Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that A man once said to the Prophet (peace be upon him), "O Messenger of Allah! Whatever Allah wills and you will." He (peace be upon him) said, "Have you made me an equal to Allah! It is whatever Allah alone wills."
Included also is the authentically reported interpretation of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) for the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He), Then do not set up rivals unto Allâh (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).
in which he (Ibn 'Abbas) said: "Shirk in this Ummah (nation based on one creed) is more subtle than the creeping of ants on a black rock in the darkness of night. One falls into it by saying, 'By Allah and by your life, O soandso, and by my life.' Also, when one says, 'Had it not been for the dog, the thieves would have attacked us,' or when one says, 'Had it not been for ducks in the house, the thieves would have entered.' Moreover, when one says, 'What Allah wills and you will' and 'Had it not been for the Help of Allah and the help of soandso.' So do not mention soandso with Allah, because all these sayings include Shirk." (Related by Ibn Abu Hatim with an authentic Isnad)
Such sayings and the like fall under minor Shirk, which also includes swearing by anyone or anything other than Allah such as swearing by the Ka'bah, the Prophets, Amanah (honesty), the life of soandso, the honor of soandso and others.
"Anyone who swears by other than Allah has committed Shirk (associated others with Allah in His Divinity or in worship)."
"Anyone who swears by other than Allah has committed Kufr (disbelief) or Shirk (associated others with Allah in His Divinity or in worship)."
The narrator might be doubtful about the exact letter, whether it was "or" or "and"; it might be also that "or" is with the meaning of "and", so the meaning will be "has committed Kufr and Shirk".
"Anyone who has to take an oath should swear by Allah or else remain silent."
These are some types of minor Shirk, but they may involve major Shirk depending on the intention of the one who swears. If the one who swears by the Prophet, AlBadawy or shaykh soandso, intends to equates him with Allah, invokes him besides Allah, believes that he has any power in this universe as Allah or the like, then such acts and 'Aqidah (creed) of theirs are major Shirk. If someone swears by anything other than Allah and does not have such intentions and beliefs, but they say it out of habit, with no such intentions, this will be considered minor Shirk.
There is another kind of Skirk called Shirk Khafy (hidden Shirk). Some scholars classed it as the third type of Shirk giving evidence to support it from the Hadith narrated by Abu Sa'id AlKhudry that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Should I not inform you of what I fear more for you than AlMasihulDajjal (the Antichrist)?" The people said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He (peace be upon him) said, "It is the hidden Shirk; a person stands up in Salah (Prayer) and tries to make it perfect when he realizes that others are looking at him." (Related by Imam Ahmad)
As a matter of fact, this is not a third type but it falls under the minor Shirk. It may be hidden, because the intention lies within the heart just as described in the previous Hadith. Other examples, when someone recites Qur'an perfectly out of Riya', propagates virtue and prevents vice out of Riya', fights in the Cause of Allah out of Riya' or the like.
It may be considered hidden Shirk in terms of the legal ruling on some types of people like those mentioned in the previous Hadith of Ibn ' Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them). The hidden Shirk can also be major Shirk even though it is hidden, such as the belief of hypocrites.
Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allâh, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for AsSalât (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allâh but little. (They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those
There are many Ayahs concerning their Kufr and Riya', may Allah safeguard us!
Accordingly, the hidden Shirk is related to the previous two types: major Shirk and minor Shirk, even if it is called "Khafy (hidden)", as Shirk can be hidden and can be obvious.
Shirk Jaly (obvious Shirk) is manifested in: invoking the dead, seeking their help, vowing for them and the like.
Shirk Khafy is: what remains hidden in the hearts of the hypocrites who offer Salah along with people and observe Sawm with people, while inwardly they are really Kafirs (disbelievers). They believe in the permissibility of worshiping idols and sculptures, and so actually they embrace the religion of Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). This is the reality of the hidden Shirk, because it lies deep in the hearts.
The minor hidden Shirk is represented in acts like reciting the Qur'an, offering Salah, giving out Sadaqah (voluntary charity) and the like seeking praise from people. This is hidden Shirk, but it is minor.
Thus, it becomes clear that Shirk is of two types: major and minor and each of them can be hidden. It can be major hidden Shirk, such as that of the hypocrites. It can be minor hidden Shirk, such as the acts of those who commit Riya' in their Salah, Sadaqah, supplication to Allah, propagation of virtue and prevention of vice or the like.
Each Mu'min (believer) should beware of such acts and abstain from these types, especially major Shirk. It is the most grievous sin to be committed against Allah and the gravest crime a human can commit.
But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them. ; Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allâh, then Allâh has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. and: 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
Consequently, whoever dies while committing acts of major Shirk, they will absolutely be one of the dwellers of Hellfire, forbidden from entering Paradise, and will eternally abide in Hellfire. We seek refuge with Allah from this (punishment).
Regarding minor Shirk, it is one of the gravest of major sins and those who commit it are extremely endangered. They may be forgiven for committing acts of minor Shirk by the preponderance of their good deeds. Otherwise, they may be punished for this by being admitted into the Fire for some time, but they will not abide there eternally as the Kafirs. Minor Shirk neither enjoins eternal dwelling in the Hellfire nor nullifies good deeds, but it nullifies the acts associated with it.
Minor Shirk nullifies the acts associated with it. For example, if someone offers Salah out of Riya' (doing good deeds for show), they will not be rewarded for it; rather, they will be punished for such a sin. If someone recites Qur'an out of Riya', they will not be rewarded for it; rather, they will be punished for such a sin. Minor Shirk is unlike major Shirk and major Kufr (disbelief) as they nullify all good deeds.
But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.
It is the duty of every man and woman, every scholar and student and every Muslim to pay much attention and ponder on this matter. Thus, they should know the essence of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and its types, the reality of Shirk and its two types major and minor, take the initiative to repent to Allah sincerely from the acts of major or minor Shirk they may have committed. They should abide by Tawhid, hold fast to the right path, adhere to the obedience of Allah and pay Allah His due rights.
Major Shirk is against Tawhid and is absolutely against Islam. Minor Shirk is against the dutiful perfection of one's Islam; therefore, Muslims should abstain from both of them.
We should all bear this matter in our minds, learn about it well and warn people against it carefully and clearly. Thus, a Muslim becomes fully aware of all such grave matters.
We ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to guide you and us to useful knowledge and good deeds, grant all Muslims and us the ability to understand and stick to His religion, support His Religion and elevate His Word. May Allah make us rightly guided people. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions and those who rightly follow him until the Day of Resurrection!