This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Irshad Ullah Maan's book The Search for Truth.
Question: Why did Allah Almighty create us in this world?
Answer:Allah Almighty created us solely for His worship. Allah Almighty says: [وَ مَا خَلَقۡتُ الۡجِنَّ وَ الۡاِنۡسَ اِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوۡنِ]
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
Reference: (Adh-Dhariyat:56)
And He also said: [وَ قَضٰی رَبُّکَ اَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اِیَّاہُ] Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him.
Reference: Bani Isra'il:23
Question: What is the benefit of accepting Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)?
Answer:Whoever sincerely says ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، and does not mix shirk (polytheism) in his faith, the fire of Hell is forbidden for him and his place is Paradise: [اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ لَمۡ یَلۡبِسُوۡۤا اِیۡمَانَہُمۡ بِظُلۡمٍ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمُ الۡاَمۡنُ وَ ہُمۡ مُّہۡتَدُوۡنَ] Indeed, those who believe and do not mix their faith with injustice - for them is security, and they are the rightly guided.
Reference: (Al-An'am:82)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: In this verse, injustice refers to shirk.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Faith, Chapter: Injustice other than injustice:32, Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Truthfulness of Faith and its Sincerity:124
① The Messenger of Allahﷺ said: Allah Almighty has forbidden the fire of Hell upon every person who says ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah Almighty.
Reference: Bukhari, Book of the Prophets' Hadiths, Chapter on the Saying of Allah Almighty ﴿O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits﴾: 3435], [Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the Evidence that Whoever Dies on Monotheism Enters Paradise: 29
Question: Why did Allah Almighty send the noble Prophets (peace be upon them) to the world?
Answer: Allah Almighty says: [وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ مِنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا نُوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعۡبُدُوۡنِ] And We sent before you (O Muhammad) messengers to their peoples, and We revealed to them that there is no god but Me, so worship Me.
Reference: (Al-Anbiya:25)
It is understood that the purpose of sending the noble Prophets (peace be upon them) is to invite people to monotheism and to prevent them from worshipping anyone other than Allah.
Question: Is it necessary to know the meaning of ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،، to become a Muslim?
Answer: The first condition for becoming a Muslim is that one should know the meaning of ،،لا الہ الا اللہ،،, that they understand what things they must believe in and what things they must reject by reciting the Kalima. Allah Almighty says to His final Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: [فَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ] So know that there is no deity except Allah.
Reference: (Muhammad:19)
It is understood that knowledge is the first condition to leave disbelief and enter into faith and to elevate one's ranks. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Whoever dies knowing that there is no deity except Allah will enter Paradise. This knowledge means the heart's confirmation and the tongue's declaration.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the proof that whoever dies on monotheism will definitely enter Paradise: 26
