Imam Qasim al-Rassi on the Meaning of Shirk

Imam Qasim al-Rassi (d. 246 AH) discusses the concept of shirk in his treatise Reply to the Question of Two Men from Tabaristan. In this work, he recounts a debate he had with a unitarian Christian who had rejected the doctrine of the Trinity but was curious why Islam still considered him among the mushrikun (those who commit shirk).

The Christian asked: why, after abandoning the Trinity, was he not regarded as a true monotheist in Islam?

Imam al-Qasim posed a question in response:

“Do you believe that the Qur’an, the miracles, and the hidden realities that the Prophet informed the people of were from other than Allah?”

The Christian replied:

“Of course.”

The Imam continued:

“You therefore attribute them to other than Allah?”

The Christian said:

“Yes.”

At this point, the Imam clarified:

“Well, if you were to claim that the heavens and the earth were from other than Allah, you would be considered a mushrik in your religion. Since you attribute the Qur’an and every wondrous thing the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, came with to other than Allah, you would be considered a mushrik in our religion.”

The Broader Meaning of Shirk

From this exchange, Imam al-Qasim al-Rassi highlighted that shirk is not limited to associating partners with Allah in His Essence—such as worshiping other beings alongside Him. Rather, shirk also encompasses associating partners with Allah in His Actions. This occurs when one attributes acts that belong exclusively to Allah, the Exalted, to another being.

In other words, claiming that creation, revelation, or miracles originate from anyone other than Allah constitutes shirk, even if one denies the Trinity or other forms of polytheism.