Part 19

(ii) Worship and servitude as prescribed by the Sharee'ah, and that is to obey and submit to the laws and commands of Allaah, the Most High, and this is particular to those who are obedient to Allaah, and who comply with that which the Messengers came with. Allaah, the Most High, says: "And the believing slaves of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth with calmness and humility." [surah al-Furqaan (25):63] The first type of servitude is not something for which a servant is commended, since it is not due to any action of his own; however he may be commended for giving thanks in times of ease, and for having patience in times of trial; as opposed to the second type of servitude for which a person is commended. And the greatest of all that Allaah has commanded is tawhid which is to single out Allaah with all worship. [38] ________________________________________________________ tawhid in the language is a verbal noun from the verb wahhada, yuwahhidu, meaning he unified something and made it one. tawhid cannot be realised except through denial (najy) and affirmation (ithbaat). Denial of this ruling for everything other than that which it is made for, and affirmation of it for Him. So we say: A persons tawhid is not complete unless he bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, so he denies the right to be worshipped for everything besides Allaah, the Most High, and he affirms that for Allaah alone. In its technical sense the author has defined it by saying: "tawhid is to single out Allaah with all worship" meaning that you worship Allaah alone, and do not worship anything along with Him: You do not worship any Prophet sent by Him, nor any of the creation. Rather you single Him out with all worship, out of love, veneration, longing and awe. What the Shaykh, rahimahullaah, is referring to is the tawhid which the Messengers were sent to establish, and it is this that was violated by their peoples. There is a more general definition of tawhid which is that it is: "Singling out Allaah, the Most Perfect, with all that is particular to Him." Thus tawhid is of three types: (1) tawhid of Allaah's Lordship (tawhid ar-Ruboobiyyah) which is: 'That Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, is singled out with creation, sovereignty and control of the affairs.' Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, says, "Allaah is the creator of everything." [surah az-Zumar (39):62] "Is there any creator besides Allaah, providing you with provision from the heavens (rain) and the earth (its produce)?! Therefore do not worship anything besides Him, but worship Him alone since there is nothing that has the power to harm or benefit you besides Him." [surah Faatir (35):3] "Exalted is He in Whose Hand is dominion of everything, and He is fully able to do all things." [Soorahal-Mulk (67): 1] "Indeed creation and the Command are His. Exalted is Allaah, the Lord of all the creation." [surah al-A'raaf (7):54] (2) tawhid of Worship {tawhid al-Uloohiyyah) which is: 'To single out Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, with all worship, such that a person does not take anyone else besides Allaah and worship him and do acts of devotion for Him as He worships Allaah and does acts of devotion for Him.' (3) tawhid of Allaah's Names and Attributes (tawhid al-Asmaa was-Sifaat) which is: 'That Allaah, the one free of all imperfections and the Most High, is singled out with whatever names and attributes He has affirmed for Himself in His Book, or upon the tongue of His Messenger; and this involves affirming whatever He has affirmed for Himself, and denying whatever He has denied from Himself, without changing and distorting their meanings, without denying or divesting Allaah of His attributes, without delving into how they are, and without declaring Allaah to be like the creation.' What the author is referring to here is tawhid of worship, and it was with regard to this that the mushriks went astray, those whom the Prophet ($§;) fought; and whose blood, wealth, lands and homes he made lawful to be taken; and whose womenfolk and children he took as captives. Most of the striving of the messengers with their peoples was with regard to this category of tawhid. He, the Most High, says, "We sent a Messenger to every nation, ordering that they should worship Allaah alone." [surah an-Nahl (16):36] So worship is not correct except for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. Whoever violates this tawhid is a mushrik, an unbeliever, even if he affirms tawhid of Lordship and tawhid of Allaah's Names and Attributes. So if it were to be the case that a man totally agreed to the tawhid of Allaah's Lordship, and His Names and Attributes, but he went to a grave and directed worship to its occupant, or offered a sacrifice as an offering (nadhr) for him, then he would be a mushrik, an unbeliever, an inhabitant of Hell-Fire forever.