The Fundamentals of Tawheed

1. The Fundamentals of Tawheed Based on the book written by : Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

2. What is Tawheed? La ilaha il-lal-lah There is no god except Allah….? Tawheed is best summarized in the Kalmia-tul Ikhlas (translation below) There is none worthy of worship except Allah & Mohammad (Peace be upon him) is the messenger of Allah.

3. Warnings Hadith where Prophet (Peace be upon him) drew a straight line and many branches coming out from it at an angle. وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ Ayat “this is my path leading straight, so follow it. And do not follow the other paths or else you will be separated from his path.”

4. Meaning of Tawheed Literal meaning Unification (making something one) or asserting oneness. Comes from the Arabic word “wahada” meaning unify or consolidate. Islamic meaning: “Worshiping Allah alone in belief and action and without associating partners.”

5. Categories of Tawheed Tawheed Ar-Ruboobeya: Maintaing the unity of Lordship Tawheed As-Asma was-siffat: Maintaining the unity of Allah’s names & Attributes Tawheed Al-Ebada: Maintaining the unity of Allah’s worship

6. Tawheed Ar-Ruboobeya(Unity of Lordship) Allah created everything He sustains and maintains it He gives life and death He is the sole Lord of the Universe There is none equal, comparable, challenger to Him

7. Allah says in Quran اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ “Allah created all things and he is the agent on which all things depend.”

8. Another Ayat مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ “And no calamity strikes except by Allah’s permission : and if any one believes in Allah, (Allah) guides his heart (aright): for Allah knows all things”[Surah Tagabun 64:11]

9. Prophet’s guidance on Aqeedah “Beware that if whole of the mankind gathered together in order to do something to help you, they will not be able to do something for you which Allah had already written for you. Likewise, if the whole mankind gathered together to harm you, they would only be able to do something to harm you which Allah had already written to happen to you.”

10. So why worry? Thus what we think as good or bad luck is already predestined by Allah.

11. Allah Says وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الأمْوَالِ وَالأنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ “Surely we will test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth and life and the fruits of your work so give glad tidings to those who are patient.” (Surah Baqarah 2:155)

12. Another Ayat كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَعَسَى أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.. [surah baqarah 2:216]

13. Good fortune / Bad fortune Everything is from Allah and cannot be caused by good luck charms, zodiac signs, black cats, etc. Actually, belief in charms and omens is a manifestation of the grave sin of shirk in this form of tawheed.

14. Using Quran as charm or amulet Not allowed! Little difference between such practices and those of the pagans. This is because the Prophet (Peace be upon him) never used the Quran in this way and he said that, “whoever innovates in Islam something which does not belong to it will have it rejected.”

15. Think about it! Prophet (Peace be upon him) became sick, was under magic, was harmed, threatened, hurt, and sad, yet not once did he write Quran on a something and hang around his neck, arm, waist, etc. Instead he used to recite it & ponder over its meanings in order to derive cure & protection from it. Quran is a blessing and shifa, but has to be used in a way so that shifa and protection can be derived from it. For this purpose the practice of the Prophet (PBUH) should be closely followed.

16. How to use the Quran Putting a medicine in the pocket will not cure the sick unless he swallows the medicine. Similarly benefit from Quran can only be achieved in the way that the prophet showed us, not the way we think is beneficial. Quran was not revealed to be hanged on body or walls, its very meaning is…a recital!

17. Tawheed Al-Asma was-siffat(Unity of Allah’s names & attributes) Five main aspects of this tawheed First, referring to Allah how He & His Prophet described Him without explaining away the meanings or attributes by giving them meaning other than the obvious meanings.

18. For example Allah says, “Allah is angry with them, curses them and has prepared for them an evil end.” Anger is one of Allah’s attribute. Incorrect to deduce that anger must mean his punishment since anger is a sign of weakness and such is not befitting to Allah. What Allah says must be accepted with the qualification that His anger is not like human anger

19. Description of Allah لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ “there is nothing like Him and He is the All hearing the all seeing.” Quran 42:11 Allah sees and Allah hears but his seeing and hearing is not like our seeing and hearing. Allah attributes only resemble in words not in meanings. When attributes are used in reference to Allah they are to be taken in the absolute sense, free from all human deficiencies.

20. 2nd aspect of Tawheed Asma Was-Siffat Allah must be referred to as He has referred to Himself without giving Him any new names or attributes. For example, Allah may not be called Al-Ghaadib “the angry one” even though he said that He gets angry. This is because neither Allah nor his messenger called Him by this name. Finite man is in no position to define the infinite Lord.

21. 3rd aspect of Tawheed Asma Was-Siffat Allah is referred to without giving him the attributes of his creation. For example, Bible says, God created the universe in six days and on the seventh day He rested. The attribute of tiredness which exists in human cannot be attributed to Allah

22. 4th aspect of Tawheed Asma Was-Siffat Man cannot be given the attributes of Allah For example, Most Shi’ites have given their “imams” divine attributes of absolute infallibility, knowledge of the past, the future and the unseen, the ability to change destiny, and control over the atoms of creation. This is an example of setting up rivals against Allah by sharing His attributes with His creation.

23. 5th aspect of Tawheed Asma Was-Siffat Allah’s names cannot be given to his creation in the absolute form unless a prefix of “Abd” (meaning: servant, slave) is attached. Definite form represents perfection which only belongs to Allah. We cannot call some one Ar-Raoof or Ar-Raheem, but we can call him Abdur Raoof or Abdur Raheem. We can also call them Raoof & Raheem (without their absolute form which is unique for Allah)

24. 5th aspect of Tawheed Asma Was-Siffat Names like Abdur Rasool or Ghulam Hussain, where people name themselves slaves of other than Allah are also forbidden. People before Islam had names like Abdul-uzza (slave of Uzza-a pagan goddess), Abdu-Shammas (Slave of the sun). But Islam came to stop such kinds of slavery and reintroduce the slavery to Allah alone.

25. Forbidden names “A delegation came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he heard them calling someone ‘Abd al-Hajar (slave of the stone). He asked him, ‘What is your name?” and he said, ‘‘Abd al-Hajar.’ He said, ‘No, you are ‘Abd-Allaah (the slave of Allaah).’” (hadith of ibn aby shaybah, Al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 11/335). The prophet (Peace be upon him) forbade muslims from referring to those under their chargeas “Abdee” (my slave) or “Amatee” (my slave girl) [Sunan Abu Daud]

26. Tawheed Al-Ebadah (Unity of Allah’s worship) This means that Only Allah has the right to be worshipped/obeyed and none other can share this worship with Him. This form of Tawheed is so important that Tawheed Ruboobeya & Tawheed Asma was-siffat are useless without it. Both earlier mentioned tawheed should lead to this form of tawheed, otherwise a person will not be considered a Muslim

27. Pagans believed in Allah! قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأرْضِ أَمْ مَنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالأبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الأمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُ فَقُلْ أَفَلا تَتَّقُونَ “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 ye not then show piety (to Him)?” (surah Younas 10:31)

28. Pagans believed in Allah! وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ “If thou ask them, who created them, they will certainly say, Allah: How then are they deluded away (from the Truth)?” (Surah Az-zukhruf 43:87)

29. Why were the pagans not Muslims? Allah is saying that they (pagans) believe in Allah as creator and sustainer (Ruboobeya). They also believed that He had the attributes and qualities of giving life & death (asmawas-siffat), yet they were not called muslims. Allah says, “Most of them do not believe in Allah except while joining partners to Him.” (Surah Yousuf 12:106) وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلا وَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ

30. Pagans believed in Allah, yet persisted in worshipping others alongside Him. Tawheed Ruboobeya & Asma was-siffat should eventually lead us to Tawheed Al-Ebadah.

31. Worship Allah alone Allah should be worshipped solely and without any intercessors. There is no place in Islam for having an intercessor as a prerequisite for worshipping Allah. وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإنْسَ إِلا لِيَعْبُدُونِ “I (Allah) did not create the Jinn and the mankind except for my worship.” (Surah Adh-dhariyat 51:56) Notice the ayat does not say that they should worship me through some intercessors but the ayat is talking about direct worship.

32. Worship Allah alone وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ “verily we have sent to every nation a messenger (saying), worship Allah & avoid false gods.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:36) Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “If you ask in prayer ask only Allah, and if you seek help, seek it from Allah.”

33. Surah Fatiha إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ “You alone we worship and from you Alone do we seek from Help.” (Surah Fatiha) How can there be any need for any intercessor after these ayat and ahadith?

34. Surah Baqarah وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ “when my servant asks you about me (tell them), verily I am close (to them), I listen to the prayer of everyone who calls on Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me in order that they may be guided aright.” (Surah Baqarah 2:186)

36. Making Dua يُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لأجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ He merges Night into Day, and he merges Day into Night, and he has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law): each one runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord: to Him belongs all Dominion. And those whom ye invoke besides Him have not the least power. Al-Qur'an, 035.013 (Fatir [The Angels, Originator]) ANY ONE BESIDES ALLAH, IS ONLY A SALVE JUST LIKE YOU, NO MATTER HOW PIOUS HE IS / WAS! EVEN THE PROPHET. “All praise is due to Allah, who has bestowed this divine book from on high upon His servant (slave), and has not allowed any deviousness to obscure its meaning.” (Surah Kahf 18:1)

37. Prayers to the dead Praying to the dead, asking them for favor, or seeking their blessings in any way at all. Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Dua is prayer.” (Sunan abu daud) & we know that prayer should only be directed to Allah alone.

38. Dua to other than Allah “those on whom you call besides Allah are only slaves like yourselves.” Therefore, if someone prays to the Prophet (Peace be upon him), to so-called saints, jinns or angles asking for help or asking them to request Allah for help for them, they have also committed shirk.

39. Is Allah not enough for us? Many people (in Indo-Pak subcontinent region) call on saints or righteous men with the following titles or descriptions. Ghaus-e-azam [the greatest source of rescue, the one most able to save some one from danger] Mushkil kusha [the one who solves all problems] Da’ta [the one who gives everything] Ganj baksh [the one who grants treasures] Gareeb nawaz [the one who bestows on the poor] Dastageer [the one who is a support during trouble] Notice that all these descriptions are the descriptions of Allah subhano watalah and do not suit his creation!

40. Ghaus-e-azam:The greatest source of rescue, the one most able to save from danger This title is given by the ignorant to Abdul Qadir Jilanee. People call on Abdul Qadeer by this name when misfortune strikes, where as Allah has said in the Quran; أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الأرْضِ أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ قَلِيلا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَ Or, Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and Who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Little it is that ye heed! Surah Naml 27:62

41. Mushkil Kusha: the one who solves all problems Allah says in the Quran; وَإِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلا هُوَ وَإِنْ يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ Surah An-am 6:17 "If Allah touch thee with affliction, none can remove it but He; if He touch thee with happiness, He hath power over all things.”

42. Da’ta:the one who gives everything Allah says in the Quran; لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ يَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills (and plans). He bestows (children) male or female according to His Will (and Plan), أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَاثًا وَيَجْعَلُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ عَقِيمًا إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ Or He bestows both males and females, and He leaves barren whom He will: for He is full of Knowledge and Power. Al-Qur'an, 042.049-050 (Ash-Shura [Council, Consultation])

43. Ganj Baksh: The one who grants treasure Allah says in the Quran; هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لا تُنْفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنْفَضُّوا وَلِلَّهِ خَزَائِنُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لا يَفْقَهُونَ They are the ones who say, "Spend nothing on those who are with Allah's Messenger, to the end that they may disperse (and quit Medina)." But to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth; but the Hypocrites understand not. Al-Qur'an, 063.007 (Al-Munafiqoon [The Hypocrites]) فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًا قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّى لَكِ هَذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ Right graciously did her Lord accept her: He made her grow in purity and beauty: To the care of Zakariya was she assigned. Every time that he entered (Her) chamber to see her, He found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O Mary! Whence (comes) this to you?" She said: "From Allah: for Allah Provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure." Al-Qur'an, 003.037 (Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran])

44. Gareeb Nawaz:the one who bestows on the poor Allah says; يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ O ye men! It is ye that have need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, worthy of all praise. Al-Qur'an, 035.015 (Fatir [The Angels, Originator])

45. Dastgeer:the one who supports during trouble Allah says in the Quran; وَإِذَا مَسَّ الإنْسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنْبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَائِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَنْ لَمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَى ضُرٍّ مَسَّهُ كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْمُسْرِفِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ When trouble toucheth a man, He crieth unto Us (in all postures)- lying down on his side, or sitting, or standing. But when We have solved his trouble, he passeth on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes! Al-Qur'an, 010.012 (Yunus [Jonah])

46. Worship is more than rituals Islam is a complete way of life, not a mere practice of rituals. In addition to fasting, hajj, zakah, prayer, it also includes emotions like love, trust & fear, all of which have degrees which should only be directed to Allah. Allah has addressed these emotions in the following verses

47. Emotions are part of worship وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ “…they love them as they should only love Allah…” (Surah baqarah 2:165) أَلا تُقَاتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَكَثُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُولِ وَهُمْ بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَخْشَوْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ “…do you fear them? Allah has more right to be feared if you are truly believers.” (Surah tawbah 9:13) قَالَ رَجُلانِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَخَافُونَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا ادْخُلُوا عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمُوهُ فَإِنَّكُمْ غَالِبُونَ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ “put your trust in Allah if you are truly believers.” (Surah myeda 5:23)

48. Comprehensive Meaning of Ebadah Total obedience to Allah Allah is considered the ultimate law giver Implementation of secular laws which go against the Sharia of Allah, and believing in the correctness of such systems is a form of worshipping other than Allah. “those who do not rule by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers (kafiroon). Surah Al-myeda 5:44 وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

49. Muslim rulers, note this! Significant part of tawheed involves implementation of sharia, especially in lands where Muslims are majority. If the rulers implement or allow laws against the Shaira of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) then Allah has already called them Kafiroon in the Quran (Ref: Surah myedha 5:44) Divine law needs to be re-introduced in the many so-called muslim countries

50. Conclusion This was a general introduction to the study of Aqeedah, and is not meant to be a complete reference on this matter. I am a student of knowledge and not a scholar, therefore, I am bound to make mistakes. You are therefore requested to correct my errors and infom me of them so that I may be careful next time, Inshalah.