Shirk in the Aisles: How a Shopping Spree Turned into a Faith Awakening

Safeguarding Our Children's Aqeedah in Modern Times

Eman | Parent Educator

Jul 26, 2023

Last week, I shared a wardrobe predicament that happened with my ten year old over on threads.

Here is what I shared:

I had a few unexpected DMs from creative moms who shared some cool ways to remove the writing.

All good, right?

Wrong.

Parents shared their thoughts about the problem I mentioned, and I asked our awesome Instagram community to share their perspectives on the matter.

If you want to read what people said, click on the discussions highlight on your Instagram page.

I recognized that this is yet another rarely discussed topic amongst parenting groups that is critical to our Islamic parenting.

Here is what I ended up doing since the responses were overwhelming. I categorized the perspectives into three groups:

Group A:

1- It’s not a big deal. Actions are based on intentions, and you are judged upon what you believe at the end of the day.

2- Allah created the universe and your future, so it’s kind of the same thing.

3- Allah is everywhere and is in everything.

Group B:

1- Replacing the universe with God is wrong.

2- Allah should only be attributed to that which He attributes to Himself only.

3- This is a major Aqeedah Issue.

Group 3:

1- Why is this wrong?

2- What is minor or hidden shirk?

As promised, I told you that I would write out my thoughts on the reactions I’ve received in a detailed newsletter, so here it goes.

Our community misses the mark in many issues due to a deep lack of Islamic Knowledge in Aqeedah.

Tawheed serves as the foundation of Islamic creed, emphasizing the absolute Oneness of Allah and His attributes. Unfortunately, many members of our Muslim communities lack a fundamental understanding of Tawheed. This knowledge gap leads to misconceptions, misinterpretations, and innovations in religious practices.

Islamic parenting means prioritizing the education of both children and parents in our Aqeedah to strengthen our faith and foster a genuine connection with Allah through His straight path.

Understanding Aqeedah: The Bedrock of Islamic Faith

Before we proceed, I kindly request you to do me a favor and share this post with the person you immediately thought would benefit from this post. Sent it? Cool. Let’s continue.

Aqeedah can be seen as the blueprint of our belief system. It includes the principles, doctrines, and concepts that Muslims hold as true and essential.

A strong Aqeedah is crucial for children to develop a profound connection with their Islamic identity and to face the various trials and temptations of life with unwavering conviction.

In simple terms, our Aqeedah, as we mostly learned in Sunday school, is the belief in the pillars of Islam and Eman. These provide the framework for a Muslim's faith, guiding them towards the right path that Allah expects of us.

The general population of Muslims understand this part.

However, it gets tricky when we learn that those pillars require an essential ingredient and without the presence of it, our Islam is flawed.

This core ingredient is none other than Tawheed and its principles.

Unfortunately, this is where we mostly trip up and sometimes loose awareness on how to embody it in our everyday lives.

Tawheed is the heart and soul of Islamic belief, emphasizing the absolute Oneness of Allah.

For example, we can’t claim that Allah is One and yet believe that human beings have the ability to create what is only subject to Him.

We can’t say Allah is One and believe that chakras, amulets, crystals, or laws of attraction principles have power or influence over our life.

We can’t say Allah is one and attribute the qualities of the creation to Him or refer to Him as His creation.

Tawheed encompasses three core principles:

A. Tawheed al-Rububiyyah: This principle underscores Allah's exclusive right to be recognized as the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of the universe. We need to believe and grasp that everything in existence is under the divine sovereignty of Allah, and nothing occurs without His will.

B. Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah: This principle highlights the oneness of worship, instructing Muslims to direct all acts of worship and devotion solely to Allah and Him alone.

C. Tawheed al-Asma' wa al-Sifat: This principle involves affirming Allah's beautiful names and attributes as mentioned in the Quran and authentic Hadith only. This means we believe that His names and attributes are unique to Him and do not resemble His creation.

Now that we nailed. brief overview of Aqeedah, let’s understand where minor shir comes in all of this.

Understanding the Distinction Between Major and Minor Shirk

In Islamic terminology, shirk refers to the sin of associating partners with Allah, which is considered the gravest sin and the ultimate form of disbelief.

Shirk undermines the fundamental concept of Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) and violates the core principles of Islamic faith.

There are two main categories of shirk:

Major Shirk (Shirk Akbar): Major shirk is the most severe and unforgivable form of shirk. It occurs when someone ascribes partners to Allah in matters of worship, obedience, or lordship. Major shirk involves giving divine attributes, worship, or authority to entities other than Allah. Examples of major shirk include:

a. Worshipping idols, statues, or other created beings as gods besides Allah.

b. Seeking help or supplicating to deceased individuals, saints, or spirits instead of directly asking Allah for assistance.

c. Believing that certain beings or objects have power independent of Allah, such as considering someone or something to have the ability to control destiny or grant blessings without Allah's will.

d. Making sacrifices, vows, or offerings to entities other than Allah, believing that they have the ability to influence one's fate or outcomes.

e. Denying Allah's exclusive right to be the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of the universe.

Major shirk is an unpardonable sin, and anyone who dies committing major shirk is considered to be outside the fold of Islam.

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Minor Shirk (Shirk Asghar): Minor shirk is a lesser form of shirk, but it is still a serious sin. Unlike major shirk, minor shirk does not take a person out of the fold of Islam, but it diminishes the purity and sincerity of faith. Minor shirk involves actions or beliefs that may seem insignificant, but they contradict the concept of Tawheed and can lead to major shirk if left unchecked. Examples of minor shirk include:

a. Showing off in acts of worship to gain praise or recognition from others rather than seeking Allah's pleasure alone.

b. Making vows or oaths by something other than Allah, such as swearing by the name of a created being or object.

c. Believing in superstitions or omens, attributing independent power to them, and acting based on such beliefs.

d. Excessively praising or attributing divine qualities to scholars, religious figures, or individuals, elevating them to a status similar to Allah's.

While minor shirk is not as grave as major shirk, it is essential to avoid it as it can lead to a slippery slope towards major shirk.

Excerpt from The Creed Lab - Aqeedah 101 course for Muslim kids - Phase 1- Register to Forming Early Foundation’s fall waitlist to get access to this course!

Most of us fall prey to minor and hidden forms of shirk. May Allah protect us. Ameen.

Here is a Dua’a that we can say daily to protect us from hidden forms of shirk:

Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika 'an 'ushrika bika wa 'anaa 'a'lamu, wa 'astaghfiruka limaa laa 'a'lamu.

“O Allah, I seek refuge in you lest I associate anything with you knowingly, and I seek your forgiveness for what I know not.”

Social media is giving us a false sense of Islamic learning.

In the digital age, social media platforms have become prevalent sources of information, including Islamic content. While social media can be a valuable tool for knowledge sharing, it can also be misleading and unreliable.

The brevity of posts and the absence of context may lead to misunderstandings or misrepresentations of Islamic teachings.

We, as Muslim parents, need to use social media with discernment and become critical of the messages and content we are being exposed to. What goes into our minds subconsciously can impact our faith and parenting.

Make it actionable: If social media is the only learning tool you have the capacity to engage with, make sure the information you follow comes from credible sources, and verify the authenticity of information before accepting it as true.Try your best to engage with long-form pieces of content that cover comprehensive topics once a month or every other month so you can understand important themes on a deeper level.

Islam is becoming a “feel-good” spiritual state rather than a religion to be followed.

In recent times, there has been a shift in how some of us perceive and practice Islam. Some treat it as a "feel-good" spiritual state, seeking superficial experiences rather than adhering to the comprehensive guidance of the religion.

This trend can lead to a diluted understanding of Islam and may result in a lack of commitment to its core principles. It is also a very slippery slope that might propel us towards shirk.

Islamic parenting should always be emphasizing the importance of a balanced faith, combining the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment with adherence to religious rulings and obligations.

Trending thoughts on metaphysics and laws of attraction are affecting our faith.

Modern trends in metaphysics and the laws of attraction have gained popularity, even among Muslims these days.

Online culture is all about doing what we love, attracting the good and repelling the bad with our energy, thoughts, and overall present vibrations.

In theory, these concepts might seem plausible at first, but they can often be misleading for Muslims because we are bound by religious frameworks and not personal gratification.

We understand that Allah is the creator of our life and future. He is the only one who has that level of power over our life. We don’t act or do anything without His permission.

The Modern Day Shirk is Hidden and is Impacting our Daily Lives.

I certainly believe that today’s concepts of law of attraction that constitute magnetic manifestation and the lucky syndrome are the modern day Al-Tatayur (belief in omens).

To refresh our memory, At-Tatayur were superstitions used in pre-Islamic Arabia, where people engaged in various practices related to at-tatayyur as a means of seeking guidance, foretelling the future, or influencing outcomes.

These practices varied among different communities, but some common examples included observing birds, interpreting dreams, numerology (hello #13) casting lots and reading animals (which resembles the reading and belief of birth stones and astrology signs). All of these acts were done to gain insight into future events, or influence an outcome or decision.

A common theme I’ve been hearing these days is believing that our gut and intuition being some sort of a divine intervention that curates our life choices. This understanding is also muddled into elements of shirk. Be mindful of this, too.

We all know that Islam came and prohibited these types of superstitions because it is considered a form of shirk, which means associating partners with Allah or attributing divine qualities or powers to other than Allah.

The prophet (saw) said “There is no 'Adwa (contagion), no Safar (swooping of birds causing death without Allah's permission), no Hama, and no bad omen (i.e., pessimistic belief in things like bad luck). [Bukhari and Muslim]

I conclude this week’s newsletter by reminding you and I that anything that we attach or associate any form of power to that is strictly reserved for Allah is shirk.

And that means we need to pay close attention to what we say, believe, and read on everything we consume, whether it is in a form of a social media post or a T-shirt design we buy for our children.

Remember, we don’t have to be worshipping idols to be associating partners with Allah. That is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned so much about the hidden forms of shirk.

Let’s reflect on this Ayah this week, “And when good came to them, they said: "This is due to us." But when evil befell them, they ascribed it to omens…” [7:131]

May Allah guide us all and protect us from the pitfalls of shirk, both major and minor. May our pursuit of knowledge and faith strengthen our bond with Allah, leading us towards a fulfilling and righteous life. Ameen.

Thank you for being a part of The Elite Family Newsletter. If you found this content valuable, please share it with others, spreading awareness and understanding about Islamic Aqeedah and its importance in our lives.

Remember, we are all on this journey together, supporting and learning from each other. If you have any questions or thoughts to share, don't hesitate to leave a comment below.