This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail Amaal.
The very first pillar of Islam is Tawheed (Oneness of Allah). And the knowledge of it is the most important duty among all obligations, because Allah Almighty created man; He alone is his Creator and Owner. Therefore, it is obligatory upon every person to learn what Tawheed is, what matters are contrary to Tawheed, which actions strengthen Tawheed, etc., etc. For now, only a few Quranic verses and Ahadith are being presented here regarding the virtues of acquiring this knowledge:
﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ يَتَفَيَّأُ ظِلَالُهُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَالشَّمَائِلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَاخِرُونَ . وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن دَابَّةٍ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ . يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ.﴾
“Have they not seen the things which Allah has created, whose shadows humble themselves, prostrating to the right and to the left? And all the creatures in the heavens and the earth prostrate to Allah, and the angels too, and they are not arrogant. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.”
Reference: (16-An-Nahl:48-50)
Further, it is stated:
﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُومُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ وَالدَّوَابُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ ۗ وَمَن يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ﴾
“Have you not seen that all creatures in the heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the cattle, and many humans prostrate to Allah? And many humans have been subjected to punishment. And whoever Allah humiliates, none can honor him. Indeed, Allah does what He wills.”
Reference: (22-Al-Hajj:18)
In these verses, Allah Almighty encourages reflection and contemplation on the universe. Because in the universe, there are countless signs proving the existence of Allah, His uniqueness, and His being the One without partner. Inevitably, when a servant contemplates these with understanding and reflection, the knowledge of Tawheed will be acquired, which is the main objective.
﴿وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّا أَن تَقُولُوا قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾
“And it is no sin for you that you make a proposal of marriage or keep it concealed in your hearts. Allah knows that you will remember them. But do not make a secret contract of marriage except that you say something good, and do not resolve the marriage contract until the prescribed period is completed. And know that Allah knows what is in your hearts. So fear Him and know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.”
Reference: (2-Al-Baqarah:235)
In the mentioned verse, Allah the Exalted informs about one of His attributes and commands to acquire knowledge of it and strengthen one’s belief in it. That is, Allah Almighty knows the secrets of hearts. Therefore, whether it is a matter of marriage, business, or any other affair, one must keep this attribute of Allah in mind. Tawheed means that in the worship of Allah, His essence, names, and attributes, no one is associated as a partner. Inevitably, when the knowledge of names and attributes is acquired, the servant will keep it in mind.
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ . مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ۔﴾
“O people! A parable is presented, so listen to it attentively: Those whom you call besides Allah cannot even create a fly, even if all of them gathered together. And if the fly takes something from them, they cannot reclaim it from it. Weak are the seeker and the sought. They have not appreciated Allah’s status. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Dominant.”
Reference: (22-Al-Hajj:73-74)
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ﴾
“O people! Remember the favors Allah has bestowed upon you. Is there any creator besides Allah who provides for you from the heavens and the earth? There is no deity except Him. So how are you deluded?”
Reference: (35-Fatir:3)
Dr. Luqman Salafi, may Allah preserve him, writes in the commentary of this verse:
Allah Almighty has commanded mankind that Allah’s blessings are abundant for them; they should remember Him and keep thanking Him so that these blessings remain and continue. One benefit of remembering these blessings is that when a person understands that the Creator and Provider of these blessings is only Allah, then inevitably a sound-natured person will realize that only He deserves worship. What greater ingratitude can there be than that the Owner of all feeds, and the servant worships someone else? Therefore, at the end of the verse, it is said: When there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, why do people turn away from His Oneness?”
Reference: (Tafseer ar-Rahman: 2/1223)
Before action, it is necessary that a person thoroughly learn the belief of Tawheed. Thus, it is stated:
﴿فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ﴾
“So (O Prophet!) believe in Allah and His Messenger, and seek forgiveness for your sins, and for the believing men and believing women. Indeed, Allah knows your movements and your resting place.”
Reference: (47-Muhammad:19)
﴿إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ . إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ.﴾
“We deal with sinners in this way. These are the ones who, when it is said to them, ‘There is no deity but Allah,’ become arrogant.”
Reference: (37-As-Saffat:34-35)
Meaning, when they are told to acquire the knowledge of Tawheed, they become rebellious and forget their true duty, becoming lost in the illusions of the world. In short, there is severe warning and punishment for those who turn away from the knowledge of Tawheed. May Allah protect us. Ameen!
And the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
” يا أيها الناس قولوا: لا إله إلا الله تفلحوا“.
“O people! Say La ilaha illallah (There is no deity but Allah) and you will succeed.”
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 3/492 – Sahih Ibn Hibban, No: 6562
Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it “Sahih.”
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
” من كان آخر كلامه لا إله إلا الله دخل الجنة“.
“Whoever’s last words are La ilaha illallah will enter Paradise.”
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Funerals, Chapter on Tashkeen, No: 3116
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it “Sahih.”
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Every prophet’s supplication is accepted, so every prophet hastened to make his supplication, and I have delayed my supplication for the intercession of my Ummah. So this intercession will be for every one of my Ummah who does not associate anyone with Allah.”
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the Prophet’s Concealment, Supplication for Intercession for His Ummah, No: 199
Correct action can only be performed when the knowledge of Tawheed of the Lord is acquired. There is heartfelt belief, verbal declaration, then, God willing, by the grace and mercy of Allah, the believing Muslim will enter Jannat al-Firdaws.
There is a Hadith Qudsi, Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say that Allah Almighty said:
” يا ابن آدم! إنك ما دعوتني ورجوتني غفرت لك علىٰ ما كان فيك ولا أبالي ، يا ابن آدم لو بلغت ذنوبك عنان السماء ثم استغفرتني غفرت لك ولا أبالي، يا ابن آدم! إنك لو أتيتني بقراب الأرض خطايا ثم لقيتني لا تشرك بي شيئا لأتيتك بقرابها مغفرة“.
“O son of Adam! As long as you call upon Me and hope for Me, I will forgive you, no matter what your condition is. I do not mind. O son of Adam! If your sins reach the heights of the heavens and you ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive you. I do not mind. O son of Adam! If you come to Me with sins filling the earth, I will give you forgiveness equal to that, provided you do not associate anything with Me.”
Reference: Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Chapter on the Virtue of Repentance, No: 3540 – Al-Silsilah as-Sahihah, No: 127-128
The knowledge of Tawheed is a virtue that outweighs all sins, and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is a sin heavier than all virtues. That is, in the presence of shirk, even mountains of good deeds are light.
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ” بني الإسلام علىٰ خمس: علىٰ أن يوحد الله، وإقام الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، وصيام رمضان ، والحج“.
The Prophet of the universe (peace be upon him) said: “The fundamental things of Islam (without which a person is not considered a Muslim) are five: 1. To affirm the Oneness of Allah. 2. To establish prayer (i.e., perform it in the prescribed manner). 3. To pay Zakat. 4. To fast in Ramadan. 5. To perform Hajj.”
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, Chapter: Your supplication is your faith 81. Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter on the Pillars of Islam, No: 16
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:
كنت خلف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما فقال: ”يا غلام! إني أعلمك كلمات ، احفظ الله يحفظك، احفظ الله تجده تجاهك، وإذا سألت فاسأل الله، وإذا استعنت فاستعن بالله“.
One day I was riding behind the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Noble Messenger said: “O boy, keep protecting Allah’s religion, and Allah will protect you. Take care of Allah’s religion, and Allah will take care of you. And when you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek help from Allah.”
Reference: Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Book of the Description of the Resurrection, Chapter: 59, No: 2516
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared it “Sahih.”
Those who have acquired the knowledge of Tawheed, and consider Allah alone as their refuge and protector, and do not even associate or connect with shirk, their end is so beautiful and enviable that no matter how much one envies, it is less. Some incidents are as follows:
Thabit al-Bannani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Sayyiduna Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) was the governor of Egypt. When he was in the state of death, he told the gatekeeper: “Call my other companions as well. When they came, he looked at them and said: ‘My time has come. Keep him away from me.’” They all said: “O respected leader! You are saying this while you are a man of faith, and this is the command of Allah which no one can avert.” He said: “I know, but my desire and wish is that you advise me with لا اله الا الله.” Then Sayyiduna Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) kept reciting this kalima until he passed away.”
Reference: Siyar A'lam an-Nubala: 76/3
Abu Ja’far al-Khayyat says: We were with Abdullah bin Ja’far at the time of his death. He said: The Angel of Death has come. And in Persian, he said: (O Angel of Death!) take my soul as the soul of a person who has recited this kalima for ninety (90) years: اشهد ان لا اله الا الله واشهد ان محمدا عبده ورسوله
Reference: Siyar A'lam an-Nubala: 554/15
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to acquire the knowledge of the belief of Tawheed, and when death comes, may the call of the kalima of Tawheed be on our tongues. Ameen!
