence, attributes, actions and has no partner
and there is none like Him. 3
Meaning of Shirk: To unite/make a partner
In Islam, shirk means to unite someone with Allah’s essence, attributes or actions or to believe
that other than Allah possesses his unlimited qualities. 4 Allamah Taftazani writes that the term
1 Surah al-Rum Verse 30
2 Sahih Bukhari, chapter of Tafsir of Qur’an, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 298.
3 Lisan-ul-Arab under the word Tawhid.
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