Aqeedah at- Tawheed
(The Creed of Tawheed)
An explanation of what contradicts it or decreases it
from major and minor shirk
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false gods, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). [SURAH NAHAL(16):36]
TAWHEED
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.
It is common knowledge that TAWHEED is the basis of the religion of ISLAAM and that it is the most precisely expressed in the formula “LA ELAAH IL-LAL-LAAH” (there is no God BUT ALLAH) which states that there is only one true God and that HE ALONE deserves to be worshipped. This seemingly simple formula forms the dividing line between EEMAAN (true belief in God)and KUFR(disbelief),according to the tenets of ISLAAM.
It is therefore of utmost importance that TAWHEED be clearly understood in the way it was taught by the Prophet(pbuh) and understood by his companions(rz);or else one could easily end up on one of the many deviant paths while claiming TAWHEED, PRAYING, paying ZAKAAT, FASTING and making HAJJ. Allah(az),most wise, has pointed to this phenomena when he said in the QUR’AAN,
“MOST OF THEM CLAIM TO BELIEVE IN ALLAH BUT THEY REALLY COMMIT SHIRK”[SURAH:YUSUF(12):106]
The study of TAWHEED cannot be considered complete without a careful analysis of its opposite i.e SHIRK.
Allah(az) has attested to in the QUR’AAN,
“ Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.”[surah:nisa(04):48]
Because the sin of SHIRK denies the very purpose of man’s creation, it is to God the gravest of sins; the unforgiveable sin.
(The Creed of Tawheed)
An explanation of what contradicts it or decreases it
from major and minor shirk
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false gods, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). [SURAH NAHAL(16):36]
TAWHEED
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.
It is common knowledge that TAWHEED is the basis of the religion of ISLAAM and that it is the most precisely expressed in the formula “LA ELAAH IL-LAL-LAAH” (there is no God BUT ALLAH) which states that there is only one true God and that HE ALONE deserves to be worshipped. This seemingly simple formula forms the dividing line between EEMAAN (true belief in God)and KUFR(disbelief),according to the tenets of ISLAAM.
It is therefore of utmost importance that TAWHEED be clearly understood in the way it was taught by the Prophet(pbuh) and understood by his companions(rz);or else one could easily end up on one of the many deviant paths while claiming TAWHEED, PRAYING, paying ZAKAAT, FASTING and making HAJJ. Allah(az),most wise, has pointed to this phenomena when he said in the QUR’AAN,
“MOST OF THEM CLAIM TO BELIEVE IN ALLAH BUT THEY REALLY COMMIT SHIRK”[SURAH:YUSUF(12):106]
The study of TAWHEED cannot be considered complete without a careful analysis of its opposite i.e SHIRK.
Allah(az) has attested to in the QUR’AAN,
“ Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allâh in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.”[surah:nisa(04):48]
Because the sin of SHIRK denies the very purpose of man’s creation, it is to God the gravest of sins; the unforgiveable sin.
SHIRK IS PRIMARILY OF TWO TYPES AS FOLLOWS:-
1] SHIRK AL-AKBAR(MAJOR SHIRK):-
This form of shirk occurs when any act of worship is directed to other than ALLAH. SHIRK AL-AKBAR or MAJOR SHIRK represents the greatest act of rebellion against the LORD of the universe, and is thus the ultimate sin. It is a sin so great that it virtually cancels out all good a person may do and guarantees its perpetrator eternal damnation in HELL.
2] SHIRK AL-ASGHAR(MINOR SHIRK):-
Mahmood ibn lubayd reported, “ALLAH’S messenger(pbuh) said: the thing I fear for you the most is ASH-SHIRK AL-ASGHAR(minor shirk).” The companions asked “oh! Messenger of ALLAH, what is MINOR SHIRK?” he replied “AR-RIYAA” (showing off),for verily ALLAH will say on the day of resurrection when people are receiving there rewards, go to those for whom you were showing off in the material world and see if you can find any reward from them”.[reported by ahmed, at-tabaraanee and al-bayhaqee]
Mahmood ibn lubayd also said,”THE PROPHET(PBUH)came out and announced, O people beware of secret SHIRK!” the people asked,’O messenger of ALLAH, what is SECRET SHIRK?’ he replied, ”when a man gets up to pray and strives to beautify his prayer because people are looking at him, that is secret SHIRK] .”[collected by IBN KHUZAYMAH]
PROPHET(PBUH) delivered his last sermon(khutbah) on the ninth day of dhil -hijjah 10 a.h in the ‘uranah valley’ of mount Arafat(in mecca). A part of that sermon is as follows-
“Beware of shatan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.”
“I leave behind me two things, the QUR’AN and my SUNNAH and if you follow these, you will never go astray.”[musnad-e-ahmad]
CONCLUSION
True faith of a standard acceptable to Allah has to be raised on Tawheed, free from SHIRK. Allah’s unity must be maintained spiritually, intellectually and practically in all facets of life within which the pleasure of god is sought. Thus, it is the duty of every sincere believer in God to put aside his\her cultural experiences& emotional ties to family, tribe or nation, and acquire a working knowledge of TAWHEED, the foundation of faith.
zazakallah o khair
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment