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GOD emphasizes in the Quran that the highest
transgression against Him is the practice of "shirk" or to set up
partner or partners for GOD. If one believes that for one reason or
another, GOD needs partner or partners to perform or do tasks in His
Creation, one would nullify all his/her work and will end up as a
loser in the hereafter. Unfortunately, people in the world practice
this high crime against GOD with blatant ignorance and will fight
against any one who advocates GOD Alone.
We have to go with our natural instinct of
monotheism according to GOD's creation [1] and do not set up
partners for GOD. Unhappiness follows immediately and in the
hereafter one will end up debased. We have to remember that GOD is
the One who provides for us. He is the Living, the Eternal, and not
the dead prophets, messengers, saints or imams.
More blatant acts of shirk are practiced when
tombs of prophets and saints or imams are turned into sacred places
or mosques and names other than GOD is called. Calling
upon anything or anyone besides GOD constitutes "shirk". GOD tells
us that He is The Seer, The Hearer and Omnipotent. Why do we ask
others besides Him for help. Have they created anything? Can they
hear or see or help anyone? Previous messengers have warned about
the evils associated with setting up partners for GOD and they
were ridiculed and insulted.
This is a tragedy for the people who
practice the highest crime of "shirk" against GOD. We must
remember that we were all gathered before coming to this life and
were asked by GOD if He is our Lord, and we all agreed that He
is and bore witness to that, thus on the day of Judgment we
cannot claim that we were unaware of this[2]. Remember
that after this testimony, and this covenant with GOD, we
cannot go back to the pride of the days of ignorance. This amounts
to breaking our covenant with GOD and an unforgivable
offense.
Seeking help and protection from anything or
anyone tantamount to "shirk". Many people think or believe
that the ink and paper of the Quran has some power to protect them.
They walk under it when they want to take a trip or perform other
arduous tasks. They do not understand that Quran means a book to be
recited and not kissed and pampered. Some people think that carrying
medallions or other artifacts mentioning GOD's name can protect
them. These ignorant behaviors stem from the lack of understanding
of GOD's Power. GOD's Power of protection is not in a "talisman"
around someone's neck or hanging from the rear view mirror in a
car.
GOD helps you when you remember Him, when you
ask Him for help, when you seek guidance from Him. Commemoration of
GOD is what the Quran emphasizes for the people. Making these
talismans, logos and other devices, giving people a false sense of
security, is the first step towards "shirk". Remember that Satan is
enticing people to follow methodologies not prescribed in the Quran.
Do not respond to Satan, for he is your most ardent enemy.
The question that we owe to ourselves to ask is
why ask any one besides GOD for anything? Is GOD not sufficient for
His servants? GOD informs us that:
2:186 -- When my
servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers
when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in
Me, in order to be guided.
What more can we ask for? This is warning to
those who blatantly practice the abomination of "shirk". GOD has
promised hell as their abode. Practice of setting up partner for GOD
is a great injustice [3] and those who damage the balance of GOD's
just system have to pay. Their wage for this transgression is as an
eternal and painful punishment. |
