What are the forms of hidden or minor Shirk and the means of avoiding them?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Ostentation is a kind of hidden Shirk and a type of minor Shirk. On the authority of Mahmood Ibn Labeed the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , mentioned that what he feared most for his Ummah (nation) was minor Shirk. When he was asked about what it was, he said that it was ostentation. [Ahmad]

Swearing by other than Allaah The Almighty is another form of minor Shirk. On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar and his father, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stated that anyone who swears by other than Allaah The Almighty has committed an act of disbelief, or Shirk. [At-Tirmithi; Abu Daawood; Al-Haakim: Saheeh (Authentic); Ibn Hibbaan: Saheeh]

Another form is seeking impermissible means to bring about some kind of benefit or ward off evil such as wearing amulets. On the authority of ‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Aamir the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stated that if anyone wears an amulet, he is committing an act of Shirk; meaning, minor Shirk. [Ahmad and Al-Haakim]

The ruling of minor Shirk applies as long as the wearer does not believe that the amulet actually brings about benefit and wards off evil. If he believes that it has power besides Allaah The Almighty, then he has committed an act of major Shirk.

Believing that created beings can protect and care for us is also a form of minor Shirk, such as saying, “Had it not been for the guard, we would have been robbed,” or, “Had it not been for so and so, we would have lost our way.”

Commenting on the verse (what means): {So do not attribute to Allaah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].} [Quran 2:22], Ibn ‘Abbaas mentioned that 'equals’ means Shirk; it is more hidden than the creeping of ants on black stones in the darkness of the night. It is to say, “By Allaah and your life,” “By my life,” “Had it not been for the dog, we would have been robbed,” “Had it not been for the ducks in the house, the thieves would have come,” “Had it not been for Allaah and so and so, …” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade us to attribute any matter to so and so beside Allaah The Almighty. Rather, one should attribute such matters only to Allaah The Almighty, saying, “Had it not been for Allaah Alone.” All these sayings contain Shirk. [Ibn Abi Haatim]

On the authority of Abu Moosaa the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, once delivered a speech and warned people about Shirk saying that it is more hidden than the creeping of ants. When he was asked about the way to avoid it, he ordered people to say: “Allaahumma innaa na‘uthu bika an nushrika bika shay’an na‘lamuh wa nastaghfiruka lima laa na‘lamuh. (O Allaah, we seek refuge with You to not associate anything with You knowingly, and we seek Your forgiveness for (doing) what we know not).” [Ahmad and At-Tabaraani]

It is minor Shirk to say to someone, "What Allaah and you will." Rather, one should say, "What Allaah wills then [followed by] what you will." On the authority of Qutaylah Bint Sayfi once a Jew came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and told him that Muslims did acts of Shirk because they say, “What Allaah and you will,” and, “By the Ka‘bah.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered them that if they wished to swear that they should say, “By the Lord of the Ka‘bah,” and they should say, “What Allaah wills then [followed by] what you will.” [Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, An-Nasaa‘i: Saheeh (Authentic)]

The following points are a summary of how to protect oneself from minor Shirk:

1.     To frequently say the aforementioned supplication that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught to his Companions so as to be safe from Shirk.

2.     To feel the gravity of Shirk regardless of how insignificant it might seem.

3.     To be aware that any deed that is mixed with it is rendered invalid or at least decreases its reward.

4.     The person who is showing off should know that whenever people discover that the intention behind his worship or behind helping others is to gain their praise they will degrade him or even despise him and he will have no value among them.

Allaah Knows best.