Salaamu alaykum brothers and sisters in Islam, I will like
to bring to you a very important topic which many Muslims make errors in this
time and age, this topic is about nothing but TAWHEED. Therefore, we will start by defining the term linguistically,
then we will define it in the sharee’ah form.
#DEFINITION OF TAWHEED(LINGUSTICALLY);
When the Arabs say waahid, ahad and waheed, they mean
something that is one. Tawheed has the same root letters as the aforementioned
terms that means one, so basically, the “ta-un” infront of “wa-un”, “ha-un” and
“dal-un” is making something to be ONE. So Tawheed means knowing Allaah is One,
with none like unto Him. Whoever does not acknowledge Allaah in these terms and
does not describe Him as being One with no partner or associate does not
believe in Tawheed.
#DEFINITION OF TAWHEED(SHAREE’AH);
We have seen the definition of Tawheed linguistically, but
that definition is not sufficient when it comes to the sharee’ah. So what is
the definition of Tawheed from the sharee’ah perspective? The shar’i defines Tawheed
as believing in Allaah alone as God and Lord and attributing to Him alone all
the attributes of Lordship and divinity.
It may be defined as follows: Believing that Allaah is One with
no partner or associate in
1.) His Lordship (ruboobiyyah),
2.) Divinity (uloohiyyah)
3.) Names and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat).
Since we are not interested in the linguistic definition of
Tawheed, rather we are concerned with the sharee’ah definition, we will therefore
elaborate on the three categories of tawheed under the sharee’ah definition.
1. His Lordship (ruboobiyyah):
The oneness of Allaah’s Lordship is the belief that Allah
alone has created the universe, that He alone is its Provider and Sustainer,
and that He has complete ownership and power over His creation. In other words,
Allah is one and unique concerning His actions, such that no creature shares
His power in creating and managing the universe.
Allaah said in the Qur’an:
“Verily, your Lord is Allah who created the heavens and
earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the
night with the day, chasing it rapidly, and the sun, the moon, and the stars
are subjected to His command. Unquestionably, for Him is the creation and the
command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” {Quran 7:45}
The oneness of Lordship includes the belief in divine
providence (qadr), that all things happen by the decree of Allah. Allah alone
has complete and uncontested power in the universe and everything occurs according
to His will and wisdom.
Allah said:
“Verily, Allah has power over all things.”{Quran 2:20}
2
Divinity (uloohiyyah):
Firstly, the meaning of Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah is to single
out Allaah The Almighty and perform acts of worship solely for Him. In other
words, the servant must not love, fear or have hope in anyone or anything
besides Allaah The Almighty, and must dedicate all acts of worship, such as
prayer, Zakaah (obligatory charity), supplication, vowing, and all words and
actions that Allaah The Almighty may be pleased with, to Him Alone.
Shirk with relations to
Divinity (uloohiyyah)
The scholars maintained that there are different types of
Shirk (polytheism) in worshipping Allaah The Almighty:
1- Shirk due to failing to dedicate supplications or rites
of sacrifice to Allah The Almighty Alone.
2- Shirk because of failing to make one's sincerity of
intention, purpose and will exclusive to Allah The Almighty Alone while doing
acts of worship.
3- Shirk because of loving others besides Allaah The
Almighty.
4- Shirk because of obeying others besides Allaah The
Almighty.
Thus, according to the aforementioned classification, it is
possible to say that the pillars of Tawheed Al-’Uloohiyyah are based on:
1- Supplicating and performing acts of sacrifice solely for the
Sake of Allaah The Almighty
2- Forming one’s sincere intention, purpose and will solely
for Allaah The Almighty
3- Focusing one’s love and allegiance solely for Allaah The
Almighty
4- Dedicating acts of obedience exclusively to Allaah The
Almighty
The purpose behind mentioning this classification is to
clarify and explain the meaning of Tawheed Al-’Uloohiyyah. This meaning is
originally derived from the verses in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means):
• Say, "Is it other than Allaah I should take as a
protector, Creator of the heavens and the earth, while it is He who feeds and
is not fed?"{Quran 6: 14}
• [Say], "Then is it other than Allaah I should seek as
judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in
detail?"{Quran 6: 114}
• Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to
worship Allaah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.{Quran 39: 11}
• Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my
living and my dying are for Allaah , Lord of the worlds{Quran 6: 162}
3.
Names
and attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat):
With regard to Tawheed al-Asma’ wa’l-Sifaat (Oneness of the
Divine Names and Attributes), this means affirming the names and attributes of
Allaah and believing that there is none like unto Allaah in His names and
attributes. This Tawheed is based on two principles:
1 – Affirmation: i.e., affirming that which Allaah has affirmed
for Himself in His Book or that His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) has affirmed of His beautiful names and sublime attributes in a
manner that suits the Majesty and Greatness of Allaah, without distorting them,
twisting their meanings, denying their realities or discussing how they are.
2 – Denial: i.e., denying that Allaah
has any faults and denying any shortcomings that He has denied Himself. The
evidence for that are the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):
“There is nothing like Him, and He is the All Hearer, the
All Seer” {Quran 42:11}.
So here Allah has denied that He bears any resemblance to
His creation, and affirmed that He has attributes of perfection in a manner
that befits Him, may He be glorified.
References:
http://abuaminaelias.com/the-oneness-of-lordship-tawheed-ar-rububiyyah/
http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=20994
Guest author: Anonymous
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