How can we repent from shirk?

Shirk is the greatest of sins, because Allaah
has told us that He will not forgive the one who does not repent to Him from it, but in the case of lesser sins the matter is subject to His will:
if He wills, He will forgive the one who meets Him with that sin unrepented for, and if He wills, He will punish him. This means that we should
fear shirk greatly, as it is so serious before Allaah. 

Fath al-Majeed,
p. 58. 

Hence we must repent from all kinds of shirk,
whether it is major shirk or minor shirk. If a person repents sincerely then Allaah will accept his repentance and forgive him his sins. 

After mentioning shirk in the verse in which
He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with
Allaah”

[al-Furqaan 25:68]

and stating that its people will abide
forever in Hell, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Except those who repent and believe (in
Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Furqaan 25:68-70]

Repentance from shirk means giving it up and
submitting to Allaah alone, regretting one’s neglect of Allaah’s rights and resolving never to go back to it. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Say to those who have disbelieved, if
they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven”

[al-Anfaal 8:38]

“If they cease” means, give up their kufr, by
submitting to Allaah alone with no partner or associate. Tafseer al-Sa’di. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam destroys that which came before it” – i.e., of sins. Narrated by Muslim 121. 

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that the gate of repentance remains open so long at the death rattle has not reached a person’s throat. He
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah will accept His slave’s repentance so long as the death rattle has not yet reached
his throat.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3537; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1425. 

Whoever commits major shirk that puts a
person beyond the pale of Islam must repent sincerely from that, put his actions straight and correct his intention. It is also prescribed for him
to do ghusl after repenting, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded Qays ibn ‘Aasim to do that when he
became Muslim. (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasaa’i; classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Sakan. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah,
5/317 

With regard to minor shirk, the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned us against it, fearing that his ummah might fall into it. He (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 23119. al-Albaani said in
al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (951): its isnaad is jayyid). And he said: “Shirk among you is more subtle than the sound of the footsteps of an ant
on a rock. Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, it will take that away from you, both minor and major forms of it.
Say: Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wastaghfiruka lima laa a’lam (O Allaah, I
seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware).” 

Saheeh al-Jaami’,
2876.