is disbelief,” and in another narration he ﷺ said, “Do not turn back to disbelief after I am gone, striking one another’s necks.” These texts refer to the lesser disbelief that does not expel a person from the religion. Taking a life is a heinous crime, an enormous sin, and a serious prohibition, yet it does not rise to the level of the disbelief that removes one from Islam.

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Types of Associationism (shirk)

Question: What are the kinds of associationism?

Answer: Associationism is to direct any act of worship to someone other than Allah—such as slaughtering an animal for other than Allah, vowing for other than Allah, calling upon other than Allah, or seeking relief from other than Allah. This is like what some grave-worshippers do today at shrines: invoking the dead to fulfil needs and dispel distress, circumambulating their tombs, slaughtering offerings at them to draw near to the deceased, dedicating vows to them, and the like.

This is major associationism, for it involves offering worship to other than Allah, exalted and sublime. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: “So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and not associate anyone at all in the worship of his Lord.” (al-Kahf 18:110). He also says: “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him.” (al-Nisāʾ 4:36). And He says: “They were commanded only to worship Allah, devoting the religion purely to Him, inclining away from all falsehood, to establish prayer, and to give zakāh—that is the upright religion.” (al-Bayyinah 98:5). There are many other verses on this matter.