4e. Oneness of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Sustainer ...... continue

TAUHIID AL-KHALIQIYYAH WA-RUBUBIYYAH

Attestation to the Oneness of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Sustainer

REFLECTION

وَفِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلۡمُوقِنِينَ

وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ

"And on earth there are Signs (of Allah's existence, visible) to all who are endowed with inner certainty, just as (there are signs) thereof within your ownselves: can you not then see? "

( Qur'an: Az-Dzariyat: 51 : 20-21 )

From the previous class, we have come to realise that our existence is not accidental, but is a product created (designed) by One Who is Most Wise. And that by the obvious complexity and beauty of our own nature, the perfect coordination that is required for our whole body to survive and continue to survive, all of which is inevitable proof of the Oneness of Allah s.w.t., our Creator and Sustainer. Should we not then be grateful to Him?

In analysing, Allah s.w.t. does not want us to be man-centred in our outlook. Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe invites man to observe His other greater Signs.

Man is just a small part of the whole creation

لَخَلۡقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَڪۡبَرُ مِنۡ خَلۡقِ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ

أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

وَمَا يَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِيرُ

"Greater indeed than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and the earth: yet most man do not understand (what this implies.) But (then), the blind and the seeing are not equal."

( Qur'an: Ghafir 40 : 57 )

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلۡأَفَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ

لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ شَہِيدٌ

"Soon will We show them Our signs in the furthest regions (of the universe) and in their own souls, until it become manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things? "

( Qur'an: Fussilat: 41: 53 )

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ

مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ

هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬

ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ

خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬

"(Hallowed be) He Who has created seven heavens in full harmony with one another,­ no fault will thou see in the creation of the Most Gracious. And turn thy vision (upon it) once more, canst thou see any flaw?"

( Q : Mulk: 67: 3 -4 )

* In the Arabic usage, - as in other Semitic languages as well- the number "seven"' is often synonymous with "several" (see Lisanul Arab). The term "sama' " ("heaven" or "sky”) is applied to anything that is spread like a canopy above any other thing. Thus, the visible skies which stretch like a vault above the earth and form, as it were, its canopy, are called "sama' ": and this is the primary meaning of this term in the Qur’an in a wider sense, it has the connotation of "cosmic system". Thus, taken together with the accepted linguistic definition, "seven heavens" denotes the multiplicity of cosmic system.


From Inner to Outer

Because our awareness is limited to ourselves and our immediate surroundings, we tend to regard the entire creations of Allah s.w.t. within this limitation and therefore fail to fully grasp the Might of Allah, the One Absolute Creator and Sustainer. With our given faculties, we are invited to survey the vast universe in which confirmation of the Oneness of Allah, the Creator and Sustainer is ever manifested. Allah s.w.t. hints at the full harmony and the perfect order which is an inevitable indication of this Truth. See and reflect. The simple statement of the Qur'an is in actual fact very profound to those who have knowledge of the universe. For many of us although we may know about the sun, the moon and the stars yet this knowledge of ours is simply a superficial awareness; lacking depth. It is like a man standing beside a deep ravine at night without knowing how deep and dangerous it is, therefore lacking true awareness. But, when the deep ravine becomes apparent at daybreak, it sent chills down our spine especially fearing for our safety. Thus knowledge, like Astronomy is relevant and important as a means towards realization of Tauhiid, the knowledge of certainty.

Let us examine the evidence from Astronomy

Twinkle, twinkle little star?

We are not quite aware of the vastness of the universe. Many of us have seen and have described the stars as "twinkling little star." Our short-sightedness does not help us to really feel the grandeur of Allah's creation. Studies in astronomy show that the number of stars in the sky is as numerous as all the grains of sand on all the seashores of our planet, many stars being vastly greater in size than our earth, some even are so enormous that each has the girth the size of which can contain hundreds of thousand of earths inside them and still have room to spare! A few of them are even big enough to contain millions of earths!

How vast is the Universe?

Astronomers estimate that the universe consists of five hundred million galaxies. Each galaxy contains about 100,0000 stars. The nearest galaxy i.e. our galaxy, the Milky Way, which is partially visible at night, measures in 100,000 light years across. (Light travels at 186,282 miles per second. And a light year means that it would require one year travelling at this speed to cover that distance!!) We, on earth are 30,000 light years way from the centre of this galaxy. This galaxy in turn forms part of an even larger super-galaxy within which 17 galaxies similar to ours are in perpetual motion. The entire cluster is 2 million light years in diameter.

Ever expanding

وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَـٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدٍ۬ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

"And it is We who have-built the universe with (Our creative) power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it _ "

( Qur'an: Az-Dzariyat: 51 :47 )

We are told that the size of the universe is not static but expanding every moment in all directions. So rapid is this expansion that according to an estimate by Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington (1882-1944), noted British physicist and astronomer, every 1300 million years, all the distances in this universe are doubled. This estimation of the vastness of the universe is based on Einstein's theory of relativity. But this is just a mathematician's guess. The truth is man has yet to comprehend the vastness of the universe.

Ever moving in harmony

The innumerable stars are continuously moving at extraordinary speeds. Some moving singly, some in groups of two or more, while innumerable stars are grouped in constellations. Have you not seen dust particles in a darken room when you allow a small ray of light to shine through. Now imagine on a much larger scale! The difference is that dust particles collide and move in combination whereas stars, notwithstanding their enormous numbers are at immeasurable distances from each other and follow their respective courses. Apart from this, the stars have their planets orbiting around it, and their respective satellites or moon are also perpetually in motion following their fixed orbits aroung the planets. Each planet also is rotating at incredible speed on its own axis.

It is amazing that all this motion is going on with a remarkable organization and regularity. Neither do the stars collide, nor does their speed alter. The revolution of our earth around the sun, its rotation around its axis and the movement of the moon around it, all are precisely timed.

According to astronomical calculations, it has frequently happened that entire galactic systems consisting of millions and millions of moving stars have entered other galactic systems and have passed right through them without colliding. In the face of all these evidence, human intellect is left with no option but to accept that this is not a self -organised system, left to “chance”. On the contrary it must be by a unique Power which set them up and maintain such boundless and infinitely varied system.

لَوۡ كَانَ فِيہِمَآ ءَالِهَةٌ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا‌ۚ

فَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

"If there were in the heavens and the earth other gods besides Allah there would have been confusion in both! But limitless in His glory is Allah, enthroned in His awesome almightiness (far) above anything men may devise by way of definition!"

( Qur'an: Anbiya 21:22 )

SUBHA- NALLAAH ( سُبْحـانَ اللهِ ) , ALHAM- DULILLAAH ( الحمدُ لله ) , LAA - lLAAHA- ILLALLAH ( لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ ), ALLAAHU AKBAR ( اللهُ أكْـبر )

Glory be Allah! All Prises is for Allah! There is no god except Allah! All is Greater (to whatever that can be coceived)!

- WABILLAAHI TAUFIQ WAL HIDAYAH

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SUBHAANALLAAH!

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The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world's most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History. The new film, created by the Museum, is part of an exhibition, Visions of the Cosmos: From the Milky Ocean to an Evolving Universe, at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan through May 2010.

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4d. Oneness of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Sustainer ... continue

TAUHIID AL-KHALIQ-QIYYAH WAR-RUBUB-BIYYAH

(Attestation to the Oneness of Allah, as the Creator and the Sustainer)

...... to continue

وَڪَأَيِّن مِّن دَآبَّةٍ۬ لَّا تَحۡمِلُ رِزۡقَهَا ٱللَّهُ يَرۡزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمۡ‌ۚ

وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ

وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ

وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ

"And how many an animal there is that beareth not its own provision! Allah provideth for it and for you. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

And if thou wert to ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, and constrained the sun and the moon (to their appointed work)? they would say: Allah. How then are they turned away? "

(Qur'an: Ankabut: 29: 60-61)

HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM [1]

Digestion: The digestive system can be looked upon as a factory where food is tasted by the tongue, then crushed by the teeth, moistened with saliva and finally, - after elaborate precautions to avoid shunting mistakes, - is pushed through the gullet into the stomach, a chemical plant where the most astonishing changes occur: Here millions of cells, too small to be seen, produce a dozen highly complex chemicals which break up the food we have eaten, whether it be meat, spinach, or rice, or cheese, into simpler substances which can be absorbed by the cells of our body and built up into our flesh and bone.

The chemical changes that take place are truly mar­vellous - well beyond the capacity of the best equipped of our laboratories. And there are five million of these little chemical units in the stomach, some forty million in the intes­tines, and more than three and a half billion in the liver. They produce, not only the chemicals needed to digest our food, where and when required, but also effective remedies against diseases like cholera and dysentery. At the same time the liver manufactures substances which help the body to burn some of the food we have eaten to provide the heat and energy every living being needs. The digestive system is not only a chemical factory, but a power house as well.

THE HUMAN LUNGS [1]


The Lungs: These are organs which bring the blood into contact w1th clean fresh air - for they knew, long before we ourselves were aware of the fact, that to purify the blood nothing is better than a good bath of oxygen.

At each breath, air is drawn into more than 1,500,000 little air sacs in the lungs, which if spread out would cover an area of some 200 square yards - the size of a nice little vegetable plot. These little balloon-like sacs are made of a thin elastic tissue which allows air to pass through but prevents blood from oozing in. The blood is carried to the lungs through 50,000,000,000 tiny hair thin tubes which form a close network all along the outside of the little balloons of the lungs. Each day they bring in some 10,000 litres of blood. Oxygen is sucked in by the red blood cells, while waste products of the body like carbon dioxide and water are given up by the blood, pass into the little air sacs, and are breathed out.

As long as a child is in the womb of its mother, its lungs do not function, and the flow of blood is turned away from the lungs by means of a special little door in the heart. As soon as it is born, the baby, who is on the verge of suffocation, utters a loud cry. The cry produces a whole series of wonderful changes. The great bags of the lungs open and air rushes in to fill them. A great flow of blood is drawn into the lungs which like a violent draught of air slams shut the little door inside the heart which had hitherto turned the blood away.

HUMAN SKIN [1]

The Skin, with its vast network of sensitive fibres spread over the body's surface is equally fascinating. The moment a hot object comes in contact with our skin, or even comes close to it, about thirty thousand hot cells feel it, and instantly report it to the brain. Similarly, there are 250,000 "cord cells" within our skin which crowd the brain with messages as soon as contact is made with a cold object. The body then begins to shiver and veins in the skin become dilated in order to make up for the loss of warmth in the body. When intense heat is "reported" to the brain, three million perspiratory glands are activated to release the cool fluid we recognise as perspiration. The nervous system is divided into different parts, one of them being the autonomic branch, which deals with reflex functions that are performed within our body, such as digestion, respiration, heart beats and so on. This autonomic branch is further subdivided into two systems: the sympathetic system, which causes activity and the para­sympathetic system, which serves as a brake. If our body were under the exclusive control of the sympathetic system, the heart would beat so rapidly that death would result. And if our body were left to the mercy of the parasympathetic system, the beating of our heart would be totally arrested. Both these sys­tems function in perfect co-ordination with each other. Whe­never our body is exposed to excessive stress and strain, caus­ing a sudden need for extra strength to withstand it, the sympathetic system dominates, making the lungs function more rapidly, and pumping adrenalin into the system from which the body may derive extra energy; But while we are asleep, the parasympathetic system has the upper hand, anaesthetizing all our bodily activities.

CONCLUSION

After observing so many wonderful organs in ourselves, each organ is prepared with such complexity and amazingly equipped to function in such a manner to sustain us - and these are outside our conscious ability to directly manage them, but somehow are being managed for us - surely, we have to concede of the power of Allah, the Creator Who designed them, and Whose power Sustains and continue to manifest a Will over them for us. To deny this is sheer arrogance and surely prepostrous to merely ascribe it to 'nature'. And what is 'nature'? An unknown entity, devoid of any attribution of Will nor intelligence. ... yet it can sustain us?? How stubbornly foolish! Nay, if we sincerely look within our heart and mind, especially reinforced and supported by our pure intuition (fitrah), these evidence prove clearly of the existence of an absolute Creator and Sustainer - and there can only be One Who is the Absolute - and to deny this is to conceal or cover an obvious truth (the attitude termed 'kufr'). Na-'uudzu billaah min dzaalik!

WaAllaahu 'alam

Wabil-laahi taufiq wal-Hidaa-ya

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[1]. ibid "God Arises - Evidence of God in nature and in Science" by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (The Islamic Centre, New Delhi -1991).



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4c. Oneness of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Sustainer ... continue

TAUHIID AL-KHALIQ-QIYYAH WAR-RUBUB-BIYYAH

(Attestation to the Oneness of Allah, as the Creator and the Sustainer)

.... to continue.

أَمۡ خُلِقُواْ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ شَىۡءٍ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُونَ

"Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators? "

(Qur'an: Surah Tur: 51: 35)

THE HUMAN HEART

The Heart is a small organ, about the size of the fist, (4 inches long and 21/2 inches broad), weighing not much more than eight ounces, yet this small pump can work prodigiously. It keeps on pumping day and night for a whole life-time with­out the least pause, rating some 100,000 strokes a day and sending about a gallon of blood circulating through the body once every 13 seconds. In a single day the heart pumps enough blood to fill a good-sized oil truck; in a single year it could fill a train of 65 large oil wagons.

The heart is specially built for the immense job it has to do. Its walls are made up of very tough muscular fibres, and it is surrounded by a double membrane (the pericardium) con­taining a fluid which lubricates its continual movement. The beat of the heart takes place in two steps as first the upper and then the lower half contracts. This enables each half of the heart to rest while the other is beating. Inside, the heart is divided into 4 chambers, two upper chambers called the auri­cles and two lower chambers called the ventricles. Blood always flows from the auricles to the ventricles, and this one way traffic is maintained by umbrella-shaped valves which guard the openings between the two sets of chambers.

THE HUMAN EAR

The Ear: Long before man discovered wireless, the ear knew all that was to be known about the reception of sound waves. The human ear consists of a funnel beautifully adapted to pick up sounds and equipped with fleshy folds which enable it to perceive the direction from which the sound comes.

Inside the ear, fine hairs and a sticky wax prevent harmful insects, dust, etc. from getting in.Across the inner end of the funnel there is a tightly stretched membrane, the ear-drum, which vibrates like the skin of the tabla (Indian percussion instrument) when sound waves strike it. The vibrations are passed on and amplified by three bones (the hammer, the stirrup and the anvil) whose relative sizes are precisely adjusted to produce just the needed amplification. Indeed, these bones never grow; they are of exactly the same size in the infant and in the adult.

The amplified vibrations are carried by the bones to another membrane just beyond which lies the wonderful organ of hearing, the inner ear. This is a small tube (the cochlea) coiled up like the shell of a snail, and filled with a liquid in which a harp of 6,000 strings ranging in length from 1/20th to 1/2mm, hang suspended. Each string vibrates to a particular frequency of sound so that the ear can hear alkl possible combinations of 6,000 different sounds. The vibration of the strings are transmitted to 18,000 nerve cells whose fibres communicate with the brain.

OBVIOUS CONCLUSION

These organs especially the heart are indeed vital in man, and because of them live is not only possible, nay with the ears (a pair) it also becomes much more meaningful - with senses that can appreciate sound.

The sheer complexity of the heart, connected to myriads of vessels - well-co-ordinated to synchronised the movements of blood - the oxyginated and the de-oxygenated; with connection to the lungs, anf the liver and spleen - surely would be astonishing indeed.

The organ of hearing, again this would be undeniably apparent, indicating of a designer that is appreciative of sound waves, and the functional needs of human. It is interestingly that our hearing organs are design just for man, because scientists would concede there are different levels or decibles of sound beyond which our hearing organs would not detect as these are inaudible to human. Imagine if there were no such limitation and we can hear them, our lives would not be peaceful.

Again, the question that need to be asked as in the quoted verse, i.e. to paraphrase the rhetorical question: "Were they created out of nothing? Or did they create these organs themselves?" Those who deny the existence of the Creator or Sustainer, indeed have not firm belief - but are guilty of 'kufr' (meaning 'concealment' or 'denial' of an obvious truth). Let them be warned:

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ‌ۖ

لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا

وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ‌ۚ

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ

"Many are the Jinns and men We have made for Hell: they have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning)."

(Qur'an: Al-A'raf: 7:179)

to be continued...........

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1. ibid. "God Arises - Evidence of God in nature and in Science" by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (The Islamic Centre, New Delhi -1991).

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4b. Oneness of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Sustainer ... continue

TAUHIID AL-KHALIQ-QIYYAH WAR-RUBUB-BIYYAH

(Attestation to the Oneness of Allah, as the Creator and the Sustainer)

.......... to continue

إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ‌ۚ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِيرُ‌ۚ

أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

"I but follow what is revealed to me." Say: "Can the blind be held equal to the seeing?" Will ye then consider not? "

(Qur'an: Surah al-An'am: 6:50)

THE HUMAN EYE 1

The eye is the world’s most efficient television station: it takes flawless pictures in colour and transmits them without the least blurring to the brain. It takes a photographer to appreciate fully the working of the eye. Like any camera it is a small dark box, with an aperture in front, fitted with a transparent pane. In front of the pane there is a shutter of variable speed (the iris) with an adjustable slit and automatic release. Behind, there is the crystalline lens whose curvature is continually adjusted by automatic muscles, so that whatever is looked at is always sharply in focus. Six large powerful muscles control the movements of the eye and point it in any desired direction.

The delicate parts of this precision instrument are kept clean by the eyelids which are window-wipers and use a cleaning fluid secreted by the gland at the corner of the eye and poured in through a siphon. A constant temperature is main­tained, as in any laboratory with highly sensitive apparatus, by means of a heat regulating membrane, the choroid. The pho­tographic plate of the eye is a small screen at the back, the retina, on to which the images of the things we see are focussed. The retina can take 10 different pictures each second or 800,000 pictures a day, wiping itself clean after each. It is so 'fast' that 30,000 separate points of light can be recorded by a single square millimetre (the size of a nail head) of its surface. All the pictures are in vivid colour, with sharp outlines, and delicate shading; they are, besides, movies and in 3-dimensions, thanks to the stereoscopic focus of the two eyes.

Obvious conclusion

From the foregoing, we cannot imagine that the eyeballs, with its intricate function, capable of interacting with light and images, but has been formed while in the darkened environment of the womb, to merely evolve out of chance - nor do we absurdly attribute this to the mother's effort - but surely, this evidently points to a Creator, Fashioner, Sustainer - Whose handiworks should not be denied, except by those who are arrogant. It is not accidently placed strategically in the head, within the socket of the skull - which was similarly fashioned by the same Designer and not evolved merely out of chance. Again, those who see this (pun intended to both, 'seeing' literally and metaphorically), we should exclaim glorification:

"SubhaanAllah! Alhamdulillaah! Mashaa-Allaah! Allahu Akbar!"

Empirical science can only explain the "how" or the workings of physics, but never the "why" - whose meaning lies in metaphysic. Why does it work that way? It must be because of an irresistable "Will", that must have prepared it for its future functional use outside the womb. The scientific fact shows that its existence and sustainment - forming while yet in the dark - points to an "Intelligent Being” that determines it, which must be outside of creation, Who is both its Creator and the Sustainer. It is impossible for anything so meaningful and complex and yet orderly in its function to exist without the need for Allah s.w.t., the Absolute One God, Who is the Creator, Sustainer, Nourisher of the Universe

............ to be continued

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1. ibid. "God Arises - Evidence of God in nature and in Science" by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (The Islamic Centre, New Delhi -1991).

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4a. Oneness of Allah as the Absolute Creator and Sustainer

TAUHIID AL-KHALIQ-QIYYAH WAR-RUBUB-BIYYAH

(Attestation to the Oneness of Allah, as the Creator and the Sustainer)

INTRODUCTION

إِنَّمَا يَخۡشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡعُلَمَـٰٓؤُاْۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

"Of all His servants, only such as are endowed with (innate) knowledge stand (truly) in awe of Allah: (for they alone comprehend that) verily, Allah is Almighty, Much Forgiving."

(Q: Fatir: 35 :28 )

The terms "Tauhiid Al-Khaliq-qiyyah" refers to the approach of confirming the Oneness of God as the Creator (Al-Khaa-liq), verified from the evidence inherent in the whole of creation. And "Tauhiid Ar-Rubub-biyyah" is the approach of confirming His Oneness as the Sustainer or Cherisher (Ar-Rabb) ,in the evident of the wonderful order and harmonious existence of all things in this universe.

An invitation to reflect

إِنَّ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّہَارِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬

لِّأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ

ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمً۬ا وَقُعُودً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ

وَيَتَفَڪَّرُونَ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ

رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلاً۬ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ

"Behold!In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of Night and Day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding, -

Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing sitting and lying down on their sides and contemplate the wonders of creation in the heavens and the earth, (with a thought): "Our Lord! You have not created this for nothing! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire."

(Q : Ali Imran 3 : 190-191 )

The greatest evidence of Allah s.w.t., for us to confirm and verify is the whole of creation. Nature and the study of nature both proclaim to us the fact that there is one God Who, in His infinite Wisdom has created and continues to sustain this universe. The superb organization and meaningfulness of the things in nature perceive by us cannot be explained except that it must have been brought into existence by a Creator - a Being with an infinite intelligence and not by a blind force. The highly complex order in things, the sophistication and intricacies of design towards certain utility does not portray haphazardness in nature but rather indicates a "Will" of One Who is Wise.

This is discernable by those who exercises their reasoning faculty when observing nature, a characteristic which Allah enjoins upon us Muslims to be. And Allah s.w.t. warns those who are heedless due to their neglect of the apparent signs and deem them as beasts or worse than that:

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ‌ۖ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا

يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا

يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ‌ۚ

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ

"Many are the Jinns and men We have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning)."

( Q : A'raf: 7 :179 )

Let us examine the closest thing apparent to us, i.e. "Ourselves"

Let us refer to human biology to see how certain parts of our organ performs vital and complex function in perfect coordination with one another, and not a jumble up product of "chance" devoid of purpose. And for it to still function surely, points to the "Will" of One Absolute Sustainer Who Sustains.

THE HUMAN BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM 1

The Brain is the centre which controls, directs and coordinates the varied activities of all the innumerable organs of the body. It receives messages from each of the senses, interprets them, sends the proper replies to the organs concerned so that the body reacts appropriately, and registers all the information received in the storage memory. Think of a huge telephone exchange in continual contact with every man, woman and child on earth, sending and receiving messages to and from each other one every few seconds ­and you have a faint idea of the incredibly complex organization of the brain.

In the white and grey matter of the brain there are nearly a thousand million nerve cells. Each is an electric battery and a small telegraph transmitter. Each cell branches out into a number of fine conducting threads, the nerve fibres, which extend to all parts of the body. A large number of them run down the hollow back­bone, twisted together into a thick cable, the spinal cord. Admirably, this is protected by the bony and well-cushioned walls of the spine. Through these tiny threads, each of which is covered with an insulating sheath, a current flows at the speed of about 70 m.p.h., carrying messages through and from the brain, with marvellous speed and accuracy. There is an elaborate system of relays, condensers, switches etc .. (to use technical terms), which permits the transmission of the most unexpected messages between the brain and each of the millions of cells it controls, without the least confusion or delay.

Obvious conclusion

From the foregoing, we cannot imagine that the brain is just a lump of matter, accidently placed in our head! On the contrary, it is invested with profound significance for which we should exclaim glorification, "SubhaanAllah! Alhamdulillaah! Mashaa-Allaah! Allahu Akbar!" The scientific fact shows that its existence and sustainment requires a "Will" or an "Intelligent Being” who is both its Creator and the Sustainer. It is impossible for anything so meaningful and complex and yet orderly in its function to exist 'without the need for Allah, the Absolute One God, Who is the Creator, Sustainer, Nourisher of the Universe.

.......... to be continued.

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Footnotes:

1. pg. 71 "God Arises - Evidence of God in nature and in Science" by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (The Islamic Centre, New Delhi -1991).

-

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CLASS EXERCISE (TAMRIN)

• 
  Unlike other religion, Islam does not reject science. In the paradigm of Tauhiid, knowledge encompasses all subject which can benefit man towards realization of the Truth. Thus Islam not only stress the importance of revealed knowledge alone (categorised as Absolute knowledge), but requires recognition of our surroundings through empirical sciences (or what is termed as Relative knowledge.)
• 
  Using of Reason is an important aspect towards inculcation of Iiman (Faith). Although it (reason) is not the source of truth, it is the means by which we are asked to confirm truth.
• 
  Although in matters intangible, our senses may not be able to perceive its essence yet we can confirm its existence by using the deduction. (e.g. analogy of the T.V. set falling from one of the galaxy –previously alluded)

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(1) Reflect upon the following verses and discuss:

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ فَمُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬ وَمُسۡتَوۡدَعٌ۬‌ۗ

قَدۡ فَصَّلۡنَا ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لِقَوۡمٍ۬ يَفۡقَهُونَ

“He (Allah) it is who [* أَنشَأَ = ansha-a] has brought you (all) into being out of one living entity and (has appointed for each of you) a time-limit (on earth) and a resting-place (after death): clearly indeed have We spelled out these messages unto people who can grasp the truth”

(Q : An’ am 6 : 98)

*The word " أَنشَأَ ansha-a" meaning "produced; made you grow, increase, develop, reach maturity" : another process of creation.

(2) We are to ponder upon our own being, how we have been created and constantly nurtured. As a start choose one aspect of our organs in our physical body.

Reflect upon how it has been meticulously created. How sophisticated and complex they are. These are the closest 'Signs' of Allah's greatness in our own physical selves. Perhaps we have been neglectful of its wonderful function, thereby we have been guilty of being unmindful of Allah s.w.t. - Who is our Creator and Nurturer (Sustainer).

Apply the question, "Did we create it ourselves ?" or "Did it just simply come into being, accidently?” or “Is this not the Sign of the Existence of Allah s.w.t.”?

(c) You are to present your findings convincingly, to prove the existence of the One God.

Do you not now realise the importance of Biology? Do you not realise the importance of connecting its findings towards making our Faith (Iiman) in Allah s.w.t., stronger?

Note:

The opposite of "Iiman" (Faith) is "Kufur" which means "denial of the Truth." This attitude is of rejecting, concealing (perhaps by ignoring it), refusal to accept what is obvious Truth etc., is to be eradicated from ourselves. Allah s.w.t. has created us human; with faculties far more sophisticated than those given to the animals.

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3. "USING OF REASON - QUR'ANIC GUIDELINE" ........

OTHER IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE OF ISLAMIC THOUGHTS....

......... (to continue)

Limitations of the Mind

Another cornerstone of Islamic thought based on principles of the Qur'an is the distinction made on the between perceptions of the visible and invisible worlds.

There are two kinds of perceptions:

(1) perception of the true essence of an object, and

(2) perception of the evidence of its existence, although absolute perception of its essence may not be possible.

The human mind can more or less perceive the essence of objects within a limited scope, the scope of the tangible world. But in the world of the intangible, it can only deduce the existence of an object from its attributes or effects. This is an established fact. This latter kind of perception enables us to ascertain the existence of God and some of His attributes of perfection through the signs He has given us, and not because we can perceive His true essence.

Visualization and Conception

Human mind's ability to abstraction (and deduction) enables him to know the reality of a thing beyond merely the physical perception. Thus distinction between visualization (i.e. perceiving the object with our senses or the mind's eye by picturing its essence), and conception (i.e. being aware of the existence of an object without the need to form a mental image of its essence) - is another cornerstone of Islamic thought, which springs forth from the principles of the Qur'an.

We cannot visualize all things we conceive.

For, we may conceive the existence of an object through its manifestations, although we may not be able to visualize it. The fact that we cannot visualize an object already conceived, does not justify the claim that it does not exist.

Thus, for example, although we cannot imagine (visualize) that a paper, if cut in half and then stacked and pieces are each cut in half again, 45 times and stacked, would make a pile that reach the clouds; yet we can conceive it (i.e. its possibility) after a simple mathematical calculation.

Again, if a television set falls in our midst from one of the galaxies, would it not prove to us the existence of its maker and indicate that being, is a wise and intelligent scientist? Yet, despite this knowledge (concerning some of his attributes), we cannot visualize the essence of that maker because we have not seen or felt him; we do not know whether he is a human being or a robot. But would it be logical to deny his existence altogether? .... just because we cannot visualize his essence, although we did conceive his existence as well as some of his attributes?

Man's Limitation

Another cornerstone of Islamic thought based on the principles of the Qur'an is that we are incapable of perceiving the beginnings and ends of things. This is a fact. That is the way our minds and senses were created, even in the material world in which we live in, our limitations are obvious. A sound that is too loud deafens us, and a light that is too bright blinds us as it blinded Prophet Moses a.s. Excessive closeness to an object prevents us from seeing it, and so does excessive remoteness from it. If this is true of the tangible world, it is much more so of the intangible world!

REFLECTIONS FROM THE HOLY QUR’AN CONCERNING ALLAH S.W.T.

لَّا تُدۡرِڪُهُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدۡرِكُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ

"No vision can encompass Him, whereas He encompasses all vision: for He alone is unfathomable (latif) *, all-aware."

(Q: An'am: 6: 103)

* The term 'latif' in ( ٱللَّطِيفُ ) denotes something that is extremely subtle in quality, and therefore intangible and unfathomable. Whenever this term occurs in the Qur'an with reference to God in conjunction with the adjective 'khabir' ("all aware"), it is invariably used to express the idea of His inaccessibility to human perception, imagination or comprehension, as contrasted with His Own all-awareness

لَيۡسَ كَمِثۡلِهِۦ شَىۡءٌ۬‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ

"There is nothing like unto Him, and yet He alone is all-hearing, all-seeing."*

(Q: As-Shura 42 : 11)

* The Oneness and Absolute Uniqueness of God is stressed here. In the phrase "there is nothing like unto Him" implies that He is fundamentally - not merely in His attributes "different" from anything that exists or could exist, or anything that man can conceive or imagine or define.

And since :

وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُ ۥ ڪُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ

"And there is nothing that could be compared to Him"

(Qur’an: Al Ikhlas: 112: 4)

Thus, even the "how" of His being "different" from everything else is beyond the categories of human thought.

(Refer to link: "God in Islam according to Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib a.s." - in Nahj Balagah )

Therefore, the concern in Islamic theology is not in trying to discern His Essence (Dzat), which is an impossibility due to human imperfection and limitation. But we are encourage to know Him by way of His attribute and other Signs (Aayat). The Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.a.w. have said:

وتَفَكَّرُا فِىْ خَلْقِ اللهِ وَلاَ تَفَكَّرُوْا
.
فِىْ اللهِ فَإِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تُقَدِّرُوْهُ قَدْرَهُ

"(To know Allah) Think and reflect upon Allah's creation and do not try to think of His Essence (Dzat), for you will certainly not be able to comprehend it."

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2. "INTRODUCTION TO TAUHIID" – (Attesting to the Oneness of God)

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By : Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail
Course conducted (since 1990's) in:

Darul Arqam Singapore

(Muslim Converts' Association Singapore)

PERGAS

(Association of Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers, Singapore)

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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
MOST GRACIOUS MOST MERCIFUL.

INTRODUCTION TO TAUHIID –

(Attesting to the Oneness of God)


PREAMBLE

"IIMAN" - What is its meaning and implication?

Faith (IIMAN), from the Islamic perspective is not mere blind acceptance. It is a process of acquiring a knowledge of certainty in which we confirm with our innate nature and sense faculties especially that of reason - till we develop conviction.

Basic and most fundamental message of Islam is the KALIMATUT-TAUHIID (Statement concerning the Absolute Oneness of God), in Arabic:

لا إِلـهَ إِلاّ اللهُ

LAA-ILAA-HA-IL-LALLAAH
“There is no other god (object of worship) except Allah (God)."

The message of Islam is very simple and exact, yet profound.

It stresses upon mankind to recognize the Truth that there is only one God, the Creator, Sustainer, Cherisher of the Universe, ­besides Whom there is no other god. The Arabic proper noun “Allah” for God, refers to the One Supreme Being, Who is Absolute, Unique and without equal.

From the above statement, there are 2 aspects which we are required to confirm and develop Faith (iiman) in :


(1) Recognizing the existence of God; and

(2) That there is none other except Allah, the Absolute One God (i.e. He is without equal or partner; sharing with no one His Divinity, for there is none like Him) .


Islam provides us with three methods of verifying the existence of God. These methods are :

TAUQIFFIYAH i. e. by relying upon true report, which have already been ascertained as to its reliability as being authoritative – for Muslims, the using of evidence from the Qur'an (Revelation) and authenticated Ahadith (Sunnah - sayings, actions or consent of the Prophet);

FITRAH i.e. by relying upon our natural or innate human instincts, intuitions; and

AQLIIYAH i.e. by the using of the faculty of reasoning, thought process

TAUQIFFIYAH

Man cannot claim to be born with knowledge, but that knowledge is acquired. It is bestowed upon him through experience, inspiration and insight. We recognize great thinkers with their profound discoveries of the laws of the universe, and that is basically how science developed. But science is only limited to certain aspects of knowledge and cannot traverse the great mysteries of the infinite. Yet history recognizes other types of luminaries, who were people gifted with the knowledge that delves beyond the boundaries of physics into the realm of the metaphysics. They were the prophets and messenger of God sent throughout history, repeating the same message in the existence of God, and inviting mankind towards the way of submission to the One Creator of the Universe. The last of these messengers was Muhammad s.a.w. who has left behind to posterity, his teachings in the Qur'an and his Sunnah. In themselves, the Qur'an and Sunnah are the undeniable evidence of his Nubuwat (prophethood) which have been preserved in its pristine state even till the present age. He was indeed a messenger of God from Whom he received enlightenment of the profound Reality. Thus, by relying upon the authority of the Qur'an and the Sunnah itself, Muslims are convinced about the existence of God.

Note: In the Qur'an, Allah does not only inform man of His existence but offers sound arguments, appealing to the inherent instinct in man as well as to man's ability to use his reason.

FITHRAH

Man has certain natural instincts to perceive the existence of One whom they call God. In these pure instincts (fitrah salii-ma), they lead man towards the recognition, by sense intuition that there must exist, the Almighty Being, Who overseas over his life and the entire Universe. The instinct of fear is one of the most profound. Another is that of hope; yearning towards a sense of justice and fairplay; the innate ability to appreciate what is right and wrong; inclination towards orderliness and progress; striving for perfection, etc. These pure instincts (intuitions), although they may have become dimmed or corrupted, or affected by doubts and scepticism, yet its presence in every person is undeniable and is the reason why in many communities throughout the world's history there are evidence of some form of worship to God - i.e. the notion of a Supreme Being. From the simple tribal society, to renown civilizations - evidence can be found. Although some scientists may scoffed at this because they could not satisfactorily understand them, yet they can neither prove nor disprove all of them using empirical methods. And although by relying upon innate instinct and intuition, some people may have deviated away from the belief that the Creator is One, into ascribing pantheons of deities, yet deep down in their instinct there still reverberates that only One is the Almighty Lord of all creation.

وَلَٮِٕن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ

وَٱلۡقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَ

“If indeed thou ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law); they will certainly reply "Allah." How are they then deluded away (from the truth)?”

(Qur’an: Ankabut: 29: 61)

قُلۡ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ تَدۡعُونَهُ ۥ

تَضَرُّعً۬ا وَخُفۡيَةً۬ لَّٮِٕنۡ أَنجَٮٰنَا مِنۡ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ

ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ

قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنۡہَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرۡبٍ۬ ثُمَّ أَنتُمۡ تُشۡرِكُونَ

قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلۡقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبۡعَثَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ عَذَابً۬ا مِّن

فَوۡقِكُمۡ أَوۡ مِن تَحۡتِ أَرۡجُلِكُمۡ أَوۡ يَلۡبِسَكُمۡ شِيَعً۬ا وَيُذِيقَ

بَعۡضَكُم بَأۡسَ بَعۡضٍ‌ۗ ٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ

يَفۡقَهُونَ وَكَذَّبَ بِهِۦ قَوۡمُكَ وَهُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۚ قُل لَّسۡتُ عَلَيۡكُم

بِوَكِيلٍ۬ لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقَرٌّ۬‌ۚ وَسَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ

Say: "who is it that delivereth you from the dark recesses of land and sea, when ye call upon Him in humility and silent terror: `if He only delivers us from these (dangers), (we vow) we shall truly show our gratitude'.?"

Say: "It is Allah that delivereth you from these and all (other) distresses: and yet ye worship false gods!"

Say: "He hath power to send calamities on you, from above and below, or to cover you with confusion in party strife, giving you a taste of mutual vengeance― each from the other." See how We explain the Signs by various (symbols) that they may understand.

But thy people reject this, though it is the Truth. Say: "Not mine is the responsibility for arranging your affairs; "For every Message is a limit of time and soon shall ye know it."

(Qur'an: An'am: 6: 63-67)

Note: Atheism is a new phenomena in the history of mankind and cannot be said to be natural. It is totally against the pure instinct of man, not to believe in a supernatural being - for this would only be replacing the idea of God (the intelligent Force), with nature (an unkown entity without any will nor intelligence, yet said to be the cause) capable of creating many amazing things in this universe. Historically, atheism or agnosticism came about because of rejection of certain absurd myths attributed to God, not an absolute rejection of the idea of God.

AQLIYYAH

Unlike other religion, Islam recognizes the use of reasoning faculty, and in fact it encourages man to use them because, from the point of view of Islam, the mind or reasoning faculty is the greatest gift of God. Although reason itself cannot fathom the infinite mysteries yet it is the means by which man can verify and confirm truth. And in this very way has the Qur'an spoke to man and invite them to recognize the existence of God. It provides verifiable arguments to convince the doubters, by methods of pondering upon certain observable phenomena in ourselves and our surroundings:

أَمۡ خُلِقُواْ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ شَىۡءٍ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُونَ

أَمۡ خَلَقُواْ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ‌ۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ

“Were they created out of nothing, Or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the Heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief?"

(Qur’an: Tur: 52: 35-36)

لَوۡ كَانَ فِيہِمَآ ءَالِهَةٌ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا‌ۚ فَسُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ

رَبِّ ٱلۡعَرۡشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

"If there were in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been ruin in both! But glory to Allah the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him!"

(Qur’an : Anbiya : 21: 22)

قُل لَّوۡ كَانَ مَعَهُ ۥۤ ءَالِهَةٌ۬ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذً۬ا لَّٱبۡتَغَوۡا

إِلَىٰ ذِى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ سَبِيلاً۬

سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ عُلُوًّ۬ا كَبِيرً۬ا

"Say: if there had been (other) gods with Him― as they say, behold, they would certainly have sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne!

Glory to him! He is high above all that they say! Exalted and Great (beyond measure)!"

(Qur’an: Isra’: 17: 42-43)

مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ۬ وَمَا ڪَانَ مَعَهُ ۥ مِنۡ إِلَـٰهٍ‌ۚ

إِذً۬ا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَـٰهِۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ

سُبۡحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

“No son did Allah beget, nor is there any god along with Him: (if there were many gods), behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others!

Glory to Allah (He is free) from the (sort of) things they attribute to Him!”

(Qur’an: al-Mu’minun: 23: 91)

CONSIDERATIONS WHICH LEAD TO THE BELIEVE IN GOD'S EXISTENCE

(1) Things that we see around us are 'new' and were created. Creation must emanate from outside creation i.e. the Uncreated.

(2) Things are in constant state of motion. We cannot conceive motion to have perpetually existed without a beginning (i.e. it must start from a state of motionless).

(3) The dependability of things towards a cause or initiator. So where do all things began?

(4) The existence of a unified order in the universe. To attribute this order to random chance is most improbable without a universal will (intelligent force).

(5) The realization that for this universe to exist as it does, there must be a Sustainer. The complexity for its being sustained, and dependibility of things to other things affecting it besides itself, indicate the determination by a 'cosmic force.'

(6) Inherent preparedness in our creation, as well as in animals, plants, etc. This preparedness cannot be something evolved because without it, that animals or plants would not have any chance to begin to survive in the first place.

(7) Time and the aging factor in our Universe. This would make us ponder concerning the meta-concept of the infinity (past) and eternity (future) - the concepts of the Divine.

(8) The 'law' of probability. The computation which actually informs us (mathematically) of the utter remoteness of creation being the outcome of chance accidents.


.......... for more refer to kitaab by Allamah Jamaluddien Al Qasimy "DALAA-ILUT TAUHIED'

And many others which is best summed up by Muslim thinker who said:

“There are numerous ways of ascertaining the existence of Allah: as numerous as the breathes ('anfus' pl. of 'nafas' or the entity of self) of His creations."

TAUHIID - IT'S MEANING AND IMPLICATION.

The term TAUHIID is derived from Arabic word "Ahad”(Absolute One) - "Wahada" (Oneness attested) “Yuwaa-hidu" (he unify or attest to the Oneness) – “Tauhii-dan” (you attest to its' Oneness). Therefore it implies an act of attesting to the Belief in the Oneness of Allah (God) Who is the Absolute One; by first having conviction in our hearts and mind, and manifesting them in our life through words and deeds.

There are five approaches or methodology (types) of attestation – in the Islamic tradition, which Muslims are inculcated with - each having a specific expectation, as tabled below :

(1) TAUHIID AL-KHALI-QIYYAH

That we affirm and are convinced that every creation in the universe was created by One Creator, God of all the worlds – Who alone is the Uncreated Being.

(2) TAUHIID AR-RUBU-BIYYAH

Acknowledgement that the entire Universe is sustained and cherished, by the One God - Who has no equal, partner nor associates. That over all things God has power which is ever present and constantly manifested thereby.

( 3) TAUHIID AL - ULU-HIYYAH or 'UBUDIYYAH

Acknowledgement that there is only One God, Who Alone is Divine, deserving of our worship and servitude. There is no god except Him. He is Allah the Absolute, Eternal. Who has no equal nor partner. The Most besought unto Whom we rely. He Alone is deserving of our worship, and to deny every forms of associating His Divinity with anyone or anything ("shirk"). Since we know that our being created is but to fulfill a reason best known to our Maker, therefore we are to manifest our acknowledgement of this in our life through a total form of worship or servitude by following the Guidance from Him,established by the Messenger of Allah s.a.w.

(4) TAUHIID AS-SIFAT

That we affirm and attest that Allah, the Unique God as having all the attributes of perfection, befitting His Majesty and Holiness, and reject all the absurd attributes which man may attribute to Him - as the rationalist (Mu'tazilites) had done imputing imperfections in God when they try to fathom the knowledge about God using the human mind, ratio. In Islam, the knowledge of Who God is, must come from God - yet it would not be knowledge absurd or antithetical to reason. Traditionally, the 13 or 20 attributes of God (sifatullaah) are taught in traditional Islamic scholarship, to counter them, using basis both from Revelation (naqliyyah) and reason (aqliyyah), as refutation towards the deviations of the rationalist - and for upholding the original creed or doctrine of the Ahl-asunnah wa al-jama'ah - of the Salafus- Soleh (the pious predecesssors).

(5) TAUHIID AL-ASMA'

That we affirm and attest that Allah is One, and has all the Beautiful Names which He has revealed and we glorify, invoke and beseech Him by These Names. Affirmations which require us also to reflect some of His attributes in ourselves, by reciprocating those godly quality in our life, such as in His Compassion, Mercy, Justice etc. so as to be deserving of His Compassion, Mercy etc. Through observing many of His Signs in nature, we reflect our belief in these Names - and try to read and confirm these attributes of His act (af'al) - of the One God - which are manifested in the Qur'an (ayaat qawliyyah) and in the whole creations and alternations of night and day (ayaat kauniyah).

The true aspiration towards being close to our Compassionate and Loving Creator, has to begin by knowing Him and with striving towards achieving His Pleasure (Mardhaa-tillah - مَرۡضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ), following the path of TAUHIID. In this, Allah s.w.t. has provided the Guidance:

قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ

ذُنُوبَكُمۡ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ‌ۖ

فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ

Say (O Muhammad): "If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Say: "Obey Allah and His Messenger"; but if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith.

(Qur’an: aali ‘Imran: 3: 31-32)

Thus the Concept of Tauhiid which serves as the foundation of the teachings of Islam can be accomplished by following no other way except the way shown by Allah s.w.t. through His prophets and Messengers, the Last of whom who came to supercede them all, guided by Allah's revelation to establish al-Islam as the perfected Deen, is the Messenger and the Seal of prophethood, Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah s.a.w. And there will be no other prophet after him. That is why the Kalimah of Islam is completed with :

مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ

MUHAM-MADUR-RA-SUU-LULLAH

"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah".

WaAllaahu a'lam.

MAY ALLAH GUIDES US ALL AND STRENGTHENS US IN OUR EFFORT TO ATTEST TO HIS ONENESS, AND MAY HE GRANTS US THE RANKS OF TRUE ATTESTORS-WITNESSES (SHUHADAA) , AND INCLUDES US AMONGST THOSE WHO ARE NEAREST TO HIM.

AA-MIN, YA-ALLAH.

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AL-AQAA’ID/‘ILM TAUHIID
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(Theology/Doctrine)
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Purpose / Objective
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Cognition of Allah (Ma’rifah)
Development of Certainty
Awareness of Truth/Reality (Haqiqah)
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What is involved?
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‘Aql (reasoning/intellect)
Fitrah (Instincts & finer feelings or innate perceptions)
The Revealed knowledge (Tauqiffiy)
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What is the Effect?
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Muslim Firm conviction, strong principles,
commitment to the concept of Unity (TAUHIDIC) and
Justice of Allah (AL-‘ADL), knowledge of true purpose,
role and destiny of Man.
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Relevant knowledge:
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Languages, Logic & philosophy,
Epistemology, Biology, Botany, Chemistry,
Physical sciences, Astronomy, Geology, History,
Anthropology, Marine and Space sciences, etc.

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Sheikh Dr.Wahbah Az-Zuhaily view on Tauhiid

"Ar-Rububiyya-al-Uluhuyya-Asma-wa-Sifaat categorization.

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