The Reality of TAWHEED

[Salafi_Online]

Innalhamdulillah....Wa Salamu alaykum

 

THE REALITY OF TAWHEED!

 

If it said to you, Who is your Lord? Then reply saying: My Lord (Rabb) is Allah. If it is said to you, What is the meaning of Lord (Rabb)? Then reply saying: The One Who is rightfully worshipped, The Owner (Al-Maalik), The One Who all and everything is under His disposal (Al-Mutasarrif). If it is said to you, What is the greatest and most remarkable feat you have seen from His creation? Then reply saying: The Heavens and the Earth. If it is said to you, How do you arrive at this knowledge of your Lord? Then reply saying: Through His signs and His creation. If it said to you, What is the paramount or the most noteworthy which you have seen from His signs? Then reply saying: The Night and the Day and the proof of this is His saying, Ta’aala: Indeed your Lord (Rabb) is Allah, who created the Heavens and the Earth in six days, and then He rose over (Istawa) The Throne (in a manner befitting His Majesty). He brings the Night as a cover over the Day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars subjected to his command. Surely His is the creation and the Commandment.[1]Blessed is Allah the Lord (Rabb) of all in existence! Surah A’raf (7):54

 

So if it is said to you, What is the meaning of Allah? Then reply saying: Allah means the One who has all rights of worship over the entire of His creation. And if it is said to you, Why did Allah create you? Then reply saying: I was created for the purpose of His worship (and His worship alone, i.e. Tawheed, without ascribing any partners to him in any aspect of worship i.e. Shirk). If it is said to you, What is His worship?[2] Then reply saying: His Tawheed[3] and obedience to him (Taa’ah)[4]. And if it said to you, What is the proof for that? Then reply saying: His saying, Ta’aala:. I have not created the Jinn, nor the men, except for My worship (alone). Surah Dhariyat (51):56

 

If it is said to you, What is the first affair which Allah has obligated upon you? Then reply saying: Total disbelief in Taaghut[5] (everything that is worshipped other than Allah) and Eemaan[6] (faith and belief) in Allah, and the proof of this is His saying, Ta’aala: There is no compulsion in religion. Surely, the right path has become clear and distinct from the wrong path. So whoever disbelieves in Taaghut (everything that is worshipped other than Allah) and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trust worthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. Surah Baqarah (2):256

 

So if it is said to you, What is the most trust worthy handhold that will never break?

 

Then reply saying: Laa ilaaha ill Allah[7] (There is no Diety worshipped in the truth except Allah). The meaning of Laa ilaaha (There is no Diety) is negation and ill Allah (except Allah) is affirmation. And if it is said to you, What is it that you are negating and what is that you are affirming? Then reply saying: The negation is a negation of everything that is worshipped other than Allah and the affirmation is an affirmation that all worship is rightfully due to Allah alone without ascribing any partners to Him. And if it said to you, What is the proof for that? Then reply saying: His saying, Ta’aala: And (remember) when Ibraheem said to his father and people: “Verily, I am totally innocent and totally free of what you worship, except Him (i.e. Allah alone) Who created me; and surely, He will guide me”. Surah Zukhruf (43):26-27

 

And if it is said to you, What is the negation and affirmation here in this Ayah (verse)? Then reply saying: The proof of negation is: And (remember) when Ibraheem said to his father and people: “Verily, I am totally innocent and totally free of what you worship. Surah Zukhruf (43):26

 

And the proof of affirmation is:

 

Except Him (i.e. Allah alone) who created me.” Surah Zukhruf (43):27

 

If it is said to you, What is the difference between Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah (Lordship) and Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah (worship), Then reply saying, Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah is the actions of the Rabb (Lord), for example: Creating, providing all sustenance and provision, giving life, causing death, sending down rain, causing plants and all vegetation to grow, as well as disposing all of the affairs. Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah is the actions of the slave, for example: Supplication, fear of His Punishment, hope for His Mercy, dependence and reliance upon Him, turning to Him in repentance, fervent desire, dread, making vows, seeking His Aid and other than this from the different types of worship. So if it said to you, What is your Deen? Then reply saying: My Deen (Religion) is Islam[8].

 

It’s foundation and principle comprises two affairs:

 

Firstly: The worship of Allah alone (i.e. Tawheed) without ascribing any partners to Him, inciting and instigating upon this, basing alliance and friendship upon it, and pronouncing Kufr (disbelief of Allah) upon one who abandons Tawheed.

 

Secondly: Warning and admonishing against Shirk[9] in the worship of Allah Ta’aala and being staunch upon that, basing enmity and aversion upon it, and pronouncing Kufr (disbelief in Allah) upon the one who commits Shirk.

 

This Deen of Islam is established upon five pillars: Bearing witness that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah and bearing witness that Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Salah, paying the Zakat, fasting the month of Ramadan, and making Hajj once in a lifetime for the one who has the ability[10]. And the proof of the Shahaadah is his saying, Ta’aala: Allah bears witness that La ilaaha illa huwa (none has the right to be worshipped in truth except He), and the angels, and those who possess knowledge (also bear witness); (He always) maintains his creation in justice. La ilaaha ill huwa (none has the right to be worshipped in the truth except He), The All-Mighty, The All-Wise. Surah Aali ‘Imran (3):18

 

And we where not Created but to Worship Allah!

[Liqaye]

Bismillahi rahmani rahim.

 

Brother Salaf this is a good topic and I for one will not let it go.

It is so very intreasting, that many muslims do not even know about the basics of tawhid.

 

This is an article by Abu'ala Maudoudi.

Tawhid: Faith in the Unity of God

 

The most fundamental and the most important teaching of Prophet Muhammad (blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) is faith in the unity of God. This is expressed in the primary Kalimah of Islam as "There is no deity but Allah" (La ilaha illallah). This beautiful phrase is the bedrock of Islam, its foundation and its essence. It is the expression of this belief which differentiates a true Muslim from a kafir (unbeliever), mushrik (one who associates others with God in His Divinity) or dahriyah (an atheist).

 

The acceptance or denial of this phrase produces a world of difference between man and man. The believers in it become one single community and those who do not believe in it form an opposing group. For the believers there is unhampered progress and success in this world and in the hereafter, while failure and ignominy are the ultimate lot of those who refuse to believe in it.

 

But the difference between the believers and the unbelievers does not result from the mere chanting of a few words. Obviously, the mere utterance of a phrase or two is not in itself important. The real difference lies in the conscious acceptance of this doctrine and complete adherence to it in practical life. Mere repetition of the word 'food' cannot dull hunger; mere chanting of a medical prescription cannot heal the disease.

 

In the same way, if the Kalimah is repeated without any understanding, it cannot work the revolution which it is meant to bring about . This can occur only if a person grasps the full meaning of the doctrine and accepts and follows it in letter and spirit. We avoid fire because we know that it burns; we keep away from poison because we know that it can kill. Similarly, if the real meanings of Tawhid are fully grasped, we avoid, in belief as well as in action, every form of disbelief, atheism and polytheism. This is the natural consequence of belief in the Unity of God.

[Liqaye]

Bismillahi rahmani rahim:

 

 

I have read a very intreasting article that posed a most fundamental question.

As part of this disscusion on Tawheed can any one answer the following question so that we may all learn something:

 

Where is Allah [s.w.t] ?

[SomeAlien]

everywhere.

[Salafi_Online]

Innalhamdulillah...Wa Salamu ALaykum wa rahmatullahi wa baarkatu

 

walil hamd

 

WalCayadubillah...Allah is not everwhere...

 

Allah is above the seven Heavens, he made Istawa(rose)on his throne IN A WAY THAT SUITS HIS MAJISTY..

 

Prove:

 

(Surah 20:5) The Most Beneficent (Allâh) Istawâ (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).

 

Prove:

 

Verily! We have seen the turning of your (Muhammad's SAW) face towards the heaven.(2:144)

 

Prove:

 

Umm Salama the Prophet's wife said the following about istiwa' as quoted by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-bari: "The establishment is not unknown (ghayr majhul) and its modality is inconceivable in the mind (ghayr ma`qul); one does not ask "how" about Him; "how" is inapplicable to Him."

 

Prove:

 

Imam Nawawi (d. 676) said in Sharh al-muhadhdhab: "It is said: We believe that the Merciful is established over the Throne, and we do not know the reality of the meaning of this nor what is meant by it (la na`lamu haqiqata mi`na dhalika wa al-murada bihi), while we do believe that "There is nothing like Him whatsoever" and that He is exalted far above the most elevated of created things. That is the way of the Salaf or at least their vast majority, and it is the safest because one is not required to probe into such matters."

 

Prove:

 

the hadith about the slave Girls...whent he The messenger of allah (saas) asked her who im I and she said...you are the messenger of Allah...and he said where is Allah...and she pointed to the sky...Then the messenger of Allah(saas) said free her she is a believer.

 

And follow not (O man i.e., say not, or do not or witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of you will be questioned (by Allâh).(17:36)

 

Read Aqeeda wasatiyah By (ibn Taymiyah)

or SharX as Sunnah Imam Baarbaaharee(student of imam Ahmed)

[Nur]

Salafi and Dalmar

 

Jazakumulllahu Khairan for a good topic, first I would like to comment on the method before the content.

 

The articles that you have posted were translated from the Arabic Language, they were written by scholars who lived in a time in which they faced polemics of the nature of Allah SWT more that his requirements of us as hus creatures.

 

The success of any Dawa work is closely related to gthe language of those who are addressed, for that purpose, Allah said " we have not sent a prophet who did not speak the language of his folks"

 

This verse tells a principle that the message we give should be taylored to the audience if they have to buy it. Language means even the sleection of the proper usage of words that vary from a n audinece to another.

 

Our Prophet Muhammad SAWS mastered that concept, he talked to people in simplicity with a language they can understand, he easily won over the down trodden slaves with their limited vocabulary and the learned scolars of the Jews and Christians, addressing each audience with what they can understand.

 

After reading the piece of Towheed you have posted, If I was not a native Arabic speaker, I wouldve failed to understand any of it, the reliance of old ways of " If They Say, then Sayd To them" method is no longer the way to relay the everlasting message of Tawheed.

 

What is required today, is to deliver the purity of Taawheed in a language the readers can relate, otherwise, it will become like the Latin language.

 

As an example of how to represent Tawheed to a new generation, please read the following old article I have posted three years ago.

 

 

Nur

[Nur]

Fifteen centuries ago, Allah sent a Messenger(SAWS) for mankind, who was raised in Makkah, present day Saudi Arabia, and who belonged to a tribe called Quraish, are the decendants of Ismail and Abraham (aleyhimaa assalam).

The Messenger of Allah was sent to an Arab speaking people, as a consequence, he communicated with them in Arabic language. Every messenger also did communicate with his people by way of their respective language. The reason is that Allah intended the message to be understood, and his teachings followed. That is why some of our respected Ulema fail to convince the new generation because, the Ulema are "NOT CONNECTED" to the same media, nor speak the lingo of the times, as a result, a great deal of knowledge remains untransmitted, and not utilized.

 

Quraish was the center of attention of all Arabs at the time as it controlled the holly Kaaba, a tribute erected by Abraham and his son Ismail for the remembrance og Allah ALONE on earth.

 

These days, life was simple, there was no TV, Radio, newspapers, sitcoms, tabloids and the WWW.

 

So people communicated one-on-one and they enjoyed poetry and oratory in public places, similar to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

 

They mastered the language early in their childhood, and as adults they were quick to understand the meaning of every word.

 

When the prophet SAWS called for Islam, they asked him about the essense of his message.

 

The prophet told them ( My message is laa ilaaha illa Allahu)

 

A bedouin responded, (then all Arabs and non Arabs wil fight you).

 

The bedouin new the meaning of the word ILAAH in Arabic language.

 

In Suuratl Jinn, aayah 19, Allah says " And when the Abdullah Servant of Allah stood up to calling for his (ilaah), (the polytheists) almost ganged up against him"

 

This brings us to the core issue, TERMINOLOGY. understanding these terminology the way the SALAF understood it, will make us do what they did. The Salaf were proficient in their language, lived their times and fulfilled their commitment to their best. Can the same be said about us?

 

SALAF is not a group of people,it is a time period in history, in which Islam blossomed, and the word of Allah reached the corners of the world. Generally it is referred to the first three generations of Saxaabah and the taabiciin, and taabicu taabiciin.

 

Today we are trying to understand what used to drive these people to do monumental achievements in every sphere of life. They were more pious in ibaadah, more involved in community and political environment, more accomplished in Fiqh, sciences and business.

 

The key in understanding what motivated these Salaf lies in the components of the very word that changed history

 

" Laa ilaaha Ilaa Allah)"

 

Once Quraish heard the word, they became alarmed.

 

why? because they understood its far reaching meaning more than most muslims understand today.

 

This strategy to present this Word before all the detais of Islam's social change was not the choice of our prophet Muhammad SAWS. Nor did it happen thoughtlessly. The Messenger was commanded to do it that way. And there is a wisdom for us to ponder.

 

Imagine, the Messenger SAWS sitting on the corner of Yamaaniyah of the Kaaba, making ibaadah, and around him naked women making tawaaf and all he is asking people to do was " SAY , LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ALLAH"

 

He knew if they accept this word, and its requirement, that all evil will be wiped.

 

 

So, We may ask, how was it possible that the decendants of the father of TAWXIID Ibraahim, Caleyhi Salaam, The tribe of Quraish, put three hundered and fifty asnaam (Gods) inside a house dedicated to the sole reverence of Allah, the one and only?

 

It is all about terminology.

 

Just like Satan persuaded Adam and Hawaa, to eat from the forbidden tree, calling it ( Shajaratul Khuld), Satan inspired Quraish to worship extensions of Allah through what they have claimed as his daughters, just as Christians today ascribe a son to Allah as an extension of the Real Ilaah (subhaanahu wa tacalaa camma yaquuluuna culuwan kabeera).

 

So Sheitaan inspired them to select the names of these goddesses from the root name of Allah, to make it easy for people ta accept it (like copying a trade mark with slight change, like naming your supermarket SAFESTWAY instead of SAFEWAY, or naming your autopart shop TRECKAUTO instaead of TRAKAUTO).

 

So they named the first godess ( Al Laata, from Allah and Al Uzza, From Al Azeez etc.)

 

This tactic in Arabic language is called ILXAAD, Allah mentioned in the Quraan saying " Inna ladeenu yulxiduuna fee asmaaih laa yakhfowna calaynaa)". (Those who change the purpose behind the meaning of His Names, are not hidden from our view)

 

It means swaying the purpose apart from the name.

 

 

Just like unsuspecting SAFEWAY customers can shop at a phony store called SAFESTWAY, The decendants of Abraham were sawyed by SATAN to worship others beside Allah therby sheitan scored a point to support his promise to mislead mankind.

 

When Prophet Muhammad came with his message, he challenged quraish that all but Allah is fake as an ILAAH.

 

But what does ILAAH mean.

 

The root meaning of the word ILAA caomes from the Arabic word (ALIHA) the masdar of this word means among others:

 

1. To seek a protection ( Like an infant seeks mother's love , wormth and protection)

2. To seek a rescuer ( in times of distress)

3. To seek the highest authority, no one scapes from ( Jurisdiction and Sovreighnty).

4. It meant leadership. ( ZACIIM UL QOWM)

5. Any thing one follows even desires is called ilaah

 

Now when all these meaning were assigned to Allah alone, Quraish had a reason to be alarmed. After all they were the masters of the Arabs at the time. They controlled the trade routes, the Pilgramage and the business it created, The slave trade, Gambling, fornication, drinking and all social evils. They were the losers if the system changed and Muhammad came with a very radical view of the world and how it should be run.

 

They offered him to lead Quraish as their Zaciim, if he stops this word.

 

They offered him money, and most beautiful women.

 

But Mohammad SAWS said his famous statement " If they place the sun on my right palm, and the moon on my left palm, I would not stop preaching that man should submit to his creator willingly)

 

(note that all creatures are submiting to Allah unwillingly since they have no control on their creation and death and all natural causes).

 

" and then Allah ( ISTAWAA) on the heavens while it was smoke ( Dust particles) and said to them and the earth "submit willingly or unwillingly" they said, we submit willingly,....."

 

before him Jesus (aleyhi salam) delivered the same message, and the Romans with the help of Jews, planned for his murder, but Allah lifted him up to the heavens and saved him from their wickedness.

 

Today, the word exists, but there is no correspondense between this word and the reality of those who say it, hence, saying shahaada today is like a tenant signing a rental agreement he did no understand,

 

Is such a document binding? scolars say NO.

 

A further proof for the above observation is that this word has not stirred in our lives, what it has stirred in the lives of the SALAF AL SAALIX, before us.

 

They said the word, and its effects were detected in their lives and the entire world.

 

We also said the word, and it has no significant effect on our lives.

 

A wise person shouldn't then fool themselves that the King has still some clothes.

 

A good way to measure understanding of this word, is a measure of actions it creates in our lives.

 

If the actions are not there. It may mean that there is no gold reserves in the Bank to validate the currency in circulation. The root cause, the meaning of the word and the belief may not be there.

 

Nur

 

2000 e-Nuri Aqeedah For Beginners

[Liqaye]

Bismillahi rahmani rahim.

 

Indeed Nur we must adjust the language and idioms in which we speak to suit the times we live in.

Thank you for the reminder.

 

As for this topic on tawheed i think it very needed, purple rain answerd what she thought to be the correct answer.

Salafi's and Nur's responses I hope cleared any similar pantheistic misconception about tawheed.

 

For a more hard hitting exposition on the issue refer to this link.

 

Where is Allah [s.w.t] By Sheikh Abdallah as-Sabat.

[Liqaye]

Bismillahi rahmani rahim.

 

Indeed Nur we must adjust the language and idioms in which we speak to suit the times we live in.

Thank you for the reminder.

 

As for this topic on tawheed i think it very needed, purple rain answerd what she thought to be the correct answer.

Salafi's and Nur's responses I hope cleared any similar pantheistic misconception about tawheed.

 

For a more hard hitting exposition on the issue refer to this link.

 

Where is Allah [s.w.t] By Sheikh Abdallah as-Sabat.

[Salafi_Online]

Innalhamdulillah..

 

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) said, “The Tawheed with which the Messengers came with comprises of affirming that Divinity and worship belong to Allaah alone, such that a person witnesses that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that none is worshipped except Him, nor depended upon other than Him, nor are alliances or enemies made except for Him, nor is an action done except for Him. This affirmation also covers those Names and Attributes which Allaah affirms for Himself