What Is Considered Shirk in Terms of Utterances and Belittling Other Religions?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

I am Muslim, and I was discussing Hindu beliefs with my sister last night. I joked, saying, “Do the Hindus say “I swear to the cow”? I did not mean this intending any form of shirk and had no intentions to do shirk and instantly regretted it. Was it shirk?

Answer

Thank you for your honest question. Although your joke was not culturally-sensitive, it does not entail ascribing partners to Allah (shirk). You did not intend it or say that you were ascribing partners to Allah.

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say something good, or else remain silent.” [Ibn Majah]

It is valuable to abstain from ridiculing other religions. There are appropriate ways to call people to Islam (dawah), and usually, people gravitate towards Muslims with a refined character.

May Allah protect us all from shirk

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.