Class 3 -The first Right of Allah
Class 3
The first Right of Allah
Believing in Him
Allah’s Rights on His Servants
Allah’s Rights upon His creation are the rights that must be kept the most. Allah is the sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is the Almighty who created everything with absolute wisdom. Allah is the One who initiated every being from nothing. He is the One who protects humans in their mothers’ wombs, as infants, as children and as adults. He, alone, sustains all humans and provides them with food and every aspect of life. Allah said, what translated means, “And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allah).” [16:78]
If Allah refuses sustenance to anyone he will be instantly destroyed. Allah’s mercy is what keeps humans and everything else alive. Allah’s control over his slaves is perfect. His bounties are countless. If this is His role in the life of humans, then His rights are what one must keep the most. Allah does not need sustenance from His slaves. He said, what translated means: “We ask not of you a provision. We provide it for you. And the good end is for the Muttaqeen (the ones who fear Allah).” (20:132)
RIGHTS OF ALLAH: –
- Believing in Allah
- Worshipping Allah (alone)
- Shukr
- Having Fear & Hope
- Loving Allah
In this class we will look into the details of Belief in Allah. We will cover Worshipping Allah and the other topics in future classes InShaAllah.
BELIEVING IN ALLAH
A. Testify that “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah” “La Illaaha Ill Allah” & having Tawheed
Saying and believing in the Kalimah is the first Pillar of Islam and also the Right of Allah. Every Muslim knows that the key to Paradise is the statement, “There is none worthy of worship except Allaah.” Yet too many Muslims simply rely upon this statement and believe that as long as they have made this statement, nothing will harm them.The statement of la ilaaha illa Allaah is the key to Paradise, but every key has ridges. If you come with the key that has the right ridges, the door will open for you. Yet if you do not have the right ridges the door will not open for you.
The conditions of La ilaha illallah are the ridges of this key, and they are: –
- Al-`Ilm – (Knowledge of the meaning of the shahadah, its negation and affirmation)
- Al-Yaqeen – (Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counter-acts suspicion and doubt)
- Al-Qubool – (Acceptance that contradicts rejection).
- Al-Inqiad – (Submission to its rightful requirements, which are the duties that must be performed with sincerity to Allah (alone) seeking His pleasure)
- Al-Sidq – (Truthfulness that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy)
- Al-Ikhlaas – (Sincerity which negates shirk)
- Al-Mahabbah – (Love of the shahadah and its meaning, and being happy with it)
B. Having Tawheed
The types of Tawheed are three:
- Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah,
- Tawheed al-Ilaahiyyah and
- Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat.
Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah is singling out Allaah the Exalted with (the actions of) creation, providing sustenance, giving life, causing death, and all of the types of regulation and administration of the dominion of the heavens and earth, and (also) singling Him out, the Exalted, with (the right to) judgement and legislation and sending of the Messengers and revealing of Books. Allaah the Exalted said, “Verily, to Him belongs the creation and the comman, blessed be Allaah, the Lord of the worlds” (al-A`raaf 7:54).
Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah is singling out Allaah with worship so that none besides Him is worshipped, so that none besides Him is called upon, so that no one is sought for rescue, or aid except Him. So that no one is sacrificed to or slaughtered for, or made an oath for, except Him. Allaah the Exalted said, “Say: My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded with and I am the first of those who submit (to him with Islaam and Tawheed)” (al-An’aam 6:162), and He said, “Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)” (al-Kawthar 108:2).
And Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat is describing Allaah the Most High and naming Him with whatever He described and named Himself with, and with whatever His Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) described and named Him with in the authentic narrations – and to affirm that for Allaah without resemblance (to the creation) or likening (to the creation), and without (false) interpretation (of any of that) or negation (of any of that). There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. And may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions.
C. LEVELS OF FAITH
Omar R.A. narrated, “One day when we were with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and his hair was exceedingly black, and there were no signs of travel on him.
No one among us recognized him. He came and sat down by the Prophet ﷺ and rested his knees against his and placed the palms on his hands on his thighs.
He said: “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.”
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “Islam is to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, to establish regular prayer, to pay zakaah, to fast Ramadaan and to go on pilgrimage to the House if you are able to.”
He said: “You have spoke the truth.”
And we were amazed at his asking that and saying that he had spoken the truth.
Then he said: “Tell me about eemaan (faith, belief).”He ﷺ. said: “It means believing in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and believing in al-qadar (the divine will and decree), both good and bad.”
He said: “You have spoken the truth.” He said: “Tell me about ihsaan.”He ﷺ. said: “It means worshipping Allaah as if you can see Him, and although you cannot see Him, He can see you.”
He said: “Tell me about the Hour.” He ﷺ. said: “The one who is being asked does not know more about it than the one who is asking.”
He said: “Then tell me about its signs.” He ﷺ. said: “The slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing lofty buildings.”
Then he departed and I stayed for a while. Then he said to me: “O ‘Umar, do you know who the questioner was?” I said: “Allaah and His Messenger know best.” He ﷺ. said: “That was Jibreel, who came to teach you your religion.”
(Sahih Muslim)
So as defined in the Hadeeth, Islam has three stages: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.
Islam: The meaning of Islam is as defined by the Prophet ﷺ. when he was asked by the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) A.S: “To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Prophet ﷺ, to establish the prayers, to give the Zakat, to fast the month of Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to Makkah, if one is able to do so.” [Reported by Muslim and others]
Iman: The Prophet ﷺ said that Iman is, “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, to believe in meeting Him, to believe in His Messengers, the Resurrection and the predestination.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and others]
This is the meaning of Islam and Iman if they are mentioned in one context. However, if only one of them is mentioned, then each one encompasses the meaning of the other one. If the word Islam only is mentioned, it includes the meaning of Iman, and vice-versa.
By the definitions of Islam and Iman, we notice that Iman is about inwardly actions, and Islam is about outside actions.
Ihsan: Ihsan is exclusively the highest status of religion, its meaning is: “To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you.” This is the definition of Ihsan as stated by the Prophet ﷺ.
That’s to say that Ihsan has two stages: the highest one is to worship Allah as if you see Him; if you cannot attain this status of worship, then worship Him being certain that He sees you and that He is All-Aware of your actions and deeds.
Next two classes of the week will be Love Your Lord and Worship Allah (with types of Worship)