Class 5
WHAT IS TAWHEED?
WHY IS TAWHEED IMPORTANT?
What is Tawheed?
Tawhid in Arabic means attributing Oneness to Allah and describing Him as being One and Unique, with no partner or peer in His Essence and Attributes.
Shar’i definition of Tawhid
The Shar’ii definition is believing in Allah 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 Allah is One with no partner or associate in His Lordship (also called Tawhid - Rububiyyah), Divinity (also called Tawheed Uluhiyyah) or names and attributes (Tawheed al-Asma wa’l-Sifat).
This word (Tawhid) and its derivatives are used with this meaning in the Quran and Sunnah. For example:
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): He is Allah, (the) One [Ahad]. Allah-us-Samad [Allah — the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him” (al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)
“And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah [ilahun wahidun] (God — Allah), La Ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” (al-Baqarah 2:163)
And there are many similar verses.
Also when the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu’adh ibn Jabal to Yemen, he said to him: “You are going to people from among the People of the Book, so let the first thing to which you call them be belief in Allah alone (Tawhid). If they accept that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers every day and night. If they pray then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them zakah from their wealth to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. If they agree to that then take it from them but avoid the best of people’s wealth.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Also the Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam is built on five (pillars) : belief that Allah is One, establishing regular prayer, paying zakah, fasting Ramadan and Hajj.” (Sahih Muslim)
What is meant by Tawhid in all these texts is affirming the meaning of the Kalimah (Testimony) that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, which is the essence of the religion of Islam with which Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, based on the evidence of the words of the Quran and Sunnah.
WHY TAWHEED?
Someone may say, and it actually has been said, “What is it with you that you always focus on tawheed and you talk so much about it?! And you don’t take into consideration the condition of the Muslims in our day and time, those who are being killed and caused to flee all over the earth, those being persecuted by the empires of disbelief in every place?!”
So we say, and with Allaah lies success:
Tawheed is the foundation upon which this upright religion has been built, so focusing on it means to focus on the very core itself. For if we were to reflect over the Noble Qur’aan we would find that it expounds on issues of tawheed repetitively, so much so that there does not exist a single soorah in the Qur’aan that does not mention tawheed, clarifying it and prohibiting what opposes it.
Al-Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim said that the entire Qur’aan is about tawheed, since it is only made up of the following:
Information about Allaah and His Names and Attributes – This is the tawheed that we are to have knowledge of, called tawheed Al Asma Was Siffat.
Commands to worship Allaah alone with no partners and prohibitions of worshipping other than Him – This is the tawheed that we must put into action, called tawheed al-uloohiyyah.
Commands to obey Allaah and His Messenger ﷺ and prohibitions of disobeying Allaah and His Messenger ﷺ – These are the ways that tawheed is actualized and completed.
Information about what Allaah has prepared for the people of tawheed, the delights, success, salvation, and triumphs in this life and the Next, and the punishments that are in store for the people of shirk in this life, and the eternal torture prepared for them upon their one-way entrance into the Hellfire – The first is for those who actualize tawheed, the latter is for those who do not.
Therefore, the entire Qur’aan is centered around tawheed. If you were to think about the soorahs revealed in Makkah, you would find that most of them focus entirely on tawheed. That is because the Prophet ﷺ stayed in Makkah for 13 years calling to tawheed and warning against shirk. The vast majority of the religious obligations likezakaah, fasting, Hajj, the affairs of halaal and haraam, business transactions, etc. were not revealed until after the Hijrah to Al-Madeenah. The legislation of the prayer is an exception to this, as it was made an obligation while the Prophet ﷺ was still in Makkah on the Night of Al-Mi’raaj, when he ﷺ was taken by night (to Jerusalem), but that was only a short time before the Hijrah.
Furthermore, the religious obligations were not revealed until tawheed was presented and established within the souls of the people, and the proper ‘aqeedah had taken root. For verily actions cannot be correct except with tawheed, nor can they have other than tawheed as their foundation.
The Qur’aan has illustrated that the Messengers ﷺ all began their missions by inviting the people to tawheed before anything else, as Allaah says “And We sent a messenger to every nation (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allaah and shun false deities!’” (16:36)
And every prophet used to say to his people, “O my people – Worship Allaah as you have no other deity worthy of worship!” (7:95)
So we are not neglecting the issues of the Muslims, rather we are very concerned about them. We are assisting them and trying to prevent every harm from reaching them using all our resources.
Finding the real solution to the Muslims’ problems requires us to seek out the reasons that have led to the punishments afflicting the Muslims at the hands of their enemies.
What is causing the enemies of the Muslims to gain and hold authority over them?
When we look to the Muslim world, we do not see any serious commitment to Islaam with most of those who ascribe to it, except the few that Allaah has had Mercy on. What we see are Muslims by name only, the ‘aqeedah of most of them is lost. They worship other than Allaah, calling on saints and righteous people, clinging to graves and tombs, not establishing the prayer, not paying zakaah, not fasting, etc. They are not fulfilling the basic obligations Allaah asked of them, they are not even gathering their strength or preparing physically to stand up for their cause against the enemies! This is the case with the majority of those who ascribe themselves to Islaam – they have lost their religion, so Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, caused them to be lost.
If they were to hold firmly to their religion, actualizing tawheed and establishing their ‘aqeedah upon the Book and the Sunnah, holding together to the Rope of Allaah, shunning division, then verily what has been allowed to befall them will not be allowed to befall them anymore, as Allaah says: “And verily Allaah will make those who aid His Cause victorious, for verily He is All-Powerful and Mighty. (They are) those who, when given power in the land, establish the prayer, pay zakaah, command what is good, and forbid what is evil, and with Allaah is the end result of all affairs”. (22:41)
So Allaah has made it clear that victory will not be given to the Muslims unless they focus on what He mentioned – establishing the prayer, paying zakaah, commanding what is good, and forbidding what is evil.
Allaah says: “Allaah has promised those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will cause them to rule the earth just as He caused those who came before them to rule it, and He will grant them the ability to practice their religion, the one He chose for them, and He will change their fears into safety…” (24:55)
So He clarified that this gaining of authority and fortification will only come to pass when this condition is fulfilled – that they worship Him alone without any partners, and this is the essence of tawheed. These generously promised things will not be granted except to those who understand and apply tawheed, worshipping Allaah alone with no partners, with acts of worship including prayer, zakaah, Hajj, and all other acts of obedience.
That is because worship is of no benefit with the presence of shirk. All forms of shirk must be avoided, no matter what shape, form, or name.Shirk simply means to perform an act of worship for other than Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.
This is what brings about true salvation, safety, victory, and strength in the land – correcting the ‘aqeedah and then correcting the deeds. Without this, disasters and punishments will continue to befall whoever does not completely fulfill the condition (for Allaah’s Aid). Being conquered by the enemies is only the result of the Muslims not fulfilling this necessary condition, their lack of proper concern for their ‘aqeedah and Religion, and their contentment with carrying Muslim names and nothing more.
BASICS OF TAWHEED
I. HUMAN BEINGS’ DUTY TO ALLAH
Q1 Why has Allah created us?
A. Allah has created us to worship Him Alone and to worship no other besides Him.
The proof is Allah’s saying: “And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” (V.51:56)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Mankind’s duty to Allah is to worship Him Alone, and not to associate partners to Him in anything.” (Bukhari – Muslim)
Q2 What is worship?
A. Worship is a comprehensive term which includes all sayings and actions which are appreciated by Allah; such as invocation, Salát (prayer), humbling oneself in front of Him etc. As Allah, the All-Mighty says: “Say (0 Muhammad ., ﷺ ) : Verily, my Salát (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” (V.6:162)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah says: The most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to me, is the observance of what I have enjoined upon hint” (Bukhari)
II. FORMS AND BENEFITS OF TAUHID
Q1 What is the affirmation of Allah’s Oneness as Lord?
A. It is to affirm the uniqueness and exclusiveness of His works, creation and direction (of the universe) etc. This is also known as Tauhid Ar-Rubübiya.
Allah, the All-Mighty says: “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” (V.1:1)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “You are the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth…” (Bukhári – Muslim)
Q2 What is Tawheed Al Uloohiyah (the affirmation of Allah’s Oneness as the Only One to be worshipped)?
A. It is to devote to Him exclusively all our worship like; supplications, invocations, sacrifice, vows, prayer, hope, fear, seeking help, trust etc.
Allah says: “And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God – Allah) La iláha lila Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.’ (V.2:163)
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Let the first thing you invite them to do is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.”
Q3 What is Tawheed Al Asmaa Was Sifaat (the affirmation of Allah’s Names and Attributes)?
A. It is to affirm Allah’s Attributes as He Himself describes them in the Quran & Sunnah. This means to believe in the uniqueness of Allah’s names and that
Allah must be referred to as described by the Prophets.
Allah must be referred to as He refers to himself.
Allah should not be given attributes of his creation
Allah says: “There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer”. (V.42:11)
Q4 Is Allah with us?
A. Allah is with us through His Knowledge (of all things). He hears and sees us, as He says: “He (Allah) said: Fear not, Verily! I am with you both, Hearing and Seeing.” (V.20:46)
The Prophet , said: “You call upon the One Who hears, Who is near, and is with you (i.e. through His Knowledge)” (Muslim)
But Allah is above the seventh heaven over the throne in a way that befits His Majresty. As Allah says: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) Isiawa (rose over) the• (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). (V.20:5)
Q5. Does the testimony of Tawheed includes all three types of Tawheed?
It includes all three types of Tawheed: Tawheed ar-ruboobiyyah (oneness of divine Lordship), Tawheed al-uloohiyyah (oneness of divinity, which is oneness of worship), and Tawheed al-asma’ wa’s-sifaat (oneness of the divine names and attributes).
May Allah make us amongst those who live and die on Tawheed.
Please join our free online certificate course “WHAT IS TAWHEED?”, to learn more about the Faith and all aspects related to Tawheed, Shirk, Kufr, Bidah, etc. The course is designed in a simple Question & Answer format. https://learn-islam.org/what-is-tawheed (available online now, register and learn).
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the Types and meanings.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Recite atleast 3 of the Adhkaar at their recommended times as taught in Class 2. (5 Marks)
IV. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
JOIN FOR FREE VIA
WHATSAPP | TELEGRAM | EMAIL
Pls read our FAQs to get the details and to know how we go about things if U have any further Qs pls feel free to ask...
FAQs: - https://learn-islam.org/faqs-short-courses
Happy Learning... JazakAllah Khair...
As Salam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuh :)
SUPPORT LEARN ISLAM
Alhamdulillah we have been providing free courses on LEARN ISLAM for over 15years now. We now have employees working in our organisation and need support to fulfil commitments and accomplish goals/projects.
Support LEARN ISLAM in continuing to provide free courses on
Quran & Tajweed.
Various Islamic Topics.
Parenting.
Worldly Skills (like Designing, Excel Sheets etc).
Free Matrimonial Services.
More Projects coming up InShaAllah.