Introduction to Tauheed

#6
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH
MOST COMPASIONATE LESSON
MOST MERCIFUL

“INTRODUCTION TO THE
M
LE
ODU E
S
STUDY OF TAUHEED”
A NEW -COUR Intermediate Level Islamic course in English for Adults
CH ]
BAT [2012 conducted by Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail

IT CAN ALSO BE A
16 weekly class started from: 3 March 2012 REFRESHER COURSE
Every Saturday night @ 8pm – 10pm FOR MUSLIM
Wisma Indah, 450 Changi Road, PARENTS, EDUCATORS,
IN CONTEMPORARY
#02-00 next to Masjid Kassim SINGAPORE.
OPEN TO ALL
For further information and registration
contact E -mail :
ad.fardhayn.sg@gmail.com
or +65 81234669 / +65 96838279
Using curriculum he has developed especially for English-speaking
Muslim converts and young English-speaking Adult Muslims.

“To seek knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male & female)”
REVISED @ APRIL 2012)
All Rights Reserved© Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (2012)

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• From “TAUHEED AL-KHALIQQIYYAH” – (Oneness of God, Allah, as the
Creator of all creations) ; the Existence of Allah is established.

• Yet “TAUHEED AL-KHALIQQIYYAH” is still insufficient attestation of the
Oneness of God (Allah) because the idolaters also are aware of this fact
that the Creator is One. In spite of this, they only view God (Allah) only
as the Initiator, but they imagine also that the whole created universe
to be free of Allah’s control after it was created.


“If thou ask them, Who Created them, they will certainly say
Allah: how then are they deluded away (from the Truth)?“
(Qur’an: Zukhruf: 43: 9)


“Say: "Who is the (ROBB) Lord and Sustainer of
the heavens and the earth?"
Say: "(It is) Allah."
Say: "Do ye then take (for worship) protectors
other than Him, such as have no power either for
good or for harm to themselves?“
(Qur’an: Ra’ad: 13: 16)


“Say: "Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the
depths of darkness equal with Light?" Or do they assign
to Allah partners who have created (anything) as He has
created, so that the creation seemed to them similar?
Say: "Allah is the Creator of all things: He is the One, the
Supreme and Irresistible."
(Qur’an: Ra’ad: 13: 16)


• Most of them, their ignorance of “TAUHEED AR-RUBBUBIYYAH” and
their absurd “reasoning”, led them to believe that this Universe is
sustained also by pantheons of deities (malevolent forces regarded
as gods i.e. having divine powers, or vested with divine powers etc.)

• This is further aggravated by their tendencies to resort to
imaginations (TAKHAYYUL) and innovations (BID-’AH), based on
conjectures, guesswork and blind adherence to traditional thinking.


• Over time, anthropomorphic notions were ascribed unto their concept
of god - whom they imagine god to behave like human.

• Thus it is that they subscribe to notion regarding multiplicity of gods,
whom they also likened like human kings - having wives, consorts and
family; with ministers and courtiers; having feuds and rebellion in the
heavenly kingdom etc.

• They somewhat imagine and ‘believe’, that all this also affect man’s life
and destiny on earth.
earth


• Myth and superstitions were regarded as ‘Truth’; conjectures and age-
old belief accepted without question. Absurd notions e.g. God
Incarnating as man, indwelling, and other pantheistic creed etc. are
accepted blindly, even though self-evidently, they are contradictory or
antithetical to reason.

• Thus, with so much uncertainty about ‘Reality,’ but fearful of the
imagined malignant effect from these ‘forces’ (real or imagined), man
is forever to appease the myriads of ‘deities’ and seek their respective
protections.


• Trees, stones, mountains, rivers, animals, man, spirits, grave and
totems, even amulets and idols fashioned by their own hands are
regarded as having divine ‘powers’ and somehow possessing God-like
qualities.

• This situation is described in the Holy Qur’an as being in “ZULUMAT”
( “Darkness or Ignorance, and Injustice” ).


• Their ignorance of Who God is (i.e. the concept of the Divinity –
(ULUHIYYAH ), and compounded with their materialistic tendencies,
led them towards SHIRK – which can be defined as:

“falsely setting up or ascribing partners to God from amongst the
tangible objects or imaginary things in creation or concieved in the
mind, which they regard to be also ‘Divine’ and directing to it, as object
of their worship (MA’BUD).”


They mistakenly assumed that the Supreme God (Allah) to be distant
from man and totally removed from this terrestrial existence, or that
His Power is somehow lacking in this terrestrial world.

Thus, they are attributing falsehood to Allah by denying many of His
Absolute power over all of creations and the entire universe.

Human arrogance and self-conceit occasionally surfaced to usurp the
place of the Divine, by blasphemy in denying God’s Infinite
Omnipotence.


“And the Jews say: ‘Allah's hand is shackled! ‘
It is their own hands that are shackled; and rejected (by Allah
and be they cursed) because of their assertion (blasphemy)
they utter. He (Allah) dispenses (bounty) as He wills. “
(Qur’an: Maa-idah: 5: 64)


• Thus according to their thinking, man must be subjected to other
‘deities’ here, whom they erroneously believe, to have powers
independent of Allah, or as though sharing in the divinity of Allah.

• Even the so called ‘atheists’, are in fact making themselves and their
desires, to be the God – the entity that they are in fact ‘serving’ as
religiously as any worshippers of God.
• For ‘IBAADAH (worship) is derived from ‘ABD (slave / servant). Is it not
evident that their lives is in fact to serve their ‘desires’?


“Have you ever considered (the kind of man) who makes his
own desires as his deities? Could you then (O Prophet) be held
responsible for them?”

(Qur’an: Furqan: 25: 43)


• Some others may sense, that by directing their servitude or worship
to other ‘deities’, this may in fact contradict monotheism.

• Yet they try to ‘rationalise’ away this contradiction by claiming that
they believe that these ‘deities’ are only as mediators or
intercessors to the Supreme God (Allah) – sort of smaller ‘gods’ etc.
but nevertheless also Divine.


“Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take
for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order
that they may bring us nearer to Allah.”

(Qur’an: Zumar: 39: 3)


• Although they acknowledge the existence of True God, the One
Supreme Being (Allah), but God to them is only as the Creator,
Initiator, the First Cause (but Whom they imagine to being totally
distant from them) and detached from this world.

• Actually Allah (God) cannot be regarded to only be transcendent, but
must also be immanent - for our notion of space and time, near and
far, cannot be applied to Allah (God) Who is the Creator of space and
time – and cannot be bound by it.


• Allah’s existence (WUJUD), cannot be likened as in the sense of
existence of this creation – for He is Eternal and Absolute, Infinite,
Who has power over all things, the Irresistible, the Unfathomable yet
All-Aware.

Due to this error, their object of worship is diverted also towards
other than the One true God (Allah), which they conceive as having
Divine powers, (sharing in managing the world) independently of
Allah.


• Their understanding of Allah’s Existence and Divine Attributes, may
be seriously flawed.

• Although Allah’s existence cannot be grasp by any vision, but they
can be correctly conceived through knowledge (MA’RIFAT). There can
only be one Who Alone, is Infinite.

• Also, man’s materialistic tendencies further accentuated the
misconception of Allah being absent or remote.


• But because they sensed the presence of other unseen power and
order i.e. regarding how this Universe is being sustained, nurtured
and controlled - thus they blindly subscribe to mythical and
imaginings of frightened and ignorant humans, and believe in the
many ‘other gods’ (lesser or equal to Allah).

• Or, they may innovate with the absurd notion of ‘incarnation’ – i.e.
God being reborn into the world as persons, or ‘indwelling’ – i.e. God
residing in earthly beings, objects or forms.


• Even the idolaters accept that there is only One Creator : “TAUHEED
AL-KHALIQQIYYAH”.

• Yet, this is incomplete attestation to Oneness of Allah, because Allah
is also the Only One Who is Lord, Sustainer of the worlds – “ROB-
BAL-’AA-LA-MEEN”.


• Thus we Muslims are to attest to Oneness of Allah, also in His being
the only Lord, Sustainer and Cherisher (RUB-BUBIYYAH).

• Allah is not merely the Creator (Initiator) only, as the ‘First Cause’
asserted by the Greek philosopher (and Mu’tazilite), who believed
that Allah’s knowledge and power over what He has created, is limited
(general, not detail etc.)


• “TAUHEED AR-RUBBUBIYYAH”, is thus the realisation that Allah is the
Absolute One Who is Lord, the Sustainer and Nourisher of all the
Worlds. And we are to accept that Allah (God) transcends all others
which are but His creations - because everything else in this Universe is
dependent and ever-subservient to His Will.

• Nothing can move nor has any ability without Allah, who Alone is the
Irresistible, the Lord Supreme. Over all things Allah has Power, Whose
knowledge encompasses all things.


• And Allah being “ROBB” (Lord, Sustainer), surely is never ‘absent’ yet
no vision can encompass Him.

• Although we know of the existence of ‘cause and effect’ within
creation, yet these are merely relative potentials in creations accorded
by Allah – not absolute nor are they independent of Allah s.w.t.

• Even those in the spiritual realms e.g. Angels, are but mere creations,
having no divine power.
• Allah is the Only Divine Being.


BELIEVE IN THE ONE GOD – This is not unique to Muslims.
WHO ALONE IS THE Even pagan worshippers and
CREATOR DIVINE.
idolaters acknowledge this.
( AL-KHALIQ-QIYYAH )

This is where Muslims differ with
pagan worshippers, idolaters and
BELIEVE IN THE ONE GOD –
unbelievers, because they
WHO ALONE IS THE
SUSTAINER DIVINE. erroneously ascribe to others
( AR-RUB-BUBIYYAH ) besides Allah, similar ‘Divine’
roles in the Sustainment of this
universe.


• It can be discern that people’s idea or knowledge that God
exist, generally pertains to Him being the Creator.
• But, when we further consider God’s role in the universe and
man’s life, differences occur.
• Those who deny Him as the only Absolute Sustainer,
Cherisher of the universe, they would inadvertently, be
committing SHIRK - ascribing to others this divine role.

BELIEVE IN THE ONE GOD –
WHO ALONE IS THE DIVINE.
( AL-ULUHIYYAH )


• Therefore, because some people’s knowledge of God may still be
ambiguous, they need to have clear understanding of what we mean
by “Divinity and the concept of the Divine” termed – ULUHIYYAH.

• That in regard to God being “Divine” (ILAAH) – there is only One, Who
alone is the Divine, without associates or partners.

• This is termed – TAUHEED AL-ULUHIYYAH.


Knowledge concerning the “Divine” (ILAAHIYAT)

It can be seen that the realization concerning the existence of God,
the Creator and Sustainer alone, cannot guarantee that man will not
be led astray into ascribing partners to Him.



• It is often discovered that the concept of, or what is the “god” (i.e. the
divine being)” we are referring to, actually may be different amongst
people.
• This defect stems from ignorance (JAHIL) regarding knowledge of the
“Divine” ( ILAAHIYAT ).



• Even though when they do acknowledge Allah as the Lord, Sustainer
of the worlds, because they regard others also to be “divine”, this
negates the concept of TAUHEED - termed as “SHIRK” (ascribing
partners to Allah).



• Those who assume that (MUSHRIKEEN) pagans of Makkah, the
ignorant (JAHILIYYAH ), that they adhered to “TAUHEED AR-
RUBBUBIYYAH” while also committing “SHIRK ”, are obviously
confusing the terms:

“TAUHEED” is contrary to “SHIRK ”. Combining these is antithetical, an
absurdity.



• In Islam, this ‘knowledge about God’ termed as
“MA’RIFATULLAAH”, is the beginning of religion.

In Islam, the Truth about God must come from Allah Himself
through Revelations, especially to His Final Prophet, Muhammad
s.a.a.w..



• In one of the shortest Surah (Chapter 112) named “Surah Al-Ikhlas”
(Chapter on Purity of Faith) in the Qur’an, the concept as to Who God,
the Divine is, has been concisely explained (yet it is amazingly
profound):



“Say : He is Allah, the Absolute One.
Allah is the Eternal, the Most Besought of all *,
He begets not, and neither is He begotten;
and there is nothing that could be compared to Him.”
(Qur’an: al-Ikhlas: 112: 1-4)


Criterion which clarify our concept of God

[1] The name, proper noun for God is “ALLAH” -

He, most Exalted, is the Absolute One: indivisible, unique, the
only Divine, without any other, before or after.

If one entertains the possibility of another like “ALLAH ”, then his
understanding of what constitute the “Divinity” is seriously
flawed.



“Allah” : Arabic proper noun; name for God, it
refers to the One and Only, the Unique Creator,
Lord Sustainer of the Universe, Who Alone is God
– there is none besides Allah.

No equivalent translation in non-Semitic
language.



[2] “Allah” is referred to as “As-Swomad” (in Arabic) which has a
profound meaning.
There is no equivalent word for it in English, and requires
explanations.

*the original Arabic word “As-Swomad” means “the Eternal, the
Uncaused Cause of all being”


“As-Swomad” is therefore applied to God
Alone. It comprises the concept of the Primary Cause and Eternal,
independent Being; and also the idea that everything existing or
conceivable goes back to Him as its source; and is therefore
dependent on Him for its beginning as well as for its continued
existence.


[3] “Allah” – is the only “Divine”.

Islam categorically refute any false notion which people ascribe to the
“Divine”, especially that of God procreating (begetting another God).

A “Divine” exists without need for any other, whereas “son” requires a
father. These two terms together are antithetical (contradictory and
absurd).


[4] Since “Allah” – is Unique and the only “Divine”, there is nothing
that can be compared to Him, absolutely there can be no equivalent.
Whatever we can visualize or imagine, fall short of Allah’s Exaltedness,
and must negated - Glory be to Allah ( SUB-HAANALLAAH ).


• Only Allah is the God (AL- ILAAH ), there is no other that is God except
“ALLAH ”.

“LAA – ILAA-HA – IL-LALLAAH”


IMPORTANT TO NOTE
• Conceptually regarding this aspect, i.e. to only regard Allah as the only
Absolute One in His Divinity (ULUHIYYAH), and to regard Allah as the
only Absolute Sustainer (RUBBUBIYYAH) marks the True Criterion in
the belief in the Oneness of Allah.


TO BE CONTINUED – INSHA-ALLAH


All welcome to visit my web-blog:

http://an-naseehah.blogspot.com/
http://introductiontotauhid.blogspot.com/
http://oyoubelievers.blogspot.com/
http://al-amthaal.blogspot.com/
http://zhulkeflee-archive.blogspot.com/
http://criteriaforaholybook-quran.blogspot.com/
http://with-the-truthful.blogspot.com/
http ://muqaddam-nurul.blogspot.com/

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