The Oneness of Allah

Taken from Kitaab at-Tawheed

Allāh said:

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

Surah adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56 ¹

Explanation: The ayah indicates the purpose of creation. This ayah is a guideline of our primary goal. This ayah is followed by Allāh saying:

مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ

I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allāh who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.

Surah adh-Dhaariyaat 51:57-58 ²

The meaning of this Ayah (51:56) is that, Allāh created the creatures so that they worship Him Alone without partners. Those who obey Him will be rewarded with the best rewards, while those who disobey Him will receive the worst punishment from Him. Allāh stated that He does not need creatures, but rather, they are in need of Him in all conditions. He is alone their Creator and Provider.

Tafseer Ibn Katheer ³

And He stated:

And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allāh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc.i. e. do not worship Taghut besides Allāh).” Then of them were some whom Allāh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).

Surah an-Nahl 16:36 ⁴

And He said:

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: “My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.”

Surah al-Isra 17:23-24 ⁵

And He said:

Worship Allāh and join none with Him in worship

Surah an-Nisaa 4:36 ⁶

And He said:

Say (O Muḥammad ﷺ): “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty – We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allāh has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand. “And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person, but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence, etc.), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allāh, This He commands you, that you may remember. “And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun

Surah an-An’am 6:151-153 ⁷

Ibn Mas’ud said:

Whoever wishes to ascertain the very will of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ on which the Prophet has put his seal, let him read the Statement of Allāh:

“Say (O Muḥammad ﷺ): “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him… {up to} … And verily, this is my Straight Path”

It is narrated that Mu’adh bin Jabal said:

I was a companion rider of the Prophet on a donkey called ‘Ufair. The Prophet asked, “O Mu’adh! Do you know what Allāh’s right on His slaves is, and what the right of His slaves on Him is?” I replied, “Allāh and His Apostle know better.” He said, “Allāh’s right on His slaves is that they should worship Him (Alone) and should not worship any besides Him. And slave’s right on Allāh is that He should not punish him who worships none besides Him.” I said, “O Allāh’s Apostle! Should I not inform the people of this good news?” He said, “Do not inform them of it, lest they should depend on it (absolutely).” ⁸

Sahih al-Bukhari ⁹

Important Issues

1. Wisdom of Allāh in creating jinn and mankind
2. Worship is Tawheed, as, this issue there had always been dispute (between the Prophets and the polytheists)
3. Those who have not fulfilled the requirements of Tauhid are such as they have not worshipped Allāh, and in this sense is the meaning of the verse:

Nor will you worship that which I worship.

Surah al-Kaafirun 109:3 ¹⁰

4. The wisdom of sending the Messengers.
5. The message of the Prophet ﷺ (Tauhid) applies to all nations.
6. All Prophets have brought one and the same religion.
7. The major issue is that worship of Allāh cannot be performed until Taghut is denounced and rejected. In this meaning is the saying of Allāh:

Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allāh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy

Surah al-Baqarah 2:256 ¹¹

8. At-Taghut is inclusive of all that is worshipped other than Allāh
9. The tremendous importance of the three entirely clear verses of Surah al-An’an 6:151-153 among the early pios predecessors. In these verses are 10 issues, the first of which is the prohibition of Shirk.
10. The clear verses in Surah al-Isra 17:22-39 have 18 substantial issues. Allāh begins them with:

Set not up with Allāh any other ilah (god), (O man)! or you will sit down reproved, forsaken (in the Hell-fire).

Surah al-Isra 17:22

And ended with:

And set not up with Allāh any other ilah (god) lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected.

Surah al-Isra 17:39

Allāh informed us the importance of these issues by saying:

This is (part) of Al-Hikmah (wisdom, good manners and high character, etc) which your lord has inspired to you

Surah al-Isra 17:39

11. The verse of Surah an-Nisa 4:36 called “The verse of the ten rights” to which Allāh the Most High begins by saying:

And worship Allāh, and join none with Him in worship

12. We must note the admonition of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ which he made before his death.
13. To recognize Allāh’s right upon us
14. To recognize the rights of slaves on Allāh, if they fulfil His right.
15. This issue was unknown to most of the Companions of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ.
16. Permissibility to hide some knowledge for the common good (as determined by the Shari’ah).
17. It is desirable to pass the pleasing news to other Muslims.
18. Fear of depending (of the people) upon the expansiveness of Allāh’s mercy.
19. The statement of one, who is asked on matters that are not known to him: “Allāh and His Messenger know the best”.
20. It is correct to impart knowledge selectively to someone and not to others.
21. The humility of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ on riding a donkey with a companion behind.
22. It is legitimate to have a second rider behind.
23. Superiority of Mu’adh bin Jabal .
24. The great importance of this issue (of Tawheed)