What are the differences between Tawhid and Shirk?
(The formula about tawhid and shirk)
Tawhid: Unification/oneness of God | Shirk: Associating a copartner with God | |
Allah (al-Anam 6:101; at-Tawba 9:30) |
+ | x (spouse, children, partner, mediator…) |
The source is the Quran (al-Ankabut 29:51; al-Mursalat 77:50) |
+ | x (religion, sect, religious order…) books |
Sovereignty belongs to Allah (al-Kahf 18:26; Yusuf 12:40) |
+ | x (prophets, imams…) has sovereignty |
Servitude to Allah (Al Imran 3:64; Al-Anam 6:162) |
+ | servitude to x |
Beg and pray to Allah (al-Ahkaf 46:5; al-Araf 7:194, 197) |
+ | beg and pray to x |
Shafa’ah (intercession) belongs only to Allah (al-Anam 6:94; Yunus 10:18; az-Zumar 39:44) |
+ | x will have the right to shafa’ah |
Allah is the centre of life (al-Araf 7:189-190; al-Baqara 2:165) |
+ | x (money, position, desires…) is the centre of life |
Allah tells us that He doesn’t forgive people who didn’t seek forgiveness (Istighfar) and die because of shirk, and that He will forbid them to enter Paradise (al-Maida 5:72; an-Nisa 4:48, 116; az-Zumar 39:53-54).