Hadith #5171

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

Ascribing partners [to Allah] is disbelief.

Let us delve into the connotation of this statement in light of the Quran.

The key word in this Hadith is (al-shirk) "الشرك", which translates to

ascribing partners [to Allah].

Shirk refers to the act of associating partners with Allah, which is considered the gravest sin in Islam. It is the opposite of Tawheed, the belief in the oneness of Allah. Shirk can manifest in various forms, such as worshiping idols, seeking intercession from other than Allah, or attributing divine attributes to human beings.

The Quran emphasizes the prohibition of shirk in numerous verses. For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:22), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allah or says, 'It has been inspired to me,' while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, 'I will reveal [something] like what Allah revealed.' And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], 'Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allah other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant.'

This verse highlights the severity of shirk and warns against attributing false statements to Allah or claiming divine revelation without any basis. It also emphasizes the consequences of such actions, which include humiliation and punishment.

Another verse that reinforces the gravity of shirk is found in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:72), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

They have certainly disbelieved who say, 'Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary' while the Messiah has said, 'O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.' Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.

This verse specifically addresses the belief of Christians who ascribe divinity to Jesus (peace be upon him). It categorically states that those who associate partners with Allah have been forbidden from entering Paradise and will be destined for the Fire, unless they repent and embrace the pure monotheism of Islam.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement,

Ascribing partners [to Allah] is disbelief,

serves as a reminder to Muslims of the importance of upholding the principle of Tawheed and avoiding all forms of shirk. It highlights the fundamental belief that Allah is the only deity worthy of worship, and any act of associating partners with Him negates the essence of Islam.

By understanding the gravity of shirk and its consequences, Muslims are motivated to strengthen their faith and deepen their devotion to Allah alone. This Hadith encourages us to reflect on our beliefs and actions, ensuring that we do not fall into the trap of shirk, whether it be through idol worship, seeking intercession from other than Allah, or attributing divine attributes to human beings.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder to Muslims of the sinfulness of ascribing partners to Allah. It aligns with the teachings of the Quran, which repeatedly emphasize the prohibition of shirk and its severe consequences. By internalizing this message and striving to uphold the principle of Tawheed, Muslims can strengthen their faith and ensure their worship is solely directed towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). May Allah guide us all to the straight path and protect us from the sin of shirk.