المعنى الاصطلاحي

Someone/something from amongst Allah's creation that is claimed to be an equivalent and equal to Him in terms of what He alone deserves of Lordship, worship, and Names and Attributes.

الشرح المختصر

To set up a “nidd”, i.e. a rival, to Allah Almighty is to dedicate all acts of worship or part of them to someone other than Allah, such as idol-worshipers who believe that the idols they supplicate and implore could benefit them, avert harm away from them, or intercede with Allah on their behalf. Setting up rivals to Allah the Almighty is of two categories: 1. Ascribing a partner to Allah Almighty in worship, and this is major "shirk". 2. Acts of minor "shirk", such as saying: “If Allah wills and you will,” or “were it not for Allah and you”, as well as slight ostentation (doing good deeds only to be seen by people).

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Nidd": counterpart, equal, rival; refers only to someone at odds with the person he resembles. Original meaning: disunion, alienation.

التعريف

One of similar position or status, or a counterpart. The plural form andād means people of similar status, or their bosses, chiefs and leaders whom they obey in what constitutes disobedience of God. Whoever addresses any aspect of worship to someone other than God, in hope or fear, makes that person equal to God. Whoever equates anyone with God, out of love, actually makes that person a peer of God, and he associates him as partner of God.