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Belief in Allah
1 - Belief In Allah's Existence
Allah's existence is affirmed through Fitrah (the innate
purity that Allah creates in every human being), the
mind, the Shari'ah (Islamic Law) and the senses.
a - As for the Fitrah, we say the following: Allah
created the belief in Him in every human being. Mankind
need not to be taught this belief or think about how
to posses it. However, the ones who have this Fitrah
corrupted, will not benefit from it. The Prophet said,
what translated means, "Every newly born will be
born having Fitrah. However, his parents will either
convert him to Judaism, Christianity, or Majocism (fire
worshipping)." [Al-Bukhari].
b - The human mind must be used to prove the existence
of Allah. All this creation, of old and new, must have
a Creator who invented and started it. This creation
could not have come to existence on its own or by chance.
It could not have created itself, because it did not
exist beforehand. Therefore, how can it create? Also,
the creation could not have been started by accident
or chance. Everything that exists must have a Creator
who brought it into existence. Creation is magnificent
in organization, coherent and correlated in its existence.
There is a reason and originator behind every act. All
this nullifies the saying that all this universe was
started by chance. What was started by chance cannot
be organized in its form because it did not have any
organization before it was formed. What makes what was
created by chance to be this organized?
If all this creation neither could have created itself
nor was it created by chance, then it must have an Originator,
Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Allah mentioned this
reasoning in the Quran, (Were they created by nothing,
or were they themselves the creators?) [52:35]. This
Ayah means that men were neither created without a Creator
nor did they create themselves. Therefore, Allah is
the One who created them. This is why when Jubair ibn
Mot'im heard the Messenger recite this Surah until he
reached, (Were they created by nothing, or were they
themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens
and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief. Or
are with them the Treasures of your Lord? Or are they
the tyrants with authority to do as they like?) [52:35-37],
Jubair, a disbeliever then, said, "My heart almost
flew (from the power of this reasoning mentioned in
the Surah). This was the first time that Iman entered
my heart." [Al-Bukhari].
Using parables in this regard is beneficial. Let us
imagine that a man told you about a magnificent palace,
surrounded by gardens with rivers running through them.
This palace is full of furnishing and beds and is brilliantly
beautified. If this man told you that this palace created
itself and all what it contained, or that all this was
created by chance, you will immediately consider this
saying to be false and meaningless speech. Therefore,
how can this vast universe, which contains the earth,
the skies and all that is therein of stars and the magnificently
organized existence that we see, have been created by
itself or come to existence by chance?
c - As for the Shari'ah, all divine religions testify
to the fact that Allah created the world. All Laws that
were sent with these divine and revealed religions contain
what benefits mankind. This is evidence to the existence
of a Wise and All- Knowing Lord Who knows what brings
benefit to His creation. All divinely-revealed religions
describe a universe that is self- evident to the existence
and ability of Allah, Who Creates what He Will.
d - Also, the senses must be used to prove the existence
of Allah. We know that Allah accepts the supplication
from whoever seek His aid and help, and that He brings
them the benefits that they desire. This is clear evidence
to the existence of Allah, who said, what translated
means, (And (remember) Noah, when he cried (to Us) aforetime.
We listened to his invocation.) [21:76] and, ((Remember)
when you sought help from your Lord and He answered
you?) [8:9]. Anas ibn Malik said, "An Arabian (Bedouin)
man entered (the Masjid) on Friday while the Prophet
was delivering the speech. He said: 'O Messenger of
Allah! (Our) possessions are destroyed, (our) children
are hungry. Ask Allah for us.' He (the Prophet) raised
his hands in supplication (to Allah). All of a sudden,
mountain-like clouds were formed. He did not descend
from his Minbar (the podium) until I saw rain falling
through his beard. On the second Friday, this Arabian
man, or someone else, stood up and said: 'O Messenger
of Allah. Buildings have collapsed and possessions are
flooded. Ask Allah for us.' He (the Prophet) raised
his hands and said: 'O my Lord! Around us and not around
us.' Wherever he pointed to an area (of the sky), they
(the clouds) dispersed." [Al-Bukhari].
Allah's acceptance of supplication has been and still
is a known matter until today. It is given to those
who are true in their seeking refuge in Allah and perform
supplication in the correct manner to ensure its acceptance.
Also, there are the signs that Allah gave His Prophets,
which are called miracles. People witnessed or heard
these miracles. They are clear evidence that the One
who sent the Messengers exists, and He is Allah the
All-Mighty. These miracles are activities that are beyond
the capability of mankind. Allah gave them to His Messengers
as a way of aiding them and giving them victory.
An example of these miracles is the sign given of Moses.
Allah ordered him to strike the sea with his stick,
and the sea parted into twelve separate parts between
mountains of water on each side of these parts (Then
We inspired Moses (saying): "Strike the sea with
your stick." And it parted, and each separated
part (of the sea water) became like the huge, firm mass
of a mountain.) [26:63].
Another example is the miracle of Jesus. He was given
the power by Allah to raise the dead from their graves
and back into life. Allah said about him, what translated
means, ("And I bring the dead to life by Allah's
leave.") [3:49] and, (And when you (O Jesus) brought
forth the dead by My permission.) [5:110].
A third example is the miracle Mohammad performed.
His tribe, Quraysh, asked him to perform a miracle.
He pointed to the moon and it separated into two parts
while his people were witnessing the incident. Allah
said about this miracle, what translated means, (The
Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder.
And if they see a sign, they turn away, and say: "This
is continuous magic.") [54:1-2].
All these miracles, that Allah gave to His Messengers
as an aid and victory and that were witnessed by their
nations, are proof that Allah exists.
Second: Belief in Allah's Lordship
This means to believe that Allah is the Lord, alone,
and that He has no partners or helpers. The Rabb (Lord)
is the One who Creates and Commands. There is no creator
except Allah and there is no owner of the universe except
Him. The Commandment and the Control is His. He said,
what translated means, (Surely, His is the Creation
and Commandment.) [7:54] and, (Such is Allah your Lord;
His is the Kingdom. And those whom you invoke or call
upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the membrane
over the date-stone).) [35:13].
Only a few people rejected Allah's Lordship. These
are the arrogant ones who deny what they believe deep
in their hearts. This happened from Pharaoh, when he
said to his people, as was mentioned in the Quran, ("I
am your lord, most high.") [79:24] and, ("O
chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than me!")
[28:38]. However, what he said was not his true belief.
Allah said, what translated means, (And they belied
them (Our Signs) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their
own selves were convinced thereof.) [27:14]. Also, Moses
said to Pharaoh, as was mentioned in the Quran, ("Verily,
you know that these Signs have been sent down by none
but the Lord of the heavens and the earth as clear (evidences
of His Oneness and Might). And I think you are, indeed,
O Pharaoh, doomed to destruction.") [17:102].
The Arab disbelievers of old used to confirm Allah's
Lordship, although they associated others with Him in
worship. Allah said, what translated means, (Say: "Whose
is the earth and whosoever is therein? If you know!"
They will say: "It is Allah's!" Say: "Will
you not then remember?" Say: "Who is the Lord
of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Great Throne?"
They will say: "Allah." Say: "Will you
not then fear Allah?" Say: "In Whose Hands
is the sovereignty of everything? And He protects (all),
while against Whom there is no protector, if you know?"
They will say: "(All this belongs) to Allah."
Say: "How then are you deceived and turn away from
the truth?") [23:84-89], (And indeed if you ask
them: "Who has created the heavens and the earth?"
They will surely say: "The All-Mighty, the All-Knower
created them.") [43:9] and, (And if you ask them
who created them, they will surely say: "Allah."
How then are they turned away (from His worship)?) [43:87].
Allah's order comprises of both His running of the
universe and the Commandment. He is the One who controls
the creation and the One who does what He will, according
to His Wisdom. He is also the One who gives the Commandment
organizing aspects of worship and dealings, according
to His Wisdom. Whoever takes anyone, besides Allah,
to be the one who commands acts of worship or types
of dealings, will have committed Shirk (disbelief, association
in worship) with Allah. This act negates Iman.
Third: The Belief That He Is the Ilah
Allah is the Ilah, meaning He is the Worshipped One
Who has no partners. This Ilah is worshipped with love
and reverence. He said, what translated means, (And
your Lord is One Lord, there is none who has the right
to be worshipped but He, the Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful.) [2:163] and, (Allah bears witness that none
has the right to be worshipped but He, and the Angels,
and those having knowledge (also give this witness);
(He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice,
none has the right to be worshipped but He, the All-Mighty,
the All-Wise.) [3:18]. All things that are taken as
gods, besides Allah, are false gods, (That is because
Allah is the Truth (the Only True God), and what they
(the disbelievers) invoke besides Him, it is falsehood.
And verily, Allah is the Most High, the Most Great.)
[22:62]. To call these things "gods," does
not make them gods. Allah said about some idols, Al-Lat,
Al-'Uzzaa and Manat, (They are but names which you have
named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent
down no authority.) [53:23]. Yousef (Joseph) said to
his two companions in jail, as was mentioned in the
Quran, ("Are many different lords (gods) better
or Allah the One, the Irresistible? You do not worship
beside Him but only names which you have forged, you
and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority.")
[12:39-40]. All Messengers used to say to their nations,
("Worship Allah! You have no other God but Him.")
[23:23]. However, the disbelievers refused to accept
this call. They took others as gods besides Allah. They
worshipped them besides Allah, calling them when aid
and help were needed.
Allah refuted the disbelievers in their taking these
idols as gods besides Him, using two logical arguments:
The first argument: These idols, that were taken by
the disbelievers as gods, do not have any attributes
that qualify them to be gods. These false gods were
created and do not create. They can neither bring about
benefit for whoever worships them, nor can they fend
harm off. They cannot give life or take it away. They
neither own nor are they partners in the kingdom of
the heavens and earth.
Allah said, what translated means, (Yet, they have
taken besides Him other gods that created nothing but
are themselves created, and possess neither hurt nor
benefit for themselves, and possess no power (of causing)
death, nor (of giving) life, nor of raising the dead.)
[25:3], (Say (O Mohammad): "Call upon those whom
you asset (to be associate gods) besides Allah, they
possess not even the weight of an atom, either in the
heavens or on the earth, nor they have any share in
either, nor is there for Him any supporter from among
them.") [34:22-23] and, (Do they attribute as partners
to Allah those who created nothing but they themselves
are created? No help can they give them, nor can they
help themselves.) [7:191-192]. If this is the case with
false gods, then taking them as gods is a true misguidance
and the lowest of all acts.
The second argument: The Mushrikeen (polytheists) are
among those who confirmed that Allah, alone, is the
Lord, the Creator, the One Who Has the ownership of
everything and the One Who gives protection and no one
can give protection to anyone from His Might. This confirmation
requires from these disbelievers to worship Allah alone.
He said, what translated means, (O Mankind! Worship
your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were
before you so that you may become among the pious. Who
has made the earth a resting place for you, and the
shy as a canopy, and sent down rain from the sky and
brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you.
Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while
you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).)
[2:21-22], (And if you ask them who created them, they
will surely say: "Allah." How then are they
turned away (from His worship)?) [43:87] and, (Say (O
Mohammad): "Who provides for you from the sky and
from the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who
brings out the living from the dead and brings out the
dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?"
They will say: "Allah." Say: "Will you
not then be afraid of Allah's punishment?" Such
is Allah, your Lord in truth. So after the Truth, what
else can there be, save error? How then are you turned
away?) [10:31-32].
Fourth: Belief In Allah's Names and Attributes
This belief requires accepting whatever Allah described
of Himself, in His Book or in the Sunnah of His Messenger.
The Names and Attributes must be accepted without alteration,
rejection, precise description of their true nature
or equating them with attributes of the creation. Allah
said, what translated means, (And (all) the Most Beautiful
Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them, and leave
the company of those who deny His Names. They will be
requited for what they used to do.) [7:180], (His is
the highest description in the heavens and in the earth.
And He is the All-mighty, the AII-Wise.) [30:27] and,
(There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer,
the All-Seer.) [42:11].
Two groups have fallen into misguidance concerning
this matter. One of them is Al-Mu'attilah (the refuters).
This group rejected the Names and Attributes, or some
of them, claiming that to accept them is to equate Allah
with His creation. This claim is false for many reasons,
following are two of them:
1 - This claim leads to false conclusions that Allah's
Words are in opposition to each other. Allah is the
One who confirmed these Names and Attributes and denied
that there is anything that resembles Him. If confirming
these Names and Attributes leads to equating Allah with
the creation, then this will lead to the conclusion
that Allah's Words are full of discrepancies and refute
each other.
2 - For two things to have an attribute of some kind,
does not mean that they are equal or look-likes. One
can witness two persons who are both called "a
human who hears, sees and speaks." However, this
description of both does not mean that they are of equal
capabilities in their hearing, sight or speech. One
can also see that animals have hands, legs and eyes.
However, this does not mean that animals are equal in
every respect with regards to their hands, legs and
eyes.
If disparity is this wide, between that which creation
possess of attributes or names, then the disparity between
the Creator and creation is even greater and more evident.
The second misguided group is called "Al-Mushabbihah."
They confirmed the Names and the Attributes. Yet, they
equated them with the names and attributes of the creation.
They claimed that this is what the Texts mean. They
claimed that Allah reveals to His slaves what they can
comprehend. This claim is false for many reasons, some
of them are:
1 - Allah's resemblance with His creation is false
and is refuted with the mind and the Laws of Shari'ah.
Texts of the Quran and Sunnah cannot lead to falsehood
in their meanings.
2 - Allah revealed what His slaves can understand of
the general meaning. However, the true nature of what
these meanings are like is a knowledge that only Allah
possesses, especially with regards to the true nature
of His Names and Attributes.
Allah confirmed that He is the All-Hearer. Hearing
means to comprehend sounds. However, the true nature
of Allah's Hearing is unknown. Creation vary in their
hearing capability. The difference between Allah's Hearing
and the hearing of creation is even greater and more
evident.
Also, Allah confirmed that He Istawa (Mounted or Settled)
on His Throne. To mount and settle on a throne is known
in the general meaning of the word "mounted,"
or "settled." The true nature of Allah's mounting
on His Throne is unknown. Mounting on something varies
with regards to different creation. To mount on a chair
is unlike mounting on a wild camel. If Istiwaa' is this
different between creation, then how can the Istiwaa'
of Allah be compared to the Istiwaa' of creation? The
difference between them is greater and more evident.
Benefits of Believing in Allah
Believing in Allah, in the way described above, leads
to many benefits for the believers:
1 - To truly realize the Taw'hid of Allah, by depending
only on Him and hoping in, fearing and worshipping Him
alone.
2 - To prefect one's love and reverence of Allah, and
according to His Might as described by His Most-Beautiful
Names and Most-High Attributes.
3 - To truly give one's worship to Allah, by adhering
to His Commandments and abandoning His Prohibitions.
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