|
 Tawheed
is the most important Islamic belief. It
implies that everything in existence
originates from the one and only Creator,
who is also the Sustainer and the sole
Source of Guidance. This belief should
govern all aspects of human life.
Recognition of this fundamental truth
results in a unified view of existence which
rejects any divisions of life into religious
and secular. Allah is sole source of Power
and Authority, therefore entitled to worship
and obedience from mankind. There is no
scope for any partnership with the Creator.
Tawhid tells man that Allah is not born, nor
is anyone born of Him. He has no son or
daughter. Human beings are His subjects.
Linguistically
Tawheed means: "To make something one, or to
assert the oneness of something."
[Lisaan ul-'Arab (3/450) of Ibn Mandhoor and
also al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil-Mahajjah (1/305)
of Abul-Qaasim al-Asbahaanee]
However, what we are
concerned with here is the Sharee'ah or
technical meaning of Tawheed, which is: "To
single out Almighty God alone for worship."
[Ad-Dururus-Sunniyyah (1/48) of Shaykh 'Abdur-
Rahmaan ibn Hasan]
Literally Tawheed means "unification"
(making something one) or "asserting
oneness", and it comes from the Arabic verb
(wahhada) which itself means to unite, unify
or consolidate. However, when the term
Tawheed is used in reference to Allaah (i.e.
Tawheedullaah), it means the realizing and
maintaining of Allaah's unity in all of
man's actions which directly or indirectly
relate to Him. It is the belief that Allaah
is One, without partner in His dominion and
His actions (Ruboobeeyah), One without
similitude in His essence and attributes (Asmaa
wa Sifaat), and One without rival in His
divinity and in worship (Ulooheeyah 'Ebaadah).
These three aspects form the basis for the
categories into which the science of Tawheed
has been traditionally divided. The three
overlap and are inseparable to such a degree
that whoever omits any one aspect has failed
to complete the requirements of Tawheed. The
omission of any of the above mentioned
aspects of Tawheed is referred to as "Shirk"
(lit. sharing); the association of partners
with Allaah, which, in Islamic terms, is in
fact idolatry.
Shaykh Al-Bayjowree - may God have mercy
on him - said: "It is
to single-out al-Ma'bood (the One to be
worshipped - i.e. Almighty God) with
worship, along with belief and affirmation
in the oneness and uniqueness of His Dhaat
(Essence), Sifaat (Attributes) and Actions."
[Jawharah at-Tawheed (p. 10)]
Shaykh al-Ghunaymaan - may God protect
him - said: "It is to
single Him out with worship, with love,
lowliness and submissiveness to Him, by
complying with His commands and submitting
to them.
[Sharh Kitaabut-Tawheed min
Saheehil-Bukaaree (1/38)]
Shaykh
'Abdul-Qaadir al-Jeelaanee - may God protect
him - said: "So
it is upon you to fear God - the Mighty and
Majestic - and not to fear anyone else
except Him. Turn to God - the Mighty and
Majestic - for your every need, and rely
upon Him alone - the Most High - seeking
that which you need from Him alone. Do not
rely upon anyone other than Almighty God.
And Tawheed - all is contained in Tawheed."
[Futoohul-Ghayb (p.176).]
Ibn Abil-'Izz - may God be pleased with
him - said: "Knowledge of Usool-ud-Deen
(the fundamentals of the religion) is the
most noble branch of knowledge, since the
excellence of a certain type of knowledge
depends upon what it is concerned with, and
this is the greater Fiqh (understanding) ,
which is why lmaam Abu Haneefah (died 150AH)
- may God be pleased with him - called that
which he compiled concerning Usool-ud-Deen:
"al-Fiqhul- Akbar" (The Greatest Fiqh). The
need of the servants for this knowledge is
greater than every other need; and it is the
most necessary of all things for them, since
there is no life for the hearts, nor any
delight, nor any tranquility, except through
knowing their Lord, the One to be
worshipped, their Creator - with His Names,
His Attributes and His Actions, and that He
- along with all that - is more beloved to
the person than anything else. So man's
striving is with regards to everything that
will draw him nearer to God, to the
exclusion of the creation.
 And
Tawheed - with the Salaf and the Scholars of
Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah has three
divisions. 'Allaamah as-Safaareenee -
may God's mercy be
upon him - said: "Know that Tawheed has
three divisions: Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah (the
Oneness of God in His Lordship), Tawheed al-
Uloohiyyah (to single-out Almighty God alone
for worship) and Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat
(the uniqueness of God's Names and
Attributes)." [Lawaami' al-Anwaarul-Bahiyyah
(1/128) of as-Safaareenee]
"So Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah implies: A
firm and definite belief that Almighty God
alone is the Creator, the Master and Owner,
and the Command is for none but Him."
"And Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah is to
single-out God alone for all worship and not
to worship anything along with Him, whether
it be an angel, a Messenger, a prophet, a
pious person, a tree, a stone, the sun, the
moon, or other than these."
"And Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat is
the uniqueness of Almighty God - the Most
High - with regards to His Names and His
Attributes, by affirming that which God has
affirmed for Himself - whether in His Book
(i.e. the Qur'an) or by the tongue of His
Messenger - may the peace and blessings of
God be upon him - without Tahreef
(distorting the Names and Attributes),
Ta'teel (denial of the Names and
Attributes), Takyeef (saying how they are),
or Tamztheel (making any resemblance with
the creation)."
The one who does not call to Tawheed and the
correction of the Aqeedah, is like the one
....."who seeks to
cure a body whose head has been cut off,
since the place of the Aqeedah in the
religion is like the head with regards to
the body" [Sheikh
Rabee' ibn haadee al-madkhalee, in
al-manhaj al-anbiyaa fee Dawaah ill-allaah]
Jundub Ibn Abdullaah al-Bajaly said, "We
learned Eemaan (faith) and then we learned
the Quran and it increased our Eemaan." |