MEANING OF 'SHIRK' and 'IBADAH' CHANGED by B.Abid

What is the Deen, System of Life, according to the Quran, and how and why is Islam a challenge to Religion?
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MEANING OF 'SHIRK' and 'IBADAH' CHANGED by B.Abid

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MEANING OF 'SHIRK' CHANGED by Bashir Abid

'Shirk' is a comprehensive term. Idol worship is its simplest form. In fact, people worship idols because they think these got the power to changes their destiny. However, it is an inferior thinking of man. God has created man as superior being among many of His creatures (17:70). It is not proper for him to submit to anyone who are either inferior to him (idols or his lowly desires) or who are mortal beings like him self (priest and rulers). Man should submit himself to the authority of God alone. He is the creator and He knows what the purpose of man's creation is? (67:14). Therefore, no one could think better than God what is best for man. When Quran says; " authority belongs to God..." (6:57) or when God condemn 'Shirk' as the biggest and un-pardonable crime (31:13;4:48), it does not mean that God dislikes deities and asserts Himself as a sovereign. He is far above emotions and far above what we associate with Him. If man associates hundreds of deities, it does not affect God's sovereignty in the universe. Secondly, He Himself has condemned compulsion in 'Al-Deen' (2:256).

So, how could He threat or force human beings against their will, to follow a particular path? Actually, these admonitions are meant to inculcate the truth that man can accomplish his goals by no other means except God's laws. He can reach his destination by following God's path alone. Therefore, the real 'shirk' is not the worship of idols or deities but it is the following of paths other than the one, which God has recommended. These paths (in other words, various man-made systems) misguide man and take him far away from his destination (4:116). Values and principles in man-made systems are not enough to guide man in the right direction. By following man-made systems, he cannot emancipate from animal-instincts and lowly desires; He cannot rise to become a noble and dignified human being. It is possible only by following the value system of the Quran (28:85).
It is stated in the Quran: "God wants to raise man to the exalted ranks of humanity through the value system of the Quran. But, man follows the earthly desires which eventually brings him low to the position of beasts and worse." (7:176).

This downfall is exclusively attributed to 'Shirk' in another verse, which reads as follow; "Hunafaa lillahe ghaira Mushrikeena beh - Being true in faith to God, and never assigning partners to Him - Wa manyushrik billahe - if anyone assigns partners to God - Fa ka ann ma kharra minusamai - he is as if he had fallen from heavens - Fa takhtafh-o-tairo au tahvee behir reeho fi makanin saheeq - and been snatched up by birds, or the wind had swooped and thrown him into a far-distant place." (22:31)
God's given value system grooms human personality. It imparts enlightenment, and excellence of taste through intellectual and aesthetic training. It provides him protection against the spontaneous forces of nature and the society. Accordingly, we conclude that real 'Shirk' is to follow values and principles, which are against the Quran. The real 'Shirk' is to follow the systems, which are based on non-Quranic values and principles. Quran has emphatically stated: "La yushrik fi hukmehee ahada - God does not share His Command (values & principles) with anyone whatsoever". (18:26) This definition of 'Shirk' is much more important and practically related with the welfare of the society. If understood rightly and taken care of, it would have liberated the masses from the evil's systems, which exploit national resources and man's labor to safeguard the interests of privileged classes against the common man's interests. The masses would have never submitted to such systems because submission to these man-made systems is no less a big crime than 'Shirk'. But the religious scholars did not pay due attention on this concept and laid undeserved emphasis in condemning idol's worship as a form of 'Shirk'. They diverted the focus of attention of the people from a dangerous and fatal form of 'Shirk' towards a simple and harmless form of 'Shirk'.
Consequently, as earlier said, the Muslim masses can tolerate and bow their heads before any evil ruler no matter how much his rule is against the rule of God's Will; they can live in any man-made system no matter how much its values and principles are degraded and against the noble values of the glorious Quran, but they would never tolerate bowing before an idol. They hated idol's worship like they hate pigs whereas idols has no power either to harm or to benefit them. The religion's opium has worked rightly on them.

They forgot their primary obligations to strive hard against ignorance, poverty, and undemocratic values. They never realized that idols of human desires are worst than stone's idols. These noble ideas never touched them but they dream to be known as 'Butshikan'. They have become the true embodiment of what the Quran said in this verse: "And most of them believe not in God without associating (others as partners) with Him". (12:106)

MEANING OF 'IBADAH' CHANGED

When 'illah' came to be misinterpreted; "The one who is worshiped", instead of, "The one who is the ruler", and 'Shirk' came to be misinterpreted; "To associate idols in the worship of God", instead of, "To associate others in the rule of God" then, naturally, the meaning of 'ibadah' has to be misinterpreted; "The worship of God", instead of, "The rule of God". This change in the meanings of words along with the introduction of other non-Quranic concepts such as 'The concept of recitation' and 'The concept of five pillars' had played a key role in the transformation of 'Al-Deen' into religion. The Quran has given a very clear concept of 'ibadah'. It simply means: "obedience to God's command". In verse (18:110) it says; "wa la yushrik be-ibadateh rabbehe ahada - nor does he associate anyone in 'ibadah' of his God. And in verse (18:26) it says; "wa la yushrik fi hukmehe ahada"- nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever". These verses have clearly defined the relation between 'hukm' and 'ibadah' and left no room for confusing 'ibadah' with worship. Neither God wants to share His Command with anyone nor His Messenger like to obey anyone except God. The concept of worship (Ibadah) is alien to 'Al-Deen'. It is a creation of religion. 'Al-Deen' is a goal-oriented system, which follows certain rules and principles. It is not a dogma but a guide to practice. Whatever, it claims or promises for the welfare of people that is concrete and achievable in this world.
On the contrary, religion consists of beliefs and dogmas based on wistful thinking of those people who fail to establish God's Authority against the authority of oppressive forces in the society. While the followers of 'Al-Deen' sacrifice their persons and goods to win the blessings and the pleasure of God (9:111) the religious folks have nothing to please Him in this world except to offer their praises and prayers (worship). We may not know when? And where? The transformation of 'Al-Deen' into religion took place because social and cultural changes are evolutionary in nature and difficult to monitor. These are, like a clock's hour needle, remain in motion invisibly for a long period of time before they become mature and attain perfection. However, in the light of above discussion, we are certain that Islam is no more 'al-Deen'. Although, we call it 'Al-Deen' but everywhere it is practiced as religion. A religion cannot prove its truthfulness nor it can prove its superiority over other religions.
Firstly, all religions are based on fear and ignorance.
Secondly, they do not have concern with the management of worldly affairs such as politics and economy. The primary subject of religion is spirituality. In this regard, in order to see which one is true and superior, one has to wait till doomsday.
On the contrary, a system has to prove its worth in this world. It is based on well-defined principles and policies. Its results and achievements are concrete and comparable. For example, when a system promises social justice it has to deliver it. Islam as a system had remained very successful. Islamic state was the embodiment of peace and justice. It had delivered all the goods to its people. But when Islam reduced to religion it became a pandemonium of chaos, confusion, and contradictions. It failed badly to deliver what it claimed.

This situation persisted till now and will continue to persist till Islam is redefined as a system. We have pointed out earlier that there are many contradictions found in Islam. Muslims believe in unity but they are the most disunited folks in the world. They believe in fraternity but they are not fraternal to each other. They believe in peace but known to others as terrorists. They believe in human equality and dignity but these noble values are nowhere found in Muslims' societies. These and many other contradictions are found in Islam because it is not practiced as a values system. What the Muslims are practicing in the name of Islam that is purely a religion consisting mostly of biblical dogmas and Zoroastrian junk. It has very little, if any, teachings from the Quran or the life of the Prophet (pbuh). Therefore, when we talk about the failure of Islam, in fact, we talk about the failure of Islam as a religion. Dear Readers; this is just a brief review of a Great Tragedy. A tragedy: which turned a system of great values and principles into dust of religious dogmas and rituals. This unwanted transformation brought in its fold many drastic consequences to the Muslims world. The most prominent was the curse of factionalism and sectarianism.
Al-Deen-al-Islam, which during the first half-century of its foundation, have worked as a coherent and dominant system on the map of the world got divided into secular Islam and religious Islam. This division never stopped. The secular Islam got further divided into various political and cultural factions and the religious Islam got divided into various religious sects such as sunni, and shia. Clash of Interests, which is an essential outcome of sectarianism, took them into its bloody grip and the scourge of mutual vengeance became their destiny. (6:65) To sum up, I would say that if the Muslims want to redeem the past glory of Islam; if they want to see Islam triumphant in the world; if they want to enjoy a self-satisfied life under Islam then they have to redefine Islam as a system. For, it is the system, which can deliver these good to them - not religion. ****Wa ma 'alaina illal balagh****

Human beings, commit numerous wrong-doings and heinous crimes to gain personal advantages or to safeguard the national interests. They shed blood in the name of democracy and justice; they spread mischief in the name of order and peace; they exploit human labor and plunder natural resources in the name of economic development; they promote depravity and bestiality in the name of art, culture and liberalism and many more. Although, God knows all these destructive doings of His Creature but yet He singled out 'SHIRK' as the most devastating crime against humanity. The question is why ? Here we will try to find the answer in the light of Quran.
The Quran, in Surah Luqman verse thirteen has condemned 'SHIRK' as 'The highest wrong-doing' (Inn al-Shirka La-Zulmun Azeem) and in Sura al-Nissa as 'An Unpardonable Crime'. It says: "God forgiveth not 'SHIRK', but forgiveth anything else according to His Will" - (4:48-116).

If we translate 'God's Will' into 'God's Laws or God's Value System' and 'God's Forgiveness' into 'God's Protection from the consequences of the violation of these Laws and Values' then we can confidently say that if any person or any nation committed 'SHIRK' he or she is doomed to disgrace in this world and torment of fire in the hereafter.

'SHIRK' is generally defined and understood as to set up partners with God or to join other gods with Him. This is pretty good definition as far as worship of God is concerned. Every one knows that we should not worship any person or object other than God and keep our worships pure for Him alone. This form of 'SHIRK' is clear and understandable. No Muslim commits it and rarely it is committed in the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, as Muslims our duty is not only to worship God but also to obey Him. Our concept of God is that He is The Sovereign in the whole Universe both visible and invisible. He has established the rule of law for every thing. He has given the man a code of life which they have to follow and put certain duties and responsibilities which they have to enforce in order to achieve the distinction and honor conferred by God on them - (17:70).
He has raised man to a position of honor above the brute creation. He has granted him talents by which he can dominate over nature and its spontaneous forces. He has provided all the means for the sustenance and growth of every part of his nature. However, these are realized only when he obeys none besides God.

Thus, worship and obedience both belong to God alone. Accordingly, if we look closely at the above mentioned definition of 'SHIRK' we find it insufficient and difficult to comprehend. It confuses many people. They consider that 'SHIRK' is the worship of persons and objects only. They do not consider the obedience to persons besides God is also 'SHIRK'. As a result, they can easily avoid the former and fell prey to the later. However, obeying others besides God is the worst form of 'SHIRK' and much more devastating than any other form of 'SHIRK.
When we do not practice Quranic Values System in pristine purity or relinquish it as a whole it makes us either 'Itheem' or put us on an absolutely wrong track (Fa Qad Dhalla Dhalalum Ba'heeda) which never get us to our noble destiny i.e an honorable life in this world and a blissful world in the hereafter. 'Itheem' is a beautiful Quranic terminology which often translated as 'Sins'. Its incorrect. Actually, it denotes a set of conditions in which people lose effiency, productivity, and interest in life. Their societies become sick and lose dynamism -(4:48 & 116).
It is for these reasons, august and noble, that God has severely condmned 'SHIRK'. It is not out of some sorts of greed or fear (Ma'az Allah). He can never be defied or defeated even if the whole world turned into a class of 'MUSHRIKEEN'. All that what He said in the Quran about 'SHIRK', for example, 'Lam Yakun Lahu Shareekun Fil Mulk - He has no partner in His Dominion' or 'La Yushrik Fi Hukmehi Ahada - He does not share His Command with anyone' or 'La Yushrik Be-aba'det-e-Rabbeh Ahada - No person should worship or obey anyone else besides God', is meant to protect the honor and dignity of man.(17:111, 18:26 & 110).
Man is the latest specie on earth and God conferred on him special favours, above a great part of His creation - (17:70). God wants us to maintain this honor and elevate us to further glory through His Guidance in the Quran -(7:176). Therefore, we should follow Him alone. If we bows before stocks and stones which are inferior to us or follow the people who are similar to us then we are definitely degrading ourselves. Our 'SHIRK' can not do any good or harm to God. It is forbidden because it is a contempt of human honor and dignity. It makes us 'Itheem' and gets us out of the Right Track.

Bashir Abid
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