None has the right to be worshipped but AllahBy Farzana Qamar The real meaning of the Kalimatul Ikhlas is “there is no true deity that has the right to be worshipped” as today some people worship false deities and violate the rights of Allah. Allah says, “Those whom they call upon [like ‘Isa (Jesus) — son of Maryam (Mary),‘Uzair (Ezra), angel] desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord (Allah), as to which of them should be the nearest; and they [‘Isa (Jesus), ‘Uzair (Ezra), angels and others] hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment.” (Qur'an, 17:57) The above verse reminds us that the angels, the prophets, and the righteous people are all in need of Allah's mercy. They specifically single out Allah, the Allmighty and Majestic in their worship and they combine it with love, fear and hope. Love, fear and hope are the foundations of worship and the essence of Tawheed. If this is the case of the angels, the Prophets, and the righteous people (inspite of them being so close to Allah) then why do some of the so-called-Muslims of our nation turn to them for supplication? Supplication is worship, so it must be directed towards Allah,The Most High only. The verse states a clear rejection of the polytheists who supplicate to the righteous ones as well as making clear that to do so is major act of Shirk. “And (remember) when Ibrâhîm (Abraham) said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, “Except Him (i.e., I worship none but Allah Alone) Who did create me; and verily He will guide me.” (Qur'an, 43:26-27) This affirms that a person hates, disbelieves, and stands in opposition to what is worshipped besides Allah. It negates the worship of all false deities and affirms the worship of Allah, which is the implication of Tawheed. “They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilâh (God - Allah) Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)).” (Qur'an, 2:165) In the above verse Allah emphasizes that the Christians and the Jews took their monks as the objects of worship. They obeyed them in making the forbidden lawful and making the lawful forbidden. The interpretation of the above verse is also that one should not obey the scholars and devout worshippers in sinful disobedience of Allah. “And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment.” (Qur'an, 2:165) “By Allah, we were truly in a manifest error, when we held you (false gods) as equals (in worship) with the Lord of the‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (Qur'an, 6:97-98) Love is also a form of worship. This means that their love of the false deities is equal to the love of Allah, the Most High. They intensely love Allah but they also love the false gods with the same passion. This equality in love makes them enter the fold of polytheism, which will make them inhabitants of the hell fire. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who professed that there is no God to be worshipped but Allah and made a denial of everything which the people worship besides Allah, his property and blood become inviolable for us, and his affair rests with Allah.” (Sahih Al-Muslim) The above Hadith explains an important consists point in the context of Tawheed. The mere verbal utterance of the words is not sufficient to safeguard blood and property. Professing the testimony of Tawheed means negating all that contradicts the foundations of Tawheed, and striving toward its perfection. May Allah The Most Knowledgeable grant us with true wisdom and guidance because to Him belongs all sources of knowledge. [email protected] __
