“O Allaah, I take refuge in You lest I should commit shirk with You knowingly and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly.”
As shirk (associating partners with Allah in any way) is the greatest sin in Islam, every Muslim should be extremely keen to avoid the two forms of shirk, both major and minor shirk. Allah Almighty does not forgive anyone who commits shirk unless he sincerely repents. But He forgives any other sin to whom He wills as mentioned in the following verse:
“Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.”
[Surah an-Nisaa, 4:48]
With regards to minor shirk, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) warned us against it, fearing that his ummah might fall into it. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk.”
(Narrated by Ahmad, 23119. al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (951): its isnaad is jayyid).
And he said: “Shirk among you is more subtle than the sound of the footsteps of an ant on a rock. Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, it will take that away from you, both minor and major forms of it? Say: Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wastaghfiruka lima laa a’lam (O Allaah, I take refuge in You lest I should commit shirk with You knowingly and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly).”
Concerning the difference of opinions amongst Muslim scholars on certain issues of Islam & always choosing the safe side...
Narrated An-Nu'mân bin Bashîr [radhi-yAllâhu 'anhu]: I heard Allâh's Messenger [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] saying, "Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (unclear) things, and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these unclear things, he saves his religion and his honour. And whoever indulges in these unclear things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Himâ (private pasture) of someone else, and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Himâ and the Himâ of Allâh [Subhânahu wa Ta'âla] on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed), the whole body becomes good; but if it gets spoilt, the whole body gets spoilt and that is the Heart."
[Sahih Al-Bukhâri, 1/52 (O.P.49)].
It is worth noting here that the following Hadith and all its versions are considered as d’aif (weak/unauthentic) according to various scholars of Hadith including Sheikh Nasiruddin Al-Albani:
"The difference of opinions of my Companions is a mercy for my Ummah."
Human beings consist of two components: The body which is material and the soul which is spiritual. Both the components require nourishment in order to function properly and also to attain inner peace and happiness. If either one is deficient in its source of revitalization, then that person cannot lead a life of ease and enjoyment. For instance, if someone does not take in nutritious food over a period of time, his/her physical state would gradually decline causing malnutrition and would eventually lead to death if untreated. Similarly, if the soul does not receive its due nourishment, the person would be struck by depression followed by feelings of distress deep within and would be unable to successfully handle the different endeavors of this life. So what is the ultimate aliment required for the soul? Undoubtedly it is the Qur'ân. The words of Almighty Allah, al-Qur'ân is to the soul as food is to the body. And there is absolutely nothing that can even compare or ever satisfy and bring ultimate contentment to the human soul as the Qur'ân does. No matter how much a person fervently appears to be joyous on the superficial level, he can never attain true tranquility without the constant remembrance of Allah. This is because true peace and tranquility can only be achieved by establishing a close relationship with his Lord based on humbleness, humility, fear, hope and especially obedience. Whoever is looking for an alternative is going on a wild-goose chase.
As Allah Almighty says:
"...verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest."
[Surah ar-Ra'd, 13:28]
“..And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him..”
[Surah at-Talaaq, 65:2-3]
We Muslims have the major source of remembrance of Allah – the Qur'ân right in our hands and yet, most of us don’t even bother to look into their meanings or read it. What more do we need other than the words of the Creator of the heavens and the Earth to fill our hearts with contentment? Do we have something better than it? In the past, nobody ever has and nobody ever will be able to acquire something better than it even in the future. The Qur’an is the ultimate message of Guidance from our Lord which reaches the deepest emotions and inner most feelings in the core of our hearts. In that Book are glad tidings and mercy on one hand and warnings and punishments on the other, which in turn serves to be a cure for troubled hearts. Why do we not think, reflect and contemplate over these verses of Allah?
“Do they not then think deeply in the Qur'ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)??”
[Surah Muhammad, 47:24]
“And We have indeed made the Qur'ân easy to understand and remember; then is there anyone who will remember (or receive admonition)??”
[Surah al-Qamar, 54:17]
“Allâh has sent down the Best Statement, a Book (this Qur'ân), its parts resembling each other (in goodness and truth) (and) oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allâh. That is the Guidance of Allâh...”
[Surah az-Zumar, 39:23]
Those who do not read/listen/research the Qur’an and neglect its teachings should fear their Lord and beware of what might befall them while they perceive not. For them is a life of hardship combined with distress and anguish because they ignored the fact that the Qur’an is the nourishment of our souls. As Allah says:
"But whosoever turns away from My Reminder, verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)?" (Allâh) will say "Like this Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came to you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allâh's Mercy)."
[Surah Taahaa, 20:124-126]
“So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them (in punishment), and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows.”
[Surah al-An’aam, 06:44]
For how long will the Muslims be submerged in this deep slumber? Until when will we be fooled by this world and keep on thinking that all that glitters is Gold? When will the Muslims start concentrating on the Hereafter instead of this temporary life by beginning to reflect on the Ayât of Allah?
“Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allâh's Reminder (this Qur'ân), and that which has been revealed of the truth...?”
