of Nekounam, (Session 969)
Verse 48 of Surah An-Nisa from the Holy Quran, akin to a radiant jewel in the Divine Word, addresses one of the most profound doctrinal matters, namely shirk (associating partners with God) and its relation to Divine forgiveness. This verse, with explicit and profound wording, distinguishes the unforgivable sin of shirk from other transgressions and opens a path toward understanding sincerity and true faith. In this treatise, through an analytical and explanatory perspective, the concepts of shirk, kufr (disbelief), and sins lesser than shirk are explored, employing allegories and references to elucidate the spirit of the Divine discourse for readers. These reflections, grounded in the content of religious scholarly lectures, are structured so as to preserve the core meanings while articulating the concepts in an eloquent and coherent academic manner.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَىٰ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Surely, Allah does not forgive the associating of partners with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills. And whoever associates partners with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.
Verse 48 of Surah An-Nisa explicitly identifies shirk as a sin beyond the scope of Divine forgiveness: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him". Shirk, as the negation of monotheism and a disrespect to the Exalted Divine Essence, is a sin fundamentally opposed to the essence of faith. This sin does not merely mean assigning partners to God in worship; rather, any intention or act that disregards Divine sovereignty falls within the ambit of shirk.
Shirk can, like a heavy shadow, also overshadow the believers heart, where pure intention for God is replaced by attention to other than Him. Due to its deliberate nature and the awareness of the perpetrator, this sin is distinct from other transgressions. An example is the person who stands before God with a strong will and refuses to perform Divine duties, saying: "What have You done that I should pray to You?" This stance, akin to a poisoned arrow, targets the heart of monotheism.
Shirk is not confined to overt disbelief; it can also manifest subtly among believers as hidden shirk. This type of shirk is like a black ant on a dark stone in the heart of the nightconcealed and difficult to detect. An example is worship performed in the presence of others with a quality different from that in solitude. When a believer prays in the sanctuary of worship with fervour differing due to the presence of others, their intention departs from sincerity and becomes tainted with shirk. This hidden shirk is more dangerous because, due to its covert nature, it distances the believer from sincerity without their awareness.
Kufr, meaning denial or concealment of Divine truth, is distinct from shirk. Kufr may arise from ignorance or weakness, as in the case of the disenfranchised who lack knowledge and power. The Quran in the discussed verse does not state that kufr is unforgivable; rather, it is shirk that is excluded from Divine forgiveness. The disenfranchised, who fall into kufr through ignorance or incapacity, may receive Divine mercy as they lack strong willful defiance against God.
An example is an individual estranged from Divine truth due to environmental conditions or intellectual weakness. Such kufr is like a plant growing in unsuitable soil deprived of the light of truth, whereas shirk is like a tree consciously standing against the Divine sun, casting its shadow over the light of truth.
Shirk is a sin committed with a strong and conscious will opposing God. This will acts like an iron shield, resisting Divine commandments and challenging Gods authority. An example is the intentional and persistent abandonment of acts of worship, such as refraining from prayer for a long time with justifications like "What has God done that I should worship Him?" This defiance is not only shirk but is considered a grievous sin due to its negation of monotheism: "And whoever associates partners with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin."
The phrase "and He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills" refers to sins lesser than shirk that, by Divine will, are forgivable. These lesser sins are committed out of weakness, ignorance, or external pressures, lacking a strong will against God. These sins, like a breeze, may shake the branches of faith but do not uproot it.
Examples include neglecting the dawn prayer due to fatigue, consuming alcohol under social pressure, or stealing out of necessity. These actions, due to the absence of conscious intent to disobey God, fall within the category of lesser sins than shirk. The narration stating: "Whoever intentionally abandons prayer has become a disbeliever" emphasises that deliberate and continuous abandonment of worship surpasses the lesser sins and leads to shirk or kufr.
Sins lesser than shirk are committed with a submissive will, not with a strong will resisting God. This submissive will is like a weak stream incapable of withstanding the roaring flood of faith. An example is a person who sins out of need or weakness, such as stealing a box of shoes to support their familys livelihood. Although a sin, due to lack of conscious disobedience, it falls under the category of lesser sins than shirk and is encompassed by Divine mercy.
Sincerity, like a pure spring, cleanses the believers heart from the contamination of shirk. Pure worship is an act performed solely for God, without attention to others. An example is a scholar whose worship quality remains consistent in solitude and congregation, like religious scholars who pray in the sanctuary solely for God regardless of others presence. Such sincerity acts as a shield against hidden shirk, protecting the believer from hypocrisy.
Conversely, worship performed with different quality in the presence of others is indicative of hidden shirk. This act, like a mirror, reflects inner intention and invites the believer to self-examination. The narration stating: "Whoevers outward appearance is better than his inner deeds" points to the reality that hidden shirk manifests in the discrepancy between appearance and inner self.
Shirk can also penetrate among the devout, particularly in activities associated with fame and material benefit. Using religion to attract attention or followers is like a poison corrupting the essence of faith. This hidden shirk is evident in behaviours such as ostentatious religiosity for social or material gain. Religious knowledge, if not accompanied by sincere intention, leads not to guidance but to misguidance.
Pure deeds, even if simple, possess great value before God. For instance, a worker who labours honestly, though seemingly trivial, shines like a brilliant gem compared to ostentatious deeds tainted with shirk. Prayer offered in solitude with pure intention, disregarding others, is superior to thousands of prayers performed to attract attention.
This value acts like a measure assessing the sincerity of deeds. An act arising from the heart solely for God is like a breeze spreading the fragrance of faith within the believers heart.
Repentance from shirk, especially hidden shirk, requires self-examination and correction of intention. Verse 48 of Surah An-Nisa, emphasising the great sin of shirk ("has indeed committed a grave sin"), invites the individual to reflect on their deeds and intentions. The personal experience of the narrator, who felt ashamed for distraction in prayer due to attention to other than God, illustrates the necessity of vigilance against hidden shirk. This self-examination is like a lamp illuminating the path of sincerity.
Verse 48 of Surah An-Nisa, like a clear mirror, reveals the reality of shirk and its position vis--vis kufr and sins lesser than shirk. Shirk, due to deliberate denial of monotheism, is an unforgivable sin that wounds the heart of faith. Kufr, though a major sin, can be forgiven in certain cases due to its occurrence from ignorance or weakness. Sins lesser than shirk arise from human frailty and are, by Divine will, forgivable. Sincerity, as a golden key, paves the way for liberation from hidden shirk and guides the believer toward pure and unblemished faith. These reflections invite the reader to self-examination, repentance, and a return to sincerity, so that under the shadow of the Divine Word, they may step toward the light of monotheism.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
