The term Shirk ( شِرْك), as used in the Quran, means association; in the context of religion and the Quran, it signifies associating anything or anyone with God. This word comes from the root “shin-ra-kaf” ( ش ر ك), which occurs 168 times in the Quran. Below is a summary of all the different occurrences of this word so we can better understand what constitutes shirk; as the Quran states, this is the one sin that God will not forgive if maintained until death.
Shirk the Unforgivable Sin
4:48 GOD does not forgive idolatry (shirk), but He forgives lesser offenses for whomever He wills. Anyone who sets up idols beside GOD, has forged a horrendous offense.
4:116 GOD does not forgive (shirk) idol worship (if maintained until death), and He forgives lesser offenses for whomever He wills. Anyone who idolizes any idol beside GOD has strayed far astray.
6:88 Such is GOD’s guidance, with which He guides whomever He chooses from among His servants. Had any of them fallen into idolatry, their works would have been nullified.
9:17 The idol worshipers are not to frequent the masjids of GOD, while confessing their disbelief. These have nullified their works, and they will abide forever in Hell.
39:65 It has been revealed to you, and to those before you that if you ever commit idol worship, all your works will be nullified, and you will be with the losers.
9:113 Neither the prophet, nor those who believe shall ask forgiveness for the idol worshipers, even if they were their nearest of kin, once they realize that they are destined for Hell.
6:94 “You have come back to us as individuals, just as we created you the first time, and you have left behind what we provided for you. We do not see with you the intercessors that you idolized and claimed that they will help you. All ties among you have been severed; the idols you set up have abandoned you.”
10:18 They worship beside GOD idols that possess no power to harm them or benefit them, and they say, “These are our intercessors at GOD!” Say, “Are you informing GOD of something He does not know in the heavens or the earth?” Be He glorified. He is the Most High; far above what they associate.
6:100 Yet, they set up besides GOD idols from among the jinns, though He is the One who created them. They even attribute to Him sons and daughters, without any knowledge. Be He glorified. He is the Most High, far above their claims.
72:1 Say, “I was inspired that a group of jinns listened, then said, ‘We have heard a wonderful Quran.
72:2 “‘It guides to righteousness, and we have believed in it; we will never set up any idols besides our Lord.
2:135 They said, “You have to be Jewish or Christian, to be guided.” Say, “We follow the religion of Abraham—monotheism— he never was an idol worshiper. “
7:33 Say, “My Lord prohibits only evil deeds, be they obvious or hidden, and sins, and unjustifiable aggression, and to associate partners with GOD t hat He has given no authority, and to say about GOD what you do not know.”
2:221 Do not marry idolatresses unless they believe; a believing woman is better than an idolatress, even if you like her. Nor shall you give your daughters in marriage to idolatrous men, unless they believe. A believing man is better than an idolater, even if you like him. These invite to Hell, while GOD invites to Paradise and forgiveness, as He wills. He clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may take heed.
24:3 The adulterer will end up marrying an adulteress or an idol worshiper, and the adulteress will end up marrying an adulterer or an idol worshiper. This is prohibited for the believers.
28:87 Nor shall you be diverted from GOD’s revelations, after they have come to you, and invite the others to your Lord. And do not ever fall into idol worship.
30:31 You shall submit to Him, reverence Him, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and—whatever you do—do not ever fall into idol worship.
30:32 (Do not fall in idol worship,) like those who divide their religion into sects; each party rejoicing with what they have.
30:33 When adversity afflicts the people, they turn to their Lord, totally devoting themselves to Him. But then, as soon as He showers them with mercy, some of them revert to idol worship.
40:42 “You invite me to be unappreciative of GOD, and to set up idols beside Him that I do not recognize. I am inviting you to the Almighty, the Forgiver.
41:6 Say, “I am no more than a human being like you, who has been inspired that your god is one god. You shall be devoted to Him, and ask His forgiveness. Woe to the idol worshipers.
42:13 He decreed for you the same religion decreed for Noah, and what we inspired to you, and what we decreed for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: “You shall uphold this one religion, and do not divide it.” The idol worshipers will greatly resent what you invite them to do. GOD redeems to Himself whomever He wills; He guides to Himself only those who totally submit.
3:64 Say, “O followers of the scripture, let us come to a logical agreement between us and you: that we shall not worship except GOD; that we do not associate anything with Him, nor set up any human beings as lords beside GOD.” If they turn away, say, “Bear witness that we are submitters.”
4:36 You shall worship GOD alone— do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant show-offs.
6:14 Say, “Shall I accept other than GOD as a Lord and Master, when He is the Initiator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds but is not fed?” Say, “I am commanded to be the most devoted submitter, and, ‘Do not be an idol worshiper.’ “
6:151 Say, “Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not associate anything with Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty—we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill—GOD has made life sacred—except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand.”
6:161 Say, “My Lord has guided me in a straight path—the perfect religion of Abraham, monotheism. He never was an idol worshiper.”
6:162 Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe.
6:163 “He has no partner. This is what I am commanded to believe, and I am the first to submit.”
12:38 “And I (Joseph) followed instead the religion of my ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We never associate anything with GOD. Such is the blessing from GOD upon us and upon the people, but most people are unappreciative.
18:110 Say, “I am no more than a human like you, being inspired that your god is one god. He who hopes to meet his Lord shall work righteousness, and never associate anyone in worship of his Lord.. “
24:55 GOD promises those among you who believe and lead a righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and will substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone; they never set up any idols beside Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked.
60:12 O you prophet, when the believing women (who abandoned the disbelievers) to seek asylum with you pledge to you that they will not set up any idols besides GOD, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor kill their children, nor fabricate any falsehood, nor disobey your righteous orders, you shall accept their pledge, and pray to GOD to forgive them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
7:172 Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They all said, “Yes. We bear witness.” Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were not aware of this.”
7:173 Nor can you say, “ It was our parents who associated partners, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?”