Shirk, the unforgivable sin:

The Definition of Shirk:

Shirk is Islam means idolatry, polytheism and the association of God with other deities.
In the holy book the Quran it has been stressed multiple times not to associate or pray to any other
deity other than Allah.

“Verily you and the gods you worshipped beside Allah are the fuel of Hell. All
of you are
Bound to arrive there.” (21:98)

This verse from the Holy Quran states that all those worshipped idols will become fuel for
the hellfire on the Day of Judgement.

In Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) Shirk is considered equal to and even greater than Kufr
(disbelief). Shirk came to be used as the opposite of Tawhid (the belief in the singularity of
Allah) and became synonymous with any belief or practice rejected by a particular sect.

In our society anyone who professes to it are considered outlaw and denounced from being
a part of the Muslim society and have their right suspended until they revoke their
polytheistic beliefs.

Different types of shirk

Minor shirk:
These can be acts that can eventually and unintentionally lead to major shirk, or what has been
described in the Quran as major shirk. Minor shirk has several subtypes, these include

shirk al-Adah:

Shirk al Adah (shirk of customs), which includes all superstitions, such as omens and seeking help
from soothsayers.
(Shirk al-Ibadan:

Shirk al -ibadah (shirk of worship) is manifested as the belief in the powers of created things such as
reverencing saints and praying at the graves of holy men.

shirk al- Ilm:

Shirk al -ilm (shirk of knowledge) is the act of crediting people such as astrologers and dream
interpreters with the knowledge of the future.

All of types stated above are called shirk ṣaghīr (minor shirk) in comparison to polytheism.

Major shirks:
Major shirks means to ascribe something that is unique to Allah such as Ruboobiyah (lordship),
Ibadah (worship) and al-Asma’ wa’l-sifaat (names and attributes). Major shirks or shirk al-
Akbar can take many forms such as the belief that there is someone else who can create,
give and take life or control the affairs of this world and universe along with Allah. Major
shirks can take form as spoken words this means to pray or make due to someone other can
god or seek help refuge or help from someone with regards to matters over which no one
has control over except Allah,
Major shirks in the form of ‘actions’ is prostrating to something or someone other than
Allah.

The Unpardonable Sin:

Shirk is the only sin in the religion of Islam which is unforgivable and unpardonable in the eyes of
Allah. So, the question arises why is shirk unforgivable despite the generosity and compassion of
Allah. Thought arises if Allah is omnipotent shirk doesn't hurt him so if some of his foolish creations
commits the unthinkable act of shirk why do they get sentenced to eternal damnation in hell. The
answer to this is that Hell is a place where you are denied Allah's blessing and attention. If you deny
Allah's attention in this world you will be denied in akhirah too. So why should someone who lives a
life of ingratitude and disbelief be given the blessing of relief. They are denied any and all blessings.
There is no relief for them in the afterlife. In the end, Allah only punishes us for our actions and what
we have done. If a person decided to reject Allah’s singularity only, he is responsible for his eternal
damnation.

“Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to
whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed.”
[Al-Qur’an 4:48]
This same message of shirk being unforgivable is repeated in surah AL-Nisa’”
“Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods
with Him; but He forgives whom He pleases other sins than this: one who joins other gods
with Allah, has strayed far, far away (from the Right).”
[Al-Qur’an 4:116]

These verses from the holy Quran reiterate the fact that shirk is unpardonable in any and all
circumstances, however this is not the case as these verses are shirk can be forgiven as long
as the person committing it repented and performed tawbah. Shirk is only unforgivable in
the case that the person passed away while still committing shirk. The people in the time of
the Holy Prophet (PBUH) were Mushrikeen and committed acts of shirk that people today
could not even imagine doing. However, many of them very forgiven as they repented and
accepted Islam. On the other hand, if a person dies while committing shirk and does not
perform tawbah he is condemned to eternal damnation in hell as to why is that Allah
created us to worship him and only him, and he has blessed us with in numerous blessings
even if we fail to meet his obligations in this world. The very least thing we can do is
acknowledge him. So, while disbelief/shirk doesn't hurt Allah in any shape, sense or form, it
does make him angry.

Allah is just and it would be a great injustice for him to place someone who never believed
in him in paradise along with the Muslims who believe in him and dedicated their lives to
him. Disbelief/shirk is unlike any other sin, in the sense that it is a constant sin. One can
murders all the people on earth. Every second they are not committing murder they are not
committing a sin or that particular sin. But a disbeliever/mushrik is constantly sinning every
second they are alive (until they believe and repent). If Allah gave them immortality and
eternal life on earth, they will continue to sin every second. Even if Allah gave them a
second chance by sending them back to earth they will continue to go back to committing
shirk. The hearts of the Mushrikeen are sealed from the truth.

Innal laaha laa yaghfiru ai yushraka bihee wayaghfiru maa doona zaalika limai
yashaaa’; wa mai yushrik billaahi faqad dalla dalaalam ba’eedaa

Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less
than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has
certainly gone far astray.
In other sins they may be a reason for committing it, a person may commit fornication but
there is something in his own self that pushes this desire within him and even though it is
not justified there is a desire within him.
One who steals has a desire of wealth within him, one who lies there may be a fear of heart
inflicted upon him if speaks the truth. As for all these sins there’s always something within
us that forces us to commit them, as for Shirk there is nothing there it does not fulfil an
eternal desire, it does not avail us anything, it does not answer our supplications, it does not
cause our harms for be removed, it does not give what we are looking for, there is nothing
within us that cause us to commit shirk and anyone who dies while committing shirk will
never be forgiven despite Allah’s infinite compassion and generosity.