Schirk

Schirk ( Arabic شرك, DMG širk 'addition') is a term that is used in Islam for idolatry , polytheism , idolatry , idolatry or the like. It comes from the root š-rk , which has the basic meaning “participate”, “have part”. Shirk means to let others or something else participate in the uniqueness of God : aschraka (أشرك). The opposite term is tawheed (توحيدtauḥīd) - " monotheism " - derived from the root w-ḥ-d (وحد): "To be alone or alone".

Islam does not tolerate polytheism, such as the worship of another god or a supplication ( duʿāʾ ) to him.

Shirk in the Koran

In the Koran , Shirk and the polytheists ( muschrikun ) are addressed in the Meccan and Medinan verses. The oldest mention in sura 68,41 ( "Or do you have partners? You should bring your partners in if they tell the truth." ) Coincides with the development of a regular community life . In the verbal controversy between Revelation and polytheism, the Medinan verses refer primarily to the punishments of the heathen in the hereafter. Shirk is the worst form of unbelief which, unless repented before death, will not be forgiven. In sura 4, verse 48 (see also sura 4, verse 116) this is clearly expressed:

“God does not forgive that one associates (other gods) with him. What lies below (that is, the less grave sins) he forgives, if he wills (forgive). If one (one) associates (other gods) with God, he has hatched a huge sin. "

- Koran 4:48, translation by Rudi Paret

The final break with the pagans takes place in sura 9 , verse 28, because they made association in the holy mosque ( al-Masjid al-Harām ) by worshiping other gods, stones or good luck charms:

“You believers! The Gentiles are unclean (downright). Therefore, after this year they should not come (any longer) close to the holy place of worship. And if you (perhaps) fear (because of this) to become impoverished (you worry unnecessarily): God will make you rich (in another way) through his grace (and keep you harmless) if he wants to. God knows and is wise. "

- Koran 9:28, translation by Rudi Paret

In general, at the time of the Prophet Mohammed , Shirk was understood as the idol worship of the Arabs on the Arabian Peninsula , which manifested itself in the worship of stones, trees and other natural phenomena. According to Islamic tradition, around 360 images of gods ( sanam / plural asnām ) around the main idol Hubal were erected in the Kaaba in Mecca , which were destroyed during the days of the conquest of Mecca by the Muslims. A little book that only became known in 1924, the so-called Book of Idols of Ibn al-Kalbī, provides information about the cult of the pre-Islamic Arabs in and around Mecca .

Schirk in legal literature

In Islamic legal literature, Muschrik - "polytheist", "pagan" - is replaced by the comprehensive term kāfir - "unbeliever". In Islamic theology , the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is rejected as shirk and for this reason the Christians are often referred to as muschrik . This refers to sura 5,72, which says that “there is disbelief” ( kafara ) who says that “God Christ, the son of Mary” is and then is warned that it is not going to paradise, “who is God [others] joined ”( man yušriku bi-llāh ). [1] The following verse 5,73 is also traditionally understood to mean that believing in the Christian Trinity is called disbelief (e.g. at-Tabari [2] and al-Mahalli and as-Suyuti [3] in their Koran comments ).

Further interpretations

Although it is forbidden in Orthodox Islam to ask angels , jinns or a local saint for help, the Sufis (Islamic mystics ) may see it differently. Various forms of veneration of saints also exist in popular Islam .

The Wahhabis have represented an extensive interpretation of the term shirk since the 18th century and particularly rejected the local veneration of saints. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab saw the sun of the Prophets and the original purity of Islam falsified through the veneration of saints and condemned them in all their manifestations as innovations . Likewise, all forms of Shia , veneration of saints and pilgrimages to graves , as well as healing practices used in popular Islam are combated. Groups with similar or identical views are for example the Deobandis , Ahl-i Hadîth , Kadizadeli or the Muhammadiyah .

In Islamic ethics, in al-Ghazālī , shirk has a special meaning - egoism, pride and the hypocritical practice of religion in order to win the favor and admiration of other people is shirk .

literature

The Koran. Translation by Rudi Paret. Stuttgart 1979, ISBN 3-17-005102-4
MI Surty: The Qur'anic concept of Al-Shirk. 2nd Edition. London 1990
Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. IX. New Edition. Brill, Leiden 1997, pp. 484-486, ISBN 90-04-10422-4
Ibn al-Kalbî: Kitâb al-asnâm. Le livre des idoles. Ed. Ahmed Zeki Pacha, Cairo 1924 (text arabe)
R. Klinke-Rosenberger: The idol book K. al-Asnâm des b. al-Kalbi. Leipzig 1941
Julius Wellhausen : Remains of Arab paganism. 3. Edition. de Gruyter, Berlin 1961

Individual evidence

↑ Rudi Paret : The Koran . 12th edition. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2014, ISBN 978-3-17-026978-1 , pp. 65 .
↑ The meaning of the Quranic verses (9:28; 98: 6; 8:55). In: Muslim World. January 13, 2008, accessed March 16, 2019 .
↑ Rudi Paret : The Koran . 12th edition. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2014, ISBN 978-3-17-026978-1 , pp. 134 .

[1] Rudi Paret : The Koran . 12th edition. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2014, ISBN 978-3-17-026978-1 , pp. 65 .

[2] The meaning of the Quranic verses (9:28; 98: 6; 8:55). In: Muslim World. January 13, 2008, accessed March 16, 2019 .

[3] Rudi Paret : The Koran . 12th edition. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2014, ISBN 978-3-17-026978-1 , pp. 134 .