TAwheed - Class 1
MEANING & IMPORTANCE
OF THE KALIMAH
TAWHEED
It is common knowledge that Tawheed is the basis of the religion of Islam and that it is most precisely expressed in the formula, "La Ilaaha Ill Allah". This seemingly simple formula forms the dividing line between Eeman (True belief in Allah) & Kufr (disbelief) according to the tenets of Islam.
This is why our Beloved Prophet ﷺ spent more than 10 years preaching just the Kalimah. Salah was obligated on the night of Isra wal Miraj, Zakah & Siyaam were obligated after the migration to Madinah. Hajj became an obligation later. So all he ﷺ worked on was to make the people of Makkah to believe in “LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH MOHAMMADUR RASOOL ALLAH”. The Kuffaar of Makkah understood the meaning and so rejected it. So as Muslims it is a must for us to learn the true meaning, it’s virtues & conditions.
Allah (S.W.T.) Himself attested to the importance of this statement in the Quraan: He (S.W.T.) said: "...and know that Laa ilaaha ill Allah (that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah)..." [47:19, 20:8, 3:18, 59:22-3]
For the sake of Learning let us first learn about "La Ilaaha Ill Allah" its conditions and details, then we will study the same about the second part - "Mohammadur Rasool Allah".
We see that there is a misconception about its TRUE meaning.
What a lot of Muslims Believe the meaning is- “No God but Allah” or “No Creator but Allah”
Brothers & Sisters these Sentences are correct but NOT the true meaning…
The True Meaning is- “NONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WORSHIPPED BUT ALLAH.” The word I’LAH literally means God but here means THE WORSHIPPED not GOD nor CREATOR which are linguistic meanings.
This is the meaning that the polytheists understood from ‘La ilaha illa Allah’, when the Prophet ﷺ called them to it, saying: O my people, say ‘La ilaha illa Allah’, to succeed.
They denied it and haughtily rejected to accept him because they understood that it contradicts their forefathers’ worship of idols, trees and stones and their deification, as Allah says Surah Sad, “And they Arab pagans wonder that a warner (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) has come to them from among themselves. And the disbelievers say: “This (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) is a sorcerer, a liar. “Has he made the gods (all) into One God (Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing!”
Also in Surah Al-Saffat (ayat 35 & 36), Allah states concerning the polytheists: “Truly, when it was said to them: La ilaha illa Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). And (they) said: “Are we going to abandon our alihah (gods) for the sake of a mad poet?”
This indicates that the polytheists understood that the meaning of ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ superseded their deities and necessitated dedicating their acts of worship to Allah Alone. Thus, when one of them embraced Islam, he gave up Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and dedicated acts of worship to Allah Alone.
Had ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ meant only that there is no god but Allah, or no creator but Allah, or that there is none worthy of obedience but Allah, they would have never rejected it. That is because they already knew that Allah is their Lord and Creator Who must be obeyed in the orders they believed to come from Him. Rather, they believed that worship of idols, prophets, angels, righteous people, trees and the like were their intercessors with Allah and brought them closer to Him.
Allah says in Surah Yunus, aya 18: “And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say: “Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?” Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)! He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also states: The revelation of this Book (the Qur’an) is from Allâh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. Verily We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad ﷺ) in truth: So worship Allâh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh’s sake only. Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only. And those who take Auliyâ’ (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh.”
The pagans admitted that they worshiped others only to bring them near to Allah, but Allah (may He be Praised) responded to this, Verily, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allâh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.
SubhaanAllah, if we think about this, if the Muslims understand just this (the true meaning of the Kalimah - the words that makes them Muslim), they wouldn’t fall into Shirk.
Abdullaah ibn Abbas –radiAllaah anhuma- said: ‘It is the testification of ‘La ilaha ‘illa Allaah’, renouncing any capability or strength for other than Allaah and not hoping except in Allaah -Azza wa Jal.’
It is the statement which is firmly-fixed as Allaah -Azza wa Jal-mentions when He says: “Allaah will keep firm those who believe with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allaah Alone and none else) and in the Hereafter'“. (Ibraheem: 27)
The foundation of this statement ‘La ilaha ‘illa Allaah’ is firmly fixed in a believer’s heart, its branches are righteous actions which ascend to the sky – to Allaah -Azza wa Jal.
"IMPORTANCE OF THE KALIMAH"
Definitely there could be no greater and more important a statement than 'Laa ilaaha illa Allah' (there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah).
It is the statement of declaration of belief in the Tawheed of Allah which is the dividing line between Imaan and kufr - It was the call of all of the previous Messengers and Prophets.
Allah (S.W.T.) Himself attested to the importance of this statement in the Quraan: He (S.W.T.) said: "...and know that Laa ilaaha ill Allah (that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah)..." [47:19, 20:8, 3:18, 59:22-3]
As long as this statement is an obligation for an unbeliever to declare in order for him to become a Muslim, and also, since a person who pronounces it faithfully his property and life are safeguarded in this world, it becomes an obligation upon any Muslim who wants to understand the Deen of Islaam to realize its meaning, merits, principles, conditions and its place in life.
Remembering Allah (Dhikr Allah) is one of the most important commandments of Allah. This He Himself commanded in many verses of the Quraan, especially after the performance of important religious obligations:
"...Then when you leave Arafat, remember Allah (by glorfying and praising Him) at the Mash`ar il-Haraam. And remember Allah (by invokingAllah for all good) as He has guided you..." [2:198]
"Then when you have accomplished your 'Manasik' (all the rites of Hajj); remember Allah as you remember your father with a strong remembrance..." [2:200]
He S.W.T. also said: "...and establish prayers for My remembrance." [20:14]
The best way to remember Allah is described to us in the Hadeeth of the Messenger ﷺ, he said: "...and the best (supplication) I and the other prophets who were sent who before me proclaimed was: There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, He is Alone and has no partner. To Him belongs the Ownership (of everything), and to Him belongs all Praise, and He has total power over all things." [Laa ilaaha ill Allah, wah.dahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul h.amdu wa huwa `alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer.] (At-Tirmidhi)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said: "The best remembrance of Allah is to say 'laa ilaaha ill Allah' (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah)."
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Memorize the Meaning.
Read about its importance.
ATTENDANCE/ASSIGNMENT
The marks for Attendance/Assignment will be given based on the below activities: -
Invite minimum 10 frnds to the course 7 Marks.
Share all 4 notes of the week 2 Marks.
(This means to share this post/page)
Pray for the Ummah 1 Mark
None (0 Marks)
Note
Those who have already invited whether on whatsapp, email or fb do not need to invite again .Those who invited a few and has the possibility of inviting more pls do so.
Also note inviting does not mean that people have to join, our job is to spread the message, they have the option to join or not. So please share and invite via WhatsApp/FB/Email but if you can personally also ask them to join and convince them to join that can give you a source of Sawaab-e-Jaariya.
May Allah help us all Learn the Good to apply it in our lives and the Evil to stay away from it InshaAllah!
Please do invite your friends & Family to the course.
JOIN VIA WHATSAPP | TELEGRAM | EMAIL
Pls read our FAQs to know how we go about things if U have any further Qs pls feel free to ask...
FAQs: - www.learn-islam.org/terms-intro
Happy Learning... JazakAllah Khair...
As Salam Aliakum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barkaatuhu :)