Praise be to the LORD of all that exists

What is KUFR, KAFIR, SHIRK and MUSHRIK? KAAFIR is the one who denies and conceals the truth. The basic meaning of the word kufr in Arabic is concealment. SHIRK means devoting worship to anyone or anything other than ALLAH. MUSHRIK is the one who associates partner with ALLAH. Dictionary meaning of ASSOCIATE is to join as a partner, friend, or companion
Dictionary meaning of DEVOTE (verb) to commit by a solemn act or dedicate an act of worship

In real life WHY DO WE ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE? Very simple for HELP .. to get HELP when required, can anybody think of anything else..what are the reasons for forming ASSOCIATIONS? Kufr may take the form of denying and rejecting, but the mushrik may also believe in Allaah. This is the difference between the mushrik and the kaafir. Kufr is denial and concealment of the truth, such as one who denies that prayer is obligatory, or that zakaah is obligatory, or that fasting Ramadaan is obligatory, or one who denies that zina is haraam, or that drinking intoxicants is haraam, or that disobeying ones parents is haraam, and so on. Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer. Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh from Jaabir ibn Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him). And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: The covenant that differentiates us from them is prayer; whoever gives it up is a kaafir. Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasaai and Ibn Maajah with a saheeh isnaad from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allaah be pleased with him). And Allaah is the Source of strength. WHY DID ALLAH CALL PEOPLE OF MAKKAH AS MUSHRIK? All muslims are aware that during Jahiliya (period before Prophet hood), there were people who had names like ABDULLA, ABDUL MUTTALIB, and so on. It means that they were aware of ONE ALLAH. Then what was the reason that Allah called them MUSHRIK. We need to think friends, are we muslims also walking on the same path of those mushriks, we also believe in ONE ALLAH as they used to believe. Lets see what Quran says, why did ALLAH called them MUSKRIKS.. Surah Al Isra, 40: What! Has your Rabb preferred to give you sons and adopted angels as daughters for Himself? Certainly you are uttering a monstrous statement. 42: Tell them: If there were other gods besides Him as the mushrikin say, they would have certainly tried to find a way to dethrone the Master of the Throne. 57: Those to whom they pray, themselves seek the means of access to their Rabb - trying as to who can be more near - they hope for His Mercy and fear His punishment, for the punishment of your Rabb is terrible indeed. Surah Yunus, 31: Ask them (mushreek): "Who provides your sustenance from the heaven and from the earth? Who has control over hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the

living? Who regulates the universe?" They will soon reply: "Allah." Say: "Why do you not then fear Him for you going against the truth?" Sura Al Ahqaf, 5: And who could be more astray than the one who invokes those deities besides Allah who cannot answer him till the Day of Resurrection - which, in fact, are not even aware that they are being invoked? Surah Al Imran, 60: Say: "O people of the Book! Let us get together on what is common between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah; that we shall not associate any partners with Him; that we shall not take from among ourselves any lords beside Allah." If they reject your invitation then tell them: "Bear witness that we are Muslims (who have surrendered to Allah)." Here the Point to think is even Jews and Christians believed in ONE ALLAH as mentioned in Quran but took ISA (AS) and UZAIR (AS) as sons of ALLAH, meaning the ultimate power is with ALLAH only, and his sons are their helpers. Associating with ALLAH doesnt only mean that we WORSHIP IDOLS, what is the reason Mushrik needed partner with ALLAH, simple reason for HELP. They used to ask the idols of their pious people, angels, messengers, etc to HELP them as they were close to ALLAH. ALL THE PIOUS PEOPLE CAME CLOSER TO ALLAH COZ OF FOLLOWING QURAN AND SUNNAH. NOTHING ELSE. Please analyze are we DEVOTING OUR ACTS OF WORSHIP to others than ALLAH, hence throwing ourselves to commit shirk. Think what are the ACTS OF WORSHIPwe devoteto pious people.. REMEMBER THE ONLY DESTINATION AS SAID BY ALLAH FOR SHIRK IS JAHANNAM.

And ALLAH knows the best