A:
Aspects of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) in Muslim Communities are many, for example: 1- Invoking or seeking help from other than Allah in something no one can do except Allah. 2- Making vows to other than Allah.3- Offering sacrifices to other than Allah.4- Swearing oaths by other than Allah.5- Building Masjids (Mosques) over graves and offering Salah (prayer) there, despite the prohibition to do so. Allah (Exalted be He) says (what means):
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
"He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims."
Allah taught Muslims to say in each Rak`ah (unit of Prayer):
You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated:
Allah has cursed the one who sacrifices for other than Allah.
He also stated:
If you beg, beg of Allah; and if you seek help, seek it from Allah.
And he said:
May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians, for they have taken the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also warns, saying:
Beware! Those who came before you used to take the graves of their Prophets and righteous people as places of worship. You must not take graves as places of worship; I forbid you to do that.
He also said:
Whoever swears by anyone (anything) other than Allah has committed Shirk.
(Part No. 1; Page No. 764) In addition to other polytheistic practices.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.