EXISTENCE OF ALLAAH, HIS LORDSHIP (OVER ALL CREATION), HIS
ONENESS AND HIS BEING THE ONLY GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP
Many people do worship man-made deities like trees, stones and even
human beings; that is why the Jews and idolaters asked the Messenger
of Allaah about the characteristics of his Lord. In reply to this
question Allaah revealed:
"Say (O Muhammad): He is Allaah, (the) One, Allaah, the Self-
Sufficient Master (Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor
drinks). He begets not nor is He begotten. And there is none co-equal
or comparable unto Him."[1]He also says:"Indeed your Lord is Allaah
Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days and then He Istawa
(rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He
brings night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He
created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command.
Blessed be Allaah, the Lord of all the world!"[2]He also says:"Allaah
is He, Who raised the heaven without pillars that you can see. Then He
Istawa (rose above) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His
Majesty). He has subjected the sun and the moon (to continue going
round)! Each running( its course) for a term appointed. He regulates
all affairs, explaining the Aayaat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe
with certainty in the meeting with your Lord. And it is He who spread
out the earth, and placed therein firm mountains and rivers and of
every kind of fruits He made[3] in pairs. He brings the night as a
cover over the day..." until He says: "Allaah knows what every female
bears and how much the womb falls short (of their time or number) or
exceed. Everything with Him is in due proportion. All-Knower of the
unseen and the seen, the Most Great, the Most-High."3Allaah also
says:"Say (O Muhammad): Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?
Say: (It is) Allaah. Say: Have you then taken (for worship) protectors
other than Him, such as have no power either for benefit or for harm
to themselves? Say: Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or
darkness equal to light? Or do they assign Allaah partners who created
the like of His creation, so that the creation (which they made and
His creation) seemed alike to them? Say: Allaah is the Creator of all
things. He is the One, the Irresistible."[4]While establishing for
mankind His signs as evidences and proofs, He says:
"And from among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and
the moon. Prostrate not to the sun nor the moon, but prostrate to
Allaah who created them, if you really worship Him. But if they are
too proud (to do so), then those who are with your Lord (angels)
glorify Him night and day, and never are they tired. And among His
signs (in this), that you see the earth barren, but when We send down
water (rain) to it, it is stirred to life and growth (of vegetations).
Verily, He Who gives it life, sure is Able to give life to the dead
(on the Day of Resurrection). Indeed He is Able to do all things."[5]
He also says:
"And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and the differences of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are
indeed signs for men of sound knowledge. And among His signs are the
sleep that you take by night and by day..."[6]While describing Himself
with attributes of beauty and perfection He says: "Allaah! None has
the right to be worshipped but He. The Ever-Living, the One Who
sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep
overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and
whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him
except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (His
creatures) in this world and what will happen to them in the
hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His knowledge
except that which He wills."[7]He also says: "The Forgiver of sins,
the Acceptor of repentance, the Stern in punishment, the Bestower (of
favours). None has the right to be worshipped but He. To Him is the
final return."[8]He - may His praise be exalted- also says: "He is
Allaah, besides Whom none has the right to be worshipped, the King,
the Holy, the One free from all defects, the Giver of security, the
Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the
Supreme. Glory be to Allaah! (High is He) above all that they
associate as partners with Him."[9]
This wise and Omnipotent Lord who made himself known to His slaves and
established for them His signs and proofs and described Himself with
attributes of perfection had prophetic ordainments, human wisdom and
nature testify to His existence, to His Lordship and being the only
one having the right to be worshipped. I will -God willing- show that
to you in the following pages.
As for proofs of His existence and Lordship, they are:
ONE: CREATION OF THIS UNIVERSE AND ITS WONDERFUL DESIGN
O man! All this universe that surrounds you; the heavens, the stars,
the galaxies and the earth that is spread in which there are
neighbouring tracts out of which different plants grow bearing all
fruits, and on which you find all creatures in pairs... this universe
did not create itself and could never create itself. It must then have
a creator. Who then is that creator who created it in this wonderful
design and perfection and made it a sign for those who can see save
Allaah the One, the Subduer Whom there is no Lord or deity worthy of
worship beside Him. He says: "Were they created by nothing or were
they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the
earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief."[10]These two verses imply
three questions:1- Were they created from nothing?
2- Did they create themselves?3- Did
they create the heavens and the earth?
If their creation was not accidental and they had not created
themselves or created the heavens and the earth; it should then be
affirmed that there exists a creator who created them as well as the
heavens and the earth. That Creator is Allaah, the One, the Subduer.
TWO: THE NATURE
All creatures are naturally inclined to believe in the existence of
the Creator; to affirm that He is greater and mightier than all
things. This inclination is more well-rooted in the nature than
elementary mathematics and does not need to be proved by any evidence
except for him who has an abnormal nature; a nature that has been
exposed to circumstances that turn it away from what it should admit.
[11] Allaah says:"That (Islaamic Monotheism) is the nature upon which
Allaah has created mankind. Let there be no change in Allaah's (law
of) creation. That is the straight religion."[12]The Messenger of
Allaah said: "Every child is born with natural inclination to Islaamic
Monotheism and it is his parents who make him a Jew, a Christian or a
Magian[13] just as the animal gives birth to its young whole, wherein
you find no mutilation." Then Aboo Hurayrah (who is the narrator of
this hadeeth) said: "Recite if you like (Allaah's words): "That
(Islaamic Monotheism) is the nature upon which Allaah has created
mankind. Let there be no change in Allaah's (law of) creation. That is
the straight religion.'"[14]
He also said: "Verily, my Lord commanded me to teach you what you do
not know of what He has taught me today: 'All money that I endow a
slave with is lawful (for him). I created my slaves naturally inclined
to Islaamic Monotheism and it were the devils who came to them, led
them away from their religion, made forbidden for them what I made
lawful and enjoined on them to associate partners with Me in worship
of which I did not send any proof.' "[15]
THREE: CONSENSUS OF ALL PEOPLE
All past and modern nations are in consensus that this universe has a
creator who is Allaah the Lord of all the worlds, that He is the
Creator of the heavens and the earth and that He has no partner among
His creatures as He does not have a partner in His Sovereignty.No
belief has ever been reported from any of the past nations that their
false deities took part with Allaah in the creation of the heavens and
the earth. Rather, they all believed that it was Allaah Who created
them and their gods, that there was no creator or sustainer besides
Him and that He alone owns the power to benefit or harm.[16] Allaah
informs us in the following verses of the idolaters affirmation of His
Lordship and guardianship: "If your were to ask them: 'Who has created
the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon?' They
will surely reply: 'Allaah'. How then are they deviating (as
polytheists and disbelievers)? Allaah enlarges the provision for whom
He wills of His slaves and straightens it for whom (He wills). Verily,
Allaah is the All-Knower of everything. If you were to ask them: 'Who
sends down water (rain) from the sky and gives life therewith to earth
after its death?' They will surely reply: 'Allaah'. Say: 'All the
praises and thanks be to Allaah!' Nay! Most of them have no
sense."[17]
"And indeed if you ask them, 'Who has created the heavens and the
earth?' They will surely say: 'The All-Mighty, the All-Knower created
them.' "[18]
FOUR: THE REASONHuman reason inevitably confirms that this universe
has a great Creator; for the sound reason agrees that this universe is
a created thing that did not bring itself to being, hence, it must
have an originator.Also, man knows that he falls into crises and
afflictions and when he is unable to prevent them or remove them, he
faces the heavens with his heart and seeks for His Lord's aid to
remove his distress even though he may denounce his Lord and worship
his idols in his normal days. This is an undisputable fact. Even the
animal raises his head up and looks at the sky whenever it is visited
by an affliction. The Almighty Allah informs us that man, whenever he
is afflicted with harm, hastens to his Lord and asks Him to remove the
harm. Allaah says, "And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his
Lord (Allaah Alone) turning to Him in repentance, but when He bestows
a favour upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for
before and he sets up rivals to Allaah." He also says about the
idolaters: "He it is Who enable you to travel through land and sea,
till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a
favourable wind, and they are glad therein, then comes a stormy wind
and the waves come to them from all sides and they think that they are
circled therein, they invoke Allaah, making their faith pure for Him
Alone, saying: 'If You (Allaah) deliver us from this, we shall truly
be of the grateful. But when He delivered them, behold! They rebel
(disobey Allaah) in the earth wrongfully. O mankind! Your rebellion
(disobedience to Allaah) is only against your own selves, - a brief
enjoyment of this worldly life, then (in the end) unto Us is your
return and We shall inform you that which you used to do.' "[19]He
also says: "And when a wave covers them like shades (i.e., like clouds
or the mountains of seawater) they invoke Allaah, making their
invocations for Him only. But when he brings them safe to land, there
are among them those that stop in the middle (between belief and
disbelief). But none denies Our Signs but every perfidious
ungrateful."[20]This Lord who brought this universe to existence,
created man in the best form, embedded in his nature servitude and
submission to Him, subjected human reason to His Lordship and His
exclusive worthiness to be worshipped. It is Allaah Whom all nations
unanimously testify to His guardianship... as He should inevitably be
One in His Lordship and worthiness to be worshipped. As He has no
partner in creating His creatures, He should also have no partner in
His worthiness to be worshipped. There are numerous evidences for
this,* some of which are:1- There is only in this
universe one God Who is the creator and the sustainers of all. None
brings harm or benefit except Him. Had there been any other god
besides Him, that god would have had his own work, creation and
command and none of both would have allowed another to share the
creation with him. Hence, one of them must have overpowered and
subdued the other. In that case, the subdued could not have been a god
and the Subduer should be the real God with whom none can share the
right to be worshipped just as none shares with Him His guardianship
and lordship. Allaah says:"No son (or offspring or children) did
Allaah beget, nor is there any god along with Him; (if there had been
many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had
created, and some would have tried to overcome others! Glorified be
Allaah above all that they attribute to Him."[21]
2- None deserves to be worshipped but Allaah Who
created the heavens and the earths; for, man seeks to gain the favour
of the Lord Who brings him benefit and prevents harm, evils and
calamities from him and none but the one who owns the heavens and the
earth is capable of doing all these. Let those who are searching for
the truth read: "Say (O Muhammad) (to those polytheists, pagans, etc.)
'Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides
Allaah, they possess not even the weight of an atom (or small ant), -
either in the heavens or on the earth nor have they any share in
either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them.
Intercession with Him profits not, except for him whom He permits.'
"[22]
These verses and others sever heart's affinity to other things besides
Allaah through four factors:
One: That those whom the polytheists worship possess not even the
weight of an atom with Allaah, and he who possesses not a weight of an
atom cannot benefit nor harm and therefore, is not worthy of being
worshipped or being taken as Allaah's associate in worship. It is
Allaah alone Who owns them and controls them.Two: That they possess
nothing in the heavens and the earth and they do not even have an atom
weight of share in them.Three: Allaah has no helper among His
creatures. Rather, He is the One who helps them in what is of benefit
for them and drives away from them what harms them. For, He completely
has no need of them; it is they who are rather who are in absolute
need of Him.Four: That these so-called associates are not capable of
interceding with Allaah on behalf of their followers and they will not
even be given permission to do so. Allaah does not give permission to
intercede except to His friends, and His friends also can not
intercede except on behalf of the one whom Allaah is pleased with his
sayings, deeds and belief.[23]3- Systematic arrangement
and precise execution of the affairs of this universe is the strongest
indication that its controller is one Lord, one (King), beside Whom
there is no other creator. As it is impossible for this universe to
have two creators, so it is impossible for it to have two Lords.
Allaah says: "Had there been therein (in the heavens and the earth)
gods besides Allaah, then verily both would have been ruined."[24]Had
it been assumed that there was in the heaven and the earth another god
besides Allaah, they would have been ruined. Because, had there been
another god besides Allaah, both would need to be autocratic and have
right of free disposal. That would have then lead to contention and
fighting and the ruin of the heaven and the earth would have occurred
as a result. It is impossible for the body to have two controlling
souls; if that happens the body will be destroyed - how then can it be
imagined that this universe which is greater, should have two lords?
4- Consensus of the Prophets and Messengers: All
nations agree that the Prophets and Messengers are the wisest, most
intelligent, best in morality, most sincere, most knowledgeable of
what Allaah wants and the most rightly guided of all people, because,
they received revelation from Allaah and conveyed it to people. And
all Prophets and Messengers - right from Adam to the last Prophet who
is Muhammad, peace be upon them all - have all called their peoples to
the belief in Allaah and abstention from worshipping anything besides
Him and that He is the only True Lord. Allaah says: "And We did not
send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad) but We inspired him saying:
None has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah), so worship Me
(Alone)."[25]He also says about Nooh - Peace be upon him - that he
told his people, "That you worship none but Allaah, surely, I fear for
you the torment of a painful Day."[26]He - may He be glorified- also
says about the last of all Messengers, Muhammad, "Say (O Muhammad): It
is revealed to me that your God is one God. Will you then submit to
His Will (become Muslims and stop worshipping others besides
Allaah)?"[27]This God is the One who wonderfully created the universe
from naught; He created man in the best form and perfected his
creation and impressed in his nature the affirmation of His Lordship
and His exclusive right to be worshipped. He lets him have peace of
mind through his submission to Him and following His Path and He
ordained it on his soul not to be at rest until it surrenders to its
Creator and be in continuous contact with Him. He also makes it
impossible to contact with Him except through His Straight Path which
the honourable Prophets conveyed. He gave man intelligence which only
becomes upright and functions properly when he believes in Allaah,
Glory be to Him.When one has an upright nature, a peaceful soul and a
believing heart, one achieves happiness, security and peace in this
world and the hereafter. But when man refuses all that, he will live
in the alleys of this world disorganised and divided among its gods,
ignorant as to who can benefit him or prevent harm from him. It is in
order that true faith may be established in the heart and the ugliness
of disbelief may be exposed that Allaah makes a parable - for parables
bring meanings closer to understanding. He makes a parable of a man
whose affair is divided between numerous gods and a man who worships
his Lord alone. He, may He be glorified, says, "Allaah puts forth a
similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners (like those who
worship others along with Allaah) disputing with one another, and a
(slave) man belonging to one master (like those who worship Allaah
Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks
be to Allaah! But most of them know not."[28]Allaah likens the slave
who is a polytheist to a slave who is owned by different associates
and over whom they all contend with each other. He is divided among
them and everyone of them directs him and assigns responsibilities to
him. He is confused among them and is always unstable. He is unable to
satisfy their different and contradicting desires that tear his energy
and directions apart.He also likens the slave who is a monotheist to a
slave who is owned by a single master. He knows what his master wants
and the assignments he gives him. He is thereby comfortable and
settled on a clear path. Both of these two slaves cannot be equal.
For, one submits to a single master and enjoys the pleasure of
uprightness, knowledge and certainty and the other one submits to
different and disputing masters and is thereby punished and
distressed. He is not stable on a condition and cannot please even one
of them let alone all of them.After proofs on the existence of Allaah,
His Lordship and His exclusive right to be worshipped have become
clear, we should then acquaint ourselves with His creation of the
universe and man and know His wisdom behind that. ByDr. Muhammad bin
Abdullaah As-SuhaymTranslated byAbdur-Raafi Adewale Imaam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Al-Ikhlaas 112: 1-4.
[2] Al-A'raaf 7:54.
[3] Ar-Ra'd 13:2, 3, 8, 9.
[4] Ar-Ra'd 13:16
[5] Fussilat 41:37-39
[6] Ar-Room 30:22-23
[7] Al-Baqarah 2:255
[8] Gaafir 40:3
[9] Al-Hashr 59:23
[10] At-Toor 52:35-36
[11] Majmoo' Fatawa Ibn Taymiyah 1:47-49
[12] Ar-Room 30:30
[13] Magians are those who worship fire and other natural phenomena.
(AA)
[14] Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
[15] Ahmad and Muslim.
[16] Majmoo' Fatawa 14:380-383
[17] Al-'Ankaboot 61-63
[18] Az-Zukhruf 9
[19] Yoonus 22-23
[20] Luqmaan 31:32
* For more of these evidence, see Kitaabut-Tawheed by Muhammad Ibn
Abdul Wahhaab.
[21] Al-Mu'minoon 23:91
[22] Saba' 34:22-23
[23] See Qurratu 'uyoonil-muwahhideen p.100
[24] Al-Anbiyaa 21:22
[25] Al-Anbiyaa 21:25
[26] Hood 11:26
[27] Al-Anbiyaa 21:108
[28] Az-Zumar 39:29
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