Dr. Jamal Badawi is an Egyptian born Muslim Canadian scholar. He is a former professor who taught at a number of schools including the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he taught in the Departments of Religious Studies and Management.
Here is an excerpt from Badawi’s lecture:
The shirk is impurity and in Surah al-Tawbah [chapter 9 of the Quran “The Repentance”] ‘indeed the polytheists are unclean’ [إنما المشركون نجس]. Some would say it is offensive [that] the Quran [says] those who [are] idolaters are najas [unclean, impure] that means that you touch them [and become impure], no. It’s meaning spiritual najasa [impurity, uncleanness] to worship other than Allah.
Surah al-Tawbah [chapter 9 of the Quran “The Repentance”], verse 28 (translation Sahih International]:
O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] year. And if you fear privation, Allah will enrich you from His bounty if He wills. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Wise.