Imam Ibn Bazz: Types of Tawhid Revealed to Allah's Messengers

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Types of Tawhid Revealed to Allah's Messengers (peace be upon them)

Praise be to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, Companions, and whoever has followed his guidance.

Allah (May He be Exalted and Glorified) sent His messengers (peace be upon them) to call to Al­Haqq (Truth) and guide people. They were sent as givers of glad tidings and warners, so that people can never have a plea against Allah after the Messengers, who conveyed the Message, fulfilled the trust, sincerely advised their nations, endured the harm, and truly strived in the cause of Allah until He established the proof and blocked the way to excuses for them.

As He (Exalted be He) says: And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and صلى see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). and, And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad

but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me )االله عليـه وسـلم (Alone and none else)." He (Glorified be He) also says, And ask (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم) those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: "Did We ever appoint âlihâh (gods) to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allâh)?"

Thus, Allah (Glorified be He) clarified in these Ayahs that He had sent the messengers to call people to worship Allah alone, and to warn them against associating others in worship with Him.

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The messengers (peace be upon them) conveyed the Message and called their people to single out Allah in worship. Accordingly, they had founded the basis of equity, virtuousness, and peace. They had excellently succeeded in their mission, for their mission was to convey and declare the Divine Truth. Whereas the guidance of hearts and the direction toward acceptance of Truth comes from Allah, not from messengers or any other person. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Not upon you (Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم) is their guidance, but Allâh guides whom He wills. and, Then! Are the Messengers charged with anything but to convey clearly the Message? and, Indeed, We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. This is especially true regarding the Last Prophet and the best Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), for he achieved great success in His call and Allah perfected the Din (Religion of Islam) for him and his Ummah and bestowed His Grace upon them, and made His Shari`ah (Islamic Law) general for both mankind and Jinn (creatures created from fire). This Shari`ah included all the means to welfare in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says,

This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. and, And We have not sent you (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind and, Say (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allâh ­ to Whom

belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم), who believes in Allâh and His Words [(this Qur’ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh’s Word: "Be!" ­ and he was, i.e. ‘Isâ (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), عليهما السلام], and follow him so that you may be guided." Despite this, few people had responded to them and the majority belied them, out of

ignorance, patterning after the parents and ancestors and following conjecture and their own desires.

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Just as Allah (Glorified be He) says, And they make the angels who themselves are slaves of the Most Gracious (Allâh) females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned!   And they said: "If it had

been the Will of the Most Gracious (Allâh), we should not have worshipped them (false deities)." They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do nothing but lie!   Or have We given them any Book before this (the Qur’ân) to which they are holding fast?   Nay! They say: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps."   And similarly, We sent not a warner before you (O Muhammad صلى االله عليه و سلم) to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps."  (The warner) said: "Even if I bring you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?" They said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent."   So We took revenge on them, then see what was the end of those who denied (Islâmic Monotheism).

Over and above, on mentioning the false Arab gods of Al­Lat, Al­`Uzzah, and Manat Allah (Exalted be He) says, They are but names which you have named ­ you and your fathers ­ for which Allâh has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!

However, there are many Ayahs stressing this meaning, yet some people may reject this out of envy, transgression and arrogance, despite their awareness of the truth as was the case with the Jews. They knew Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as they knew their own children. But driven by transgression, envy, and preference of worldly pleasures they rejected and belied him just as what happened with Fir`awn (Pharaoh) and his people. Allah (Exalted be He) mentions that Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) said to Fir`awn : "Verily, you know that these signs have been sent down by none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth (as clear evidence i.e. proofs of Allâh’s Oneness and His Omnipotence.).

                       

And He (Exalted be He) said about Fir`awn (Pharaoh) and his people, But when Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came to them, clear to see, they said: "This is a manifest magic."   And they belied them (those

Ayât) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced thereof [i.e. those (Ayât ) are from Allâh, and Mûsâ (Moses) is the Messenger of Allâh in truth, but they disliked to obey Mûsâ (Moses), and hated to believe in his Message of Monotheism]. So see whatwastheendoftheMufsidûn(disbelievers,disobedienttoAllâh,evil­doersandliars.). He(GlorifiedbeHe)alsosays about the Kuffar (disbelievers) of

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QurayshwhentheybeliedMuhammad(peacebeuponhim), Weknowindeedthegriefwhichtheirwordscauseyou(OMuhammad ­it is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Qur’ân) of Allâh that the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong :)صـلى االله عليـه وسـلم doers)deny. TheyusedtocallhimduringJahiliyyah(pre­Islamictimeofignorance)'thetruthful'and'thehonest'andtestifiedforhim to be so. However, when he came with other than what their parents and ancestors used to worship, they disavowed, belied, opposed, and combated him. Indeed, this is the way the messengers and callers to the Truth were received. They were put to trials and afflictions but afterwards, they were given good reward as declared in clear Ayahs, authentic Hadiths and famous incidents that took place in the past and the present. Hiraql (Caesar), the Emperor of Rome, attested to this when he asked Abu Sufyan about the state and behavior of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and how the war was between him and his people. Abu Sufyan replied, "The war between us and him has been wavering like a bucket, up at one turn and down at the other (i.e. the victory has been shared between us and him by turns)." Hiraql said, "This is the way of the messengers, as they are put to trials but later they are proved

victorious."

Allah promised His messengers and their followers to prove victorious, have power over others, and turn successful in the worldly life andtheHereafter.He(GlorifiedandExaltedbeHe)says, And,verily,OurWordhasgoneforthofoldforOurslaves,theMessengers, That they verily would be made triumphant,   And that Our hosts! they verily would be the victors.  and,  Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh ­ Islâmic Monotheism) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection) ­   The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong­doers and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh). Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode (i.e. painfultormentinHell­fire). and, Oyouwhobelieve!Ifyouhelp(inthecauseof)Allâh,Hewillhelpyou,andmakeyourfoothold firm.   But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allâh ­ Islâmic Monotheism), for them is destruction, and (Allâh) will make their deeds vain.   That is because they hate that which Allâh has sent down (this Qur’ân and Islâmic laws, etc.); so He has made their

deedsfruitless. Allah(GlorifiedandExaltedbeHe)alsosays, and(asfor)thebelievers,itwasincumbentuponUstohelp(them).

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and, Allâhhaspromisedthoseamongyouwhobelieveanddorighteousgooddeeds,thatHewillcertainlygrantthemsuccessionto (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their

religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieves after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).  There are many other Ayahs to this effect. Whoever reflects upon Allah's way with His Servants will know the truth of what was indicated by these Ayahs according to the reality as known by sound reports. Sometimes, the Muslims are put to misfortunes due to their sins and failure to abide by Allah's Commands, for not being well prepared to combat their enemiesinadditiontomanyotherwisdomsandgreatsecrets.Allah(ExaltedbeHe)says, Andwhateverofmisfortunebefallsyou,it isbecauseofwhatyourhandshaveearned.AndHepardonsmuch.(SeetheQur’ânVerse35:45). and, (Whatisthematterwith you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this cometous?"Say(tothem),"Itisfromyourselves(becauseofyourevildeeds)."AndAllâhhaspoweroverallthings. and, Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allâh, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.

Thus, whoever contemplates the call of the messengers (peace be upon them) and the conditions of the peoples of the messengers comes upon the fact that the Tawhid they preached is of three types, two of which were acknowledged by Mushriks (those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). However, they did not become so due to that. They acknowledged Tawhid­ul­ Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship) and Tawhid­ul­Asma' wal­Sifat (Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes).

As for Tawhid­ul­Rububiyyah, it involves attesting the divine actions such as creation, providing sustenance, planning, bringing back to life, causing death, etc.

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The Mushriks acknowledged this Tawhid. Allah even raised it as an argument against them since this entails and requires oneness of worship,asHe(ExaltedbeHe)says, Andifyouweretoaskthem:"Whohascreatedtheheavensandtheearthandsubjectedthe sunandthemoon?"theywillsurelyreply:"Allâh."Howthenaretheydeviating(aspolytheistsanddisbelievers)? and, Andifyouask themwhocreatedthem,theywillsurelysay:“Allâh.” and, Say(OMuhammadصلىااللهعليهوسلم):"Whoprovidesforyoufromthe 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: "Allâh." Say: "Will you not then be afraid of Allâh’s punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allâh)?"  , i.e. are you not afraid of disbelieving in Him while you know that He is the Originator of all these things. Allah (Exalted be He) says,  Say: "Whose is the earth and whosoever is therein? If you know!"   They will say: "It is Allâh’s!" Say: "Will you not then remember?"   Say: "Who is (the) Lord of the seven heavens, and (the) Lord of the Great Throne?"   They will say: "Allâh." Say: "Will you not then fear Allâh (believe in His Oneness, obey Him, believe in the Resurrection and Recompense for every good or bad deed)?"   Say "In Whose Hand is the sovereignty of everything (i.e. treasures of each and everything)? And He protects (all), while against Whom there is no protector, (i.e. if Allâh saves anyone none can punish or harm him, and if Allâh punishes or harms anyone none can save him), if you know?" [Tafsir Al­Qurtubî]   They will say: "(All that belongs) to Allâh." Say: "How then are you deceived and turn away from the truth?"

There are many Ayahs that stress this meaning and they all indicate these people's attestation to the actions of the Lord (Glorified be He). However, this did not admit them into Islam, as previously mentioned, for they had not sincerely worshiped Allah alone. Thus, this would be a proof against them for their denial of the oneness of worship, for the Creator of these things they denied is the One worthy of worship, alone without an associate.

Whereas the second type is Tawhid­ul­Asma' wal­Sifat. Allah has mentioned this

                         

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in many Ayahs. The Mushriks did not disavow it but it is mentioned in the Qur'an that they denied the name of Al­Rahman (The Most Gracious)only.Allahsays, whiletheydisbelieveintheMostGracious(Allâh)Say:“HeismyLord!LâilâhaillâHuwa(nonehasthe right to be worshipped but He)! In Him is my trust, and to Him will be my return with repentance.”

This was just a way of arrogance and obstinacy. Really, they knew Allah as Al­Rahman and mentioned this fact in many of their poems.Allah(GlorifiedbeHe)says, HeisAllâh,besideWhomLâilâhaillâHuwa(nonehastherighttobeworshippedbutHe)theAll­ Knoweroftheunseenandtheseen.HeistheMostGracious,theMostMerciful. and, Say(OMuhammadصلىااللهعليهوسلم):"He is Allâh, (the) One.   "Allâh­us­Samad (السيد الذي يصمد إليه في الحاجات) [Allâh the Self­Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)].   "He begets not, nor was He begotten.   "And there is none co­equal or comparable unto Him." Allah also says, There is nothing like Him; and He is the All­Hearer, the All­Seer.  Further He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘ Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).   The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) and, So put not forward similitudesforAllâh(asthereisnothingsimilartoHim,norHeresemblesanything).Truly!Allâhknowsandyouknownot. TheAyahs denoting this meaning are numerous. They all indicate that Allah (Glorified be He) has the Beautiful Names and Attributes and that He has the Absolute Perfection in His Self, Names, Attributes, and Acts, for He has no partner in this.

The Salaf (righteous predecessors) of this Ummah (nation of creed) had agreed upon the necessity of believing in everything mentioned in Allah's Book (Glorified and Exalted be He) and in the sound Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) of His Messenger (peace be upon him) with respect to the Names and Attributes. They are also of the opinion that such Names and Attributes should be passed as revealed and we should believe in them as truth in a way that befits Allah, not figurative. For indeed Allah has no counterpart or equal in that. No one knows how they are except Him (Glorified be He).

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Hereallyhastheentiremeaningofabsoluteperfectionthatnonehasanysimilarity.Allah(GlorifiedandExaltedbeHe)says, Thereis nothing like Him; and He is the All­Hearer, the All­Seer.  This type is absolute proof that Allah (Glorified be He) is the most worthy of worship, as the first type of Tawhid.

As for the third type, it is Tawhid­ul­`Ibadah, i.e. the Oneness of Worship. It is the Tawhid preached by the messengers and the Divine Books. The messengers commanded people to fulfill it, Allah has created both mankind and jinn for it, and for which conflict between the messengers and their nations had taken place. Allah (Exalted be He) says, And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities i.e. )صلىااللهعليهوسلمdonotworshipTâghûtbesidesAllâh).” and, AndWedidnotsendanyMessengerbeforeyou(OMuhammad but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)."

AllahsaysaboutNuh(Noah),Hud,SalihandShu`ayb(peacebeuponthem)thateachoneofthemhadsaidtohispeople, Worship Allâh! You have no other Ilâh (God) but Him.  and,  And (remember) Ibrâhîm (Abraham) when he said to his people: "Worship Allâh (Alone), and fear Him: that is better for you if you did but know.  "You worship besides Allâh only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allâh have no power to give you provision: so seek your provision from Allâh (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back.

Allah also says,  And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).  and,  O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al­Muttaqûn (the pious ­ See V .2:2).

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and, AndyourLordhasdecreedthatyouworshipnonebutHim. and, You(Alone)weworship,andYou(Alone)weaskforhelp(for each and everything).  And there are many Ayahs indicating this meaning. They all indicate that Allah (Glorified be He) had sent the messengers, revealed the divine books, and created people, so that He would be worshiped alone with no associate, and to be singled out with it other than anyone else.

However, the Mushriks worshiped many things other than Allah. Some had worshiped prophets and pious people, others had worshiped idols, trees, and rocks, another party had worshiped planets, etc. So Allah had sent the messengers (peace be upon them) and the divine books to refute all this, and to call people to worship Allah alone with no associate. People should not invoke, appeal to, rely on, draw nearer by offering vows, or sacrifices except to Him (Glorified and Exalted be He), in addition to other acts of worship. In fact, worship is a comprehensive term including words, visible and hidden acts that incur Allah's contentment and satisfaction.

The Mushriks claimed that their intention of worshiping the prophets, pious people and idols along with Allah was to draw nearer to Allah(GlorifiedbeHe).However,Allahfendedoffandnullifiedtheirclaims,saying(GlorifiedandExaltedbeHe), Andtheyworship besides Allâh things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allâh." Say: "Do you inform Allâh of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?" Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!  and,  So worship Allâh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allâh’s sake only.   Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allâh only. And those who take Auliyâ’ (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh." Verily Allâh will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allâh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.

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When our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) called Quraysh and other Kuffar (disbelievers) amongst the Arabs to Tawhid, they denieditandpleadedthatitwasagainsttheirparentsandancestors'beliefs.Allah(GlorifiedbeHe)says, Andthey(Arabpagans) wonder that a warner (Prophet Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم) has come to them from among themselves. And the disbelievers say: "This (Prophet Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم) is a sorcerer, a liar.  "Has he made the âlihah (gods) (all) into One Ilâh (God ­ Allâh). Verily, this is a curious thing!"  and,  Truly, when it was said to them: Lâ ilâha illallâh "(none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)," they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it).   And (they) said: "Are we going to abandon our âlihah (gods) for the sake of a mad poet?"  Allah also says,  Nay! he (Muhammad صلى االله عليه وسلم) has come with the truth (i.e. Allâh’s religion ­ Islâmic Monotheism and this Qur’ân) and he confirms the Messengers (before him who brought Allâh’s religion ­ Islâmic Monotheism).

There are various Ayahs indicating their Kufr and arrogance as previously mentioned.

Therefore, the Du`ah (callers to Allah) are obliged to convey Allah's Din (religion of Islam) with sure knowledge. They should be patient and hopeful and remember Allah's Promise to His messengers of granting victory and well­establishment on earth if they

                          

support His religion and abide by it and obey Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). This is mentioned in perfect Ayahs and happened to our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He endured harm and enmity of his kinfolk and others. He underwent it patiently as the preceding messengers did and continued to call to His Lord, strived in His cause as should be strived. The Prophet's Companions did the same and supported him and strived with him until Allah

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made His religion victorious, honored His supporters, and defeated His enemies. Thus, people entered Allah's Religion in crowds. This isindeedthewayofAllahwithHisservantsandyouwillnotfindanychangeinHisWay,asHe(ExaltedbeHe)says, Andwhosoever takes Allâh, His Messenger, and those who have believed, as Protectors, then the party of Allâh will be the victorious. and as previouslymentioned, and(asfor)thebelievers,itwasincumbentuponUstohelp(them). InadditiontoHisSaying(Glorifiedbe He), Allâhhaspromisedthoseamongyouwhobelieveanddorighteousgooddeeds,thatHewillcertainlygrantthemsuccessionto (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they(believers)worshipMeanddonotassociateanything(inworship)withMe. and, Sobepatient.Surely,the(good)endisforAl­ Muttaqûn (the pious)

I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) to grant victory to His Religion, raise His words, ameliorate the conditions of all Muslims, gather their hearts together on truth, grant them good understanding of their religion, adjust their leaders and unite them on guidance, direct them to apply His Shari`ah (Islamic Law) and abide by it, and keep away from what opposes it. He is Most Bountiful and Generous. May peace and blessings be upon His Servant and Messenger, Prophet Muhammad, his family, Companions and those who followed him in virtue until the Day of Resurrection.