"Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed " (Q4:48).
As-shirk al mahabah is polytheism in love. It implies showing the love which is due to Allah alone to others than Him.
"...there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah as equal (with Allah}; they love them as they should love Allah. .. "(Q2: 165).
The objects of human love are varying. Some love wealth, others power and many more: women and children. These forms of love are natural instincts of man but it becomes shirk when this intense feeling of affection envelopes the consciousness of and love for Allah. Allah says:
"... If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that you have gained: the commerce in which you fear a decline; or the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allalh or His Messenger or the striving in his cause; then wait until Allah brings about his decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious ". (Q9: 24).
All the objects of human love owe their existence only to Allah. Allah, thus, is the Ultimate object of true love while other things might be loved only for His sake (al-Wala '). It is only when the love of Allah supercedes all other kinds of love that a man can taste the fruit of lman (faith).
“those of faith are overflowing in their love for Allah." (Q2:165).
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“whoever possesses the following three qualities will have tasted the sweetness of faith: The one to whom Allah and His messenger become dearer than anything else: who loves a person solely for Allah's sake and who hates to revert to Kufr (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown in Fire ... (Bukhari)
Imitating a hero, wearing his hair style, speaking like he does, wearing his cloth of choice and carrying his picture on one's person are shades of shirk. Whether the hero was a righteous man (read sheikh) or otherwise is immaterial. Loving Allah is to obey Him even when the objects of our love demands otherwise; and to love and follow the precept of His Prophet (PBUH) as Allah commanded him to say:
"Say: "If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins ... " (Q3: 31).
And His Rasul (PBUH) added:
"Love Allah for the favours with which He provides you, love me because of the love of Allah, and love my family from the love of me. "(Tirmidhi).
Any love taking precedence over that of Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) is as-shirk al mahabah.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited