Guidance to Straight Path

Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad that An-Nawwas bin Sam`an said that the Prophet said: Allah has set an example: a Sirat (straight path) that is surrounded by two walls on both sides, with several open doors within the walls covered with curtains. There is a caller on the gate of the Sirat who heralds, 'O people! Stay on the path and do not deviate from it. ' Meanwhile, a caller from above the path is also warning any person who wants to open any of these doors, 'Woe unto you! Do not open it, for if you open it you will pass through.' The straight path is Is lam, the two walls are Allah's set l imits, while the doors resemble what Allah has prohibited. The caller on the gate of the Sirat is the Book of Allah, while the caller above the Sirat is Allah's admonishment in the heart of every Muslim.

Importance of Iman

“Have you not seen how Allāh has given the parable of a beautiful kalimah like a beautiful tree whose roots are firmly established, and whose branches tower in the sky? It gives its

fruits at all times by the permission of its Lord and Allāh sets forth parables for mankind in

order that they may remember.”Sūrah Ibrāhīm 14:24-25

Importance of ImanV i s u a l i ze a n d p i c t u r e s u c h a t r e e w i t h ro o t s t h a t a r e d e e p i n t h e g ro u n d a n d b ra n c h e s t o w e r i n g i n t h e s k y. A l l ā h i s s ay i n g t h a t t h i s t r e e g i ve s i t s f r u i t s t h ro u g h o u t t h e ye a r a n d i s e ve rg r e e n b y t h e p e r m i s s i o n o f i t s L o rd . A l l ā h g i v e s p a ra b l e s t o m a n k i n d s o t h a t t h e y ca n t h i n k a n d r e fl e c t .

A l l ā h b e g i n s b y s ay i n g t h a t l ā i l ā h a i l l a A l l ā h i s l i ke a b e a u ti f u l t r e e . W hy d o e s A l l ā h wa n t t h e sy m b o l i s m o f t h e t r e e ? G ro w t h , p ro s p e r i t y, a n d l i fe .

“ … w h o s e ro o t s a re fi r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d , … ”T h i s i s a t r e e w i t h ro o t s t h a t a r e d e e p i n t h e g ro u n d a n d fi r m l y e s ta b l i s h e d . W h a t i s t h e sy m b o l i s m ? S ta b i l i t y. L ā i l ā h a i l l a A l l ā h ke e p s a p e rs o n s ta b l e t h ro u g h o u t l i fe .

“ … a n d w h o s e b ra n c h e s t o w e r i n t h e s k y ? . . .”W h a t i s t h e sy m b o l i s m h e r e ? O u r p a t h t o J a n n a h . L ā i l ā h a i l l a A l l ā h w i l l ca u s e u s t o a s c e n d o u t o f t h i s w o r l d i n t o t h e h e ave n s .

“ … I t g i ve s i t s f r u i t s at a l l ti m e s b y t h e p e r m i s s i o n o f i t s Lo rd . . .”W h a t i s t h e sy m b o l i s m h e r e ? T h e f r u i t s o f ī m ā n a r e n e v e r e n d i n g .S o m e F r u i t s o f T h i s Tr e e :1 . J a n n a h2 . P ro te c ti o n f ro m F i r e3 . A ke y t o h ave a l l o t h e r d e e d s a c c e p te d4 . A m e a n s o f fo rg i v i n g s i n s5 . A c h i e v i n g t h e p ro te c ti o n o f A l l ā h6 . A l l ā h w i l l fi g h t o n yo u r b e h a l f7 . A l l ā h w i l l g u i d e y o u8 . P ro te c ti o n a n d co m fo r t fo r t h e b e l i e ve rs9 . G o o d a l ways o c c u rs t o h i m1 0 . E x i t a n d e s ca p e f ro m a l l s o r ro w s & p ro b l e m s e tc . . .

Aqeedah Introduction• Definition of Aqeedah• Categories

– Beliefs– Action

• Sources of Aqeedah– Quran– Sunnah

What is Aqeedah ?• The meaning of aqeedah in the language: It is derived from

‘al-‘aqd’ which means to be firm upon something. ‘aqadtu’ such and such, means my heart and mind are firm upon it.

• The Firm belief in the heart that is not accompanied or challenged by any doubt about Allah, his tawheed, Angel, Messengers, Qadr, the day of Judgment and Unseen.

• Beliefs: Those issues which are not related to how an action is performed, like belief in the rububiyyah (Lordship) of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, the obligation to worship Him alone and the belief in the rest of the pillars of imaan mentioned above. These are regarded as the basic foundations.

• Actions: Those issues related to how actions like salaah, Zakaat, Fasting and other deeds are performed. These are regarded as the branches because they are built upon correct or corrupt beliefs.

Categories in Sharia?

So the correct ‘aqeedah is the foundation upon which the deen is built and by which actions become sound and correct, as He, the Most High, said:

• “So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [al-Kahf (18): 110]

• “And indeed it has been revealed to you, as it was to those before you: “If you join others in worship with Allaah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.”” [az-Zumar (39): 65]

• “So worship Allaah (alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allaah’s sake only. Surely the religion is for Allaah alone.” [az-Zumar (39): 2-3]

Cont…

• So these noble verses and numerous narrations about their meanings, prove that actions are only accepted when they are pure and free from shirk. This is what the messengers gave importance to by rectifying the beliefs first and foremost. So the first thing that they called their nations to, was the worship of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, alone and the abandonment of worship to others besides Him. As He, the Most High, said:

• “And verily, We have sent amongst every nation, a messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allaah (alone) and abandon the taghut.” [an-Nahl (16):36]

Cont…

• The first thing that every prophet addressed his nation with was: “Worship Allaah, you have no other ilaah (deity worthy of worship) but Him.” [al-A’raaf (7): 59]

• As was said by Nuh, Hud, Saaleh, Shu’aib and all the other prophets to their people. “And to (the people of ) ‘Aad (We sent) their brother Hud. He said: “O my people! Worship Allaah, you have no other Ilaah (deity worthy of worship) but Him.”” [al-A’raaf (7): 65]

• “And to (the people of ) Thamud (We sent) their brother Saaleh. He said: “O my people! Worship Allaah, you have no other Ilaah (deity worthy of worship) but Him.”” [al-A’raaf (7): 73]

• “And to (the people of) Madyan (We sent) their brother Shu’aib. He said: “O my people! Worship Allaah, you have no other Ilaah (deity worthy of worship) but Him.”” [al-A’raaf (7): 85]

Cont…

• The Prophet, (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), stayed in Makkah for thirteen years calling the people to tawheed, and the rectification of ‘aqeedah because it is the foundation upon which the Deen is built.

Cont…

The sources of aqeedah

• ‘Aqeedah is ‘tawqeefiyyah’, meaning that it is only established through evidence from the shari‘ah. There is no room in it for opinions or conjecture. Thus, its sources are restricted to that which has been reported in the Book and the Sunnah, since no one is more knowledgeable than Allah about the obligations due to Him and what He is free from and after Allaah, there is no one more knowledgeable about Him than the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). Thus Ahle Sunnah Jamiyah who followed them in learning the ‘aqeedah was restricted to the Book and Sunnah.

Cont…

• So they believed and acted upon whatever was proved by the Book and the Sunnah regarding the rights of Allaah. They rejected and negated whatever was not proved in the Book of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). Due to this, differences did not arise amongst them in ‘aqeedah, rather their ‘aqeedah was one, and their Jamaa‘ah was one. This is because Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, guarantees whoever clings to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), with a unified position, correctness in ‘aqeedah and a single manhaj.

Cont…

• He, the Most High, said:

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (ie. this Qur`aan).”[aal-‘Imraan (3):103]

“Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery.” [Taa Haa (20):123]

Cont…

• Thus they were termed ‘the Saved Sect(Al-Firkah An-Najiah’ because the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam), testified safety (from the Fire) for them when he mentioned the splitting of the ummah into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except one. When he was asked about this one sect, he said: “That which I and my Companions are upon today.” [at-Tirmidhee (2641)]

• So that which he mentioned has occurred since some people have built their ‘aqeedah upon other than the Book and the Sunnah, such as rhetoric and the principles of logic inherited from the Greek philosophy. They fell into deviation and splitting in ‘aqeedah which resulted in differing positions, splitting the Jamaa‘ah and destruction of the structure of the Islamic society.

Cont…

At-Tawheed(Creed)

• This is the main term we will concentrate on this Halaqa today.• The term Tawhid is in fact one branch in Aqeedah. [Yasir Qadhi

Tawhid Defination Video ]• When we use the term tawheed in Islamic sciences, it is to believe in

the unity of Allah(sw) and to believe that Allah is One and Unique in His Lordship, His Names and Attributes, and in His Right to be worshipped. These are three distinct and separate issues.

• General – the verbal noun of ascribing unity to something.• Specific – When used in the Shari‘ah, it implies believing that Allah is

One & Unique in:1. His Lordship (tawhid al-rububiyyah)2. His Names & Attributes (tawhid al-asma’ wa al-sifat)3. His Right to be worshipped (tawhid al-uluhiyyah)

• There are 3 essential categories of tawhid – all inferred directly from the Qur’an. What are some common proofs?

Cont…

• These three categories are mentioned implicitly in the Qurʾan but not explicitly. There are three references to these aspects. Many times these are mentioned together, and many times they are mentioned separately. In the first verses of the Qurʾan: Alhamdulillahi Rabbi’l ʿAlamin. Allah is being praised because He is the Rabb. Al-Rahman’l-Rahim. These are His Names and Attributes. Iyyaka Naʿbudu wa Iyyaka Nastain. You alone do We worship and You alone are Whose help we seek. He alone is worthy of worship. In the very beginning of the Qurʾan, Allah references these categories.

Cont…

Tawhid means to affirm that Allah is One and Unique as a Rabb and in His Names and Attributes and in His Right to be worshipped.

Tawheed ar-RuboobiyahMatter of the Heart

LordshipObedienceSustenance

Tawheed al-UloohiyaLimbs :: All action of the Body

Tawheed al-Asma’was SeefatAttributes of Allah :: Asma-ul-Husna

Cont…

• For sake of Summary, Only 10 Points are listed1. Purpose of creation2. Reason for sending Prophets3. Reason for revealing books4. Differentiates between Muslim and Kafir5. Following Tawhid is a cause of peace and contentment in this life and hereafter6. First call that we have been commanded to do7. Right of Allah over us8. Cause for entrance to Paradise9. Forgives all sins; prevents fire of hell10. Dangers of its opposite

Importance of Tawhid

• Purpose of creationSūrah Al-Dhāriyāt v. 56: “There is no reason that I have created the men and jinn except in order to worship Me.”

• Reason for sending ProphetsSūrah Al-Naḥl v. 36: “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allāh and avoid Ṭāghūt’…”

• Reason for revealing booksAllāh says in Sūrah Al-Naḥl v. 2: “I have sent down the angel (meaning Jibrīl) to the prophets in order to warn mankind and tell them lā ilāha illa ana.”

• Differentiates between Muslim and KafirSurah at-Taghaabun 64, Ayat 2 :: It is He who created you, and among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.

Importance of Tawhid

• Following tawhid is a cause of peace and contentment in this life and hereafterSurah Ta-Ha 20, Ayat 123 :: [Allah] said, “Descend from Paradise – all, [your descendants] being enemies to one another. And if there should come to you guidance from Me – then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].

• First call that we have been commanded to doThe first commandment in the Qurʾān is Sūrah Al-Baqarah v. 21: “O mankind, worship your Lord.”The Prophet (saw) sent Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal to Yemen where the people were Christian and Jews. In Sahih Bukhārī, the Prophet (was) said, “You are going to a nation of Christians and Jews, so make sure the first thing you call them to is la ilaha illa Allah.”

Importance of Tawhid

• Right of Allah over usSahih Bukhari - Book #93 - Hadith #470 :: Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal (Radhi-Allah-hu 'anhu):: The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Not to punish them (if they do so)."

• Cause for entrance to Paradise'Itban (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said :: "Indeed Allah has forbidden for Hell the person who testifies: 'There is nothing worthy of worship in truth (no true God) but Allah', seeking thereby nothing but Allah's Face (pleasure)." (Al-Bukhari, Muslim).

Importance of Tawhid

• Forgives all sins; prevents fire of hellThe Hadīth of the card in the book of Ibn Mājah: “A man was brought on the Day of Judgment and he had 99 scrolls of sins. Each of these scrolls was as wide as the east and the west. Allāh asked him, ‘Are these your sins?’ The man realized that he could not get out of this and said, ‘Yes, they are.’ Allāh askedhim, ‘Did my angels make any mistakes when they wrote them?’ The man said, ‘No, these are all my sins.’ Allāh asked him, ‘What is your excuse?’ The man said, ‘I have no excuse.’ Allāh asked, ‘Do you have any good deeds?’ The man said, ‘I cannot think of any.’ Allāh says, ‘My angels have recorded a good deed. Bring out the good deed.’ The man has one good deed that fits on a card, and this good deed is lā ilāha illa Allāh. Allāh says, ‘This is the good deed that has been recorded for you.’ The man said, ‘O Allāh, what is the point of this card against the 99 scrolls?’ Allāh said, ‘On this Day there will be no injustice and everything will be weighed.’ When the card is placed on the other side of the scale, it is so heavy that it outweighs the 99 scrolls, and the man enteredJannah.” This shows the power of lā ilāha illa Allāh, and it can erase so many

• Dangers of its oppositeTawhīd only exists in the complete absence of shirk.Sūrah Al-Nisā’ v. 48: “Allāh will never forgive the sin of shirk but He can forgive any sin lesser than that to whomever He pleases.

Importance of Tawhid

• Tawhīd ar-rubūbiyyah is to believe that Allāh and only Allāh is the Creator, Sustainer, and Nourisher of all of creation. There is only One Lord, which in Arabic means the Owner, the One who is Obeyed, and the Nourisher and Sustainer.

• Another way to define tawhid ar-rubūbiyyah is simple but profound. It is tawhīd of Allāh in His Actions. What this means is that whatever Allāh does, only Allāh does it. If Allāh creates, no one else creates. If Allāh listens to the du‘ā of the one who is distressed, then only Allāh can respond to the du‘ā of the distressed. No one can do a partial thing of what Allāh does.

Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Two Types of Rubūbiyyah• General Rubūbiyyah

Allāh is the Rabbi’l ʿĀlamīn. Every single being is dependent upon Allāh for its existence, care and nourishment. No being can escape the power of Allāh. No being can disobey Allāh unless Allāh allows it. If Allāh is the Rabb, no one can disobey Allāh without Allāh allowing it. No one can work himself out of the decree of Allāh. It is not possible for the sun, moon, shayatīn, or jins to do something without Allāh’s permission.

• Specific RubūbiyyahFor those who acknowledge that Allāh is their Rabb, there is a special bond. These people have acknowledged and submitted that Allāh is their Rabb. The Muslims acknowledge that Allāh is their Rabb, and by doing this, they form a special relationship with Allāh. What this means is that Allāh as a Rabb will take care of their needs. Allāh will nourish and sustain them in a way He will not nourish and sustain those who deny Him. Allāh provides for the kāfir and even Iblīs. Allāh answered the du‘ā of Iblīs to live until the Day of Judgment. The rubūbiyyah that a Muslim acknowledges is not the same as what Iblīs has acknowledged.

Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• CreationAllāh challenges mankind to look around and marvel at the creation and realize that this creation could not have come from nothing. Sūrah Luqmān v. 11: “This is the creation of Allāh. Show Me where is the creation of the other gods that they worship?”Sūrah Al-Ṭūr v. 35: “Were they created from nothing? Or did they create themselves?” - This is one of the most explicit verses perhaps directed towards atheists. Allāh asks two questions. There are three choices, and either you say 1) nothing created you, 2) you created you, or 3) a Creator created you. Everybody knows and will say that they did not come out of nowhere and that they did not create themselves. Allāh does not ask the third question. By eliminating the two questions, there is only one possibility left.

Islamic Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Sign of the CreationOut of the creation, Allāh mentions things that are āyāt. There are at least twenty āyāt that Allāh mentions in the Qurʾān. Look at what Allāh called an āyah: Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. [al Baqarah :: 002.164 ]

It humbles you and makes you overawed. This shows us that some of the creation is even more miraculous than others.

[Some of the Videos for Iman boosting ]

Islamic Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Fitra :Sūrah Al-Rūm v. 30: “This is the fiṭrah that Allāh has created mankind upon.” Allāh is saying that there is a complete fiṭrah that He has created mankind upon.

And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."[ al-A’raf 7.172 ]

The Prophet (saw) explained and elaborated: “Every single child is born upon the fiṭrah. Then his parents make him into a Christian, Jew, or a Zoroastrian.” [Bukhārī and Muslim]

Islamic Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Fitra :Sūrah Al-Rūm v. 30: “This is the fiṭrah that Allāh has created mankind upon.” Allāh is saying that there is a complete fiṭrah that He has created mankind upon.And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."[ al-A’raf 7.172 ]

The Prophet (saw) explained and elaborated: “Every single child is born upon the fiṭrah. Then his parents make him into a Christian, Jew, or a Zoroastrian.” [Bukhārī and Muslim]The Prophet (saw) gave us more details and said, “When Allāh created Ādam, He rubbed his back with His Hand and took out every single soul that He was about to create. Allāh spoke to all of us and asked the entire creation, ‘Am I not your Lord?’”[Dr. Brown Video]

Islamic Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Definition of God in Islam : “There is none like Him. (Ash-shura 42:11) “He is first and the last. (al-Hadeed 57:3)

If He is not temporal, then He must be eternalEternal without beginning or end

“He begets not, nor is He begotten” (Al-Akhlas 112:3) If He is eternal without any cause, then He must not be begotten

and by corollary He would not beget. “Allah – There is no God deserving of worship but He, the ever-living,

the self-sufficient [and] omnipotent” (al-Baqarah 2:255) If He is not temporal, and is eternal without cause, then nothing

causes Him to exist or cease to exist, and nothing can cause Him to exist or prevent Him from existing; so He must be self-sufficient

“Verily your Lord does what He wills” (Huud 11:107) “God is alive” (al-Baqarah 2:255) “The Knower of the unseen and seen” (al-An’aam 6:73)

Islamic Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Western Proofs for the Existence of God :• Ontological Proof

What they said is: ‘God exists by definition.’ If we define God, then by definition God must exist. The definition of God is: ‘God is something that which nothing greater can be conceived.’

• Flaw: Which is greater: something that is real or something that is only conceived in the mind?

• Cosmological ProofHas three primary forms:1. Argument from Motion2. Argument from Cause3. Argument from Contingency (existence)Summary for the Argument from Motion:- Every object is either in motion or rest- An object that is in motion must have been put in motion by another object- However, an object that is at rest cannot move itself- Therefore, there must be a mover that caused this object to start its motion.- There cannot, however, be an infinite series of things causing movement to take place, otherwise there would not be a first mover.- Thus, there must be a primary, unmoved mover that is the cause of all motion but does not itself move, and this is God.

• Flaw: God now has no control of the domino affect

West Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Western Proofs for the Existence of God :• Teleological Proof

The world is too complex, orderly, adaptive, apparently purposeful or beautiful to have occurred randomly or accidently.

Therefore, the world must have been created by a sentient, intelligent, wise or purposeful being

God is a sentient, intelligent, wise or purposeful being Therefore, God exists.

West Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

• Islamic Proofs for the Existence of God : are simple are universal do not require detailed background in any philosophy have no negative implications (in contrast with western

proofs) are logical

Islamic Proof: Tawhīd Ar-Rubūbiyyah

Argument: “All religions claim that God is an all-powerful entity. Fine, let me ask you: Is it possible that God can create something so heavy that He can’t lift it? Either way you answer, you have shown that He is not all-powerful.”

Argument: “All religions claim that God can do anything. Is it possible for God to create a circle with four sides? Or an object that exists and doesn’t exist at the same time?”

Argument: “Modern science has proven that life as it exists today is a result of direct evolution from previous forms of life. Therefore, it is clear that there is no Creator who needed to create. Science explains everything…”

Argument: “It is historically clear that religions have been tools used by the powers-that-are to control the masses. Religion is the single most-important cause of social upheaval, wars and death. Is it possible that a true religion would allow this?”

Argument: “It is not possible for an All-Merciful God to allow such suffering as we see in the world today. People dying of hunger and starvation, natural disasters destroying hundreds and millions of lives, unnecessary diseases, plagues and wars, and the list goes on. The existence of evil clearly proves that an All-Powerful, All-Merciful God cannot exist.”

Challenge by Atheism

Rubūbiyyah Alone is Not Sufficient ?

• Rubuubiyah alone is not sufficient• Mushrikūn believed that Allāh is Rabb :: Proof ::

Clear verses in the Qur’ān which state that the Jāhiliyyah Arabs believed that Allāh created and sustained everything, and was All-Powerful. These explicit verses say that they claim that Allāh. Sūrah Al-‘AnkAbut v. 61-63: “And if you were

to ask them, who created the heavens and the earth and who subjugated the sun and the moon, they would surely respond Allāh. Then how are they deluded? And if you were to ask them who sends down the rains from the skies and who resurrects the dead and who brings back the dead to life they would surely say Allāh.” The ‘you’ is the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and ‘them’ is the Quraysh.

Sūrah Al-Zukhruf v. 87: “And if you were to ask them who created them, they would say Allāh created us.”

Verses that show the Jāhiliyyah Arabs believed in Allāh yet committed Sūrah Yūsuf v. 106: “Most of them believe in Allāh, but most of them also commit shirk along

with the belief.”.

Uloohiyyah:: Tawheed

• Mushrikūn believed that Allāh is Rabb :: Proof :: Excuse of Jāhiliyyah Arabs in their worship

Sūrah Yūnus v. 18: “And they worship besides Allāh that which will not benefit them or cause them any harm. They say: ‘These [idols] are our intermediaries and intercessors between us and Allāh.’”

The fact that the mushrikūn would turn to Allāh sincerely at times of distress. The Qurʾān mentions that the Quraysh would turn to Allāh at times of distress. Sūrah Luqmān v. 32: “And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allāh,

sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are [some] of them who are moderate [in faith]. And none rejects Our signs except everyone treacherous and ungrateful.”

The mushrikūn’s rejection of the pure worship of Allāh (Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah), and not the existence or Lordship of Allāh. The Qurʾān mentions this explicitly many times. Sūrah Al-Ṣāfāt v. 35: “When they were told to say lā ilāha illa Allāh, they became arrogant.” They

reject lā ilāha illa Allāh because they understood the meaning of it and refused to stop the worship of the false gods.

Uloohiyyah:: Tawheed

• 1. Knowledge (vs. ignorance)You must have ‘ilm of the kalimah. If you don’t know what the kalimah means, then it won’t be accepted. Allāh says, “Have the ‘ilm of lā ilāha illa Allāh.”

• 2. Certainty (vs. doubt)Certainty in Arabic is yaqīn. Someone may have the ‘ilm but not the yaqīn, and this person will be disqualified.

• 3. Accepting this kalimah, Qabul (vs. rejecting it)Of the examples of such people are Fir‘awn and Abu Jahl and Abu Tālib. They knew the kalimah to be true. Allāh says in the Qurʾān that Fir‘awn knew that Mūsa came with the truth and was the Messenger of Allāh. He did not accept because he was to arrogant. Heraclius did not accept because he was greedy. Abu Tālib did not accept because he was too proud. Qabul is acceptance.

• 4. Submitting to this statement, inqiyād (vs. leaving it and not acting upon it.)You must not only accept it but also obey the implications. Acceptance is done in the heart, and submitting is done by the body. The actions of the body must conform with lā ilāha illa Allāh.

Therefore, the orthodox position in Sunni Islām is that to merely say the kalimah without doing any of the actions of Islām (never praying, never giving zakāh, never fasting), then such a person is not a Muslim.

Shahada :: Uloohiyyah

• 5. Being truthful to it (vs. lying)The Arabic for truthful is Sidq.

• 6. Sincerely stating it with ikhlās, without any shirk involved (vs. nifāq or shirk)You do it for the sake of Allāh and not for the sake of the people or nifāq.

• 7. Loving it and its people, and hating those who oppose it (vs. hating its people)You have an internal love to help the kalimah and the people of the kalimah. This is almahhabah.

Shahada :: Uloohiyyah

Ibadaah :: All religious action

Qurbah :: natural action with intention. i,e, sleeping with the intent to pray Tahajjud

Mu-aamalah :: Natural action, eating, bathing.

Types of Action :: Uloohiyyah

Love Love of the Devine Love for the sake of the Devine Natural Love

Fear Fear of Devine Natural fear

Hope Devine Hope:

Acceptance of GoodForgiveness of Evil

Natural Hope

• In fact, even in Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah these three emotions are embodied. Alḥamdulillāhi Rabbi’l ʿĀlamīn. Praise comes from love. Al-Raḥmān’l-Raḥīm. We hope for Allāh’s Mercy. Mālikī Yawm’l-Dīn. Fear. Based upon love, fear, and hope, we: Iyyāka Naʿbudū wa Iyyāka Nastaʿīn.

Types of Action :: Uloohiyyah

• If you believe in Allāh’s perfect Names and Attributes, then you are affirming a perfect Rabb. A part of a Rabb is somebody who Nourishes, Cares, Owns, answers your call. The more you think about this, the more Names that will come: Al-Sami‘, Al-Kabīr, Al-Basīr. Most of mankind fall short and say things not befitting. If you think about it, a Rabb has to be all-perfect. If He has all perfect Names and Attributes, then you should worship Him alone.

Al Asma wa al Sifat

Shirk

• The Qur’ān and Sunnah have defined shirk.• Sūrah al-Baqarah 2:22 as: “So do not make, along with Allāh,

partners (andād) while you know (that He is the true Creator).”• Shirk is defined as taking a partner alongside Allāh.• Ibn Mas‘ūd (raḍyAllāhu ‘anhu) asked the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi

wa sallam), “What is the greatest sin?” He replied: “To take alongside Allāh a partner (nidd) even though it was He that created you.”

• In General Term: An easier way to understand shirk is: Shirk means giving the rights of Allāh to other than Allāh. Anything that is a right of Allāh and belongs to Allāh, if you give it to other than Allāh, you have committed shirk. Once we have defined shirk to be giving the rights of Allāh to other than Him, we understand that it is broader than just prostrating to an idol. Any time any right of Allāh is given to other than Allāh, shirk has occurred.

Shirk

Acts of worship will not be accepted by Allāh unless tawḥīd is perfected. Likewise, the only way that any person will save himself from the Fire of

Hell is by avoiding shirk and dying upon tawḥīd; if he is not even aware of the essence of shirk, then how can he avoid it?

The primary incentive to avoid shirk is to appreciate its dangers. Shirk is of many different types and categories. It is only through a critical

study of these categories that a person can ensure that he is free of all types of shirk.

Importance of Knowing Shirk

• Shirk is the only unforgivable sin in the sight of Allāh.Sūrah Al-Nisā’ v. 48: Allāh says that He will never forgive the sin of shirk but will forgive the sin lesser than that. This is a reference to those who have died without repenting from shirk.This means that a person who commits shirk will never enter Jannah.

• Shirk prohibits a person from entering Paradise, and obligates a permanent abode in Hell.

Sūrah Al-Mā’idah v. 72: “Whoever commits shirk with Allāh, Allāh has made Jannah ḥarām for him and his abode will be the Fire of Hell.” This means that no matter what good you have done, Allāh will not accept it.

• Shirk is so evil that it destroys all of a person’s good deeds.Sūrah Al-Zumar v. 65: “I have revealed to you and to those before you, if you commit shirk, all of your good deeds will be nullified.” The ‘you’ refers to the Prophet(ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and Allāh is speaking in the first person directly to Rasūlullāh, which shows the importance of this verse because it is rare in the Qurʾān.

Dangers of Shirk

• If a person dies in a state of shirk, it is prohibited for his Muslim friends and relatives to seek forgiveness for him.

When the uncle of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) died, he said, “I am going to continue to ask forgiveness for you until Allāh forbids me to do so.” Sūrah Al- Tawbah v. 113. Allāh says, “It is not appropriate for the Prophet and for those who believe that they seek forgiveness for the people who do shirk even if they be close relatives.”

• Allāh has described those who commit shirk as being najas, or filthy.Shirk is so evil that Allāh has described those who commit it with the term najas. This is a spiritual najas. Allāh says in Sūrah Al-Tawbah v. 28: “Those who commit shirk are najas.”

Dangers of Shirk

• Allāh says in Sūrah Nūḥ v.23: “The people of Nūḥ said, ‘We will never give up our gods Wadd, Suwā‘ā, Yagūth or Ya‘ūq.’”

Ibn ʿAbbās commented and gave a tafsīr and a summary is as follows:Between Ādam and Nūḥ were ten generations upon tawḥīd. For ten generations, people did not even know what idolatry and shirk was. The Prophet Nūḥ lived for a period of time we do not know, and he gave da‘wah for 950 years. We believe that early man lived for longer periods of time because the earth needed to be populated. People lived longer and had more children.

Origin of Shirk

1. Shirk in Rubūbiyyaha. Shirk by Denial: Denying that creation has a Creator.

a. Total Denial : This is atheism.b. Partial denial:

b. Shirk by Affirmation: a. Total Affirmation: Jupiter, Zeus, Brahma, Krishna.b. Partial Affirmation: Quraysh, Jesus Christ

Categories of Shirk

1. Shirk in Asmā’ wa’l-Ṣifāta. Deification: Comparing creation to Allāh

b. Anthropomorphism: Comparing Allāh to creation

2. Shirk in Ulūhiyyah : This is to direct an act of worship to other an Allāh.a. Major:

a. Theoretical: b. Practical: Action Based

b. Minor: a. Minor Shirk in Worship :: Riya :: Show off in prayerb. Minor Shirk in Tongue :: Only can swear by Allah but not extremec. Minor Shirk of Limbs :: Amulets, charms.

Categories of Shirk

• TawakkulAllāh tells us in over 50 verses that we must have tawakkul in Him. Sūrah Al-Mā’idah v. 23: “Put your tawakkul in Allāh if you truly have īmān.”Sūrah Yūnus v. 84: “And Moses said, ‘O my people, if you have believed in Allāh, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims.’”A bedouin said, “Oh Messenger of Allāh, when I go to sleep at night, if I don’t tie my camel, it will go away. Should I tie my camel up or should I leave it untied and put my tawakkul in Allāh?” The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Tie your camel and trust in Allāh.” This is the reality of our religion: we do both together.True tawakkul necessitates actions. Tawakkul is something that exists in the heart and is not manifested in the body. True tawakkul means that you do what you can but your heart is attached is to Allāh.

• SabrPatience is also a manifestation of worship, and we must be patient for the sake of Allāh. Patience for the sake of Allāh is an integral part of Īmān. Over 70 verses in the Qurʾān talk about patience.Sūrah Al-‘Imrān v. 200: “Oh you who believe, be patient and advise others to be patient.”

Manifestations of ‘Ibādah

• DuaDu‘ā is one of the greatest acts of worship. It is the essence of worship.There are over 500 verses in the Qurʾān in which Allāh says, “Do not make du‘ā to other than Allāh.” “Whoever makes du‘ā to other than Allāh will be of the losers.”“And invoke not besides Allāh, any that will neither profit you, nor hurt you, but if you did so, you shall certainly be one of the ẓālimīn.” - Sūrah Yūnus 10:106

• Isti‘ādhahIsti‘ādhah means seeking spiritual refuge in other than Allāh.The Qurʾān tells us that when an evil thought comes to you, then seek refuge in Allāh who Hears and Knows. Sūrah Fuṣṣilat v. 36 “And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”

• Seeking Help (Isti‘ānah and Istighāthah)Istighāthah means help against an enemy

Manifestations of ‘Ibādah

• Vowing (Nadhr)A nadhr is a religious promise that one is allowed to make with Allāh. It is not recommended in and of itself, but if done, must be in Allāh’s name.Shahih Bukhārī: The Prophet (saw) said, “A nadhr (vow) only extracts from the miserly person and doesn’t change the qadr of Allāh.”

• Sacrifice (Udhiyah)This means sacrificing an animal. In our religion, an animal must be sacrificed using the Name of Allāh.

• TawāfTawāf is only done around the Ka‘bah. To do ṭawāf around another icon or structure intending to please that being is major shirk.

• ProstrationSajdah is an action of worship that is done to Allāh (SW).Sūrah Fussilat v. 37: “Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but rather prostrate to Allāh (SW) who created them if you truly worship Him.”

Manifestations of ‘Ibādah