Seeking Allaah's protection from falling into Shirk - Major or Minor

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The First evidence: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to Abu Bakr:

❝O Abu Bakr, the Shirk in (this community) is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the ant.❞

Abu Bakr said: ‘Is there Shirk other than joining partners with Allaah in worship?’

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The Shirk is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the ant. Shall I not guide you to a thing, which if you say it, will remove from you the small amount of it or major, say:

اللهم إني أعوذ بك أن أشرك بك وأنا أعلم وأستغفرك لما لا أعلم

Allaahumma innee a'oothu bika an 'ushrika bika wa anaa 'a'lamu, wa astaghfiruka limaa laa 'a'lamu.

O Allaah, I seek refuge in You lest I associate anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I know not.❞

[Al-Adab al-Mufrad (716) and graded as Saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

The Second evidence: Narrated Abu Moosaa al-Ash`aree that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed us (in a Friday sermon) saying:

❝O people, save yourselves from Shirk, for it is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the ant.❞

Someone whom Allaah willed (to speak) asked: ‘How do we save ourselves from it while it is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the ant O Messenger of Allaah?’

He صلي الله عليه وسلم said:

اللهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِكَ شَيْئًا نَعْلَمُهُ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا نَعْلَمُ

❝Say: O Allaah we seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and we seek Your forgiveness for what we do unknowingly.❞

[Musnad Ahmad (19606) and others - graded as Saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami (3731)]

The Third evidence: the Khaleel of Allaah, Ibraaheem عليه السلام, used to fear for himself and his children, and used to seek Allaah's protection and help from ever falling into Shirk:

﴿وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ﴾

{And (remember) when Ibraaheem said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshiping idols.”} 

[Surah Ibraaheem (14): 35]