8 types of Shirk

Shirk comes from the word Sharik which means partner. Therefore, shirk means to associate partners with Allah and there are many types of it.

Allah does not forgive associating ˹others˺ with Him ˹in worship˺,¹ but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. – An-Nisa 4:116

Worshipping someone except Allah

Believing that our creator, the creator of the universe is anyone else except Allah is the highest form of Shirk. As a Muslim, we believe that even a small movement of a leaf on a tree is on the orders and will of Allah and therefore, we worship only Him.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Your shirk is when you say. ‘We were given rain by such-and-such a star. – Musnad Ahmad 677

Seeking Help from anyone except Allah

Seeking help from anyone except Allah believing that the person/thing (dead/alive) has the power to help you in its own is also a form of shirk.

For example, when we seek help from our brother for some money, it does not mean that the brother has the powers to help you on his own, he is also dependent upon other factors such as his business/job.

However, when we ask someone to give you a son or boy, it means you feel that that person has the power to give you something unconditionally, it is a shirk to do that.

Leaving Salah is Shirk

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: There is nothing standing between a person and Shirk except leaving a Salah, so if he leaves it he has committed Shirk. – Sunan Ibn Majah 1080

Swearing on anything except Allah

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: He who swears by anyone or anything other than Allah, has indeed committed an act of Kufr or Shirk. – Riyad as-Salihin 1711

False Witness

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: O you people False witness is tantamount to Shirk with Allah. – Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2299

Black Magic

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Whoever ties a know and blows on it, he has practiced magic; and whoever practices magic, he has committed Shirk. – Sunan an-Nasa’i 4079

Believing in Bad Omen

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Paying attention to the bad omen is a type of Shirk. It has nothing to do with us. Allah will remove it by reliance on Him. – Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 909

Disobeying Parents

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Disobeying parents is a type of Shirk. – Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2301

It is important to mention that Muslims should always listen to parents as long as they do not ask him to do anything which is not allowed in Islam.