What is Shirk

What is Shirk: Shirk (Arabic: شِرْك, lit. ’polytheism’) in Islam is a sin often roughly translated as ‘idolatry’ or ‘polytheism’, but more accurately meaning ‘association [with God]’. It refers to accepting other divinities or powers alongside God as associates. In contrast, Islam teaches that God does not share divine attributes with anyone, as it is disallowed according to the Islamic doctrine of tawhid. The Quran, the central religious text of Islam, states in 4:48 that God will not forgive shirk if one dies without repenting of it, emphasizing the severe consequences of this sin.

A mushrik commits shirk, which is the acceptance of other divinities or powers alongside God. The opposite of shirk is tawhid, the Islamic doctrine that emphasizes the oneness of God. The opposite of a mushrik is a muwahhid, a person who upholds the doctrine of tawhid.