.
Ebook
The Original Concept of God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en-the-original-concept-of-god.pdf
Whom Should We Worship?
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en_Who_deserves_to_be_Worshipped.pdf
Concept God in Islam
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_Concept_of_God_in_Islam.pdf
My Lord is Most Merciful and Compassionate
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single3/en-my-lord-is-most-merciful-and-compassionate-last.pdf
What you must Believe about your Creator
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_what_you_Must_Believe_about_your_Creator.pdf
Allah Almighty is the Close Companions of His Beloved Servants
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single3/en-allah-almighty-is-the-close-companions.pdf
This My Lord
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en-this-is-my-lord.pdf
twelve studied at the origins of religion, including the explanation is no god but Allah andMuhammad is the Messenger of God, and explain the pillars of Islam, faith, polytheism and hypocrisy, Nullifiers, uniformity.
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en_ma3alem_aldeen.pdf
Oneness of God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_Oneness_of_God.pdf
My Mercy Prevails Over My Wrath
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_My_Mercy_Prevails_Over_My_Wrath.pdf
Who is Creator
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_Who_is_the_Creator.pdf
Instincts, Science, and Religion
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_Instincts_Science_and_Religion.pdf
Contemporary Physicists and God’s Existence
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single2/en_Contemporary_Physicists_and_Gods_Existence.pdf
You Are Invited to Have no Other God except the One True God Who Was Worshipped
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_You_are_Invited.pdf
Do Miracles Necessite Divinity?
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Do_Miracles_Necessite_Divinity.pdf
Did God Become Man
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Did_God_Become_Man0.pdf
Rational Answers to Ideological Commitments
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_Rational_Answers_to_Ideological_Commitments.pdf
A Message of Love to All Seekers of Truth
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_A_Message_of_Love_to_All_Seekers_of_Truth.pdf
One Direction, One people, One God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_One_Direction_One_people_One_God.pdf
3 Reason for God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_3_Reasons_for_God.pdf
Call to Islam
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_call_to_Islam.pdf
Who Deserves to Be Worshipped Alone?
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_Who_Deserves_to_Be_Worshipped_Alone.pdf
You Are Invited to Have no Other God except the One True God Who Was Worshipped
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_You_are_Invited.pdf
A Rationale Approach to Affirm the Existence of God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_A_RATIONALE_APPROACH_TO_AFFIRM_THE_EXISTENCE_OF_GOD.pdf
Do We Have Good Reasons to Believe?
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_Do_We_Have_Good_Reasons_to_Believe.pdf
Twenty Facts about Allah (God) in Islam
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Twenty_Facts_about_Allah_in_Islam.pdf
Can We See God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Can_We_See_God.pdf
The Ability to See the Signs of God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single/en_The_Ability_to_See_the_Signs_of_God.pdf
the Names of God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_The_Names_of_God.pdf
The Divine Mercy of God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_The_Divine_Mercy_of_God.pdf
Why Did God Create?
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Why_Did_God_Create.pdf
Why Did God Create Mankind?
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Why_Did_God_Create_Mankind.pdf
Is Jesus God
https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_articles/single2/en_Is_Jesus_God(article).pdf
….
CONCEPT OF GOD IN ISLAM
Islam is a Semitic religion, which has more than 1.2 billion adherents all-over the world. Islam means “submission to the will of Allah”. Muslims-accept the Qur’an, as the word of God revealed to Prophet Mohammed(peace be upon him). Islam states that Allah sent messengers and-prophets throughout the ages with the-message of the Unity of God, and-accountability in the Hereafter. Islam thus makes it an article of faith to-believe in the earlier prophets, starting with Adam, and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, John, Jesus and many-others (may peace be on them all).
The Most Concise Definition of God:
The most concise definition of God-in Islam is given in four verses of-Surah Ikhlas which is Chapter 112 of the Holy Qur’an:
1, “Say: He is Allah, The one and Only.
2. “Allah, the Eternal, Absolute.
3. “He begets not, nor is He begotten.
4. “And there is none like unto Him.”
(Holy Qur’an 112:1-4)
The word ‘“Assamad ‘ is difficult to-translate. It means ‘absolute existence’,which can be attributed only to Allah, all other existence being temporal-Or conditional. It also means that Allah is not dependent on any person-or thing but all persons and things are dependent on Him.
Surah Ikhlas – the touchstone of theology:
Surah Ikhlas (Chapter 112) of the-Holy Qur’an, is the touchstone of-theology. ‘Theo’ in Greek means-God and logy means study. Thus-Theology means study of God and to Muslims this four lines definition of-Almighty God serves as the touchstone of the study of God. Any-candidate to divinity must be subject to this ‘acid test’. Since the-attributes of Allah given in this chapter are unique, false gods and-pretenders to divinitycan be easily dismissed using these verses.
What does Islam say about ‘god-men’?
India is often called the land ofx
‘god-men’. This is due to the abundance-of so called spiritual masters in India. Many of these ‘babas’ and ‘saints’have a large following in many countries. Islam abhors deification of any-human being.
To understand the Islamic stand-towards such pretenders to divinity let us-analyze one such ‘god-man’, Osho Rajneesh. Rajneesh was one among-the multitude of ‘spiritual teachers’-produced by India. In May 1981 he-went to U.S.A. and established a town called ‘Rajneeshpuram”‘. He later fell-foul of the West and was finally arrested and asked to leave the country.He came back to India and started a commune in Pune which is now-known as the ‘Osho’ commune. He died in 1990. The followers of Osho-Rajneesh believe that he is Almighty God. A-visitor to the “Osho commune’-in Pune will find the following epitaph on his tombstone:
“Osho – never, born never died:only visited the planet earth between
11″ December 1931 to 19” January 1990”
They forget to mention that he was-not given visa for 21 different-countries of the world. The followers of Rajneesh see no problem in their’god’ visiting the earth and reguiring a visa to enter a country!
Let us put this candidate todivinity, Bhagwan Rajneesh, to the test of Surah Ikhlas, the touchstone of theology:
i) The first criterion is “Say, He is-Allah, one and only”. Is Rajneesh-one and only? No! There are many people like Rajneesh who claim-divinity. Some disciples of Rajneesh may still hold that Rajneesh is-one and only.
ii) The second criterion is, “Allah is-absolute and eternal’. Rajneesh was:surely not absolute and eternal since he died in 1990. We know-from his biography that he was suffering from diabetes, Asthma,and chronic backache. He alleged that the U.S.A.Government gave-him slow poison in Jail. Imagine Almighty God being poisoned! Rajneesh was neither absolute nor eternal.
iii) The third criterion is ‘He begets-not, nor is He begotten’. We know-that Rajneesh was born in Jabalpur in India and had a mother as-well as a father who later became his disciples.
In May 1981 he went to U.S.A. and-establised a towncalled’Rajneeshpuram’. He later fell-foul of the West and was finally-arrested and asked to leave-the country. He came back to India-and started a commune in Pune which is now known as the ‘Osho’commune. He died in 1990. the followers of Osho Rajneesh believe-that he is Almighty God. A visitor to the ‘Osho commune’ in Pune-will find the following epitah on his tombstone:”Osho – never, born-never died: only visited the planet earth between 11th December-1931 to 19th january 1990”.
They forget to mention that he was not granted visa for 21 countries of the-world. Can a person imagine a ‘God’ visiting the earth and requiring a visa-to enter a country! The Arcbishop of Greece said that if Rajneesh had not-been deported, they would have burnt his house and those of his discipiles.
The fourth test, which is the most-stringent, is “There is none like unto-Him”. The moment you can imagine “God’ or compare “God’ to anything-then he (the candidate to divinity) is not God. It is not possible to-conjure up a mental picture of the One True-God. We know that Rajneesh-was a human being with a white flowing beard. He had 2 eyes 2 ears, 1-nose, 1 mouthPhotographs and posters of Rajneesh are available in-plenty. The moment you can imagine what god is, heis not God.
Many are tempted to make anthropomorphic comparisons who was-given the title of Mr. Universe, the strongest man in the worl. What is the-concluding remark to this section of “acid-test”? This said testcannot be-passed by anyone except the true God.
By what name do we call God?
The Muslims prefer calling Allah,instead of the English word “God’. The-Arabic word, “Allah’, is pure and unigue, unlike the English word “God”which can be played around with.
If you add ‘s’ to the word God, it-becomes “Gods’ that is the plural of God.Allah is one and singular, there is no plural of Allah. If you add ‘dess’ to the-word God, it becomes ‘Goddess’ that is a-female God. There is nothing like-male Allah or female Allah. Allah has no gender. If you pre-fix tin before-the word God, it becomes tin-God i.e., fake God. Allah is a unigue word,which does not conjure up any mental picture nor can it be played around-with. Therefore the Muslims prefer-saying ‘Allah’, but sometimes while-speaking to the non-Muslims we may have to use the inappropriate word-God for Allah. Since the intended audience of this book is general in-nature, consisting of both Muslims as well-as non-Muslims, I have used-the word God instead of Allah in several places in this article.
God does not becomes a human being
Some people argue that God can-do everything, then why cannot He take-human form? If God wishes He can become a-human being. But then He-no longer remains God because the gualities of God and human beings in-many respects are completely incompatible. The following paragraphs will-show the absurdity of the idea of God becoming a human being.
God is immortal and human beings-are mortal. You cannot have a God-man i.e. an immortal being, and at the same time and in the same-entity. It is meaningless. God does not have a beginning while human-beings have a beginning. You cannot have a person, not having a-beginning and at the same time having a-beginning. Human being have-an end You cannot have a being, which has no end and an end at the-same time. It is meaningless.
God Almighty does not require to-eat whereas human beings require-nourishment to sustain life.
Say, “Is it other than Allāh I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?”
(Holy Qur’an 6 :14)
God does not require rest or sleep-while human beings cannot go-indefinitely without rest.
Allāh – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living,[Whose life is perfect, complete and eternal, without beginning or end, and through whom all created life originated and continues.
] the Self-Sustaining.[Dependent on none for His existence while being the sustainer and administrator of all created existence] Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them,[Allāh’s knowledge encompasses every aspect of His creations in the past, present and future] and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī[Chair or footstool. It is not to be confused with al-ʿArsh (the Throne) , which is infinitely higher and greater than al-Kursī] extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High,[Above all of His creations and superior to them in essence, rank and position.] the Most Great.[Whose greatness is unlimited, beyond description or imagination.]
(Holy Qur’an 2:255)
Worship of another human is-useless:
If the idea of God becoming a-human is unacceptable, we must also agree-that there is therefore no sense in worshipping another human. If God-becomes a human form, He ceases to be God and possesses all the-qualities of a human. For example if a brilliant professor meets with an-accident and suffers irreparable loss of-memory, it would be foolish on the-part of his students to-continue to take lessons from him in that subject.
Moreover if God takes human-form, the same human cannot later-become God, since human beings, by definition, do not possess the-power to become God. The worship of God in a-human form is therefore-a logical fallacy and should be abhorred in all its forms.
That is the reason why the Holy-Qur’an speaks against all forms of-anthropomorphism.The glorious Our’an says in the following verse:
There is nothing like unto Him,[There is no similarity whatsoever between the Creator and His creation in essence, in attributes or in deed.]
(Al-Qur’an 42:11)
God does not perform ungodly acts:
The attributes of Almighty God-preclude any evil since God is the-fountainhead of justice, mercy and truth. God can never be thought of-as doing an ungodly act. Hence we cannot imagine God telling a lie,being unjust, making a mistake, forgetting things, and such other-human failings.Similarly God can do-injustice if he wants but He will-never do it because being unjust is an ungodly act.
The Holy Qur’an says:
Indeed, Allāh does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom’s weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward
((Holy Qur’an 4:40)
God can be unjust if he wants, but-the moment God does injustice He ceases to be God.
God does not forget nor does He make mistakes:
God will not forget anything-because forgetting is an ungodly act, which-reeks of human limitations and failing. Similarly God will not make a-mistake, because making mistakes is an ungodly act.
[Moses] said, “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets
(Holy ,Qur’an (20:52)
God performs Godly acts:
He has power over all things: The-Islamic concept of God is that God has-power over all things. The Holy Qur’an says in several places:
“For verily Allah has power over all things”
(Holy Qur’an (2:106)
(Holy Qur’an (2:109)
(Holy Qur’an (2:284)
(Holy Qur’an (3:29)
(Holy Qur’an (16:77)
(Holy Qur’an (35:1)
Futher the Glorious Qur’an says:
“Allah is the doer of all He intends”
(Holy Qur’an (85:16)
We must keep in mind that Allah-intends only Godly acts and not-ungodly acts.
Many religions at some point-believe,directly or indirectly in the-philosophy of anthropomorphism i.e. God-becoming a human form. Their-contention is that Almighty God is so pure and holy that He is unaware-of the hardships, shortcomings and feelings of human beings. In order-to set the rules for human beings He came down to earth in the form of-a human. This deceptive logic has-fooled countless millions through the-ages. Let us now analyze this argument and see if it stands to reason.
The Creator prepares the-instruction manual:
Allah has endowed us humans-with reason and intelligence. We-invent and manufacture appliances for-specific purposes. Tape recorders-for instance are manufactured in large numbers. It has never been-suggested that in order to understand what is good for the tape recorder-the manufacturer should become a-tape recorder himself. One simply-assumes that the manufacturer will publish an instruction manual, since-he has complete knowledge of his-product. In short the instruction-manual gives the dos and don’ts for the machine.
If you think of the human being as-a machine,it is indeed a complex-creation of Allah.Our Lord and Creator Allah need not come-in the form of a human being to know what is good or bad for the human-being. He only has to reveal the instruction manual to mankind.The Holy-Qur’an is the instruction manual for human beings.
Moreover, Allah will call this-creation to account on the Day of-Judgement. It therefore stands to reason, that the Creator informs us-about the dos and don’ts of life.
Allah chooses Messengers:
Allah need not come down personally for writing the instruction-manual. Over the ages Allah has chosen men in every nation to deliver-the Divine message. Such chosen men are-called as messengers andprophets of God.
Some people are ‘blind’ and ‘deaf’:
Despite the absurdity of the-philosophy of anthropomorphism, followers-of many religions believe in and preach it to others. Is it not an insult to-human intelligence and to the Creator who gave us this intelligence?Such people are truly ‘deaf’ and ‘blind’ despite the faculty of hearing and-sight given to them by Allah. The Holy Qur’an says:
Deaf, dumb and blind – so they will not return [to the right path].
(Holy Qur’an 2:18)
The Bible gives a similar message in the Gospel of Mathew:
“Seeing they see not: and hearing-they hear not, neither do-they understand.”
(Matthew 13:13)
A similar message is also given in the Hindu Scriptures in theRigveda
“There maybe someone who sees-the words and yet indeed do-not see them: may be another-one who hears these words but-indeed does not hear them”
(Rigveda 10:71:4)
All these Scriptures are telling its-reader that though the things are-made so clear yet they divert away from the truth.
Attributes of God:
To Allah belong the most beautiful names:
The Holy Qur’an says:
Say, “Call upon Allāh or call upon the Most Merciful [ar-Raḥmān]. Whichever [name] you call – to Him belong the best names.” And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.
(Holy Qur’an 17:110)
A similar message regarding the-beautiful names of Allah is repeated in-the Holy Qur’an in:
Surah Al-Aaraf (7:180), in Surah-Taha (20:8) and in Surah Al-Hashr(59:23-24)
The Qur’an gives no less than 99-different attributes to Almighty God-and the crowning one is Allah. The Qur’an refers to Allah as Ar-Rahman-(Most Gracious), Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful) and Al-Hakeem (All Wise)among many other names. You can call Allah by any name but that-name should be beautiful and should not conjure up a mental picture.
Each attribute of God is unique and-possessed by Him alone:
Not only does God possess unique-attributes, but also each attribute of-Almighty God is sufficient to identify Him. I shall clarify this point in-detail. Suppose we take the example of a famous personality, say-astronaut Neil Armstrong.
If someone says Neil Armstrong is-an American The attribute of being-American possessed by Neil Armstrong is correct but not sufficient to-identify him. Similarly Neil Armstrong is an astronaut. The attribute of-being an astronaut is not unigue to Neil Armstrong . To identify the-person uniguely we must look for a unique attribute. For example, Neil-Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon. So when one-asks, who was the first man to set foot on the moon, the answer is only-one, i.e. Neil Armstrong. Similarly the-attribute of Almighty God should-be unique e.g. Creator of the Universe. If I say creator of the building,it may be possible and true but it is not unigue.Thousands of people can-make a building, so there would be no difference between man and God.But each attribute of Allah points to none but Allah.
For example:
“Ar-Raheem”, the Most Merciful
“Ar-Rahman””, the Most Gracious
“Al-Hakeem””, the Most Wise
So when one asks, who is “Ar-Raheem””, the Most Merciful, there can be-only one answer, i.e. Almighty Allah.
One attribute of God should not-contradict with other attributes:
To continue with the earlier-example, if somebody says Neil Armstrong-is an American astronaut who is only four feet tall, the attribute(American astronaut) is correct but its associated guality (only four feet-tall) is false. Similarly if someone says that God is the Creator of the-Universe with one head, two hands, two feet, etc. the attribute (Creator-of the Universe) is correct but the-associated quality (in the form of-human being) is wrong and false.
All attributes should point to the-one and same God:
Since there is only one God all the-attributes should point to one and the-same God. To say that Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut who-first set foot on the moon, but his the second was Edwin Aldrin is-wrong.Both have Unigue Oualities Similarly to say that the Creator is one-God and the Cherisher is another God is absurd because there is only-one God with all these attributes combined together.
Unity of God:
Some polytheists argue by saying-that the existence of more than one-God is not illogical. Let us point out to them that if there were more than-one God, they would dispute with one another, each God trying to fulfill-his will against the will of the other Gods. This can be seen in the-mythology of the polytheistic and pantheistic religions. If a ‘God’ is-defeated or unable to defeat the others, he is surely not the one true-God. Also popular among polytheistic-religions is the idea of many Gods,each having different responsibilities. Each one would be responsible for-a part of man’s existence e.g. a Sun god, a-Rain god, etc. This indicates-that one ‘God’ is incompetent of certain acts and moreover he is also-ignorant of the other Gods’ duties and-responsibilities. There cannot be-an ignorant and incapable God. If there were more than one God it would-surely lead to confusion, disorder, chaos and destruction in the Universe.But the universe is in complete harmony.
The Holy Qur’an says:
Had there been within them [i.e., the heavens and earth] gods besides Allāh, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allāh, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe
(Holy Qur’an 21:22)
If there were more than one God,they would have taken away-what they created. The Holy Qur’an says:
Allāh has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have [sought to] overcome others. Exalted is Allāh above what they describe [concerning Him]
(Holy Our’an (23:91)
Thus the existence of one True,Supreme Almighty God, is the-only logical concept of God.
There are a few religions like-Buddhism and Confucianism,which are agnostic religions. They do not comment on God.They neither confirm nor deny-the existence of God. There are-other religions like Jainism,which are atheistic religions and-which do not believe in the existence of God.
(Inshallah I shall be publishing a-book “Is the Qur’an God’s-Word?” which can Alhamdulillah prove the existence of Allah to an atheist or an agnostic by means of reason, logic-and science on the basis of the Holy Qur’an.)
ALL RELIGIONS ULTIMATELY BELIEVE IN-MONOTHIESM:
All major religions that believe in-the existence of God ultimately, on a-higher level, believe in one supreme God. All religious scriptures actually-speak about monotheism i.e. belief in only one true God.
People change scriptures for their benefit:
By the passage of time most of the-religious scriptures have been-distorted and changed by people for their own benefits. The creed of-many religions has thus been distorted from monotheism to pantheism-Or polytheism. The Holy Qur’an says:
So woe[i.e., death and destruction,] to those who write the “scripture” with their own hands, then say, “This is from Allāh,” in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.
(Holy Qur’an 2:79)
TAWHEED:
Definition and Categories:
Islam believes in Tawheed’ which-is not merely monotheism i.e. belief in-one unique God, but much more. Tawheed literally means “unification”i.e. “asserting oneness” and is derived from the Arabic verb ‘Wahhada’which means to unite, unify or consolidate.
Tawheed can be divided into 3 categories.
(1) Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah
(ii) Tawheed al-Asmaa-was-sifaat
(iii) Tawheed al-Ibaadah.
a. Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah(maintaining the unity of-Lordship)
The first category is “Tawheed-ar-Ruboobeeyah’. ‘Ruboobeeyah’ is-derived from the root verb “Rabb” meaning Lord, Sustainer and-Cherisher.
Therefore”Tawheed-ar-Ruboobeeah’ means maintaining the unity of-Lordship. This category is based on the fundamental concept that Allah-alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing. He created or-originated all that exists out of nothing. He alone is the sole Creator,Cherisher, and Sustainer of the complete universe and all between it,without any need from it or for it.
b. Tawheed al-Asmaa was-sifaat (maintaining the unity of-Allah’s name and attributes):
The second category is ‘Tawheed-al Asmaa was Sifaat’ which means-maintaining the unity of Allah’s name and attributes. This category is-divided into five aspects:
(1) Allah should be referred to as-described by Him and His Prophet:
Allah must be referred to-according to the manner in which He and His-prophet have described Him without explaining His names and attributes-by giving them meanings other than their obvious meanings.
(ii) Allah must be referred to as He-has referred to Himself
Allah must be referred to without-giving Him any new names or-attributes. For example Allah may not be given the name al-Ghaadib(the Angry One), despite the fact that He has said that He gets angry,because neither Allah nor His messenger have used this name.
(iii)Allah is referred to without-giving Him the attributes of His creation,
In a reference to God, we should strictly abstain from giving Him the-attributes of those He has created. For instance in the Bible, God is-portrayed as repenting for his bad thoughts in the same way as humans-do when they realize their errors. This is completely against the principle-of Tawheed. God does not repent and He does not commit any mistakes-Or errors.
The key principle when dealing-with Allah’s attributes is given in the Holy-Qur’an in Surah Ash-Shurah:
“There is nothing Whatever like-unto Him, And He is the One. That hears and sees (all things).”
Although hearing and seeing are-human qualities, when attributed to the-Divine Being they are without comparison in their perfection, unlike-when associated with humans who reguire ears, eyes, etc. and who are-limited in their sight and hearing.
(iv) Men should not to be given any attribute of God:
To refer to a human with the-attribute of God is also against the principle-of Tawheed. For example, referring to a person as one who has no-beginning or end (eternal).
(V) Allah’s name cannot be given to-his creatures: Some divine names-in the indefinite form, like ‘Raoof’ or ‘Raheem’ are permissible names for-men as Allah has used them for Prophets: but ‘Ar-Raoof’ (the Most Pious)and Ar-Raheem (the most Merciful)can only be used if prefixed by ‘Abd’ meaning “slave of” or “servant of”, i.e. ‘Abdur-Raoof’ or “Abdur-Raheem’.
He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him,[There is no similarity whatsoever between the Creator and His creation in essence, in attributes or in deed.] and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.[After Seeing add ftnt: Who sees and understands all things apparent and unapparent, visible and invisible.]
(Holy Qur’an (42:11)
c. Tawheed al-Ibaadah (maintaining the unity of worship):
(1) Definition and meaning of ‘Ibadaah’:
‘Tawheed al-Ibaadah’ means-maintaining the unity of worship or-Ibaadah’. Ibaadah is derived from Arabic word ‘Abd’ meaning slave or-servant. Thus Ibaadah means servitude and worship. Salaah is one of-the highest forms of Ibaadah i.e. worship but is not the only form. People-misunderstand that worship of Almighty God only means ritual prayers-but the concept of worship in Islam includes total obedience, submission-and servitude. Following the commandments of God and abstaining from-things He has forbidden is Ibaadah (worship) and this worship is only-due to Allah alone and to no one else.
(ii) All three categories to be-followed simultaneously.
Only believing in the first two-categories of Tawheed without implementing-Tawheed-al-Ibaadah is useless. The Qur’an gives the examples of “Mushrikeens” (idolaters) of the-Prophet’s time who confirmed the first two-aspects of Tawheed. It is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an:
Say: “Who is it that Sustains you(in life) From the sky-and from the earth? Or who is itthat Has power over-hearing And sight? And who Is it that brings out The-living from the dead And the dead from the living?
Say, “Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?” They will say, “Allāh,” so say, “Then will you not fear Him?”
(Holy Qur’an 10:31)
A similar example is repeated in-Surah Zukhruf of the Holy Qur’an:
And if you asked them[Those who associate others with Allāh] who created them, they would surely say, “Allāh.” So how are they deluded?
(Holy Qur’an 43:87)
The pagan Meccans knew that-Allah was their Creator, Sustainer, Lord-and Master. Yet they were not Muslims because they also worshipped-other gods besides Allah. Allah categorized them as “Kuffaars””(disbelievers) and “Mushrikeen” (idol worshippers and those who associate partners with God).
And most of them believe not in Allāh except while they associate others with Him.
(Holy Qur’an 12:106)
Thus Tawheed al-Ibaadah i.e.-maintaining the unity of worship is the-most important aspect of Tawheed. He alone deserves worship and He-alone can grant benefit to man for his worship.
SHIRK:
a. Definition:
The omission of any of the above-mentioned categories of tawheed or-deficiency in the fulfillment of any criteria of Tawheed is referred to as ‘shirk’.
Shirk literally means sharing or-associating partners. In Islamic terms-it means associating partners with Allah and is eguivalent to idolatry.
b. Shirk is the greatest sin which Allah will never forgive:
The Holy Qur’an describes the greatest sin in Surah Nisa:
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin
(Al-Qur’an 4:48)
The same message is repeated in Surah Nisa:
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly gone far astray
(AlQur’an 4:116)
c. Shirk leads to hell fire:
The Qur’an says in Surah Maidah:
They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh – Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers
(Al-Qur’an5:72)
d. Worship and obedience to none but Allah:
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Al-Imran:
Say, “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allāh and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allāh.”[By obeying another in disobedience to Allāh.] But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].”
(Al-Qur’an 3:64)
CONCLUSION:
The Holy Qur’an says:
And do not insult those they invoke other than Allāh, lest they insult Allāh in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do
(al-Qur’an 6:108)
And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words[The words of Allāh’s unlimited knowledge or words describing His attributes and His grandeur or praise of Him (subḥānahu wa taʿālā)] of Allāh would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
(Al-Qur’an 31:27)
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.[A comparison is made here to the worshipper of a false deity and that which he worships.]
(Al-Qur’an 22:73)
And all Praise be to Allah, the Lord,Creator, Cherisher and Sustainer of-all the Worlds!
