Shia & Sunni Difference, Shirk

• Subject:{ SAASK } Shia & Sunni Difference, Shirk
• Date: Thu, 9 DEC 2004 05:00:58 -0500 (EST)
• From: SYED ABID <alimola@msn.com>
• Aalim: SYED ABID

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                           |       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
                           |  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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                           Salam Alaikum
                           
                           The following is a question that has been kindly answered by Dr. 
                           Liyakatali Takim. He is the Imam of the Ja'aferi Islamic Centre of
                           Toronto, Canada. 
                           
                           
                           Thanks
                           
                           SYED ABID
                           The Saask ( Syed Abid ) additor / Shia Organaisation
                           
                           
                           Assalamu alaykum
                           
                           I am trying to understand if the following constitutes shirk:
                           
                           If for example, a person is shot but they were wearing a  bullet proof vest
                           and thus were spared injury, can I say, "the vest protected them." Is that
                           shirk?  To avoid shirk, must I say always "It was Allah who 
                           protected them?"
                           
                           If it seems that both the vest AND Allah protected the person, is that like
                           setting up a partner with Allah?
                           
                           Please based answers on rulings of Ayat Khameini.
                           
                           -------------------Answer----------------------
                           
                           
                           Salaamun 'Alaykum;
                           
                           Shirk is defined as worshipping or submitting to anything (or anyone) 
                           else but Allah. To take anything else but God as an object of worhip is
                           shirk.  However, Allah has endowed us with rational faculties so as to
                           fulfill the purpose of human existence on earth. 
                           
                           One of the essentials in human existence is to preserve our lives, our
                           property, dignity etc. To that end, Allah has allowed us to use all
                           possible means necessary especially when it comes to preserving a life.
                           For example, if necessary, it can be wajib on a person to consume pork if
                           that meant that he would save his life, he is allowed to consume only that
                           amount which is necessary for his survival. 
                           
                           Using a vest to save his life and claiming that it saved his life is not
                           shirk, it is merely acknowledging a fact. To take any precaution and to
                           acknowledge that it saved him from injury is not shirk, it is merely
                           stating a matter of fact. In no way does it compromise in the belief in
                           the unity of Allah nor does one worship the vest so that it can be called
                           an act of shirk. 
                           
                           I trust this will clear up any misunderstanding.
                           
                           Fi Amanillah
                           
                           Syed Abid