Shirk (Islam)

Shirk (Arabic: شِرْك; lit. 'association') in Islam is a sin often roughly translated as 'idolatry' or 'polytheism', but more accurately meaning 'association [with God]'. It refers to accepting other divinities or powers alongside God as associates. In contrast, Islam teaches God does not share divine attributes with anyone, as it is disallowed according to the Islamic doctrine of tawhid. The Quran considers shirk as a sin that will not be forgiven if a person dies without repenting of it.

The one who commits shirk is called a mushrik (Arabic: مُشْرِك, romanized: mushrik; pl.: مُشْرِكُون mushrikūn; lit. 'associator'). The opposite of shirk is tawhid (Arabic: تَوْحِيد, romanized: tawḥīd; lit. 'monotheism') and the opposite of mushrik is muwahhid (Arabic: مُوَحِّد, romanized: muwaḥḥid; pl.: مُوَحِّدُون muwaḥḥidūn; lit. 'monotheist').