Tawhid
Importance of tawhid (Oneness of god)
Lesson-1
Layilaha illallah- لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ
Reject all false Gods and Believe in allah only:
“And whoever rejects the Taghut (false gods) and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break..
( Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 256)
256 لَاۤ اِكْرَاهَ فِى الدِّيْنِۙ قَدْ تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَىِّۚ فَمَنْ يَّكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوْتِ وَيُؤْمِنْۢ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقٰى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ.
From the conditions of Tawheed below :
1. The first condition is Al-i’lm (Knowledge):
فَاعْلَمْ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ
فَاعْلَمْ so know ! اَنَّهٗ that he لَاۤ there is no اِلٰهَ god اِلَّاexcept
اللّٰهُ Allah
,,,,,,Know that there is no god but Allah (Alqur’an 47:19)
. Therefore if anyone ignores that Allah (swt) is the only One Worthy of Worship, then his Islam is nullified, and due to this reason knowledge is considered as a basic condition in the acceptance of one’s Islam.
2 :The second condition of Tawheed is Al-Yaqeen (Certainty):
After a person learns Tawheed and understands the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’, he must have absolute certainty about the fact that all forms of worship should be directed to Allah(swt) Alone and entertain no doubt or hesitation about it. Allah(swt) says:
5 اِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوْلِهٖ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوْا وَجَاهَدُوْا بِاَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاَنْفُسِهِمْ فِىْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ ؕ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الصّٰدِقُوْنَ
.
“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and his Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and lives for the Cause of Allah. Those! they are the truthful people.” Surah Al-Hujraat Ayah 15(49:15)
In a hadith of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), he is reported to have said: “I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship other than Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. Any slave who meets Allah and has no doubt about the truth of those two statements shall be placed in Jannah.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
3. The third condition of ‘La ilaha illallah’ is Al-Qubool (Acceptance):
Once a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen, he must next verbally acknowledge that he has accepted the Shahaada and never deny it for any reason other than Ikrah (Compulsion). Allah Taala said in Surah As-Safaat Ayah 35-36:
. When it was said to them, “There is no god except Allah,” they grew arrogant (Alqur’an 37:35)
37:35
اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْۤا اِذَا قِيْلَ لَهُمْ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُۙ يَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَۙ
37:36 وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ اَٮِٕنَّا لَتٰرِكُوْۤا اٰلِهَـتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍ مَّجْـنُوْنٍ ؕ
37:36. ““And said, “Are we to abandon our gods for a mad poet?”
4. The fourth condition of Tawheed is Al-Inqiyaad (Compliance):
Submission/ Compliance/Surrender (Al-Inqiyaad) – contrary to abandonment --obeying
After a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen and has passed Al-Qubool (Acceptance), he next has to strive towards ‘La ilaha illallah’ with his actions and comply with what it requires.
They should reject all false deities and direct all forms of worship to
Allah (swt) Alone.
Allah Taala says in Surah An-Nisaa, Ayah 65
(4:65)فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ حَتّٰى يُحَكِّمُوْكَ فِيْمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوْا فِىْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا
But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muḥammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.(alqur’an 4:65)
Note that the difference between Al-Qubool(Acceptance) and Al-Inqiyaad is that Al-Qubool is accepting the Shahaada verbally but Al-Inqiyaad is acting according to what the Shahaada requires.
“And whoever rejects the Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break...” Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 256
2:256 لَاۤ اِكْرَاهَ فِى الدِّيْنِۙ قَدْ تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَىِّۚ فَمَنْ يَّكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوْتِ وَيُؤْمِنْۢ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقٰى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ:
12:40 مَا تَعْبُدُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِهٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَسْمَآءً سَمَّيْتُمُوْهَاۤ اَنْـتُمْ وَ اٰبَآؤُكُمْ مَّاۤ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطٰنٍؕ اِنِ الْحُكْمُ اِلَّا لِلّٰهِؕ اَمَرَ اَلَّا تَعْبُدُوْۤا اِلَّاۤ اِيَّاهُؕ ذٰلِكَ الدِّيْنُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلٰـكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ
You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.(alqur’an 12:40)
5. The fifth condition of Tawheed is As-Sidq (Truthfulness):
Once a person has understood Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and accepts it with full certainty and absolute compliance to its requirements, he should be truthful in what he has done. The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah shall forbid the fire from anyone that bears witness truthfully from his heart that there is nothing worthy of worship except for Allah and that Muhammed is his slave and messenger.” [Bukhari and Muslim].
The Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also said: “Whoever says La ilaha illallah truthfully shall enter Jannah.” [Reported by Ahmad]
As for someone who declares Tawheed with his tongue and then rejects what it means in his heart then his Tawheed will not be accepted and it will not save him as Allah(swt) clearly states about the Munaafiqeen when they said:
“we bear witness that you are a Messenger of Allah” Surah Al-Munaafiqeen: Ayah 1. Allah taala answered them by saying:
63:1 اِذَا جَآءَكَ الْمُنٰفِقُوْنَ قَالُوْا نَشْهَدُ اِنَّكَ لَرَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ ۘ وَاللّٰهُ يَعْلَمُ اِنَّكَ لَرَسُوْلُهٗ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَشْهَدُ اِنَّ الْمُنٰفِقِيْنَ لَـكٰذِبُوْنَ ۚ
63:1. “
“When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad SAW), they say:
"We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.” Surah Al-Munaafiqeen Ayah 1.(63:1)
Allah (swt) has also called them liars by saying:
“And of the people are those who say - we have believed in Allah and in the final day while in fact they believe not.” Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah (alqur’an 2:8)
6. The sixth condition of Tawheed is Al-Ikhlaas (Sincerity):
a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen, Al- Qubool, Al-inqiyaad and has done it with As-Sidq he next has to have Al-ikhlaas. Al ikhlaas is to make all forms of worship for Allah Alone, not for anyone or anyone else.
Allah Ta’ala says:
“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and
worship none but Him Alone and perform Salat, and give Zakat, and that is the right religion.” Surah Al- Bayyina Ayah 5
Also in the meaning of Al-ikhlaas is that the person should not pronounce their Islam with the willingness to please anyone or anything other than Allah(swt).The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah has forbidden to the fire the one who says ‘La ilaha illallah’ in the cause of Allah.” [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].
He (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also said: “The happiest people with my intercession on the day of Judgement are those who say ‘La ilaha illallah’ sincerely from their hearts (to Allah).” [Bukhari]
7. The seventh condition of Tawheed is Al-Mahabba (Love):hubbullah
After a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen, Al- Qubool, Al-inqiyaad and has done it with As-Sidq and Al-ikhlaas, he should love the fact that the only one worthy of worship is Allah(swt) and show his love for Allah(swt) with his tongue. Allah ta'ala says:
“
2:165 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَّتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ اَنْدَادًا يُّحِبُّوْنَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللّٰهِؕ وَالَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْٓا اَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّٰهِ ؕ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِيْنَ ظَلَمُوْٓا اِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَۙ اَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلّٰهِ جَمِيْعًا ۙ وَّاَنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِيْدُ الْعَذَابِ
2:165.
*Abdur-Rahmaan Bin Hasan Aal Ashaikh (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Most people ignore the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’, and even if they declare it with their tongue, they have denied its meaning. One should pay attention to these six or seven conditions without which one cannot be safe from Kufr (disbelief) or Nifaaq (hypocracy). A person can only become a Muslim if these conditions are met and implemented because the heart should confirm with the tongue in terms of theory, knowledge, action, practice, belief, acceptance, love and compliance.
So knowledge is essential as opposed to ignorance, sincerity as opposed to Shirk and truthfulness as opposed to lies unlike the Mushrikeen and the hypocrites. Certainty is also essential as opposed to doubt, because one can say Laa Ilaha Illa Allah... and be doubtful of its meaning and requirements. Love as opposed to hatred, and acceptance as opposed to rejection, because one can understand its meaning but rejects it- as was the case with the Pagan (Mushrikeen) Arabs.
Compliance with ‘La ilaha illallah’ as opposed to shirk in the sense that the one who does not act according to it and complies with its requirements will certainly be a Mushrik (a person who associates partners with Allah azawajal). So anyone who fulfils all these conditions, has gained the light with which he worships Allah azawajal and he has ultimately followed the right and straight path.”
* (Copied and translated from Addurur Assaniyya - The Book of Tawheed 255/2)
8. Disbelief in the Tawaagheet (pl. of taaghoot)
As was mentioned in the post on the 2 pillars of laa ilaaha illallaah, it is a pillar of the shahaadah as well as a condition that one disbelieves and rejects anything that is worshipped besides Allaah. (a post explaining the term taaghoot will follow inshaAllaah)
6 لَاۤ اِكْرَاهَ فِى الدِّيْنِۙ قَدْ تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَىِّۚ فَمَنْ يَّكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوْتِ وَيُؤْمِنْۢ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقٰى لَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ
2:256.
قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
Taariq ibn Asheem (may Allaah be pleased with him) said; I heard the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasalam) say, “Whoever say that there is no deity worthy of worship besides Allaah, and he disbelieves in whatever is worshipped besides Allaah, then Allaah has mde his blood and wealth unlawful. And his reckoning is with Allaah”. [Muslim, Musnad Imam Ahmed].
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