Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 100
100 “Shirk [i. e. , an association of someone with God as a partner or an equal or ascription to Him of a spouse or a son or adviser], preoccupation with illusory objects and deceptive things, slaying any man, which is forbidden by Allah, without just and a good cause, usury, consuming the property of orphans, turning tail to the enemy in battle and falsely accusing innocent believing women. ” ( S S S S a hih hih hih hih al-Bukh a a a a r i i i i , Book of Limits, Chapter: To falsely accuse the chaste women) Explanatory Notes The Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has in this Hadith pointed out seven social evils which ultimately bring utter ruin both upon individuals and on nations. The foremost and the first in importance is Shirk which means an association of aught as a partner in person and attributes to God. Shirk is offence number one in the field of faith. And indirectly, human morals are seriously affected as a consequence of Shirk. Shirk is of two kinds. One is manifest Shirk, and the other is hidden, Shirk. The manifest Shirk consists in the ascription of a man, an idol, or any other object, as a partner to God in His dominion or in His attributes, or setting up an equal to Him; as, for instance, the Hindus believe in many deities besides God as His partners. Or, as the Christians believe Jesus Christ to be the son of God and a partner in His attributes and in His dominion. The hidden Shirk consists of practically honouring someone other than God; God alone should be honoured. Shirk is associating partners with God and claiming to be believing in His unity, or relying on somebody [other than God] as reliance is worthy only of the honour of God, or loving someone [other than God] as