Invocation for fear of Shirk

“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).” 

(Narrated by Ahmed 4/403)