All major
religions that believe In the existence of God ultimately, on a higher level,
believe in one supreme God. All religious scriptures actually speak about
monotheism i.e. Belief in only one true
God.
People
change scriptures for their benefit:
By the
passage of time most of the religious scriptures have been distorted and
changed by people for their own benefits. The creed of many religions has thus
been distorted from monotheism to pantheism or polytheism. The Holy Quran says:
“Then woe to those who write The Book with their own hands,
and then say: “This is from Allah,” To traffic with it for a miserable price!
Woe to them for what their hands Do write, and for the gain They make thereby.”
(Holy Quran 2:79)
TAWHEED:
Definition and Categories:
Islam believes in ‘Tawheed’ which is not merely monotheism i.e. belief in
one unique God, but much more. Tawheed literally means “unification” i.e.
“asserting oneness” and is derived from the Arabic verb “Wahhada” which means
to unite, unify or consolidate.
Tawheed can be divided into 3
categories.
1. Tawheed
ar-Ruboobeeyah
2. Tawheed
al-Asmaa-was-sifaat
3. Tawheed
al-Ibaadah.
a.
Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah (maintaining the unity of Lordship)
The first
category is ‘Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah’. ‘Ruboobeeyah’ is derived from the
root verb “Rabb” meaning Lord, Sustainer and Cherisher.
Therefore ‘Tawheed
ar-Ruboobeeyah’ means maintaining the unity of Lordship. This category is
based on the fundamental concept that Allah alone caused all things to exist
when there was nothing. He created or originated all that exists out of
nothing. He alone is the sole Creator, Cherisher and Sustainer of the complete
universe and all between it, without any need from it or for it.
b.
Tawheed al-Asmaa was-sifaat (maintaining the unity if Allah’s name and
attributes):
The second
category is ‘ Tawheed al-Asmaa
was-sifaat’ which means maintaining the unity of Allah’s name and
attributes. This category is divided
into five aspects:
· Allah should be
referred to as described by Him and His prophet:
Allah must be referred to according to the manner in which He and His
proper have described Him without explaining His names and attributes by giving
them meanings other than their obvious meanings.
· Allah must be
referred to as He has referred to
Himself:
Allah must be referred to without giving Him any new names or attributes.
For example Allah may not be given the name al-Ghaadib (the Angry One), despite
the fact that He has said that He gets angry, because neither Allah nor His
messenger have used this name.
· Allah is
referred to without giving Him the attributes of His creation:
In a reference to God, we should strictly abstain from giving Him the
attributes of those He has created. For instance in the Bible, God is portrayed
as repenting for his bad thoughts in the same way as humans do when they
realize their errors. This is completely against the principle of Tawheed. God
does not repent and He does not commit any mistakes or errors.
The key principle when dealing with Allah’s attributes is given in the
Holy Quran in Surah Ash-Shurah:
“There is nothing whatever likes unto Him, and He is the One That
hears and sees (all things).” (Holy Quran 42:11)
Although hearing and seeing are human qualities, when attributed to the
Divine Being they are without comparison in their perfection, unlike when
associated with human who require ears, eyes, etc. and who are limited in their
sight and hearing.
· Men should not
to be given any attribute of God:
To refer to a human with the attribute of God is also against the
principle of Tawheed. For example, referring to a person as one who has no
beginning or end (eternal).
· Allah’s name
cannot be given to his creatures:
Some divine names in the indefinite form, like ‘Raoof’ or ‘Raheem’ are permissible
names for men as Allah has used them for Prophets; but ‘Ar-Raoof’ ( the Most
Pious) and ‘Ar-Raheem’ (the Most Merciful) can only be use if prefixed by ‘Abd’
meaning “slave of” or “ servant of” i.e.
‘Abdur- Raoof’ or ‘Abdur-Raheem’.
c.
Tawheed al-Ibaadah (maintaining the unity of worship):
·
Definition and meaning of ‘Ibaadah’:
Tawheed al-Ibaadah means maintaining
the unity of worship or ‘Ibaadah’. Ibaadah is derived from Arabic word ‘Abd’
meaning slave or servant. Thus Ibaadah means servitude and worship. Salaah is
one of the highest forms of Ibaadah i.e. worship but is not the only form.
People misunderstand that worship of almighty God only means ritual prayers but
the concept of worship in Islam includes total obedience, submission and
servitude. Following the commandments f God and abstaining from things He has
forbidden is Ibaadah (worship) and this worship is only due to Allah alone and
to no one else.
· All three
categories to be followed simultaneously:
Only believing in the
first two categories of Tawheed without implementing Tawheed- al-Ibaadah is
useless. The Quran gives the examples of “Mushrikeens” (idolaters) of the
Prophet’s time who confirmed the first two aspects of Tawheed. It is mentioned
in the Holy Quran:
Say: “who is it that
sustains you (in life) from the sky and from the earth? Or who is it that has
power over hearing and sight? And who is it that brings out the living from the
dead and the dead from the living? And who is it that rules and regulates all
affairs? They will soon say, “Allah”. Say, “Will you not then show piety (to
Him)?” (Holy Quran 10:31)
A similar example is
repeated in Surah Zukhruf of the Holy Quran:
“if thou ask them, who
created them, they will certainly say, Allah: how then are they deluded away (
from the truth)?” (Holy Quran 43:87)
The pagan Meccans knew that Allah was
their creator, sustainer, lord and master. Yet they were not Muslims because
they also worshipped other gods besides Allah. Allah categorized them as “Kuffaars”
(disbelievers) and “Mushrikeens” (idol worshipers and those who associate
partners with God).
“And most
of them believe not in Allah without associating (others as partners) with Him!”
(Holy Quran 12:106)
Thus Tawheed
al-Ibaadah i.e. maintaining the unity of worship is the most important aspect
of Tawheed. He alone deserves worship and He alone grant benefit to man for his
worship.
That is a very excellent effort, May Allah help your knowledge and success in both world... Keep going
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