Introduction
Idolatry in general is the worship of a statute or a person in place of God while association of anything or anyone in the worship of God is a tragedy for the people who practice divine religion even idolizing the prophet and the messenger. He has given us the Quran which is so efficient to find the truth as well as to do the righteous deeds avoiding idolatry even reflecting to a set of verses in it to make it simple for us that we never fall into idol worshipping being an unforgiveable sin.
However, 168 instances of شَرِيك (shareek) meaning partners in eight different grammatical forms in the Quran as shown in the table below may help us understand idolatry and avoid it in order to perfect our beliefs and practices being the basis of our success with God in the Hereafter:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
Here are 72 instances in the verb form found in 67 verses across 30 suras to understand that idolatry is a horrendous crime, which nullifies our all deeds if it has been maintained until death while God is forgiving and merciful for whoever has repented and reformed before death comes to him:
Details of instance of shaarik
There is 1 instance of شَارِكْ (shaarik) in the verb form III meaning “to be a partner” found in 1 verse in Surah 17 is detailed out below:
[17:64] And incite whoever you (Satan) have of them with your voice, and mobilize against them with your forces and men, and be a partner of them (wa-shaarik’hum) in the wealth and the children, and promise them.” But the Satan does not promise them except a deception.
Details of instances of ashraka
There are 71 instances of أَشْرَكَ (ashraka) in the verb form IV meaning “to associate partner” found in 66 verses across 29 suras described below:
[2:96] And you will certainly find them a greed of the people for a life, and of those who have associated partners (wa-mina alladheena ashrakuu) love every one of them if he could be granted life of a thousand-year. But it is not of his removing from the punishment that he could be granted a (longer) life. And God is Seer of what they do.
[3:64] Say, “O people of the scripture, come to a fair agreement between us and you that we do not worship except God, nor do we associate partner anything with Him (wa-laa-nush’rika bihi shayin), nor does each other of us take as lords other than God.” Then if they have turn away, then say, “You shall bear witness that we are submitters.”
[3:151] We will throw the terror into hearts of those who have disbelieved because of that they have associated a partner with God (bimaa ashrakuu billahi) what He does not send down any authority with it and their refuge will be in the Fire and have been a miserable abode for the transgressors!
[3:186] Certainly, you will be tested in your wealth and yourselves. And you will certainly hear a lot of insult from those who have been given the scripture before yourselves and from those who have associated partners (with God) (wa-mina alladheena ashrakuu); and if you be steadfast and fear (God), then indeed, that is a factor of the determination.
[4:36] And you shall worship God, and you do not associate anything with Him (wa-laa-tush’rikuu bihi shayan) and being good with the parents, and the relatives, and the orphans, and the poor, and the related neighbor, and the unrelated neighbor, and the companion with the journey, and the wayfarer, and what has possessed your right hands. Indeed, God does not love whoever has been a boastful proud.
[4:48] Indeed, God does not forgive that partner is associated with Him (laa-yaghfiru an yush’raka bihi), while He forgives whatever other than that for whomever He wills. And whoever associates partner with God (wa-man yush’rik billahi), then he has certainly fabricated a horrendous sin.
[4:116] Indeed, God does not forgive that a partner is associated with Him (laa-yaghfiru an yush’raka bihi), while He forgives whatever other than that for whomever He wills. And whoever associates partner with God (wa-man yush’rik billahi), then he has certainly strayed far astray.
[5:72] Certainly, those who have disbelieved say, “Indeed, God – He is the Messiah, son of Mary.” While the Messiah said, “O Children of Israel, you shall worship God – my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he – whoever associates partner with God (innahu man yush’rik billahi), then God has certainly forbidden the Paradise for him and his abode is the Fire; and there are no helpers for the wrongdoers.
[5:82] Certainly, you will find greatest enmity of the people to those who have believed are the Jews and those who have associated partners (wa-alladheena ash’rakuu), while you will certainly find nearest of them in friendship to those who have believed are those who say, “We are Christian.” That is because among them there are priests and monks, and that they do not arrogate.
[6:19] Say, “Which is greatest as a testimony?” Say, “God is a Witness between myself and yourselves and this – the Quran has been revealed to me that I may warn with it and whomever it reaches. Do you indeed testify that there are other gods with God?” Say, “I do not testify.” Say, He is only One god, and indeed, I am free of what you associate (wa-innanee bareeon mimmaa tush’rikuuna).”
[6:22] And a day we will gather all, then we will ask to those who have associated partners (thumma naquulu lilladheena ash’rakuu), “Where are your partners, those whom you have done to claim?”
[6:41] Nay, you call Him alone that He would remove what you call for Him, if He wills, and you will forget what you associate (wa-tansawna maa tush’rikuuna).
[6:64] Say, “God saves you from it and from every distress, then you associate partners (thumma antum tush’rikuuna).”
[6:78] Then when he had seen the sun rising, he said, “This is my Lord, this is bigger.” Then when it had set, he said, “O my people, I am indeed free of what you associate (innee bareeon mimmaa tush’rikuuna).”
[6:80] And his people had argued with him. He said, “Do you argue with me about God, while He has certainly guided me? And I do not fear what you associate with Him (wa-laa-akhaafu maa tush’rikuuna bihi) except that anything my Lord wills. My Lord has encompassed everything by knowledge. Will you then not take heed?”
[6:81] “And how could I fear what you associate (wa-kayfa akhaafu maa ashraktum) while you do not fear that you have associated partners with God (annakum ashraktum billahi) what He does not send down with it any authority for you? So which of the two parties is right with the security, if you know?”
[6:88] That is God’s guidance, He guides with it whomever He wills of His servants. And if they had associated partners (wa-law ashrakuu), surely, He would have made worthless for them what they had done to accomplish.
[6:107] And if God had willed, they would not have associated partners (maa ashrakuu). And we have not made you a guardian over them, nor are you of an advocate over them.
[6:148] Those who have associated partners will say (sa’yaquulu alladheena ashrakuu), “If God had willed, we would not have associated partners (maa ashraknaa), nor our forefathers, nor would we have forbidden from anything.” Thus that those who had denied of their before until they tasted our wrath. Say, “Is there of any knowledge with yourselves that you can bring for us? You do not follow except the conjecture, nor do you do except guess.”
[6:151] Say: “Come, I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden for you that you do not associate anything with Him (allaa tush’rikuu bihi shayan), and be good with the parents. And you do not kill your children for fear of poverty, we provide for you and for them. And you do not come near immodesties, what has noticed of it or has concealed. And you do not kill the soul which God has forbidden except because of the justice. That He has enjoined you that you may think of.”
[7:33] Say, “My Lord has only forbidden the evil deeds, what has exposed of it and what has concealed, and the sin, and the aggression without the justice, and that you associate partners with God (wa an tush’rikuu billahi) what He does not sent down any authority with it, and that you say about God what you do not know.”
[7:173] Or you say, “Has only associated our forefathers before (innamaa ashraka aabaaunaa min qablu) and we have been descendants from their after. Will You then punish us for what has done the falsifiers?”
[7:190] Then when He gives them a good one, they have made partners for Him in what He gives them. So God has exalted high above what they associate (fa-ta`aalaa allahu `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[7:191] Do you associate what cannot create anything (a’yush’rikuuna maa laa-yakhluqu shayan) while they are created?
[9:31] They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords other than God, and the Messiah, son of Mary; while they have not been commanded except that they worship One god. There is no god except He. Glory is His of what they associate (sub’haanahu `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[10:18] And they worship other than God which does not harm them nor benefit them, and they say, “These are our intercessors with God!” Say, “Do you inform God of what He does not know in the heavens or the earth?” Glory is His and He has exalted so high above what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[10:28] A day we gather them all; then we will say to those who have associated partners (thumma naquulu lilladheena ashrakuu), “Here is your place, you and your partners.” Then we will separate between themselves, while their partners said, “You have not done to worship us alone.”
[11:54] We do not say except that has seized you some of our gods with evil.” He said, “Indeed, I call God to witness and you shall bear witness that I am free of what you associate (wa-ish’haduu annee bareeon mimmaa tush’rikuuna).
[12:38] “And I have followed a religion of my ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It has not been for us that we associate anything with God (maa kaana lanaa an nush’rika billahi min shayin). That is from God’s grace upon us and upon the people, but most of people do not appreciate.
[13:36] And those whom we have given them the scripture rejoice in what has been revealed to you, while of the parties who denies a part of it. Say, “I have only been commanded that I worship God, and I do not associate partners with Him (wa-laa-ush’rika bihi). To Him I call and to Him is return.”
[14:22] And the Satan has said when the matter has been decided, “Indeed, God has promised you a promise of the truth, and I have promised you that I have betrayed you. And I had not that I had any authority over you except that I invited you, then you responded to me. So, you should not blame me, while you shall blame yourselves. I cannot be your helper, nor can you be of my helper. Indeed, I have disbelieved in what you have associated me before (innee kafartu bimaa ashraktumuuni min qablu). Indeed, the wrongdoers – for them there is a painful punishment.”
[16:1] God’s command has come, so you do not be impatient for it. Glory is His, and He has exalted so high above what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna)
[16:3] He has created the heavens and the earth with the truth and has exalted so high above what they associate (wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[16:35] And those who have associated partners said (wa-qaala alladheena ashrakuu) , “If God had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, we nor our forefathers, nor would we have forbidden anything other than Him.” Thus that those who have done before themselves. Is there then on the messengers except the conveyance of the clear one?
[16:54] Then when He has removed the adversity, when a group of you associate partners with their Lord (idhaa fareequn minkum birabbihim yush’rikuuna).
[16:86] And when those who have associated partners have seen their partners (wa-idhaa ra-aa alladheena ashrakuu shurakaa-ahum), they have said, “Our Lord, these are our partners of those whom we have done to invoke other than You.” Then they have sent back the word at them, “Indeed, you are surely liars.”
[18:26] Say, “God is a best knower of how long they had remained.” To Him belongs the unseen of the heavens and the earth. You see clear while You hear clear. There is no protector for them other than Him, and He does not associate anyone in His command (wa-laa-yushriku fee hukmihi).
[18:38] “But as for me, He is God, my Lord, and I do not associate anyone with my Lord (wa-laa-ush’riku birabbee ahadan).
[18:42] And it was surrounded by his fruits, so he began twisting his hands over what he had spent in it, while it was a collapsed on its trellises and he says, “Oh! I wish, I do not associate anyone with my Lord (yaalaytanee lam ush’rik birabbee ahadan).”
[18:110] Say, “I am only a human being like yourselves. It has been inspired to me that your god is One god. So whoever has been hoping for a meeting with his Lord, then he should do deeds as righteous and he does not associate anyone in worship of his Lord (wa-laa-yush’rik bi-`ibaadati rabbihi ahadan.”
[20:32] And make him (Aaron) a partner in my (Moses) task (wa-ashrik’hu fee amree).
[22:17] Indeed, those who have believed, and those who have been Jewish, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Magians, and those who have associated partners (wa-alladheena ashrakuu); indeed, God will judge between them on a day of the Resurrection. Indeed, God is Witnesses over everything.
[22:26] When we have assigned to Abraham a site of the House that you do not associate anything with Me (an laa-tushrik bee shayan), and shall purify My House for those who circumambulate, and those who stand, and those who bow and those who prostrate.
[22:31] Monotheists belong to God, not being those who associate partner(s) with Him; and whoever associates partner(s) with God (wa-man yush’rik billahi), then is like that he had fallen from the sky, then the bird snatches him, or the wind blows of him to a far off place
[23:59] And those who – they do not associate partners with their Lord (wa-alladheena hum birabbihim laa-yush’rikuuna).
[23:92] A Knower of the unseen and the seen that He has exalted high above what they associate (fa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[24:55] God has promised those who have believed among you and have done the righteous deeds, that He will make them sovereign in the earth, as He has made sovereign those who were of their before, and that He will establish for them their religion which He has given for them, and that He will substitute for them after their fear is security as they worship Me – they do not associate anything with Me (laa-yush’rikuuna bee shayan). And whoever has disbelieved after that, then those – they are the disobedient.
[27:59] Say, “All praise to God and peace upon His servants of those whom He has chosen. Is God better or what they associate (a-allahu khayrun `ammaa yush’rikuuna)?”
[27:63] Who does guide you in the darkness of land and the sea and Who sends the winds as good news between hands of His mercy? Is there any god with God? God has exalted high above what they associate (ta`aalaa allaha `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[28:68] And your Lord creates whatever He wills and chooses. It has not been for them the choice. Glory to God and He has exalted high above what they associate (sub’haana allahi wa–ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[29:8] And we have enjoined the human being goodness with his parents, and if they strive against you that you associate partners with Me (wa-in jaahadaaka li-ush’rika bee), what you have not any knowledge of it, then you do not obey them. To Me is your return, then I will inform you of what you have done to accomplish.
[29:65] Then when they have embarked in the ship, they call God being sincere to Him in the religion. Then when He has delivered them to the shore, then they associate partners (idhaa hum yush’rikuuna).
[30:33] And when hardship has touched people, they call their Lord being turning towards Him. Then when He has made them to taste mercy from Him, then a party of them associate partners with their Lord (idhaa fareequn min’hum birabbihim yush’rikuuna).
[30:35] Or have we sent an authority to them that it speaks of what they have done to associate with Him (fa-huwa yatakallamu bimaa kaanuu bihi yush’rikuuna)?
[30:40] God is the One who has created you, then He has provided for you. Then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you back to life. Does any of your partners who can do anything of that? Glory is His, and He has exalted high above what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[31:13] And when Luqman said to his son, while he advises him, “O my son, you do not associate partners with God (yaabunayya laa-tush’rik billahi); indeed, idolatry is certainly a great injustice.”
[31:15] And if they strive against you on that you associate partners with Me (wa-in jaahadaaka li-ush’rika bee), what you have not any knowledge of it, then you do not obey them. And you shall accompany them with kindness in the world and shall follow a path of whoever has turned to Me. Then to Me is your return, then I will inform you of what you have done to accomplish.
[39:65] And certainly, it has been inspired to you and to those of your before; surely, if you have associated partners (la-in ashrakta); surely, your deeds will become worthless, and surely, you will be with the losers.
[39:67] And they have not appraised God of His true appraisal; and the whole earth will be at His grip on a day of the Resurrection and the heavens will be folding at His right hand. Glory is His, and He has exalted high above what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[40:12] That is because of that when it has been called God alone, you had disbelieved; and if it is associated with Him (wa-in yushrak bihi), you had believed. So, the judgment is with God, He is the High, the Great.
[40:42] You invite me that I disbelieve in God and associate with Him (wa-ush’rika bihi) which has not been any knowledge of it, and I invite you to the Almighty, the Forgiving.
[40:73] Then it has been said to them, “Where is that which you have done to associate (ayna maa kuntum yush’rikuuna).”
[52:43] Or is there a god for them other than God? Glory to God above what they associate (sub’haana `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[59:23] He is God, the One; there is no god except He – the King, the Sacred, the Peace, the Faithful, the Guardian, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Supreme. Glory to God above what they associate (sub’haana `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[60:12] O you the prophet, when the believing women has come to you pledging to you that they will not associate anything with God (laa-yushrikna billahi shayan), nor will they steal, nor will they commit adultery, nor will they kill their children, nor do they bring with fabrication between their hands and their feet, nor will they disobey you in right matter, then you shall accept their pledge and shall ask God for their forgiveness. Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[72:2] It guides to the right way, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord (wa-lan nush’rika birabbihim ahadan).
[72:20] Say, “I only call upon my Lord and I do not associate anyone with Him (wa-laa-ush’riku bihi ahadan).”
Summary
- Satan as our partner incites to associate partners with our Lord to corrupt our beliefs and practices.
- Those who associate partners with God wish to live a longer life but cannot escape His punishment.
- God wants us to have a fair agreement with the people of the scripture not to worship except God.
- He has cast terror in the hearts of the disbelievers as they have associated partners with Him.
- He wants the believers to be steadfast and fear Him being a factor of determination in the event of insult from the people of the scripture and from those who have associated partners with Him.
- He does not forgive those who have associated partners with Him as they have strayed far astray.
- He has forbidden the Paradise for those who have associated the Messiah, son of Mary with God.
- God wants us to testify that He is only One god being free from associating any other god with Him.
- A day He will gather us all ask those who associated partners with Him, where are your partners?
- God alone is called upon when in distress, when saved from the distress they associate partners.
- Those who associate with God cannot reflect that He encompasses everything by His knowledge.
- He has not sent down any authority with that which they associate as partners with Him.
- He has made worthless all deeds done by those who have associated partners with Him.
- Those who associate partners said if God wills we do not associate partners nor our forefathers.
- God has told us to be good with our parents but has forbidden us to associate partners with God.
- God has exalted Himself so high above that none can think of associating any partners with Him.
- He is our Creator but what are associated with Him are created, cannot not harm or benefit to us.
- All have been told to worship God leaving no room to associate religious leaders or chosen ones.
- There are no intercessors as God has exalted Himself so high to associate anyone with Him.
- Ka’ba is a symbol for us that we do not associate partners in the worship of God.
- When hardship touches people they worship God turning to Him but when relieved they associate.
- Luqman advised his son not to associate partners with God, which is certainly a great injustice.
- It has been from the past that those who will associate partners with God are losers in the Hereafter.
- Those who associate partners with God wish that they do not associate anyone with their Lord.
- Whoever associates fallen from the sky and the birds snatch him or the wind takes him to a far off place.
- Those who have believed in Quran never associate partners with God as it guides to the right path.
- God has forgiven idolatry only for those who repented and reformed before death comes to them.
Even if we can reflect to the Arabic phrase, sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna we will never corrupt our beliefs and practices associating partner (s) with God to be losers in the Hereafter.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (3/19/2020).