What is Tawheed ?

Tawheed means believing in Allaah alone as illah (the one who is worshiped) and Rabb(Lord) and attributing to Him alone all the attributes of Lordship and divinity.The Tawheed with which Allah commissioned His Prophets and which He explained in His scriptures is of three kinds; this is in accordance with the Book, the Sunnah and the state of mankind itself:

A) TAWHEED UR RUBUBIYYAH:  This is to believe in the Oneness of Allah regarding His actions. In other words, Allah is the sole Creator, Nourisher and Maintainer of His creaturesaffairs, exercising complete freedom in all their matters of this world and of the Hereafter without the aid of any partners.As He says Himself: 'Allah is the Creator of all things." (Zumar 39:62) And He says:"Verily your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He established Himself on the Throne."(Yunus 10:3) Even the polytheists, those who worshipped idols, recognized this form of Tawheed, although they rejected the idea of resurrection. However, they were not regarded as Muslims because they associated gods with Allah, worshipped many deities beside Him, and refused to accept the Messenger Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)

B) TAWHEED UL ULUHIYYAH:  This is the type which was totally rejected by the polytheists. Allah Almighty says: "So they wonder that a warner has come to them from among themselves! And the Unbelievers say, 'This is a sorcerer telling lies! as he made gods (all) into one God? Truly this is a strange thing!'." (Saad 38:4-5)The Quran contains a number of other similar verses. Tawheed in this regard requires that a person should direct all forms of worship to Allah alone since Allah alone deserves tobe worshipped and hence to worship someone else is totally false. In fact this is what "La Ilaha Illallah" means, i.e. there is none to be truly worshipped except Allah, as He said:"That is because Allah -He is the Reality; and those besides Him whom they invoke, they are but vain Falsehood". (AI-Hajj 22:62)

C) TAWHEED UL ASMA WAS SIFAT:  (Tawheed in names and attributes) This is to believe in all those names and attributes of Allah which occur in the Book of Allah and in theauthentic sayings of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him); to believe in them in a way most appropriate to His Being without altering any of His attributes, negating any of them, understanding any of them in an anthropomorphic way (i.e. by attributing a human shape toAllah), or interpreting His names and attributes figuratively. This is in line with the following ayaat of the Quran:"Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him." (Ikhlas 112:1 - 4)  And He says: "There is nothing whatever like unto Him. And He is the One, that hears and sees." (Shura 42:1 1)And He says: "The most beautiful names belong to Allah : so call on Him by them." (A'raf 7:180) And He says: "To Allah applies the highest similitude: for He is the Exalted in power, Full of Wisdom." (Nahl 16:60) The Highest Similitude (AI Mathal ul A'la) means the best description of Him, free of any defect. This is what the people of Sunnah and Jama'ah from among the Companions of the Prophet (peace Be Upon Him) and their Successors believed. They understood the attributes of Allah from the Quran and the Sunnah without any attempt to imagine the physical shape of Him, and at the same time absolved Him of any resemblance to any of Hiscreatures. Their mode of expression is in harmony with all the evidence from the Book and the Sunnah and thus shuts the door in the face of their opponents.

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Posted in Basics, Faith, Islam, Monotheism, Tawheed

The Conditions of Shahaadah- Testimony of Faith

I) The Conditions of ‘La ilaha illAllah’

La ilaha illAllah has seven conditions. The testification (Shahaadah) does not benefit the one who merely utters the testification, unless he fulfils all seven conditions;

1. Knowledge that negates ignorance
2. Certainty that negates doubt 
3. Acceptance that negates rejection
4. Submission that negates abandonment 
5. Sincerity that negates Shirk (associating partners with Allah) 
6. Truthfulness that negates Falsehood (meaning hypocrisy) 
7. Love that negates its opposite, which is hatred

The explanation of these seven conditions is as follows:

The First Condition: Knowledge: Knowledge of the meaning of the testification and its intent, for example, what the testimony negates and what it affirms - a knowledge that negates ignorance. Allah says, “except those who bear witness to the truth, and they know…” [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 86]
'those who bear witness,' means they witness, 'La ilaha illAllah,' 'and they know,' by their hearts what they witnessed by their tongues. So, he who utters it but does not have the knowledge of it, then the testimony will not benefit him, because he did not believe in the intent of testification.

The Second Condition: Certainty: The testifier should be certain of the meaning of the testification for, if he doubts in it then the testimony will not benefit him. Allah says, “Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not…” [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 15]
So, if he doubts, then he is a hypocrite. Allah's Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, “Whoever you meet behind this wall testifying 'La ilaha illAllah,' with certainty in his heart, then give him the glad tiding of Jannah.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee] Thus, he who does not have certainty in his heart does not deserve to enter Jannah.

The Third Condition: Acceptance: Acceptance of what the testimony necessitates like, worshiping Allah alone, and abandoning the worship of other than Him. Because, he, who utters the testimony but does not accept it and does not adhere to it, then he is from among those regarding whom Allah says, “Truly, when it was said to them, 'La ilaha ill-Allah', they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). And (they) said, 'Are we going to abandon our aaliha (those which are worshipped) for the sake of a mad poet?” [Soorah as-Saaffaat (37): 35-36] This is the situation of many people today; they say, 'La ilaha illAllah,' but do not refrain from worshiping others besides Allah (like making dua, seeking aid, etc) and thus, they are not accepting the meaning of, 'La ilaha illAllah.' 

The Fourth Condition: Submission: Submitting to what the testimony indicates. Allah says, “And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a Muhsin (doer of good) then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold…” [Soorah Luqmaan (31):22] 
The most trustworthy handhold is, 'La ilaha illAllah,' and the meaning of, 'submits his face,' is sincere submission to Allah.

The Fifth Condition: Truthfulness: To witness the testimony with truthfulness in one's heart. He, who utters the testimony while his heart is not certain about its truthfulness, then he is a lying hypocrite. Allah says, “And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day' while in fact, they believe not. They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not! In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.”

[Al-Baqarah (2): 8-10]

The Sixth Condition: Sincerity: It is purification of the action from all blemishes of Shirk, such that one does not utter it for the pleasures of the world, showing off or fame as is known from the authentic Hadeeth, “Allah has prohibited the Fire for the one, who says, 'La ilaha illAllah' seeking by it, the face of Allah.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

The Seventh Condition: Love: Love for the testimony, its intent and those who act upon its prerequisites. Allah says, “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)” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):165] So, the people of, 'La ilaha illAllah' love Allah with sincere love while the people of Shirk love Him just as they love others besides Him and this negates the prerequisites of La ilaha illAllah. 

II) The Conditions of 'Muhammadur-Rasoolullah'

1. Affirming his (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) Prophet hood and having faith in it inwardly within the heart. 

2. Verbally declaring it and affirming it outwardly through the tongue.

3. Following him by acting upon the truth he came with, and refraining from the evil that he has forbidden. 

4. Believing in what he has informed about - from the unseen of the past and the future. 

5. Loving him more than oneself, wealth, children, parents and the whole of humanity. 

6. Giving precedence to his saying over everybody, and acting upon his Sunnah. 

“Say (O Muhammad SAW): O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allâh - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He); It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW)…” [Soorah A’raaf (7): 158]

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Posted in Faith, Islam, Monotheism, Shahadah, Tawheed

The Meaning of Shahaadah-Testimony of Faith

لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله

Meaning of Laa ilaaha illallaah:

This kalimah is the dividing line between unbelief (kufr) and Islaam. It is a declaration (kalimah) that the Muslims proclaim in their daily lives; in their call to Prayer (adhaan), their call to establishing the Prayer (‘iqaamah), their sermons and their speeches.

It is a kalimah that Allaah Himself has testified to, as have the angels and those who possess knowledge from amongst His creation. Allaah the Most High said:

“Allâh bears witness that Lâ ilâha illa 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. Lâ ilâh illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Soorah Aal-’Imraan 3:18]

It is the very first obligation upon the people, since it is the foundation upon which all actions are based. So it is very important for a Muslim to know and ponder over its meaning.

The meaning of laa ilaaha illallaah is that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. The testification (Shahadah) laa ilaaha illallaah is that a person affirms with his tongue and his heart that there is nothing that is worshipped rightfully except Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So the sentence laa ilaaha illallaah comprises a denial and an affirmation. As for the denial it is laa ilaaha (None has the right to be worshipped) , since ilaah means that which is worshipped (ma'bood), and as for the affirmation, then it is illallaah (except Allaah). So in the sentence there is a word understood in meaning but not stated in words, which is necessary to complete the meaning and it is haqq (rightfully). So, the complete meaning of the statement is 'there is no deity truly worthy of being worshiped except Allah.'

As for those things which are worshipped besides Him, then the godship which their worshippers claim for them is not a reality, but rather false and futile. The explanation which will make it clear is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, “And (remember) when Ibrahîm said to his father and his people: "Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, Except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allâh Alone) Who did create me, and verily, He will guide me. And he made it [i.e. Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh Alone)] a Word lasting among his offspring, that they may turn back (i.e. to repent to Allâh or receive admonition).” [Soorah Zukhruf: 26-28]

So this kalimah requires us to single out all the types of worship which Allaah commanded like invocation (du’aa), appealing for aid and assistance (isti’aanah), trust and reliance (tawakkul), hope and longing (rajaa), reverence and humility (khushoo’),  seeking refuge (isti’aadhah), seeking deliverance and rescue (istighaathah), sacrificing (dhabh), vows (nadhr or niyaaz), etc. for Him alone without any associates or intermediaries ,and to reject all forms of worship for other than Him.

Meaning of Muhammadur-Rasoolullaah:

The Meaning of the testimony, Muhammadar-Rasoolullah is to affirm inwardly and outwardly that he (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) is a slave of Allah and His Messenger to all people, and to act in accordance to its requirements which are;

a) Obedience to him (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) in everything that he orders,

b) Believing in everything he (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) has informed us of,

c) Refraining from everything that he (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) has prohibited and 

d) Not to worship Allah except in the way he (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) has prescribed.

Allaah, the Most High, says, "Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur'ân) to His slave (Muhammad SAW) that he may be a warner to the 'Alamîn (mankind and jinns)." [Soorah al-Furqaan (25):1]

He is a slave who acts as he is commanded and follows the orders he is given, and Allaah, the Most High, says: "Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I don't tell you that with me are the treasures of Allâh, nor (that) I know the unseen; nor I tell you that I am an angel. I but follow what is revealed to me by inspiration." Say: "Are the blind and the one who sees equal? Will you not then take thought?"." [Soorah al-An'aam (6):50]

 "Say, O Muhammad: It is not within my power to bring benefit to myself nor to keep away harm, except as Allaah wills; and if I knew what the future holds I could amass a great deal of wealth, and harm would not befall me. But I am just a Messenger from Allaah sent by Him to warn those who disobey Him of His punishment; and to give glad tidings of His reward for those who truly believe in Him and are obedient to Him." [Soorah al-A’raaf (7):188]

The right of the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam)  is to give him the position and standing which Allaah, the Most High, gave him, which is that he is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger (Abduhu wa-Rasooluh). This  negates  any exaggeration and inadequacy in his respect. So, he is Allah's slave and Messenger, and he is the most perfect creation in these two noble attributes. May Allaah extol and send blessings of peace upon him.

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Posted in Basics, Faith, Islam, Monotheism, Shahadah, Tawheed