Shirk (Islam)
In Islam, shirk (Arabic: شرك širk) is the sin of idolatry or polytheism. i.e. the deification or worship of anyone or anything other than the singular God, or more literally the establishment of "partners" placed beside God. It is the vice that is opposed to the virtue of Tawheed (monotheism).
Within Islam, shirk is an unforgivable crime when unpardoned before death ; God may forgive any sin if one dies in that state except for committing shirk.
The word šhirk comes from the Arabic root Š-R-K (ش ر ك), with the general meaning of "to share". In the context of the Qur'an, the particular sense of "sharing as an equal partner" is usually understood, so that polytheism is "attributing a partner to Allah". In the Qur'an, širk and the related word (plural Stem IV active participle) mušrikūn (مشركون) "those who commit shirk and plot against Islam" often clearly refers to the enemies of Islam (as in verse 9.1–15) but sometimes it also refers to erring Muslims.
Read more about Shirk (Islam): Qur'an, Theological Interpretation, Greater and Lesser Shirk
Famous quotes containing the word shirk:
“For once you must try not to shirk the facts:
Mankind is kept alive by bestial acts.”
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956)