🕌 Shirk

Shirk refers to directing any act of worship to someone or something other than Allah. Among the forms of worship is du‘a (supplication), which must be made only to Allah.

Hence the Prophet The Prophet ﷺ said: 

“Du’aa’ is worship.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2969; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Tirmidhi.

📖 What Does the Qur’an Say?

The Qur’an contains many verses affirming that supplication and worship should be directed to Allah alone, with no partners.

Allah says:

“Such is Allah, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmeer (the thin membrane over the date stone).

 

If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad) like Him Who is the All Knower (of everything)”

[Translation of Qur’an 35:13-14]

“And the mosques are for Allaah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allaah”

 

[Translation of Qur’an al-Jinn 72:18] 

Calling upon the dead, jinn, angels, saints, or idols for help, intercession, or provision is a form of shirk. Even if the intention is to seek nearness to Allah, such practices go against His clear commands:

“And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in sin and transgression”

 

[Translation of Qur’an al-Jinn 72:6] 

“And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other ilaah (God), of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely, AlKaafiroon (the disbelievers in Allaah and in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, pagans, idolaters) will not be successful”

 

[Translation of Qur’an al-Mu’minoon 23:117]

🤲 Du‘a Should Be Made Only to Allah

We are commanded to ask only Allah — not intermediaries, saints, or prophets — for our needs:

“And your Lord said: ‘Invoke Me [i.e., believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything]; I will respond to your (invocation)’”

[Translation of Qur’an Ghaafir 40:60]

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright”

[Translation of Qur’an al-Baqarah 2:186]

⚠️ The Danger of Shirk

Shirk is not a small sin — it is a major transgression. Allah has clearly stated:

“Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills, sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, has indeed strayed far away”

[Translation of Qur’an al-Nisa’ 4:116]

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode”

[Translation of Qur’an al-Maa’idah 5:72]

Is There a Way Back?

Yes. If someone has fallen into shirk but repents before death, Allah may forgive them. However, if they die while having committing shirk and Allah hasn’t forgiven them, they will abide in Jahanam for eternity.