Tawheed Mentioned Alongside Different Subject Matters

May 9, 2020 | Abdullah Jallow | Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Da’wah – Calling To Islam, Deviated Groups, Sects and Parties, Methodology – ‘Manhaj’, Morals and Manners – ‘Akhlaaq’, Pearls of Wisdom, Purification of The Soul, Scholars of Islam, Worship – ‘Ibaadah’

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] says:

وَإِلَـٰهُكُمۡ إِلَـٰهٌ۬ وَٲحِدٌ۬‌ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – Allah), La ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. [Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 163]

Allaah [The Most High] informs (us) – and He is The Most Truthful- that He is The One True God; Meaning- Allaah alone is singled out in His Essence, in His Names and Attributes, and Actions. Neither does Allaah have a partner nor a co-equal; neither is anything [or anyone] similar to Allaah nor can there be any likeness to Allaah; neither is there a Creator [Who created and originated the universe] besides Allaah nor anyone who has absolute control over the affairs of the universe besides Allaah. Therefore, when this is the case, then Allaah alone has the right to be deified, and He alone has the right to be worshipped through all acts of Worship [i.e. the acts of worship He has ordained and commanded the Messenger Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) to show us the manner in which they are to be performed].

And Allaah is The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful – the One with tremendous mercy, whose Mercy has no similarity to that of anyone else, for indeed Allaah’s Mercy encompasses everything and is extended to every living thing. And due to His Mercy, the entire creation has been created; all types of virtue conferred on them and all types of calamities repelled from them. And due to His Mercy, He made Himself known to His creation by way of His Perfect Attributes and by way of the blessings He has bestowed on them. He clarified everything they need – in their religious and worldly affairs- through His Messengers and divine Books. Therefore, when it becomes manifest that all the things possessed by the slaves of Allaah [i.e. mankind and Jinn] are a blessing from Allaah and that none amongst His creation can benefit anyone else –[i.e. due to fact that Allaah alone is the source of all bounties, the one in control of everything in the universe, the one with perfect Names and Attributes, the Creator of everything]- then it also becomes manifest that Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped. Allaah alone has the right to be loved, feared, exalted, relied upon [in a manner in which no one else is to be loved, feared, exalted, relied upon etc] [Ref 1]

And the greatest type of all injustice and the most repugnant of all repugnant deeds is to turn away from worshipping Allaah alone, whilst worshipping His slaves – those whom Allaah [The Most High] created from soil; or worshipping a created thing that is dependent on other created beings or things, and turning away from worshipping Allaah alone – The Creator and Maker of Everything, The one who disposes all the affairs in the Universe; The Fully Able One, The One Perfect In Strength, The Invincible Subduer, and The Overwhelming Subduer, Who is never overcome. This Ayah [i.e. Ayah 163 Surah Al-Baqarah] establishes the Oneness of Allaah and His divinity, and that none amongst Allaah’s creatures [in the entire universe] is in possession of that.

Then in the ayah that follows [i.e. Ayah 164 Surah Al-Baqarah], Allaah [The Most High] gives more detail, saying:

إِنَّ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجۡرِى فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ۬ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا وَبَثَّ فِيہَا مِن ڪُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ۬ وَتَصۡرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلۡمُسَخَّرِ بَيۡنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡقِلُونَ

Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding. [Ref 2]

[Ref 1] Love, Fear, Hope, Reliance are acts of worship. Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said: Ibn Katheer [rahimahullaah] said: “The creator of these things (i.e. the heavens, the earth, the night, the day, the sun, moon, stars etc) is the One Who deserves to be worshipped.” All the types of worship which Allaah commanded – like Islaam (submission and obedience to Allaah), Eemaan (true Belief comprising belief of the heart, speech of the tongue and action of the limbs), and ihsaan (perfection of worship), and from that is invocation/supplication (du’aa), reverential fear (khawf), hope and longing (rajaa), trust and reliance (tawakkul), fervent desire (raghbah), dread (rahbah), reverence and humility (khushoo’), awe (khashyah), turning repentantly (inaabah), appealing for aid and assistance (isti’aanah), seeking refuge (isti’aadhah), seeking deliverance and rescue (istighaathah), sacrificing (dhab), vows (nadhr) and the rest of the types of worship commanded by Allaah, all of them are to be done exclusively for Allaah, the Most High.

Love: Allaah (The Most High) said: [وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ أَندَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّهِ – And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). [2:165]

The (true) believers love Allaah more than the love that the idol worshippers have for the partners they associate with Allaah in worship. That is because they [believers] have a pure and sincere love for Allaah; as for the Mushrikoon, they associate partners to Allaah in worship out of the love they have for their false objects of worship. The believers love The One [Allaah] who deserves true love in reality, for true love of Allaah is the very thing upon which depends the rectification of a person, his happiness and success. As for the Mushrikoon, they love those who are not worthy of being given any love, rather having love for such things is the very reason behind wretchedness, corruption and loss. [source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’ by Imaam Sadi’ (rahimahullaah). Abridged & slightly paraphrased]

Fear: Fear is to be frightened and is a result of expecting something which will bring about destruction, harm or injury, and Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, forbade having fear of the allies of the Satan, and He commanded fear of Himself alone. Fear is of three types: (i) Natural fear, such as a person’s fear of predatory animals, fire, or drowning. This is something for which a person is not to be blamed. Allaah, the Most High, said about Moosaa, “So he entered in the morning in Pharaoh’s city in a state of fear, awaiting events.” [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 18] However if this fear is, as mentioned by the author, a cause of his leaving an obligation or doing something forbidden, then it is forbidden. Since whatever causes an obligation to be abandoned, or causes something forbidden to be done is itself forbidden (haraam). The evidence here is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are truly Believers.” [Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):175] Furthermore fear of Allaah, the Most High, is sometimes something praiseworthy, and is sometimes something that is not praiseworthy. It is praiseworthy when it prevents you from being disobedient to Allaah, and causes you to fulfil the obligatory duties and to avoid what is forbidden. So if this goal is reached, then the heart settles and is at peace, and is dominated by joy at the blessings of Allaah and hope for His reward.

It is something that is not praiseworthy when it causes a person to despair of Allaah’s Mercy and to give up hope altogether. In such a case the person will give up and may continue in sin due to the fact that he totally gives up hope. (ii) Reverential fear, that he fears something and takes that as his religion. This is to be for Allaah, the Most High, alone. Directing such reverential fear to anyone other than Allaah, the Most High, is major shirk. (iii) Secret supernatural fear, such as fearing someone buried in a grave, or a person thought to be pious, who is far away and cannot affect him, yet still he has secret fear for him. This is also mentioned by the scholars as being a case of shirk. [Source: Explanation of the three fundamental principles’ by Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) and translated by Ustaadh Abu Talhah (may Allaah grant him and his wife Jannah. Aameen]

Hope: Hope and longing (ar-rajaa’) is that a person wishes for something that may be attained and is close, and it may be something that is far off but treated as being something close. This earnest hope which comprises humility and submission may not be directed except to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and directing it to anyone other than Allaah, the Most High, is shirk. This shirk will either be lesser shirk or major shirk depending upon the state of the heart of the person in this case. The author uses as evidence the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “So whoever hopes to see His Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and sincerely for Him; and let him not make any share of it for anyone other than Him.” [Soorah al-Kahf (18):11O] ‘Hope’ which is praiseworthy is only that which is found in a person who acts in obedience to Allaah and hopes for reward from Him, or a person who repents from sin and hopes that his repentance is accepted. As for a person who hopes despite the fact that he does not act, then this is delusion and false hopes, and is something blameworthy. [Source: Explanation of the three fundamental principles’ by Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) and translated by Ustaadh Abu Talhah (may Allaah grant him and his wife Jannah. Aameen]

Reliance: Placing reliance upon something is to depend upon it; and placing reliance upon Allaah, the Most High, is to depend upon Allaah, the Most High, and to accept Him as being the One who suffices you in bringing whatever is beneficial to you and protecting you from whatever is harmful. This is from the completion of true Faith (eemaan) and is a sign of it, as He, the Most High, says, “And put your reliance and trust in Allaah if you are true Believers.” [Soorah al-Maa’idah (5):23] If the person is sincere in his reliance and trust in Allaah, the Most High, then Allaah, the Most High, will take care of whatever troubles or concerns him, as He, the Most High, says, “And whoever places his reliance and trust in Allaah then He will suffice him.” [Soorah at-Jalaaq (65):3]

Meaning that He will suffice him, then He sets the mind of the one who trusts in Him at rest with His Saying, “Allaah will certainly bring about whatever He has decreed.” [Soorah at-Talaaq (65):3] So nothing at all can prevent Him from whatever He wills. Furthermore it should be known that placing reliance and trust is of different types: (i) Trust and reliance upon Allaah, the Most High, is from the completion of eemaan, and one of the signs of its sincerity, it is obligatory since eemaan cannot be completed without it, and the proof has preceded. (ii) Secret trust and dependence, such that he depends upon someone deceased to bring him some benefit or remove some harm, this is major shirk. This is because it will not occur except from a person who believes that this deceased person has some hidden control over the creation. There is no difference in this matter whether the deceased is a prophet, a pious person, or an evil enemy of Allaah, the Most High, who is worshipped by the people. (iii) Placing reliance upon someone else in the affairs, whilst feeling that he himself is of a low standing and the one he depends upon is therefore of higher standing, for example that he depends upon him to bring him sustenance and the like, then this is a type of lesser shirk due to the strong connection his heart forms towards him and his dependence upon him. But if he merely relied upon him being certain that he is just a means, and that Allaah, the Most High, is the One Who alone has the power to bring that about in His Hand, then there is no harm in that, since the one on whom he places reliance does have an effect in causing it to occur. (iv) Relying upon someone else and allowing someone else to act on your behalf with regard to a matter where one is allowed to depute someone. This is something about which there is no harm, as shown by the evidence of the Book, the Sunnah and the consensus (ijmaa’). Ya’qoob said to his sons: “O my sons go back and seek news of Yoosuf and his brother.” [Soorah Yoosuf (12):87] Also the Prophet deputed men to take charge of collection and looking after the zakaat; he deputed people to establish and carry out the prescribed punishment; and deputed ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, to take charge of some of his sacrificial animals during the Farewell Pilgrimage, and to give their skins and covering sheets in charity, and to sacrifice the remainder of the hundred camels after he had sacrificed sixty three with his own hand. As for the consensus (ijmaa*) upon permissibility of this, then it is something known. [Source: Explanation of the three fundamental principles’ by Shaikh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) and translated by Ustaadh Abu Talhah (may Allaah grant him and his wife Jannah. Aameen]

[Ref 2: Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’. slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ لَيَجۡمَعَنَّكُمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ‌ۗ وَمَنۡ أَصۡدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثً۬ا

‘’Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Surely, He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt. And who is truer in statement than Allah?]’’ [Surah An-Nisaa Ayah 87]

Allaah [The Most High] informs (us) about His Oneness and that there is neither any true deity nor any true object of worship besides Him, because He [The Most High] alone is the possessor of Perfect Attributes, the Creator of everything and the One in absolute control of all the affairs of the universe.

Allaah [The Most High] is the One Who bestowed [Mankind and Jinn] both the apparent blessings [i.e. Islam, the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.] and hidden blessings [i.e. One’s belief in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism), knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise, etc.]. All this necessitates that He alone has the right to be worshipped and obeyed through all acts of servitude to Him.

And He [The Most High] is the One Who will recompense mankind and Jinn based on what they fulfilled or neglected of this servitude to Him, and that is why He [The Most High] made an oath regarding the fact that the day of recompense will take place, saying: [لَيَجۡمَعَنَّكُمۡ إِلَىٰ يَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ‌ۗ – Surely, He will gather you together on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt]; Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] will gather all the early generations and later generations [amongst Mankind and Jinn] in one place, and there is no doubt about the fact that the Day of Resurrection will take place- which is confirmed by both sound intellectual proofs and divine textual proofs.

As for the sound intellectual proofs, one witnesses the fact that Allaah [The Most High] revives the earth [i.e. gives life to vegetation] after its death, as well as the fact that Allaah [The Most High] did not create [human beings, the Jinn, and all that in the universe] without a purpose. As for the divine textual proofs [i.e. regarding the fact that Mankind and Jinn will be resurrected], He [The Most High] informs (us) that there is none truer in statements than Him; rather He made an oath regarding this affair, saying: [وَمَنۡ أَصۡدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثً۬ا – And who is truer in statement than Allah?]. He also commanded His Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] to make an oath regarding this affair [i.e. about the resurrection], saying: [زَعَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَن لَّن يُبۡعَثُواْ‌ۚ قُلۡ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّى لَتُبۡعَثُنَّ ثُمَّ لَتُنَبَّؤُنَّ بِمَا عَمِلۡتُمۡ‌ۚ وَذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ – The disbelievers pretend that they will never be resurrected (for the Account). Say (O Muhammad): “Yes! By my Lord, you will certainly be resurrected, then you will be informed of (and recompensed for) what you did, and that is easy for Allah] [Surah At-Taghaabun’ Ayah 7]

[وَمَنۡ أَصۡدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثً۬ا – And who is truer in statement than Allah?]; Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] informs us that His statements are absolute truth, therefore, anything that opposes what He has stated regarding creed and deeds is falsehood, for what He has stated regarding creed and deeds is absolute truth and certainty. [Ref 1]

Ref 1: [Source: (Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

كَذَٲلِكَ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ فِىٓ أُمَّةٍ۬ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهَآ أُمَمٌ۬ لِّتَتۡلُوَاْ عَلَيۡہِمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ وَهُمۡ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ‌ۚ قُلۡ هُوَ رَبِّى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَڪَّلۡتُ وَإِلَيۡهِ مَتَابِ

‘’Thus have We sent you (O Muhammad) to a community before whom other communities have passed away, in order that you might recite unto them what We have inspired to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Beneficent (Allah) Say: “He is my Lord! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! In Him is my trust, and to Him will be my return with repentance.’’ [Surah Ar-Ra’d Ayah 30]

[كَذَٲلِكَ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ فِىٓ أُمَّةٍ۬- Thus have We sent you (O Muhammad) to a community]: Meaning- We sent you to a people to call them to guidance; [قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهَآ أُمَمٌ۬ – before whom other communities have passed away]: Meaning- We also sent our Messengers to the previous nations, therefore you [Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] are neither a new thing among the Messengers of Allah nor the first Messenger [so they do not have any excuse] to reject your Messengership based on the assumption that you have brought something strange; nor do you say anything based on your own [opinion, view or desire]; rather you only recite [or convey] Allaah’s revelations to them, which purifies the hearts and rectify the souls. However, your people disbelieve in Ar-Rahmaan [The Most Beneficent -Allaah] and they do not welcome His Mercy and Benevolence with acceptance and gratefulness- and the greatest of that is that He has sent a Messenger to them and revealed a Book to them – rather they turn away and reject it. Do they not ponder upon the affair of those generations who came before them – those who belied the Messengers – and the manner in which Allaah punished them due to their sins?!

[قُلۡ هُوَ رَبِّى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَڪَّلۡتُ وَإِلَيۡهِ مَتَابِ – Say: He (Allaah) is my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He! In Him is my trust, and to Him will be my return with repentance]. This statement establishes two categories of Tawheed- Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah [i.e. Allaah alone is the Creator of everything; He alone is the Provider and Sustainer of everything and He alone controls all the affairs of the universe], and Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah [i.e. there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah].

Allaah is your Lord, Who nurtured you with blessings from the time He created you, and He alone is the true deity in whom you place your trust and reliance in all affairs, and to Him you turn to – in all your acts of worship and for all your needs. [Source: (Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] says:

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُڪُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ كَيۡفَ يَشَآءُ‌ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. None has the right to be worshipped but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

[Surah Aal Imraan Ayah 6]

Meaning: Allaah is the One Who created everyone and everything, therefore Allaah alone has the right to be deified [and worshipped]. Allaah [The Most High] is the Possessor of Perfect Might that never ceases, Perfect Wisdom and Judgement. This Ayah [also] attests to the fact that Eesaa [alayhis’ salaam]-the son of Maryam [alayhas’ salaam]-is a created being, just as Allah created others amongst mankind. Allaah [The Most High] created and shaped him in Maryam’s womb as He willed. Therefore, how could Eesaa [alayhis-salaam] be a god as the Christians claim?! Rather, he was created in the womb of his mother and he alternated from one stage to another [similar to every other human being], just as Allah [The Most High] said: [يَخۡلُقُكُمۡ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِڪُمۡ خَلۡقً۬ا مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَلۡقٍ۬ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ ثَلَـٰثٍ۬‌ۚ – He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness. [Surah Az-Zumar’ Ayah 6]

Source: (Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn katheer). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

أَتَىٰٓ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوهُ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ

يُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۤ أَنۡ أَنذِرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱتَّقُونِ

The Event [the Hour or the punishment] ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him. He sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command to whom of His slaves He pleases [saying]: “Warn mankind that none has the right to be worshipped but I, so fear Me [by abstaining from sins and evil deeds]. [Surah An-Nahl 1-2]

[أَتَىٰٓ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوهُ‌ۚ – The Event [the Hour or the punishment] ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it]: Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] has made it known that what He has promised is near and that it will definitely take place.

[سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ- Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him]: Meaning: Glorified and Exalted is He above the partners they ascribe to Him, such as sons, a wife, similarities to the creation and other things which the polytheists ascribe to Him -all of which are either not befitting His Majesty or violates His Perfection.

And after He [The Most High] freed Himself from the evil descriptions which His enemies describe Him with, He spoke about the revelation which He sent down to His Prophets, saying: [يُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۤ – He sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command to whom of His slaves He pleases]: Meaning: The revelation through which the hearts are given life [i.e. guided to Eemaan, Tawheed, upright deeds etc], which He conveyed to Jibreel and commanded him to convey to the Prophets and Messengers, whom He declared righteous and worthy of conveying His Message.

And the essence of this message was: [أَنۡ أَنذِرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱتَّقُونِ – Warn mankind that none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah), so fear Me (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds)]: Meaning: To have knowledge and awareness of Allaah [The Most High], single Him out in His Attributes, which are all Attributes of Perfection – [free from all deficiencies, shortcomings, faults etc], worship Him alone and do not associate anyone as a partner to Him, for indeed this is why He [The Most High] revealed His Books and sent His Messengers. All the different laws He [The Most High] commanded His Prophets and Messengers and their followers to follow was for the purpose of fulfilling this goal [i.e. Tawheed]. [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan’. Slightly paraphrased]

In The Name Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said

خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ يُكَوِّرُ ٱلَّيۡلَ عَلَى ٱلنَّہَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ ٱلنَّهَارَ عَلَى ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ‌ۖ ڪُلٌّ۬ يَجۡرِى لِأَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّى‌ۗ أَلَا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفَّـٰرُ

He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving].

Allaah [The Most High] informed [us] that He created the heavens and the earth due to a perfect Wisdom and for a [great] benefit- to command His servants [with acts of obedience] and forbid them [from acts of disobedience]; reward them [for being obedient] and punish them [for being disobedient].

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَيُكَوِّرُ ٱلنَّهَارَ عَلَى ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ‌ۖ ڪُلٌّ۬ يَجۡرِى لِأَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّى‌ۗ أَلَا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفَّـٰرُ – He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term; [أَلَا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفَّـٰرُ -Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving].

Then Allaah [The Most High] said:

خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ ثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَزۡوَٲجٍ۬‌ۚ يَخۡلُقُكُمۡ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِڪُمۡ خَلۡقً۬ا مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَلۡقٍ۬ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ ثَلَـٰثٍ۬‌ۚ

He created you (all) from a single person (Adam); then made from him his wife [Hawwa’ (Eve)]. And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs (of the sheep, two, male and female; of the goats, two, male and female; of the oxen, two, male and female; and of the camels, two, male and female). He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ‌ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصۡرَفُونَ – Such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?]: Meaning: He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth, subjected the sun and the moon, created you and created the cattle for you, and created all the blessings you have; therefore, He alone is worthy of being deified and worshipped, for He alone is the One Who nurtured you [i.e. created you, created everything for you and showed you both the worldly benefits and the path to salvation in this life and the next], and placed all your affairs in order. And just as He alone created and nurtured everything and none is a partner to Him in all of that, likewise this establishes the fact that none has the right to be worshipped except Him.

That is why He [The Most High] said: [ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ‌ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصۡرَفُونَ – Such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?]: Meaning: How are you turned away after this manifest proof [which shows that] none has the right to worshipped except Him, yet you worship false deities that neither control anything nor have command over anything in the universe. [Source: (Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيۡلَ لِتَسۡكُنُواْ فِيهِ وَٱلنَّهَارَ مُبۡصِرًاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشۡكُرُونَ

ذَٲلِڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ خَـٰلِقُ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤۡفَكُونَ (٦٢) كَذَٲلِكَ يُؤۡفَكُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يَجۡحَدُونَ

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَڪُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ قَرَارً۬ا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً۬ وَصَوَّرَڪُمۡ فَأَحۡسَنَ صُوَرَڪُمۡ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِۚ ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّڪُمۡۖ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَۗ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

Allaah, it is He Who has made the night for you that you may rest therein and the day for you to see. Truly, Allah is full of Bounty to mankind, yet most of mankind give no thanks.

That is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, Laa ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), where then you are turning away (from Allah, by worshipping others instead of Him)!

Thus were turned away those who used to deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah.

Allaah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord, then blessed be Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

He is the Ever Living, Laa ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), so invoke Him making your worship pure for Him Alone (by worshipping Him Alone, and none else, and by doing righteous deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only, and not to show off, and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). [Surah Ghaafir. Aayaat 61-65]

[ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيۡلَ لِتَسۡكُنُواْ فِيهِ وَٱلنَّهَارَ مُبۡصِرًاۚ – Allah, it is He Who has made the night for you that you may rest therein and the day for you to see]: Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] reminds His creation [i.e. Mankind and Jinn] of His favours. He made the night for them, in which they take rest and cease from their activities so that they can return to seeking after their livelihood during the daytime. He [The Most High] made the daytime bright, so that they can travel and engage in their occupations. [إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشۡكُرُونَ – Truly, Allah is full of Bounty to mankind, yet most of mankind give no thanks]: Meaning: They are not thankful for the favours Allaah has bestowed on them. [ذَٲلِڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ خَـٰلِقُ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ – That is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, none has the right to be worshipped but He)]: Meaning: Allaah is the One Who did all these things- The One and Only, the Unique One, the one and only true deity, Who possesses all the Names and Attributes of perfection and free is He from all imperfections, faults, deficiencies, similarities, co-equals; the One singled out in His actions [the Creator, Provider and in Whose control is all the affairs of the universe]- besides Whom there is no other true object of worship or Lord. [فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤۡفَكُونَ -How then are you turning away]: Meaning: How can you worship idols when it is the fact that they have not created anything [and cannot create anything]; rather are themselves made and carved by [people].

Then Allaah [The Mighty and Majestic] said: [كَذَٲلِكَ يُؤۡفَكُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ يَجۡحَدُونَ -Thus were turned away those who used to deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah]: Meaning: Just as these people [i.e. the pagans of the Arabian peninsula] are misguided by worshipping others besides Allaah, likewise those who were before them did turn away [from guidance], so they worshipped others besides Allaah with no proof or evidence; rather their worship of others was merely due to ignorance and desires. They wilfully denied Allaah’s proofs and His signs.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَڪُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ قَرَارً۬ا – Allah, it is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place]: Meaning: Allaah made it firmly fixed and spread out, so that they [i.e. the creatures] can live on it and walk on its pathways (or roads). He [The Most High] strengthened the earth with the mountains, so that it does not tremble. [وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً۬ – and the sky as a canopy]: Meaning: Allaah made it a roof covering for the world. [وَصَوَّرَڪُمۡ فَأَحۡسَنَ صُوَرَڪُمۡ – and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking)]: Meaning: Allaah created you in the most excellent shape and form. [وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِۚ – and has provided you with good things]: Meaning: Allaah provided you with foods and drinks in this worldly life, just as He [The Most High] said in Surah Al-Baqarah that He created the earth as a dwelling, its inhabitants and provision. He [The Most High] said:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِرَشً۬ا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً۬ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَخۡرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ رِزۡقً۬ا لَّكُمۡ‌ۖ فَلَا تَجۡعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ أَندَادً۬ا وَأَنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious). Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped). [2:21-22]

Then after Allaah [The Most High] stated [in the Aayaat in Surah Ghaafir] that He alone created all these things [i.e. the night, the day, the earth, the sky etc], He [The Most High] said: [ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّڪُمۡۖ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ – That is Allah, your Lord, then blessed be Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)]: Meaning: He is The Pure and Perfect One- Exalted, and free is He from all imperfections, faults, deficiencies, shortcomings, weaknesses- and He is the Lord of the Aalameen.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ – He is the Ever Living, None has the right to be worshipped but He]. [فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَۗ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ – so invoke Him making your worship pure for Him Alone. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)]: Meaning: Affirm that He is One, the only one worthy of being worshipped and that all the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists). [Source: Excerpts from ‘Misbaah al-Muneer Fee Tah-dheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer & Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan’. slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوَٮٰكُمۡ

So know [O Muhammad] that Laa ilaaha ill-Allah [none has the right to be worshipped but Allah], and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for [the sin of] believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest. [Surah Muhammad. Aayah 19]

[فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّ – So know (O Muhammad) that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah]: Meaning: Be firm upon your knowledge that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. [وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ‌ۗ – and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women].

[وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوَٮٰكُمۡ – And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest]: Ibn Abbaas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said this means, ‘’Allaah knows your moving about in this worldly life and your place of rest in the afterlife.’’

Ikrimah [radiyallaahu-anhu] said that this mean, ‘’Allaah knows your moving from the loins of men [i.e. the sperm from your fathers] to the wombs of women [i.e. where the sperm is deposited in the wombs of your mothers], and your resting places in the graves’’. Muqaatil [rahimahullaah] said that this means, ‘’Allaah knows your movements during the day and your resting places in the evening.’’ [An Excerpt From ‘Zaadul Maseer’ by Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

لَقَدۡ جَآءَڪُمۡ رَسُولٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَنفُسِڪُمۡ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيۡهِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيۡڪُم بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬

فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُلۡ حَسۡبِىَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَڪَّلۡتُ‌ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger [Muhammad] from amongst yourselves [i.e. whom you know well]. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He [Muhammad] is anxious over you [to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hellfire], for the believers [he is] full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say [O Muhammad]: “Allaah is sufficient for me. Laa ilaha illa Huwa [none has the right to be worshipped but He], in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne. [Surah At-Tawbah. Aayaat 128-129]

Allaah [The Most High] has favoured His believing servants by sending the unlettered Prophet from amongst themselves. They know his state of affairs and are able to accept what he says and submit wholeheartedly. He gives them tremendous sincere advice and hastens to that which will bring about well-being for them [in this life and the next].

[عَزِيزٌ عَلَيۡهِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ- It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty]: Meaning: He is troubled when you are troubled. [حَرِيصٌ عَلَيۡڪُم- anxious over you]: Meaning: He wants good for you and strives hard to make you accomplish that. He is eager for you to be guided to Eemaan, hates that evil should come to you and strives his utmost to turn you away from it. [بِٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ – for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful]: Meaning: He loves you dearly and has a lot of mercy for you-more merciful to you than your parents. And due to this, his rights take precedence over the rights of all the creation. It is obligated on the Ummah to believe in him, exalt, honour and assist him [i.e. in the manner legislated by Allaah – neither exceeding the limits nor become lackadaisical]. If the people believe in the Prophet, then that would be their good share and well-being [in this life and the next]; [فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ – But if they turn away]: Meaning: If they turn away from Eemaan and righteous deeds, then adhere to your path [O Prophet] and do not stop calling to it, and say: [حَسۡبِىَ ٱللَّهُ- Allah is sufficient for me]: Meaning: Allaah suffices me in all my affairs. [لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ – none has the right to be worshipped but He]: Meaning: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah. [عَلَيۡهِ تَوَڪَّلۡتُ – in Him I put my trust]: Meaning: I depend on Allaah with a firm resolve to grant me what is beneficial and repel from me what is harmful. [وَهُوَ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ – and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne].

[Source: (Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer kalaam Al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِى فَرَضَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ۬‌ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَمَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬

وَمَا كُنتَ تَرۡجُوٓاْ أَن يُلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبُ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ‌ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

وَلَا يَصُدُّنَّكَ عَنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ أُنزِلَتۡ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ وَٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ

وَلَا تَدۡعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ‌ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ كُلُّ شَىۡءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجۡهَهُ ۥ‌ۚ لَهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ

Verily, He Who has given you [O Muhammad] the Qur’an will surely bring you back to the Ma’aad [place of return]. Say [O Muhammad]: “My Lord is Aware of him who brings guidance, and he who is in manifest error.” And you were not expecting that the Book [this Qur’aan] would be sent down to you, but it is a mercy from your Lord. So never be a supporter of the disbelievers. And let them not turn you [O Muhammad] away from [preaching] the Aayat [revelations and verses] of Allaah after they have been sent down to you, and invite [humankind] to [believe in] your Lord, and be not of Al-Mushrikoon [those who associate partners with Allah, e.g. polytheists, pagans, idolaters, those who disbelieve in the Oneness of Allah and deny the Prophethood of Messenger Muhammad]. And invoke not any other ilaah [god] along with Allaah, Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa [none has the right to be worshipped but He]. Everything will perish save His Face. His is the Decision, and to Him you [all] shall be returned. [Surah Al-Qasas. Aayaat 85-88]

[إِنَّ ٱلَّذِى فَرَضَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ۬‌ۚ – Verily, He Who has given you (O Muhammad) the Qur’an will surely bring you back to the Ma’aad [place of return]- Meaning: Allaah is the one who revealed the Qur’aan, ordained divine rulings in it, clarified and explained what is lawful and unlawful, commanded you [O Muhammad] to preach it to Humankind and Jinn, and that you convey all the commands and prohibitions that are obligated on those who have reached the age of accountability; therefore, it is not befitting Allaah’s Wisdom that life will only be limited to the life of this world and that people will neither be rewarded with good due to their good deeds nor punished due to their evil deeds; rather the fact is that they will be returned to the Afterlife where the doers of good will be rewarded for their good deeds and the evil doers will be punished for their disobedience.

Indeed, Allaah’s guidance has been established for the people and the path has been made manifestly clear, therefore if they follow you [O Muhammad], then that will be their good portion and well-being [in this life and the next]; but if they reject you, disparage the guidance you have brought and give precedence to the falsehood they are upon over the truth, then there remains no room for argumentation; rather the only thing that remains is that Allaah – The All-Knower of the Unseen and the Seen- will recompense those upon truth based on their good deeds, and likewise those upon falsehood based on their evil deeds.

And regarding the statement of Allaah: [قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَن جَآءَ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَمَنۡ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ – Say (O Muhammad): “My Lord is Aware of him who brings guidance, and he who is in manifest error]- Meaning: Allaah has made it known that His Messenger is rightly guided and he is also an upright guide for others. On the other hand, his enemies are misguided and misguiding others.

[وَمَا كُنتَ تَرۡجُوٓاْ أَن يُلۡقَىٰٓ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبُ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ‌ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ ظَهِيرً۬ا لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ – And you were not expecting that the Book (this Qur’an) would be sent down to you, but it is a mercy from your Lord. So never be a supporter of the disbelievers]; [وَلَا يَصُدُّنَّكَ عَنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ أُنزِلَتۡ إِلَيۡكَ‌ۖ وَٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ‌ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ – And let them not turn you (O Muhammad) away from (preaching) the Ayat (revelations and verses) of Allah after they have been sent down to you, and invite (men) to (believe in) your Lord, and be not of Al-Mushrikun (those who associate partners with Allah, e.g. polytheists, pagans, idolaters, those who disbelieve in the Oneness of Allah and deny the Prophethood of Messenger Muhammad)].

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [ وَلَا تَدۡعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ‌ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ كُلُّ شَىۡءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجۡهَهُ ۥ‌ۚ لَهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ- And invoke not any other ilah (god) along with Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Everything will perish save His Face. His is the Decision, and to Him you (all) shall be returned] – Meaning: Direct your worship sincerely to Allaah alone because none has the right to be worshipped except Him. Any other [thing taken an object of worship] does not have the right to be deified, loved and worshipped except Allaah, because He alone is the Ever-living and He is Perfect [free from all imperfections, deficiencies weaknesses, faults etc]. And when it is the fact that everything will perish except Him, then it is extreme falsehood and corruption to worship those who will perish.

Indeed, what they [i.e. the polytheists] worship besides Allaah is falsehood and are things that will perish, but Allaah alone is the One who will never perish and there is no deity worthy of worship besides Him. He alone has absolute dominion over everything; He alone controls all the affairs of the universe; what He wills has to take place and what He does not will cannot take place [i.e. based on His perfect Wisdom and Justice]; He alone is the ruling judge between the servants in the Hereafter and they will all return to Him to be recompensed for their deeds. [Source:(Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦۤ إِنَّنِى بَرَآءٌ۬ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ

إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُ ۥ سَيَہۡدِينِ

وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةَۢ بَاقِيَةً۬ فِى عَقِبِهِۦ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ

And [remember] when Ibrahim [Abraham] said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, except Him [i.e. I worship none but Allah Alone] Who did create me, and verily, He will guide me.” And he made it [i.e. Laa ilaha ill-Allah – none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone] a Word lasting among his offspring [True Monotheism], that they may turn back [i.e. to repent to Allaah or receive admonition]. [Surah Az-Zukhruf. Aayaat 26-28]

[وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦۤ – And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people]: Meaning: He said to his people who used to worship deities besides Allaah, [إِنَّنِى بَرَآءٌ۬ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ-Verily, I am innocent of what you worship; إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُ ۥ سَيَہۡدِينِ – Except Him [i.e. Allaah] Who did create me, and verily, He will guide me]: Meaning: Allaah is my Protector and I have hope that Allaah will guide me to knowledge of the truth and to act upon truth. And just as Allaah created me and nurtured me with blessings by way of which I attained physical well-being and other worldly benefits, likewise Allaah will guide me towards that which will bring me well-being in my religion and well-being in the afterlife.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةَۢ بَاقِيَةً۬ فِى عَقِبِهِۦ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ – And he made it (i.e. Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah -None has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone) a Word lasting among his offspring (True Monotheism), that they may turn back (i.e. to repent to Allah or receive admonition)]: Meaning: He established this praiseworthy quality – sincerely worshipping Allaah alone and freed himself from everything worshipped besides Allaah, which is foundation and basis of all praiseworthy qualities. He was well-known for this quality and he commanded his offspring – Ishaaq, Ya’qoob and others- to adhere to it, just as Allaah [The Most High] said in Surah Al-Baqarah Aayaat 130-134:

وَمَن يَرۡغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفۡسَهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَلَقَدِ ٱصۡطَفَيۡنَـٰهُ فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَإِنَّهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham) (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) except him who befools himself? Truly, We chose him in this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.

إِذۡ قَالَ لَهُ ۥ رَبُّهُ ۥۤ أَسۡلِمۡ‌ۖ قَالَ أَسۡلَمۡتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

When his Lord said to him, “Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)!” He said, “I have submitted myself [as a Muslim] to the Lord of the ‘Alamin [mankind, jinns and all that exists].”

وَوَصَّىٰ بِہَآ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعۡقُوبُ يَـٰبَنِىَّ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ

And this [submission to Allah, Islaam] was enjoined by Ibrahim [Abraham] upon his sons and by Ya’qub [Jacob], [saying], “O my sons! Allah has chosen for you the [true] religion, then die not except in the Faith of Islaam [as Muslims – Islamic Monotheism].”

أمۡ كُنتُمۡ شُہَدَآءَ إِذۡ حَضَرَ يَعۡقُوبَ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِذۡ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِى قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ إِلَـٰهَكَ وَإِلَـٰهَ ءَابَآٮِٕكَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَ إِلَـٰهً۬ا وَٲحِدً۬ا وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ

Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya’qub [Jacob]? When he said unto his sons, “What will you worship after me?” They said, “We shall worship your Ilah [God – Allaah], the Ilah [God] of your fathers, Ibrahim [Abraham], Isma’il [Ishmael], Ishaque [Isaac], One Ilah [God], and to Him we submit [in Islaam].

تِلۡكَ أُمَّةٌ۬ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ‌ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتۡ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبۡتُمۡ‌ۖ وَلَا تُسۡـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

That was a nation who has passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned and you of what you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do. Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

لَهُ ۥ دَعۡوَةُ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسۡتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىۡءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيۡهِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ‌ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬

For Him (Alone) is the Word of Truth (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He). And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke cannot respond to them with a thing, no more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not, and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use). [Surah Ar-Ra’d Ayah 14]

Allaah [The Most High] alone has the right to be worshipped. One’s acts of worship has to carried out sincerely for the sake of Allaah [The Most High] and likewise Allaah [The Most High] alone has the right to be invoked when one seeks after the fulfilment of a specific need. Allaah [The Most High] alone has the right to be loved [i.e. the love that obligates on a person to direct all acts of worship to Allaah alone].

Allaah [The Most High] alone has the right to be worshipped with Al-Kawf [Fear (R1)]; Ar-Rajaa [Hope and longing (R 2)]; Ar-Raghbah [Fervent Desire (R3)]; Ar-Rahbah [Dread (R4)] and Al-Inaabah [turning to Allaah in repentance (R5)]. That is because Allaah alone is the possessor of all the Names and Attributes of perfection – [and free is He from all imperfections, deficiencies, weaknesses, similarities, co-equals, faults, shortcomings etc] – which makes Him the only deity worthy of worship. Any other thing taken as a deity besides Him is false.

[وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسۡتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىۡءٍ – And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke cannot respond to them with a thing]: Meaning: The idols and false deities that are associated as partners with Allaah [The Most High] in worship cannot respond with a thing to those who invoke and worship them- neither can they respond to their requests in this life nor in the afterlife; [إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيۡهِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ‌ – no more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not].

This is an excellent similitude regarding the invocation of the one who invokes other than Allaah, for he is like one who stretches his hand at the edge of a deep well [to get some] water, even though it is impossible to reach it by doing so. This is the case regarding the one who invokes false deities besides Allaah [The Most High], for he will not reach his goal. Allaah [The Most High] said in another Ayah:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ عَنۡہَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمۡ أَبۡوَٲبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا يَدۡخُلُونَ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلۡجَمَلُ فِى سَمِّ ٱلۡخِيَاطِ‌ۚ وَڪَذَٲلِكَ نَجۡزِى ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ

Verily, those who belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible). Thus do We recompense the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.). [7:40]

[وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ – and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use)]: Meaning: They invoke false deities; therefore their invocation is tantamount to misguidance. As for Allaah, He is the True King of the entire creation and the only deity worthy of worship, therefore, to worship Him alone is the truth and it is what will definitely benefit a person in this life and the next. [Source: (Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

Footnotes:

Ref 1: Al-Kawf [Fear]: Fear is to be frightened and is a result of expecting something which will bring about destruction, harm or injury, and Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, forbade having fear of the allies of the Satan, and He commanded fear of Himself alone. Fear is of three types: (i) Natural fear, such as a person’s fear of predatory animals, fire, or drowning. This is something for which a person is not to be blamed. Allaah, the Most High, said about Moosaa, “So he entered in the morning in Pharaoh’s city in a state of fear, awaiting events.” [Soorah al-Qasas (28): 18] However if this fear is, as mentioned by the author, a cause of his leaving an obligation or doing something forbidden, then it is forbidden. Since whatever causes an obligation to be abandoned, or causes something forbidden to be done is itself forbidden (haraam). The evidence here is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are truly Believers.” [Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):175] Furthermore fear of Allaah, the Most High, is sometimes something praiseworthy, and is sometimes something that is not praiseworthy. It is praiseworthy when it prevents you from being disobedient to Allaah, and causes you to fulfil the obligatory duties and to avoid what is forbidden. So if this goal is reached, then the heart settles and is at peace, and is dominated by joy at the blessings of Allaah and hope for His reward. It is something that is not praiseworthy when it causes a person to despair of Allaah’s Mercy and to give up hope altogether. In such a case the person will give up and may continue in sin due to the fact that he totally gives up hope. (ii) Reverential fear, that he fears something and takes that as his religion. This is to be for Allaah, the Most High, alone. Directing such reverential fear to anyone other than Allaah, the Most High, is major shirk. (iii) Secret supernatural fear, such as fearing someone buried in a grave, or a person thought to be pious, who is far away and cannot affect him, yet still he has secret fear for him. This is also mentioned by the scholars as being a case of shirk. The evidence for hope and longing (ar-rajaa) is the Saying of Allaah the Most High: “So whoever hopes to see His Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and sincerely for Him; and let him not make any share of it for anyone other than Him” [71] [Soorah al-Kahf (18):110]. [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]

Ref 2: Ar- Rajaa [Hope and longing] is that a person wishes for something that may be attained and is close, and it may be something that is far off but treated as being something close. This earnest hope which comprises humility and submission may not be directed except to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and directing it to anyone other than Allaah, the Most High, is shirk. This shirk will either be lesser shirk or major shirk depending upon the state of the heart of the person in this case. The author uses as evidence the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “So whoever hopes to see His Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and make it purely and sincerely for Him; and let him not make any share of it for anyone other than Him.” [Soorah al-Kahf (18):11O] ‘Hope’ which is praiseworthy is only that which is found in a person who acts in obedience to Allaah and hopes for reward from Him, or a person who repents from sin and hopes that his repentance is accepted. As for a person who hopes despite the fact that he does not act, then this is delusion and false hopes, and is something blameworthy. [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]

Ref 3: Ar-Raghbah [Fervent Desire] and Ref 4: Ar-Rahbah [Dread]: Ar-Raghbah is the love and desire to reach that which is beloved. Ar-Rahbah is fear which causes one to flee away from the cause of fear. So it is a fear that is accompanied by action. Allaah [The Most High] said: [إِنَّهُمۡ ڪَانُواْ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَيَدۡعُونَنَا رَغَبً۬ا وَرَهَبً۬ا‌ۖ وَڪَانُواْ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ – They used to hasten to acts of devotion and obedience to Allaah, and they used to worship Allaah upon love and desire, and upon fear, and were reverent and humble before Allaah] [21:90]

In this noble Aayah, Allaah, the Most High, describes the most loyal and sincere of His servants as worshipping Allaah, the Most High, upon raghbah and rahbah, whist being humble and submissive to Him. The du’aa (invocation) here covers both invoking Allaah through acts of worship, and supplication. So they call upon Allaah out of earnest desire for what is with Him, and hoping for His reward, whilst also fearing His punishment as a result of their sins. So the Believer should hasten to Allaah, the Most High, upon fear and earnest desire; with regard to actions of obedience his hope and earnest desire should predominate, so that he is keen to perform them and hopes that they will be accepted; and with regard to whenever he thinks of committing a sin, then fear should predominate so that he will flee away from doing it and be saved from its consequent punishment. Some scholars say that the aspect of hope should pre-dominate when a person is ill, and the aspect of fear when he is well. They say this since a person who is ill feels subdued and weakened and it may be that his appointed time is near, so that he may die, and he should do so whilst thinking good of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. But when healthy he is energetic and has hope of remaining for a long time, and this may lead him to be exuberant and carefree, so fear should predominate in order to be safe from that. It is also said that the earnest hope and fear should be equal so that his hope does not lead him to feel safe from Allaah, and his fear does not cause him to despair of Allaah’s mercy, since both of these are evil and cause a person’s destruction. [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]

Ref 5: Al-Inaabah [turning to Allaah in repentance]: Allaah [The Most High] said: [وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُ – So turn, O you people, repentantly and obediently to your Lord, and submit obediently to Him] [39:54]

Al-Inaabah is to turn to Allaah, the Most High, in obedience, and avoiding disobedience to Him, and its meaning is close to that of repentance (tawbah), except that it is more subtle in meaning, and conveys the sense of dependence upon Allaah and fleeing for refuge to Him, and it cannot be except for Allaah. What is meant by the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “…submit obediently to Him” is: Islaam as prescribed and required of us in the Sharee’ah and that is to submit to the laws and commandments of Allaah. This is because submission to Allaah, the Most High, is of two types: (i) Submission of all the creation, which is to submit to whatever He has decreed should exist and occur in the creation about which the creation has no choice. So this is general and covers everyone in the heavens and the earth, the Believers and the unbelievers, the righteous and the wicked. No one can possibly disdain and depart from this. The evidence for it is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “And to Him everyone in the heavens and the earth submit, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him you will all be returned.” [Soorah Aal-‘Imraan (3):83] (ii) Submission to the laws and prescriptions of Islaam, and this is to submit in obedience. This is particular to those who are obedient to Allaah, the Messengers and those who follow them upon good. The evidences for this in the Qur’aan are many, and from them is the Aayah mentioned by the author [Soorah az-Zumar (39): 5] [Source: English translation of the ‘Three fundamental principles’ by Abu Talhah (may Allaah have mercy upon him and his wife)]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُ‌ۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

He is Allah, than Whom there is Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen (open). He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. He is Allah than Whom there is Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names . All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. [Surah Al-Hashr. Aayaat 22-24]

[هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ – He is Allah, than Whom there is none that has the right to be worshipped but He)]: Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] informed us that He alone has the right to be deified and worshipped, for there is no deity worthy of worship besides Him. And that is because He is Perfect [free is He from all imperfections, deficiencies, weaknesses, similarities, co-equals, faults, defects etc]. He alone bestowed everything to the creation out of His All-Encompassing Generosity and He alone controls all the affairs of the universe in perfect order. Every other thing taken as a deity besides Him is false and does not have an atom’s weight of right to be worshipped. Any other thing taken as a deity besides Him is deficient and dependent [or in need].

[عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ – The All-Knower of the unseen and the seen (open)]; Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] described Himself as having All Encompassing knowledge. His knowledge encompasses what is hidden from the creation and that which can be seen.

[هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ – (He is Ar-Rahmaan-The Most Merciful)]: Meaning: Allaah described Himself that He has an All-Encompassing Mercy which reaches everything and every living thing [Ref: A]; [And He is Ar-Raheem-The Bestower of Mercy]: Meaning: He bestowed special mercy to the believers, just as He said in another Ayah:[وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا -And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers (33:43)][Ref: B)]

Then Allaah [The Most High] reiterated that He alone is the true and only deity worthy of worship, saying: [هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ – He is Allah than Whom there is Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)].

Then Allaah [The Most High] stated that He is [ٱلۡمَلِكُ -The King]: Meaning: The owner of everything in the heavens and the earth. All the inhabitants and everything in the heavens and the earth belong to Him, completely in need of Him and under His dominion.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said that He is [ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ- The Pure and Perfect; The One Free from all defects]; [ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ –The True and Trustworthy, The Granter of Security]; [ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ -The Trustworthy and Ever Watchful Witness]; [ٱلۡعَزِيزُ – The All-Mighty or The Invincible]; [ٱلۡجَبَّارُ-The Exalted and All-Mighty Compeller]; [ٱلۡمُتَڪَبِّرُ‌ۚ – The One Supreme in Glory, The Justly and Rightfully Proud].

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِڪُونَ – Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him]. This statement declares Allaah free from all that is falsely ascribed to Him by those who associate partners with Him and those who wilfully turn away from Him.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ – He is Allah, the Creator]: Meaning: The Creator of all the creation. [ ٱلۡبَارِئُ- The Originator]; [ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌-The Bestower of forms].

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ – To Him belong the Best Names]: Meaning: He has many Names, which none can enumerate nor does anyone know all of them except Himself. All His Names and Attributes are perfect -[free from all deficiencies, defects etc].

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ – All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him].

[وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ – And He is The All-Mighty or The Invincible; The All-Wise]: Meaning: Whatever He wants to occur will occur, and nothing occurs except due to a perfect wisdom and benefit. [Ref 1]

[Ref 1 & Ref A: Source: (Tayseer al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

[Ref B: Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

NB: Translation of the Names of Allaah in this article were taken from the translation of the Noble Qur’aan’ by Dr Muhsin Khan and Shaikh Taqi-yuddeen al-Hilaali, as well as from a poster by Salafipublications.

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ قَآٮِٕمَۢا بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَڪِيمُ

Allah bears witness that Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa [none has the right to be worshipped but He], and the angels, and those having knowledge [also give this witness]; [He is always] maintaining His creation in Justice. Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa [none has the right to be worshipped but He], the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. [Aal Imraan Aayah 18]

[شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ – Allah bears witness]- Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] bears witness and He is sufficient as a Witness, He is the Most Truthful and Just Witness, and His speech is absolute truth; [أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ- that None has the right to be worshipped but He]- Meaning: He Alone is the true God of all the creation, everyone is a slave of His and completely in need of Him, but He is The Independent One Who is Free of All Needs.

Then Allaah [The Most High] mentioned His testimony alongside the testimony of the Angels and that of those endowed with knowledge [amongst the creation]. He [The Most High] said: [شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ – Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness)]; this is a great virtue of the scholars.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [قَآٮِٕمَۢا بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ – He (Allaah) is always maintaining His creation in Justice]-Meaning: Allaah [The Most High] maintains justice in all affairs. Then Allaah [The Most High] emphasised His previous statement, saying: [ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ – None has the right to be worshipped but He]. [ٱلۡعَزِيزُ – The All-Mighty]; [ٱلۡحَڪِيمُ – The All-Wise]: Meaning: He is The All-Wise in all His statements, actions, divine legislation and decrees. [An Excerpt from ‘Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer)’. slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَـٰتِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ

So know [O Muhammad] that Laa ilaaha ill-Allah [none has the right to be worshipped but Allah], and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for [the sin of] believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest [in your homes, graves etc]. [Surah Muhammad. Aayah 19]

It is Fard Ayn [i.e. an individual duty (or obligation)] to have knowledge of Laa Ilaaha Ilal laah [i.e. that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah], because it is knowledge a person cannot do without. This knowledge can be acquired through several ways and the greatest of them is to seek knowledge about the sound meanings of Allaah’s Names and Attributes, because that teaches a person the Greatness of Allaah, directs him to deify and worship Allaah alone and makes him know that Allaah alone is worthy of all praise.

To know that Allaah [The Most High] alone is the Creator, the One in control of all affairs of the universe and this necessitates that He alone has the right to be deified and worshipped.

To know that Allaah [The Most High] alone bestowed the creation with all the apparent blessings they have [i.e. Islaam, the lawful pleasures of this world- including health, good looks, etc] and all the hidden blessings [i.e. Eemaan, knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise, etc]. All this necessitates that the hearts should be attached to Allaah, love Him, deify Him alone and associate no partners to Him.

To pay attention to what one sees and hears regarding the reward Allaah [The Most High] bestows on those who establish Laa Ilaaha Ilal laah- the help He gives them and the bliss He has kept for them in the afterlife; and the punishment He inflicts on the enemies of Tawheed- those who associate partners with Him in worship. All this shows that Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped.

To know the characteristics of the idols and the other false deities that are worshipped besides Allaah due to the fact that they are deficient in every way and dependent on others. Neither do they have the ability to harm nor benefit; neither do they have the ability to cause death nor give life, nor can they raise the dead. Neither can they aid those who worship them nor can they give them an atom’s weight of benefit, nor repel an atom’s weight of harm from them. The one who knows that these are some of the characteristics of the idols and false deities will know that none has the right worshipped except Allaah and that everything worshipped besides Allaah is false.

To know that the best of the creation-those people who possess the noblest and most perfect manners, the most sound intellects, views and the most perfect in knowledge- are the Messengers and Prophets of Allaah and then the pious learned scholars, and they all testify to the fact that Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped. [Source: An Excerpt from ‘Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). Slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Allaah [The Most High] said:

طه

مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِتَشۡقَىٰٓ

إِلَّا تَذۡڪِرَةً۬ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰ

تَنزِيلاً۬ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ ٱلۡعُلَى

ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ

لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَا وَمَا تَحۡتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ

وَإِن تَجۡهَرۡ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ فَإِنَّهُ ۥ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخۡفَى هُوَ‌ۖ ل

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ

Taa-Haa. We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you (O Muhammad) to cause you distress; but only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah). A revelation from Him (Allah) Who has created the earth and high heavens. The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil. And if you (O Muhammad) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden. Allah! Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names. [Surah Taha Aayaat 1-8]

[مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِتَشۡقَىٰٓ – We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you (O Muhammad) to cause you distress]: Juwaybir reported from Ad-Dahhaak, who said that when Allaah revealed the Qur’aan to His Messenger, he and his Companions acted upon it. Then the Quraish polytheists said, ‘’This Qur’an was not revealed to Muhammad except to cause him distress’’; so Allaah [The Most High] revealed:

طه

مَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِتَشۡقَىٰٓ

إِلَّا تَذۡڪِرَةً۬ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰ

[Ta-Ha. We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you (O Muhammad) to cause you distress, But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah)]:

Meaning: The affair is not what the falsifiers claim; rather the one to whom Allaah grants knowledge, then that is because [Allaah] wants him to acquire abundant good just as it is established in Saheehayn [i.e. Saheeh Al-Bukhaari & Saheeh Muslim] from Mu’aawiyah [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] who said: The Messenger of Allaah [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] said, ‘‘Whoever Allaah wants good for, He gives him understanding of the religion.’’

And regarding the Aayah [إِلَّا تَذۡڪِرَةً۬ لِّمَن يَخۡشَى – But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah)]: Meaning: Indeed Allaah revealed His Book and sent His Messenger as a mercy through which He shows mercy to His slaves, so that the person who ponders might be reminded and benefits from what he hears of the Book of Allah, for it a reminder in which Allaah revealed what He has made lawful and unlawful.

And regarding the Ayaah: [تَنزِيلاً۬ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ ٱلۡعُلَى – A revelation from Him (Allah) Who has created the earth and high heavens]: Meaning: O Muhammad! This Qur’an, which has been given to you, is a revelation from your Lord- the Lord of everything, the Owner of everything and the One Who is Fully Able to do whatever He wills. He created the earth- both its regions that are easy to access and those that are difficult to access. He created the high heavens- elevated and having great distances between each other.

[ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ -The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)]. [لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَہُمَا وَمَا تَحۡتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ – To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and all that is under the soil]: Meaning: He is the owner of everything in the heavens and the earth. They are in His complete grasp, under His absolute control, will, intent and judgement. He is the Creator of all of them, their owner and God. Neither is there a true deity nor a true Lord besides Him.

And regarding the Ayah [وَإِن تَجۡهَرۡ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ فَإِنَّهُ ۥ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخۡفَى – And if you (O Muhammad) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden]: Meaning: The One Who revealed this Qur’an [i.e. Allaah] is also the One Who created the high heavens and the earth. He knows the secret and that which is even more hidden. Ibn Abbaas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said: Allaah knows what the children of Aadam hide in their souls and what is hidden from the children of Aadam before they do what they do. Allah knows all of that and His knowledge encompasses what has already taken place and what will happen in future.

Then Allaah [The Most High] said: [ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ – Allah! Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names]: Meaning: Allaah is the One Who revealed this Qur’an to you (O Muhammad) and there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Allaah is the possessor of the perfect Names and lofty Attributes. [Ref 1] There is no deity worthy of being loved, feared and invoked besides Him. There is no deity to whom a person should humble himself, turn to in repentance, submission and obedience besides Him. [Ref 2]

[Ref 1: (Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer Fee Tahdheeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer). Slightly paraphrased]

[Ref 2: (Tayseer al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan). Slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

حمٓ

تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ

غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوۡبِ شَدِيدِ ٱلۡعِقَابِ ذِى ٱلطَّوۡلِۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ

Haa-Meem. The revelation of the Book (this Qur’an) is from Allah the All-Mighty, the All-Knower. The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Bestower (of favours), Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return. [Surah Ghaafir 1-3]

Allaah [The Most High] informs [us] about His Great Book – the Qur’aan – that it was from Him and sent down by Him; and that He alone has the right to be deified and worshipped due to the fact that He alone is the Perfect One [i.e. the only One described with all perfect Names and Attributes and He has no imperfections, faults, shortcomings, deficiencies, co-equals, similarities etc] and the One singled out in His Actions [i.e. He alone is the Creator, Provider, the one Who maintains the affairs of the universe in perfect order, the one in absolute control of life and death, and everything happens by His will etc]; [ٱلۡعَزِيزِ – The All-Mighty One], Who has absolute control over everything and He is never overcome; [ٱلۡعَلِيمِ – The All-Knower]; [غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ – The Forgiver of sin]; [وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوۡبِ – the Acceptor of repentance]; [شَدِيدِ ٱلۡعِقَابِ- the Severe in punishment] on those who are unrepentant; and [ذِى ٱلطَّوۡلِۖ – the Bestower (of favours)].

So after Allaah [The Most High] established the fact that He alone is perfect, then this absolutely necessitates that He alone has the right to be deified and that all acts of worship are to be sincerely directed to Him; [لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ – none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return].

The appropriateness of mentioning -in these Aayaat- that the Qur’aan was revealed by Allaah -[The One described with all perfect Names and Attributes, and free is He from all imperfections, shortcomings, faults, deficiencies, similarities, co-equals]- is because the Qur’aan comprises of all affairs mentioned in these Aayaat. The Qur’aan either informs [us] of the Perfect Names and Attributes of Allaah and His Actions or about the unseen events of the past, and what will take place in future- a lesson from Allaah [The All-Knower].

It either informs (us) of Allaah’s tremendous blessings and great favours bestowed on mankind, and this why Allaah [The Most High] said: [ذِى ٱلطَّوۡلِۖ – the Bestower (of favours)]; or about His severe punishment on those who commit sins [and are unrepentant], and this is why Allaah [The Most High] said:[شَدِيدِ ٱلۡعِقَابِ- the Severe in punishment]. It either informs (us) about the sinners being urged to repent, and this is why Allaah [The Most High] said: [غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوۡبِ شَدِيدِ ٱلۡعِقَابِ – The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment]; or about the fact that Allaah alone has the right to be deified and worshipped, whilst citing the clear rational and divine proofs to establish that; commanding [mankind and jinn] to worship Allaah alone and forbid them from worshipping others besides Him, whilst citing clear proofs to show the falsity of worshipping others besides Him and warning them about the [destructive consequences of polytheism in this life and the next], and this is why Allaah [The Most High] said: [لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ – none has the right to be worshipped but He (Allaah]. It also informs us of Allaah’s just recompense – the reward that will be granted to doers of good and the punishment that will be afflicted on the sinners, and this is why Allaah [The Most High] said: [ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ- to Him is the final return]. The Qur’aan gathers all these lofty, divine and perfect [commands and prohibitions related to every aspect of life, and by way of which mankind can live a life of purity, virtue, security, justice, perfect guidance in this worldly life, and a life of eternal bliss in the afterlife].

[Source: (Tayseer Al-kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan). slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab [rahimahullaah] said in Al-Qawaa’idul Ar’ba’ah: Know that the unbelievers – those whom Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] fought against- affirmed that indeed Allaah [The Most High] is the Creator, the Provider and the One Who controls all the affairs [in the universe], but that [i.e. this belief alone] did not enter them into Islaam. And the proof is the statement of Allaah [The Most High]:

قُلۡ مَن يَرۡزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمَّن يَمۡلِكُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ وَمَن يُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمَيِّتِ وَيُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَىِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ‌ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ فَقُلۡ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

Say (O Muhammad): “Who provides for you from the sky and from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?” They will say: “Allah.” Say: “Will you not then be afraid of Allah’s Punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allah)?” [Surah Yunus. Aayah 31]

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said: The first principle is to know that those unbelievers whom Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] and the Sahaabah fought against used to affirm Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah – that Allaah is the Creator, The Provider and the One Who controls all the affairs [of the universe] and they had no doubt about that; but today [i.e. in this era] the ignorant Muslims think that this category of Tawheed is enough. This is tantamount to ignorance, because the idolaters [of Quraish] were even more knowledgeable than them [in this affair]. Therefore, if a person [i.e. someone amongst the Muslims of today] affirms Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and says, “Allaah is my Lord and Provider”, then still this is not enough, because even the idolaters affirmed this due to the statement of Allaah [The Most High]: [لَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَهُمۡ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ – And if you ask them who created them, they will surely say: “Allah”. [Surah Az-Zukhruf. Aayah 87]

And Allaah said: [وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ – If you were to ask them: “Who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon?” They will surely reply: “Allah.” How then are they deviating (as polytheists and disbelievers)? [Surah Al-Ankaboot. Aayah 61]

So, the idolaters affirmed this [i.e. Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah]. Allaah said:

Meaning: Indeed, despite that you know this [i.e. you’ve affirmed Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah], then do you not fear [the destructive consequences of] associating partners with Allaah in worship and return to worshipping Allaah alone, and return to the truth?!

So, they knew these affairs [regarding Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah] and affirmed them, but it did not benefit them; rather the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] fought them because they did not sincerely single out Allaah in worship, and they associated Laat, Uzzaa, Manaat and many of their idols as partners with Allaah in worship.

Therefore, Tawheed is to direct acts of worship to Allaah alone and to believe that Allaah alone has the right to be worshipped. And what will acquaint you with this is that indeed the idolaters used to say: “We do not invoke them [i.e. the idols] and turn towards them, except to seek closeness and intercession [with Allaah]. [An excerpt from At-ta’leeqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Ar-Rasaa’il Al-Aqadiyyah Li-Shaikhil Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdil Wahhaab’. Page 13. Slightly paraphrased]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [rahimahullaah] said:

The shirk of the early generation [i.e. the people of Shirk during the era of Allaah’s Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)] is less severe than the shirk of the latter ones [i.e. the people of today]. The shirk of the latter ones is greater and more repugnant, because the people of Shirk in the early generation used to commit shirk during times of ease and sincerely worshipped Allaah in times of hardship; but as for the people of shirk in most of the lands [today], their shirk is constant – both in times of ease and hardship, such as those who direct acts of worship to Al-Badawi, Al-Hussain, Shaikh Abdul Qaadir Al-Jaylaani and other than them. Therefore, it is obligatory to warn against the shirk committed by the people of Shirk in times of hardship and ease – be it great or small.

And the proofs regarding the shirk committed- in times of ease- by the people of Shirk [during the era of Allaah’s Messenger] is the statement of Allaah: [فَإِذَا رَڪِبُواْ فِى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ دَعَوُاْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّٮٰهُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡبَرِّ إِذَا هُمۡ يُشۡرِكُون – And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others. [Surah Al-Ankaboot. Aayah 65] – Meaning: When they sailed at sea and feared drowning or that their ship would capsize, they sincerely invoked Allaah; but after Allaah saves them, they returned to their shirk.

Allaah said: [وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ ٱلضُّرُّ فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدۡعُونَ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ‌ۖ فَلَمَّا نَجَّٮٰكُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡبَرِّ أَعۡرَضۡتُمۡ‌ – And when harm touches you upon the sea, those that you invoke besides Him [Allaah] vanish from you except Him [Allah Alone]. But when He [Allaah] brings you safely to land, you turn away [from Him]. [Surah Al-Israa. Aayah 67]

Also in [another Aayah Allaah said]: [وَإِذَا غَشِيَہُم مَّوۡجٌ۬ كَٱلظُّلَلِ دَعَوُاْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ – And when a wave covers them like shades (i.e. like clouds or the mountains of seawater), they invoke Allah, making their invocations for Him only. [Surah Luqmaan. Aayah 32]

This was the state of the people of Shirk in times of hardship, for they used to sincerely worship Allaah and they knew that Allaah alone is the one who will save them; however, in times of ease they fell into shirk by worshipping their false deities and idols.

As for the people of Shirk in this era [of ours], their shirk is constant and they are deprived of clear-sightedness, because they direct acts of worship to other than Allaah both in times of ease and hardship. They have no discernment due to their feeble intellects and being completely submerged in ignorance. We ask Allaah for wellbeing and safety. [An Excerpt from At-taleeqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Ar-Rasaa-il Al-Aqadiyyah Li-Shaikhil Islaam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab’ page 22-23. Slightly paraphrased]

Tawheed Mentioned Alongside Different Subject Matters

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Basics

A Supplication of some of the Salaf – Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah)

Advice of Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) to Have Taqwa and Follow the Sunnah

Forgive those Who Behave Badly towards You – Shaykh Fawzaan

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Benefits of Tawheed are Seen in this Life and the Hereafter – Imam As-Sadi (rahimahullah)

Fitnah is Inevitable – Shaykh Muqbil (rahimahullah)

If Your Heart is Distressed and Troubled – Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah)

What to do with a Heedless Heart – Shaykh al-Uthaymeen (rahimahullah)

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Aqeedah

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[2] War crimes expected when some misguided religious figureheads and ideologues form alliances based on abrogated, distorted, and fabricated texts

[1] War crimes expected when some misguided religious figureheads and ideologues form alliances based on abrogated, distorted, and fabricated texts

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[8] Zionism – [Intoxication with desire for control and an absence of sound rectification]

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[6] Zionism – [Intoxication with desire for control and an absence of sound rectification]

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Women & Family

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Forgive those Who Behave Badly towards You – Shaykh Fawzaan

Supplication of ‘Umar ibnul Khattab which should be Memorised – Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaami’

Benefits of Tawheed are Seen in this Life and the Hereafter – Imam As-Sadi (rahimahullah)

Fitnah is Inevitable – Shaykh Muqbil (rahimahullah)

If Your Heart is Distressed and Troubled – Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah)

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