دار محمد Daar Muhammed

Tawheed; the belief in Allah’s Oneness and His Unity in Lordship soon became common knowledge amongst the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم after his mission had set off. The details of this concept blended into their everyday lives. They were quick to follow the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم line of thought and mannerism in their own thoughts, statements and actions. They observed him closely and asked him about what was unclear to them, which made the intricacies of Tawheed alive and well, making them take the stands they are known for taking. Due to this, Tawheed was not divided into three categories as it is today. It did not need to be. However, as generations passed and Islam started to spread rapidly, there rose the necessity of this interlinking categorisation to clarify the concept of Tawheed to people entering Islam in crowds from other religions. The scholars, using the Quran to create a framework for the new Muslims to follow, made a list of three categories that together covered what a Muslim needed to believe in in order to fulfil the first tenet of faith; belief in Allah. This made it easier to filter out any confusion or innovation that could penetrate the illuminated Islamic Creed from outside as the number of Muslim increased and certain elements of opposition to Islam looked for ways to curb this increase. The first category that the scholars explained to the masses of the Ummah was Tawheed Rububiyyah; the Oneness of Allah is His Lordship. This aspect of the mighty concept of Tawheed, if grasped correctly, can change our lives for the better. I find this category in particular, though all three categories are interdependent, to be of special significance in times like ours.

اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ

Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakil (Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian, etc.) over all things.

Az Zumar:62

Fear is a tool used all so often to subjugate people into what they would never have done had they not been so scared. We see this around us, in the world today very often. It is a tool used to control minds. How principles are abandoned, values are changed, and life is transformed because people were made to feel fear and threat. We also see livelihoods threatened and security stripped away from people who refuse to fear.

This first category of Tawheed points out to primarily two truths:

• Allah originated the creation; He brought into existence all and everything after they had been non-existent and nothing before,
• He Alone helps all creatures to exist; He sustains them. They move, they change, they live, and they find strength to do so only because of Him. Which means He is the only Power. Which means no one else and nothing else can actually do anything.

Allah created the universe— we are well-aware of this. We often remember that He is the Creator and that no one else can create. However, the 2nd point is that our life is 100% in His Hands to protect, nourish, and help pass through this worldly journey and this… how little we ponder over this! We drift ever so often and feel scared and anxious, taking things into our hands while they are already being taken care of. The impacts of others words and actions leave a bigger impact on us than they should distracting us from the one, true goal or gripping us with fear of what will, under Allah’s Watch, never happen. Our days, our experiences, the good times, and the difficult times— all of them have a Rab taking care of their before, during, and after. These are not empty lines of motivational or romantic poetry or an extra piece of fictional reading. They are, instead, a part of the core belief we need to cultivate in order to be true believers. To believe that Allah created us and everything else, and He will sustain us and everything else— this is Iman. Hence, this category is called Tawheed Rububiyyah, derived from Rab (Lord and Protector); the One Who has Ultimate Ownership, Supreme Control, and Omnipotent Strength. Subhanah.

Belief in Allah vs. Fear Mongering

When it is established deep in ourselves that creating as well as sustaining is in the Hands of the Almighty, with no rival to Him in them, and this truth penetrates into our hearts and runs through our veins, our souls will find their way to strength even in the most challenging times. Fear has been used time and again. By individuals and nations alike, fear is frequently used to take advantage of unsuspecting people. If they are gripped with fear, they can be asked of almost anything, and they will readily hand it over. Yet if Tawheed Rububiyyah is long-instilled in hearts and people know that their life and their death and their tomorrow’s bread is only from Allah, fear-mongering from external sources can do nil. You worry about the young children of today. Peer pressure, negative influences, and loss of purpose. Wouldn’t the teaching of the concept of Tawheed be the perfect gift to give them for their future?