Almuslimin.net

Umm Muhammad
Realities of Faith
© 1994 Abul-Qasim Publishing House

The kalimah (word) of tawheed, 'La ilaha ill-Allah" came to correct belief - not only that of the ancient polytheists, but of all men up until the Day of Judgement. It testifies that there is no divinity except Allah none other than Him and none along with Him. None is similar to Him, none creates and sustains except Him, and none has the right to govern creation but Him. The concept of tawheed necessarily overflows into all aspects of belief and worship into all aspects of life.Whether he recognizes it or not, man is totally indebted to his Creator for his continuing existence hour by hour, not to mention such blessings as his many possessions and abilities. Knowing that Allah alone is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Provider, the Controller, the source of all benefit and harm in whose hands is the Judgement and the final destination of men requires through common sense and reason that He alone be worshipped.

Although the concept of worship (ibadah) has been gradually reduced in common usage to mean little more than the performance of certain religious rites and rituals, the original and true definition is comprehensive. It encompasses all actions and intentions motivated by a recognition of greatness - that combination of love and fear, producing efforts to please the worshipped one and to avoid his displeasure. An object of worship continually occupies the mind of the worshipper and consequently governs his behavior, both consciously and unconsciously. When applying the correct definition, it becomes clear that despite lip-service to "La ilaha ill-Allah," one's object of worship could well be something other than Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala).

"Have you seen the one who takes as his god ins own desire, and [so] Allah has left him astray because of knowledge?" [45:23 – Scholars have said that the phrase "`ala `ilm" (because of knowledge) refers to Allah’s knowledge of that servant and his preference for his own desires, or as well, to that servant’s knowledge of the truth although he rejects it]

Those pursuers of falsehood in the form of political ideologies and national leaders, foreign customs, wealth, fashion or various worldly enjoyments might assume that by bowing to Allah in prayer, they worship Him alone. But Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) firmly corrected this misconception.

Once, 'Adiyy bin Hatim entered while the Prophet was reciting a verse from the Qur'an:

"They took their scholars and monks as lords other than Allah and [also] the Messiah, Son of Mary. And they were not ordered except to worship one God…" [9:31]

'Adiyy (who had been a Christian), said, "O Messenger of Allah, they did not worship them." The Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) replied, "Did they not tell them that the prohibited was lawful and that the lawful was prohibited and they followed them in that?" When 'Adiyy admitted, "Yes," the Prophet stated, "That was their worship of them." [Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi]

Thus worship was defined as obedience - a fact that becomes evident from even a superficial study of the Qur'an in which Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) orders repeatedly:

"Obey Allah and the Messenger." [3:32, 3:132, 4:59, 8:1, 8:64, 24:54, 47:33, 58:13 and 64:12. Many other verses, although worded differently, carry the same meaning.]

"Legislation is only for Allah. He has commanded that you not worship any but Him. That is the right religion, but most of the people do not know." [12:40]

Two types of shirk were common both before and after the prophethood of Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). The first of these is the direction of acts of worship (especially supplication) to others besides Allah while still claiming belief in Him. The Qur’an orders:

"And do not invoke besides Allah another god. There is no god but Him." [12:40]

The other type of shirk is the willful adherence to laws and rulings other than His.

"Do you not consider those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to taghoot [i.e. false objects of worship or those transgressors who usurp the divine right of government] while they were commanded to reject it." [4:60]

The loss of tawheed is sadly evident today in the acceptance of foreign philosophies and lifestyles, political oppression, innovations in religion, and countless forms of disobedience. Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala) warns:

"Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord. And do not follow any patrons other than Him." [7:3]

"And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will lead you away from the path of Allah." [6:116]

"And certainly do many lead [others] astray through their own desires without knowledge." [6:119]"

And do not obey one whose heart We have made unaware of Our remembrance and who follows his desires and whose affair is excess [i.e. exceeding the limits of Allah]." [18:28]

Reform will be accomplished only when the majority of Muslims has returned to the true worship of Allah and will no tolerate shirk. The greater jihad against tyranny and oppression everywhere on earth will neither be accepted by Allah nor aided by Him until the participants are truly dedicated to His cause and free of all other motivations. Jihad against the self and refinement of the soul are the first steps towards jihad for Islam.

"Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves…" [13:11]

The solution begins with the individual…in the soul.

See original: A Return to Tawheed

Shaykh Saleh al-Fouzan
Ruling by Allah's Law
Kitab at-Tahweed, Chapter 7
Translated by Mahmoud Ridha Murad

Legislating rulings for the slaves of Allaah to follow in their acts of worship, transactions, settling the disputes, litigation, and in the rest of their affairs is an exclusive right of Allaah, the Exalted, the Rabb of mankind, and the Creator of the creatures.

Allaah says: "Verily the creation and the command belong to Him, and He is the blessing Granter, the Rubb of the Worlds." (7:54)

He knows what suits His slaves, and legislates it for them. By virtue of His Ruboobiyyah, He legislates for them, and by virtue of their servitude to Him, they accept His judgements; whichever case it is in their interest. Allaah, the Exalted, says: "And if you dispute over anything, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger if you really believe in Allaah and the Last Day, that is best in terms of consequences." (4:59)

And He also says: "And in whatever you differ, the decision thereof rests with Allaah. Say: 'This is Allaah, my Rubb:" (42:10) Allaah, Glory be to Him, denies that His slaves should accept a lawmaker other than Himself. He says: "Or do they have partners to Allaah to legislate for them in the deen what Allah does not allow?" (42:21)

Hence, he who accepts a law other than Allah's ascribes a partner to Allaah. Whatever act of worship that is not legislated by Allaah and His Messenger is Bid'ah, and every Bid'ah is a means of deviation. The Prophet said: "He who introduces in our deen, anything which does not belong to it, it shall be rejected." [Bukhari & Muslim]

In another version, he said: "He who practices an act of worship, that is not endorsed by our deen it is to be rejected." [Muslim]

While any other law which is legislated by neither Allaah nor His Messenger in politics, or for judging in people's disputes, it is considered as the law of Taghoot, and Jahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic era) Allaah says: "Do they seek the judgment of Jahiliyyah? And who is better than Allaah as a judge for a people who have firm faith?" (5:50)

The right of legalizing and illegalizing, belongs to Allaah too, and no one is permitted to share this right with Him. Allaah says: "And do not eat of that on which the name of Allaah is not pronounced, for surely that is disobedience. And certainly Satans inspire their friends to argue with you. And if you obey them, then you are polytheists." (6:121)

Thus Allaah, the Exalted, considers obeying Satans and their followers, with regard to legalizing what Allaah prohibits as Shirk. Likewise, whoever obeys scholars and rulers in prohibiting what Allaah made lawful, or legalizing what He prohibited, he would be considered as taking them as lords to the exclusion of Allaah. Allaah, the Exalted, says: "They have taken their learned men and their monks, and the Messiah, the son of Maryam for lords aside from Allaah. And they are commanded to worship the One God. There is no true god but He. Far is He removed from what they ascribe to Him!" (9:31)

At-Tirmidhi and others reported that the Prophet recited the above Ayaat to Adi bin Hatim at-Ta'i (just before he accepted Islam) may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: "O Messenger of Allaah, we do not worship them! The Prophet said: Do they not make legal for you what Allaah makes illegal? and you deem it as legal, and they illegalize what Allah made legal and you deem it as illegal?' He said: 'Certainly!' Thereupon, the Prophet said: 'That is how you worship them." (Tirmidhi and others)

Hence, the obedience of the Christians to their learned men, with regards to illegalization and legalization is considered as worship and major Shirk, which contradicts the Tawheed, which is signified by the Testimony of Faith, La ilahah illal Allah. [Fath al-Majid p.107] This Testimony which signifies that legalization and illegalization is an exclusive right of Allaah, the Exalted.

If obeying scholars and worshippers in illegal and legal matters that oppose the law of Allaah, is considered as Shirk; even though the scholars and worshippers are religious people whose mistake may be forgiven if it were made after exerting their efforts, and they will be rewarded for that. If obeying such people constitutes major Shirk, then how about those who obey man-made laws that are the work of the unbelievers and the atheists, imported into Muslim countries and applied? They are much worse than the former. There is no altering of one condition into another, nor is there power except through Allaah. For the latter take the unbelievers as lords aside from Allaah to legislate laws for him, and legalize the illegal, and rule people by such laws.

See original: Claiming the Right of Legislation, Legalization and Illegalization

	Priests and preachers entering Islam ( 1 of 2 ) Years ago, when Sheikh Yusuf Estes was a christian minister , he attempted to convert a Muslim. In return, the brother offered him, "If I'm ready to go to your religion if you have something better than what I have, are you ready to come to my religion if I have something better than what you have...?" Sheikh Estes communicates in this lecture, which takes place in India, how it is that Islamic Character is the best kind of daw'ah. Learn here about this form of da'wah they recieved from this ...	From: MuslimByChoice Views: 42531 263 ratings
	Time: 15:11	More in People & Blogs

See original: Priests and preachers entering Islam ( 1 of 2 ) - FUNNY & HUMOROUS

	Mishary Rashid - Surah Al-Araf (The Heights) verses 1-18 Sheikh Alafasy recites chapter 7 of the Glorious Qur'an, Surah Al-Araf (The Heights), verses 1-18 with english translation. mashaallah!	From: fisabilillah87 Views: 3543 16 ratings
	Time: 06:21	More in Travel & Events

See original: Mishary Rashid - Surah Al-Araf (The Heights) verses 1-18