Explaining the fundamentals of faith

Table of ContentsTHE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ISLAAMIC CREED 21 n E BELLEI' IN ALLAAII COMPRISES FOUR MAITERS 23 FIRST BELIEF IN TilE EXISTENCE OF ALLAAI I: 23 SECOND: BELIEF IN ALLAAll'SRUBUU

Dr Sa~eh As-5a1leh

THE FUNDAMENTALS

OF FAITH

© Cooperative Office for Call&Islamic Guidance at Unaizah 1998King Fahd National Library Cataloging-In-Publication Data

AI Otheimin, Muhammad bin Salih

Explaining the fundamental of faith - Riyadh

Translated By

Dr Saleh As-Saleh

~~I ~I",.,:,/J

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Table of Contents

THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE ISLAAMIC CREED 21

n E BELLEI' IN ALLAAII COMPRISES FOUR MAITERS 23 FIRST BELIEF IN TilE EXISTENCE OF ALLAAI I: 23 SECOND: BELIEF IN ALLAAll'SRUBUUI3ln·lll 32

TIURD: BELf]':F IN ALLAAII'S ULOOIllrl:·1l1 37

FOURTH: !3XLfEF IN ALLt0I I's NAMES ANDSIF-L·lf

Two Sjers ~UH ASTRAY REGARDIN(; TI lIS MAlTER 45

TIlE BELfE!' IN TilE AM,ELS COMPRISES FOUR MAITERS 50 First: To believe in their existence 50 Second: To believe In their names 50 Third: To believe In their attributes 50 Fourth: To believe in thclr dccds 52

2

THEM: 54 First: Being aware of Allaah's Greatness, Power, and

THE BELIEF IN TIlE BOOKS INCLUDES FOUR MATTERS: 58 First: To believe that the descent of the Books is truly from Allaah.

Second: To believe in their names 58 Third: To attest to the authenticity of their information like the news told in the Qur'aan and (or) in the old Scriptures as long

as the latter were not altered or abrogated 58 Fourth: Acting upon their un-abrogated statutes 59

THE BELIEF IN AL-KUTUB YIELDS GREAT BENEFITS,

First: Acknowledging AlIaah's concern for His creation 59

Second: Recognizing the Wisdom of Allaah in His Shar 'a

Third: To be grateful for Allaah's Favour of sending down His

Tl-IE BELIEF IN THE MESSENGERS COMPRISES FOUR MAHERS67 First: To believe that the Message is a true one from Allaah Second: To believe in their names 67 Third: To believe what is authentiC from thcir news 69

Fourth: To act upon the Sharee 'ah of the Messenger who is

sent to us from amongst them Muhammad the last (end) of the Messengers (and Prophets) who IS sent to mankmd 69 TIlE BELIEF IN nll MrSSENGERS YIll12S GR.EAT BENEFITS.

First: Acknowledging Allaah's Mercy and Care towards His

Second: Giving thanks to AllaahJlA;on this great Favour (of

Third: Loving, magnifying, and praising the Messengers in the

THE BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY 72 THE BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY COMPRISES THREE MAnERS: 72

Second: The,belief in Recompense and Reckoning 74

Third: The belief inAI-Jannah and An-Naar [(Hell) Fire) 78

PART OF TIffi BELIEF IN THE HEREAFTER Is TIffi BELIEF IN WHAT

(A)Filnalul Qabr (The Affliction of the Grave). 81

(B) The Torment and Delight of the Grave 8 I THE BELIEF IN TIffi LAST DAY HAs MANY BENEFn~

First: Awakening the desire to perform acts of obedience 86 Second: Arousing the fear from committing acts of

Third: Comforting the believer not to grieve over matters of

THE BELIEF INAL-QADAR COMPRISES FOUR MATTERS: 99

First: The belief that Allaah JlA;knew everything on the whole and in detail which took place in the past and is taking or will take place in the future and for forever 99 Second: The belief that Allaah wrote that (pertaining to His

Knowledge) in A/-/auhu/ Mahfoudh (The Preserved Tablet) 99

Third: The belief that all created things do not come to exist

Fourth: The belief that all bein2s are created by Allaah 101

4

1lIE BELIEF IN AL-QAPARHAs GREAT BENEms AMONGST

First: Depending uponAllaah JI Uwhen usingthemeans.110 Second: Saving the person from having a high opinion of

Third: Securing a state of peace and tranquillity regarding

what befalls the person of what had been preordained by

One of them isAl-Jabriyyahwho assert that man is compelled

todo whatever he does and that he has neither the power nor

The other one isAl-Qadariyyah who say that whateverman

does it is entirely of his own ability and free wil~ and that Allaah'sMashee 'ah (Will) and Qudrah (Ability) has no

THE AHDAAF (OBJECTIVES) OF THE ISLAAMIC 'AQEEDAH 117 First: Establishing the sincere intention and worship to

Seventh: Achieving happiness in this life and in the

5

All praise is due to Allaah, we praiseHim, seek His help andforgiveness; we repent to Him and seek refuge in Allaahfrom the evils of our own selves and from our wicked deeds.Whomsoever has been guided by Allaah, non can misguide,and whomsoever has been misguided by Allaah, non canguide him.I bear witness that there is no true god worthy ofbeing worshipped except Allaah alone, without a partner orassociate I further bear witness that Muhammad ~I isAllaah's true slave and Messenger; may Allaah bestow HisPeace and Blessings on Muhammad, upon his good and purefamily, and upon his noble companions and those whofollow their path.

l;i: Sal/a AI/aahu A/eihi Wasal/am: The Salaah and Salaam of Allaah

be upon His Prophet Muhammad TheSalaah of Allaah upon Prophet

Muhammad is His Praise of the Prophet to the angels who are close to (but below) Allaah, the Most High, who arose above His 'Arsh (Throne)

which is above the seven skies The angels also praise him ~ The

Sa/aam is Allaah's safeguarding of the Prophet:i from deficiencies and

any kind of evil When the Muslim says :i (Sal/a AI/aahu Aleihi Wasal'lam), he invokes Allaah to grant His Praise and Security to the

Prophet Muhammad See Ibnul Qayyim'sJalaa 'ul Ajhaam Fee Salaari-wa-Salaam 'Alaa Muhammadin Khairil 'Anaam, p.128.

Fadlis-Published by Daar Ibn Karheer, Damascus, and Makrabar Daar Turaarh, Al-Madeenah, 1408Hj/l988.

Ar-6

It proceeds then: That the knowledge about Tawheedconstitutes the most noble and necessitated knowledge,because it represents the knowledge about Allaah, HisNames and Attributes, and His rights upon His bondsmen.This knowledge is the key for the way to Allaah, and it is thefoundation for His legislation That is why there is aconsensus amongst all the Messengers to invite people toTawheed Allaah, Jl.j3,says:

~.:J)-¥U \.if)l1.J1)I -.;(-Y1-Fj )11 J., J.:r~.:rI :L)t ) ,

( " 0 ,>'~~\)

And We did not send any Messenger before you (0Muhammad ~) but We inspired him (saying):La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I(Allaah)}), so worship Me (alone and none else).(Qur'aan

3JL.; Ta 'aalaa: Supremely Exalted is He He is Exalted in HisThaat

(Essence) and in His Attributes [TN]

"'The meanings of theAayaat(verses) are translated into English.

7

no coequal in Himself as well as in His Names andAttributes The angels and people of knowledge also testifyfor HisWahdaniyyah:

~l wI'Y.1 AJ4L• m ~I \}}) s::.'")lil) ; ~l 411'Y .sf.111 ~ ~

(' A ,':>I~ J1)~ ~I ft~1 ;

Allaah bears witness that La ilaaha ilia Huwa (none has

the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, andthose having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is

always) maintaining His creation in Justice La ilaaha ilia Huwa,the All-Mighty, the All-Wise (Qur'aan 3:18)Given this acknowledgment of the rank of Tawheed, it istherefore incumbent upon every Muslim to give properconsideration to this matter through learning, understanding,education, and conviction, in order forhimto establish his

Deen 5 on a sound foundation, confidence and submissionthat would givehimthe good fortune of sharing its fruits andresults

5Deen: Is more comprehensive in its meaning than the western concept

of "religion" Every aspect of life subscribes to the revelation from

Allaah Therefore, Deen covers life in all of its various stages and

complexities [TN]

8

The Deen of Islaam I

Islaam is the Deen which Allaah has sent Muhammad:Wi

with; Allaah made it the last of religions and perfected it forHis creation; He made it a completion of His Favours upon

them, and chose it to be their Deen; No other religion is accepted from anyone except the Deen of Islaam Allaah,

~s Aayah (verse) was sent down during Hajjatul Wadaa' (Farewell

Pilgrimage) of the Prophet :Jj, on the Day of 'Arafah which was a

Friday [TN}

9

('" ,,:>,~JT) ~ r"Y.-'i'.1l, J ;& 0:! u101 ~Truly, the Deen before Allaah is AI-Islaam 7(Qur'aan 3:19)

~ 0:!.r-"~1 or 0.r'"~',:; yoJ ~ ~ ~ ~:l r"Y.- 'i\pi;&- .:rJ ~

(1\0 ,,:>,~JT)

And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it willnever be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will beone ofthe losers (Qur'aan 3:85)

A1laah J~ ordained that mankind must submit to Himin

Islaam He said addressing His Messenger (Muhammad~):

ulJL -I1d.LoI l ($-UI ~ ~1.i»I Jy.JJl ~81 4:'1 ~ Ji"

($-UI ';~I ~I .JY.JJ.i»~ lyL; '~.J ~; ~1.J! ~ ,f.J~\J

(\ 01\ ,.jlf~\) ~ 0J~ ~ ~IJ-GW5'J i»~

ifY-Say (0 Muhammad~)'0 mankind! Verily, I am sent toyou all as the Messenger of Allaah-to whom belongs thedominion of the heavens and the earth La ilaaha ilia Huwa (non has the right to be worshipped but He);Itis

1Which means that Islaarn is the onlyDeen that Allaah will accept from

His slaves See theTafseer ofIbn Katheer for the above Aayah.[TN]

10

He Who gives life and causes death So believe in Allaahand His Messenger (Muhammad ~, the Prophet whocan neither read nor write, who believes in Allaah andHis Words" and follow him so that you may be guided.(Qur'aan 7:158)

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim 9

on the authority of AbuHurairah., that AlIaah's Messenger;i said:

'1) (.p~ ~\ o.l "..:r l >-l< Fe:. ''1 0 l :!~ ~ t,.>lJI) II

" ).J\ y~l .:.r0l5'~l ~ : L;I I.$lJ~ .:.rYo t) ; y ~ 'J\~

"By Him (Allaah) in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, there is none from amongst the Jews and the Christians (of these present nations) who hears about me and then dies without belieVing in the Message with which J have been sent(i.e Tawheed), but he will be from the dwellers ofthe

8Allaah's Words include all the Messages sent to the Prophets: The Qur'aan, the Torah the Gospel (in their original texts), Az-Zaboor, and the Psalms Also it includes, Allaah's Word j Kunn (Be!)-and he was

i.e Jesus, son of Mary, peace be upon him See M.M Khan and M.T Al-Hilaallee's Interpretation of the Meaning of the Noble Qur'aan,

Soorat 7, Aayah 158 [TN]

91s a collection of authentic hadeeth narrations compiled by Imaam

Muslim: Abul Hasain Muslim ibn al-Hajjaaj ibn Muslim al Qushairi Naisaburi (202 (6)-261 Hj /817 (821)-875) CE) [TN]

an-11

(Hell) Fire."lo

The belief in the Prophet Muhammad~is the attestationwith full acceptance and submission, not just mereattestation, that what he brought forth is the truth That iswhy Abu Taalib (the uncle of the Prophet ;i) did notbecome a believer in the Messenger a despite hisattestation to what the Prophet :Wi brought forth and hiswitness that it is the best of religions

The Deen of Islaam embraces all of the human welfare that

is comprised in the previous religions; it is distinguishedabove all religions in its suitability for all times, places, andnations AllaahJW addresses His Messenger~saying:

~~ ~) y~1,y ~~0:!Ul; l a o ~4 y~\ ~! l:ljf) ,

(t A ,;JJU1)

And We have sent down to you (0 Muhammad;I)theBook (this Qur'aan) in truth, confirming the Scripturethat came before it and Muhayminan (trustworthy in

highness and a witness) over it (old Scripture) (Qur'aan5: 48)

10Saheeh Muslim,V 1,Hadeeth# 284

12

The suitability of the Deen means that adhering to Islaamdoes not contradict the welfare of the Ummah (Muslimcommunity at large)inany place orinany time Indeed it isits betterment This does not mean however, that theDeen

is subjugate to every time, place, and Ummah as somepeople like it to be

The Deenof Islaam is theDeenof theTruth whoever trulyadheres to it, Allaah guaranteeshimvictory and makeshimprevail on everyone else who doesn't AllaahJI Usays:yJ) us-.:r ul~ 0~ ~1,y ;)) c.s u.'-!.J.J"")J-)($l!1 y" ,

('\ ,~I) ~ 0'prl1o'?

He i is Who sent His Messenger (Mumammad;i)withguidance and the Deen of the truth to make it prevailover all (other) religions even though the Mushrikeen

hate (it) (Qur'aan 61:9)

them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as Hegranted it to those before them; and that He will grantthem the authority to practice their religion, that which

He has chosen for them (i.e !slaam) And He will surelygive them in exchange a safe security after their fear(provided) they (believers) worship Me and do notassociate anything (in worship) with Me But whoeverdisbelieved after this, they are theFasiqoun(rebellious,disobedient to Allaah) (Qur'aan 24:55)

The Deen of Islaam is 'Aqeedah (Creed) andSharee 'ah

(Legislation), and it is perfect in both Islaam commands:I-The Tawheedand forbids Shirk (setting associates withAllaah)

2-Truthfulness, and forbids lying

3-Justicell

, and forbids oppression

4-Trustworthiness, and forbids treachery

5-Faithfulness, and forbids betrayal

6-To be good and dutiful to one's parents, and forbids beingdisrespectful to them

7-Keep ties with relatives of kinship, and forbids severingthe ties with them

IIJustice is establishing equality between similar things and differentiating between different things Justice is not absolute equality

as generalized by some people when they say: "TheDeenof Islaam is the Deen of equality." Establishing equality between different things is injustice that is not brought forth by Islaam, and the person who does that is not to be praised."-A footnote by the author Shayekh Muhammad bin Saleh A1-Utheimeen.

14

8-To have good relations with one's neighborhood, andforbids all fonns of ill-treatment to the neighbors.

Generally speaking, Islaam commandsallnoble morals, andforbids all ill and despicable manners; it also commandsrighteousness and forbids wrong AllaahJWsays:

, and AI-Baghy.16(Qur'aan 16:90)

12Al_lhsaan: In this Aayah it means to be patient in perfonning one's

duties to A1laah, totally for Allaah's sake and in accordance with the

Sunnah of the Prophet;iin a perfect manner [TN]

IJDegree of kinship: First of all, your parents, then your offspring, then your brothers and sisters, then your paternal uncles and aunts (from the father's side), then your maternal uncles and aunts (from the mother's side), and then other relatives [TN]

14Al_Fahsaa ': All evil deeds, e.g illegal sexual intercourse, disobedience

to parents, to tell lies, to steal, etc [TN]

15Al_Munkar: All that is prohibited by lslaamic Law: polytheism, disbelief, and every kind of evil deeds, etc [TN]

16Al_Baghy: All kinds of oppression [TN].

15

Arkaan ullslaam

The Pillars of Islaam

established; they are five, mentionedinthe narration by IbnVIDar(Ai$iP) inwhich the Prophet:Isaid:

Allaah) and that Muhammad is Allaahs slave and Messenger], establishment of prayers, payment of Zakaat,

the fast of Ramadaan, and Pilgrimage (to Makkah) A personsaid (to the narrator) (which of the two precedes the other)-Pilgrimage or the fasts of Ramadaan? Upon this he (thenarrator) replied: No (it is not the Pilgrimage first) but the

17RAA: Radiya Allaahu 'Anhu ('Anha, 'Anhuma, or 'Anhum),may Allaah be pleased with him (her, both or them), respectively [TN].

16

fasts of Ramadaan precede the Pilgrimage, this is how I haveheard it from Allaah's Messenger.,,1B

FIRST: TheShahaadah of:

4JjJ)J o~ I~ ulJ ,.»I ~!4J!~

La i/aaha illal laah, Muhammad Rassoulul laah

Is the decisive belief expressed on the tongue as though onesees witll his own eyes the certainty of hisfinnconviction

The fact that the Shahadah has been made as a single pillar

despite the multiplicity in what is being attested, is because

of either of the following (reasons):

• The Messenger~is a bearer (of news) about AllaahJw.

Attesting, therefore, that he ;i is a true slave of Allaahand a bearer of the Message (of Islaam) is an integral part

of the meaning of Shahaadah (La i/aaha ilIal laah), or

• That the two testimonies La ilaaha ilIal laah, and Muhammad Rassoulul laah, are the (required) bases for

the rightness of deeds and of their acceptance, since both,the validity and acceptance of deeds, cannot be achievedwithout Al-Ikhlass to Allaah (sincere devotion of

intentions to Allaah alone) and Mutaba 'ah (following)

IBAgreed uponhadeeth:The text is that fromSaheeh Muslim.

17

,of Rasooulul laah;l. It is through Al-Ikhlass that theShahaadah ofLa i/aaha ilIal laahis realized, while through

Al-Mutaba 'ah of Rassoulul laah, the Shahaadah thatMuhammad is Allaah's slave and Messengers is manifested.Some of the Benefits attained by the declaration of thegreat Shahaadah include the liberation of the heart andsoul from slavery to the created, and from following pathsother than the Messengers' path

SECOND: Regarding the Establishing of Prayers: it isworshipping Allaah by performing it in the right and perfectmanner19 and on its prescribed times Some of its Benefitsinclude the openness of the chest, contentment and joy, andrestrainment from committing sins and wrong-doings

mIRD: The Giving of Zakaat: is devoting worship toAllaah by offering the obligatory prescribed amount ofcharity deducted from the wealth upon which Zakaat is due.Some of its Benefits are: purifying the· self from immoralcharacteristics like misery, and fulfilling the needs of Islaamand Muslims

19As detailed by the Prophet Muhammad:iin his authenticSunnah.See for example an excellent collection of the narrations describing the Prophet's prayer in Shayekh Nassir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee's book: "The Prophet's Prayers" translated intd English by Hr Suhaib Hassan, England [TN]

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FOURm: Fasting: it is devoting worship to Allaah byrefraining from everything known to nullify the fast duringthe days of the month of Ramadaan.

Fasting coaches the self to endure the relinquishment ofwhat it likes seeking to gain the pleasure of Allaah

FIFfH: The Hajj to The House of Allaah: is worshippingAllaah by going to the Sacred House(AI-Ka 'bah)to executethe rites of Hajj

Some of its Benefits include: the training of the self toexpend physical and financial sacrifices in obedience toAllaah JW.This is the reason why Hajj is considered as onekind of Jihad in the cause of AllaahJW.

The Benefits that we have mentioned above regarding thebasics of Islaam, and others which we have not mentioned,makes of this Ummah a virtuous and purified IslaamicNation adhering to Allaah through theDeenof Truth, andtreats the created with justice and truthfulness This(conclusion) holds true because the right adherence to therest of the Islaamic Laws depends upon the properpracticability of the above basics

The status of theUmmahwill thrive and prosper as long as

it properly adheres to the matters of itsDeen. The degree ofits prosperity that may escape is proportional to the degree

of abandonment of good adherence to matters of itsDeen.

Whoever seeks an evidence for this, lethimread the

19

saying of AllaahJt.u:

";'}~I) ~1.-J1.;r':"\5'.JI ~l.:.-:AJ Ij,;) lroT lS.;JIJ.-f~f}),

L 4 ~4 0flS.;J\J.-f ;ruf0~ly \5'Lc.rJ'l;,1,:.UIJlJS-~) 0~~) ~ Lo -4 ~lt 0flS.;-AJ\J.-f.;rf)f 0r-''lirJ')L",,=,

- \ ' ,JI~~I) ~ 0).}""lj.1 r.,.all~!.11 ,~ .;r4 ~.11 \~ lrouf

(\\

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the

opened for them the blessings from the heaven and theearth, but they belied (the Messengers) So We took them(with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheismand crime, etc.) Did the people of the towns then feelsecure against the coming of Our Punishment by nightwhile they are asleep? Or, did the people of the townsthen feel secure against the coming of Our Punishment inthe forenoon while they play? Did they then feel secureagainst the Plan of Allaah None feels secure from thePlan of Allaah except the people who are lost (Qur'aan7:96-99)

Let him also examine the history of those who precededbecause history is a lesson for people of thought, and aninsight for anyone free from any obstructing barrier to hisheart And it is Allaah alone whose Help can be sought

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The Foundations of The Islaamic Creed

The Deen of Islaam, as it is discussed above, is a Deen that comprises 'Aqeedah (matters of Faith) and Sharee 'ah (Laws,

Legislation, and Judicial aspects) We indicated some of itsLaws and mentioned it Arkaan which are considerd the basis

of its Legislation As to the 'Aqeedah Al-Islaamiyyah (The

Islaamic Creed), its basis are:

The Belief in AJlaah, His Angels, His Books, His

Messengers, the Last Day, and Al-Qadaro, its good and bad.

These basis are verified by evidences from the Book of

Allaah (i.e The Qur'aan) and from the Sunnah of Allaah's

Messenger~.InHis Book, Allaah says:

:uy 0"1 0")I.:.fJ)y pi) JrJl~ ~y)I}y01PJI~,

(' VV ,.All) ~ ~I) y~l)45:,")UI)? \'1iy.ll)

It is notAI-Birr(piety, righteousness, and each and everyact of obedience to Allaah, etc.) that you turn your facestowards east and (or) west (in prayers); butAI-Birris

2°AI_Qadar is the Ability of Allaah, where He knew, wrote, willed and created all things in predestined proportions and precise measures See the book"Af-Qadaa ' wafQadat"bythis translator.

21

(the quality 00 the one who believes in Allaah the LastDay the Angels, the Book the Prophets (Qur'aan 2: 177)

He(Jl.U)says about Al-Qadar:

'.rAJI) ~ ~y ~; \>-IJ ~lliJ"fLo J J~ .t i.b:.~~ JS- ~1 ~

(o.-t~

Verily, We have created all things with Qadar, and Our

Commandment is but one, as the twinkling of an eye.(Qur'aaJt 54:49-50)

In theSunnahof Allaah's Messenger, the Prophet;i saidin

his reply to Jibreel (Gabriel) when the latter askedhimaboutEemaan (Faith):

.:r.YJ ',;->\'\~~IJ ,.J JJ''-?J , £.,-y J ,1»~.J'.Y 0f 0L('il"

~ olJr" or- J o~ J~I.;

"Eemaan is to believeinAllaah, His angels, His Books, His

Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in Al-Qadar, its

good and its bad."21

21Collected by lmaam Muslim.

22

B.8 l.'8 '.'n.A.'.J8.8.h 1

The Belief in AI/aah Comprises FourM.U!Is:

First: The Belief in The Existence of Allaah:

The evidence for the existence of Allaah is established by:

I-Fitrah.

2-Reasoning

3-Ash-Shar'a.22

4-andAI-Hiss.23

1-Pertalnlng To The Proof of The Fitrah:

Every creature has been createdina state of beliefinhisCreator without preceding thought or education No onedissuades from what is necessitated by thisFitrah(i.e thebelief in Allaah), except the one whose heart has beensubjected to what averts it from its (natural course of)

Fitrah, as the Prophet;iexplained when he said:

22Revealed texts of the Qur'aan andSunnah.

23lit: sensory perception, sensation It pertrains to the evidences about

Allaah's existence A/-Hiss means, that which is perceptible through the

senses [TN]

23

"Each child is bom in a state of "Fitrah ", but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian ''24

2-The Evidence of "Reasoning":

All of the creatures, the first and the subsequent ones, musthave a Creator Who brought them to existence because theyneither can bring themselves into existence, nor they couldhave come to exist by coincidence! The creatures could nothave brought themselves to existence because a thing doesnot create itself-since prior to its existence it was nothing-sohow could it be a Creator? And it cannot accidentally bringitself into being, because every occurrence (novelty, etc.)must need an originator Also because its existence in suchhighly magnificent order and homogenous coordination, anddue to the coherent relationship between the means and theircauses, and the creatures with one another, it is absolutelyimpossible that its very being is coincidental.(Infact), what

is (believed) to exist as a result of coincidence, does notfollow an ordered pattern at the beginning of its existence

So how could it remain to be ordered during its course ofsurvival and development?

24Related by lrnaam Al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh, Y.8, pp.389-90, Hadeeth# 597.

24

So, if it is impossible that the creatures have neither broughtthemselves into existence nor they did they come to exist bycoincidence, then it becomes evident that they must have aCreator, and He is Allaah, theRabbof the Worlds.

Allaah JL ; stated the above rational and decisive proof in

Soorat At-Tur,saying:

Were they created by nothing, or were they themselvesthe creators? [Qur'aan 52:35], which means that they wereneither created without a Creator, nor they were the creators

of themselves It becomes clear, therefore, that their Creator

is Allaah JL ;. That is why when Jubair bin Mut'im •heard Allaah's Messenger 11 reciting Soorat At-Tur, andwhen he11reached theAayaat:

'Y } J>J~IJ -:.>\.,-J\ \~ ri0.,.tJ~1 ~ ri~,f- y)-.:r \.,£: ri ,

•:-:.>~'J\ 'J., kJ\ oJY) ~ 0J~1 ~ ri&:, ~\? ~J ;; ri0y.iy.

(rv-rO

Were they created by nothing, or were they themselvesthe creators? Or did they create the heavens and theearth? Nay, but they have no firm belief Or are thetreasures of yourRabbwith them? Or are they the

25

tyrants with the authority to do as theyIike?2.S,

Jubair, who was then a Mushrik (polytheist), commented:

-I$J~\ .'JJ) "~ ~ cJu.:.~' ~JL.aJI~~J ' J:a.tcJ{~.)\S""

(u ,A.o

"My heart was about to fly (i.e upon hearing this firm

argument)26." In another separate narration, he said: "And that was the time when Eemaan was first settled in my heart."27

Let us give a parable that clarifies this matter: If someonetells you about a lofty palace, surrounded by gardens withrivers flowing in between, fully furnished with beds andmattresses, and decorated with all kinds of ornaments, thebasics, and the luxurious, then he says to you: "This palace

in all of its perfection, has founded itself, or that it came toexist by coincidence, without a founder!" Immediately youwill deny and reject his argument, and you will consider histalk as ridiculous (With this in mind), is it, therefore,possible that this universe with its extended earth, skies,planets, conditions, wonderful and splendid order, could25Qur'aan 52:35-37.

26Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree,V 6, pp 356-358,Hadeeth# 377.

2"lSaheeh Al-Bukhaaree,V 5, p 236,Hadeeth# 358.

26

have brought itself into existence? Orthat it came to existwithout a Creator?

3-The Ash-Shar'a 28 Evidence For The Existence ofAllaah:

The Ash-Shar 'a is evidence for the existence of Allaah

because all of the revealed Scriptures state so The Laws thataddress the welfare of creation and which are providedby

these Scriptures, constitute an evidence that they came from

an All-Wise Rabb Who knows about the welfare andinterests of His Creation The information about the universebrought forth by the Scriptures and whose manifestationtestifies for their truthfulness, is a proof that they came from

the (One) Rabb Who is Able to bring into being whatever

He already informed about

4-The "Physical" Evidence For The Existence ofAllaah Comprises Two Aspects:

One ofthem is that we hear and witness (Allaah's) response

to the call of those who supplicate and those who aredistressed and grieved This constitutes an unequivocalevidence for the existence of Allaah J,w He J,w says:

28AI_Shar 'a.· Islaamic Texts and Legislations in the Qur'aan and

Sunnah[TN)

27

And (remember) Noah, when he cried (to Us) aforetime.

We listened to his invocation (Qur'aan 21:76)

He, Jt.u, also says:

(~ ,JUi~') ~ ~yl : U~j u~ ~1,(Remember) when you sought help of yourRabband Heanswered you (Qur'aan 8:9)

In Saheeh A/-Bukhaaree,it is reported that Anas bin Maalik said that:

~ ,:I ~\ ~ Js- ~ <.1'8\ yt ( : Ju-" ~L ~ ~( .:.r

JU\~ ,l» I J.J'""')~ :JLU~\f! I"U,~\ I"Yo.j ,.Ju;:I~I($.l.JI';,u)~t.-.JI.j c.5~L.) '~-4C!.} d.:ll»It )uJ~'t ~J

~ J.,H t ~ ,JL ):.\J~r yt- JIjl,; r ~J L. ,.~ ~

L.AJIi f ),~~L Yo Li~ ,:I ~ Js- j.)~)all~rj ~ ?

JL.t}~lf~I.! lJ~I"U) c.5.J"'"~1 ~I r '~($.llIJ, uJ\ lAjJ

~.) ,ul» \t )u,JUI 'J?) ,~LYI I"~ ,l» I J.J'""j ~ :JLU • ;::i;

y~l.:.r" ~Li J!.~ ~ w ,1 ;#'Y)L;Jly~I" :JU)~-4

.

~.;.;I 'Y!28

"Once in the lifetime of the Prophet ;i the people were afflicted with drought While the Prophet;iwas delivering the Khutbah (religious talk) on a Friday, a bedouin stood up and said: '0 Allaah S Messenger! Our possessions are being destroyed and the children are hungry; please invoke Allaah (for rain) So the Prophet ;i raised his hands (invoked

Allaah for rain) At that time there was not a trace ofcloud

in the sky By Him, in Whose Hands my soul is, clouds gathered like mountains, and before he got down from the pulpit, I saw the rain falling on his ;i beard It rained that day, the next day, the third day, the fourth day till the next Friday The same Bedouin or another man stood up and said: '0 AllaahsMessenger! The houses have collapsed, our possessions and livestock have been drowned; please invoke Allaah for us (to stop the rain) So the Prophet~

raised both his hands and said: '0Allaah! Round about us and not on us So in whatever direction he pointed with his hands the clouds dispersed and clearedaw~ ''29

Responding to the invocations of the supplicants whosincerely resort to Allaah (alone) and fulfill the requiredconditions for IjaabaJilO is a matter that is still being

witnessed nowadays

29Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, V2, Hadeeth # 55.

30Ijaabah Answering the Du 'aa of the supplIcant by AlIaah [TN]

29

The second aspect is that the Signs of the Prophets which

are called Mu 'jizaat (Miracles) and which people see or

hear about, constitute an irrevocable evidence for theexistence of the One who dispatched them: that is Allaah

Jwu. Certainly these matters (Mu 'jizaat) are beyond the

capability of mankind and that Allaah manifests them tohelp and support His Messengers For example, the Signgiven to Musa ~when Allaah commanded him to strikethe sea with his stick He stroke it and the sea parted intotwelve dryroads separated by water which became like hugemountains AllaahJt.usays:

Another example is the Sign given to Eesaa (Jesus~ ) bywhich he was able to bring life to the dead and bring forththe dead from their graves by Allaah's Leave Allaah spokeabout him, saying:

And I bring the dead to life by Allaab's Leave (Qur'aan3:49)

30

And when you brought forth the dead by My Permission.(Qur'aan 5: 110)

A third example is that of Muhammad:iwhen the tribe ofQureish askedhimto show them a Sign (a miracle as a prooffor his Prophethood).31 He :i pointed to the moon and(behold!) it split asunder and the people saw it Regardingthis (Sign) AllaahJ\Aisaid:

~~ ~ 1).,At) Iy: ;~11) r.wi)rAJ! ~I) ~WI '::";fl\'

(Y -,,rAJ')

The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft,and if they see a sign, they turn away, and say: "This iscontinuous magic." (Qur'aan 54:1-2)

All of these physical signs (miracles) which AllaahJL.Uputsinto effect to help and support His Messengers constitute anirrevocable proof for His Existence

31Narrated Anas : "The people of Makkah asked the Prophet:ito show them a sign (miracle) So he showed them (the miracle) of the

cleaving of the moon." Saheeh A/-Bukhaaree, Y.6, Hadeeth # 390 [TN]

31

Second: Belief in Allaah's Ruboobivvah:

Which means to believe that Allaah is the only Rabb without

a partner or a helper

The Rabb is the One to Whom belongs the Creation,

Kingdom, and Command; Their is no Creator but Allaah;

No Maalik (Possessor) except Him32

, and their is noCommand but His He, MostHigh,says:

His is the Creation and Commandment (Qur'aan 7:54)Allaah also said:

~~ .:.r.)~.\ ,;y .:.r )yo';;Lf iJI)~I J ~) .311~~»

(H' ,)ol;)

"Such is Allaah your Rabb; His is the kingdom And

those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own

not even a Qitmeer (the thin membrane over the

date-32 Allaah, Most Great, is the Possessor of every possessor He pennits whom He wishes to possess Allaah possesses all the treasures of the heavens and the earth All the good isinHis Hand, He gives whom He wishes and takes from whom He wishes Everything isinneed of Allaah [TN]

32

3Ths great Aoyah isa reminder forthosewho invoke uponthedead or

'the absent persoo(s~ seeking helpandrefugeinthem, thatthosewhomyou seek and call upon insteadofAllaahdon'tposses even aQitmeer.

They cannot helpthemselveslet alonethoseAA'hoQlI upon them Thosewho seek refuge or intercession through the righteousin their graveshave not correctlyestimated Allaahasthe Onewho gives and takes, theOne whoprovidesandsustains, the Onewho lovesto beinvoked Alone,

etc [TN]

33

~\.;0lS"J -$pu I~J L lli ~i ~\J 4! IJ~J ,

( \ t ,~I) ~ y l-A1.\

And they belied then (the Aayaat: proofs, evidences,

verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) wrongfully andarrogantly, though their ownselves were convinced

thereof [i.e the Aayaat are from Allaah, and Musa~ isthe Messenger of Allaah in truth, but they disliked toobey Musa, and hated to believe in his Message of

Tawheed.](Qur'aan 16:14)

Allaah related what Musa~\ told the Pharaoh:

~b)i- a.l ";'})IJ ,;.,IJL JI YJ ~I ~'lpJ ;-iiL o ~ uJ'

(\ • 'I' '~\.r"~\) ~IJ'p 0 y } 4~~

"(Musa ~\) said: "Verily, you know that these signs

have been sent down by none but the Rabb of the heavens

and the earth as clear (evidences i.e proofs of Allaah'sOneness and His Omnipotence etc.) And I think you are,indeed, 0 Pharaoh doomed to destruction (away from allgood)!" (Qur'aan 17: 102)

For this reason, the Mushrikeen (the pagan Arabs) used to acknowledge the Ruboobiyyah of Allaah Jl.A.i despite

committing ShirkinHis Uloohiyyah AllaahJlA;said:

34

~f J i.1l 0}A •0~ ~014;.:.r") J:') ~I :rJ J.i ~ 1l 0}.A-·~IJ'~I y ) )~I vl)L JI y ).:r Ji •0).? i;

01 ~)4': '1)~yo)~~JS""vPJ ~.:r Ji 0;;::;')UfJi

(M-At '.Jr-JlI) ~ J)~ ~i.iJi.1l .J}.A- • Jr-W~

Say: 'Whose is the earth and whosoever is therein?Ifyouknow!'

They will say: 'It is Allaah's!' Say: 'Will you not thenremember?'

Say: 'Who is (the) Rabbof the seven heavens, and (the)

RaMof the Great'Arsh(Throne)?'

They will say: 'Allaah.' Say: 'Will you not then fearAllaah (believe in His Oneness, obey Him, believe in theResurrection and Recompense for each and every good orbad deed).' Say: 'In Whose Hand is the sovereignty ofeverything (i.e treasures of each and everything)? And

He protects (all), while against Whom there is no

protecto~, if you know.' They will say: "All that belongs

to Allaah." Say: 'How then are you deceived and turnaway from the truth?' (Qur'aan 23:84-89)

He JlA;also said:

~f Allaah saves anyone none can punish or harm him, and if Allaah punishes or harms anyone none can save him [Tafteer A/-Qurtubee.

v'12, p.145 ].

35

~~I jt ;JI~ J ~ uP) ~IJ .; oIJWI~ .:r ~L ~J ,

(1\ ,J.ryl)

"And indeed if you ask them, "Who has created theheavens and the earth?" They will surely say: "Mighty,the All-Knower created them." (Qur'aan 43:9)

Hefurther said:

(A V,J.r) ~ :>~~ ~t; ~IJ AI ~ .:r ~L ~J ,

"And if you ask them who created them, they will surelysay: "Allaah" How then are they turned away (from theworship of Allaah Who created them)?" (Qur'aan 43:87)

The Command of ar-Rabb (Allaah) comprises both the Kawnee (Universal) and the Ash-Shar 'ee (Legal or

A/-Judical) Commands Just as He is the One Who runs theaffairs of the universe, Ruling it as He wants and inaccordance with what is necessitated by His Wisdom, He isalso the Judge Who rules it by means of Legislations that

deals with Ibaadaaf J

and Laws governing all fonns of

Mu 'aama/aaf6, in conformity with His Wisdom

35Ibaadaat: Acts of worship done sincerely for Allaah's sakeandin accordance with evidence from Qur'aan and (or) authentic Sunnah.

[TN]

36Mu 'aamalaat: All fonns of mutual relations, treatment, procedures, behavior, conduct (towards others), and interactions including social, business, transactions, etc [TN]

36

So, whoever sets up a legislator besides AllaahinIbaadaat

or a judge in Mu 'aama/aat, commits Shirk and does notascertain theEemaan.

Third: Belief in Allaah's Uloohiyyah:

It is the belief that Allaah Alone is the trueI/aahwho has nopartner or associate The Ilaah meansA/-Ma '/oohi.e.A/-

Ma 'bood, the only true God who deserves to be worshippedout of love and magnification AllaahJI Usaid:

And your Ilaah is one Ilaah, ; 4 )l1.Jj )fLa ilaaha ilia Huwa (There is no true God worthy of worship but He),

Ar-Rahmaan (Whose Mercy encompasses everything), the

HeJI Ualso said:

)'1 wI )' .h.-A.ll)~t; ~\ ) )i) s:,'JUI)Y' )'1 411 )' -.;i~I y ,

(\ A ,,)I~ JT) <e€ ~\ y.;J1 Y'

Allaah bears witness that La Ilaaha ilia Huwa (none has

the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and

37