United States of Islam

by: Zeemad Khan

I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (swt), and I bear witness that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.

There are two fundamental beliefs in Islam, the first being Tawheed, and the second is to believe that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Prophet and Messenger of Allah (swt). Tawheed is the essence and core belief of Islam and it is an obligation upon all Muslims to know and believe in it. This is a huge topic, but I will only give a brief understanding of what Tawheed means and what are its categories. Tawheed comes from the Arabic word “wahhada” which means “to unite, unify or consolidate”, therefore, Tawheed means “unification” or “affirming oneness”. So in Islamic terminology, it is the proclamation that Allah (swt) is The One and Only True God Who deserves to be worshipped in truth and also to confirm all of His Names and Attributes.

There are three categories:

1. Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah – This means that Allah (swt) is One, without partner in His dominion and actions. The word “Rububiyyah” is derived from the word “Rabb” which means “Lord, Cherisher, Sustainer, etc.” It is imperative to believe in the Oneness of the Lordship of Allah (swt), to believe in Maintaining the Unity of Lordship and to believe that Allah (swt) is the Creator, Cherisher, Sustainer, Provider, Organizer, Planner and the Giver of security, etc. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an: “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakeel (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian) over all things.”(Az-Zumar: 62)

2. Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah – This means that Allah (swt) is One, without rival in His divinity and worship (Allah Alone is worthy of all worship and anything that is worshipped besides Him is a false deity). Allah (swt) says: “Do you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you, nor harm you?” (Al-Anbiya: 66) It is imperative to believe in the Oneness of the Worship of Allah (swt), to believe in Maintaining the Unity of Worship, to have total obedience to Him and His Laws. All acts of ‘Ibaadah (worship and all actions that please Allah) are performed for Allah (swt) Alone. In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) says: “Say (O Muhammad) ‘Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?’ They will say: ‘Allah’.” (Yunus: 31) The Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (pbuh) said: “If you ask in prayer ask only Allah, and if you seek help, seek it only from Allah.” (Reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas and collected by at-Tirmidhi)

Allah (swt) says: “And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), ‘I am indeed near (to them by my Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be guided aright.” (Al-Baqarah: 186)

3. Tawheed al-Asma’ wa as-Sifaat – This means that Allah (swt) is One, without similitude in His Essence and Attributes. It is imperative to believe in the Oneness of the Names and the Attributes of Allah (swt), and to believe in all the Divine Names and Attributes of Allah (swt) in a manner that suits His Majesty, as mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Therefore, we must affirm the Names and Attributes of Allah (swt) and not liken them to the creation. Allah (swt) says: “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (Ash-Shura: 11)

Allah (swt) says: “Say (O Muhammad): ‘He is Allah, The One (and Only). Allah, The Eternal Absolute (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (Al-Ikhlaas: 1-4)

All Praise and Glory be to Allah (swt) – and Woe to those who ascribe partners unto Him.