Al-Tawheed according to the Sahabah

Ummatul Tawheed is the title given only to the Muslim Ummah. That Ummah is the
most worthy for it. All other umam are either ummatul Dalaal (Christians), ummatul
Maghdoubi ‘alaihim (Jews) or Ummatul Shirk (Polytheists), no one of them is worthy
for the title of Tawheed.

The nation of Tawheed is specifically the companions of the prophet Muhammad

(saw), Allah (swt) says,

‫علَى‬َ َ‫علَى رَسُولِهِ و‬َ ُ‫سكِي َنتَه‬

َ ُّ‫ح ِميّةَ الْجَا ِهِليّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ال‬
َ َ‫ح ِميّة‬
َ ْ‫جعَلَ الّذِينَ كَ َفرُوا فِي ُقلُو ِبهِمُ ال‬
َ ْ‫إِذ‬
‫علِيمًا‬
َ ٍ‫شيْء‬ َ ّ‫ا ْل ُم ْؤ ِمنِينَ َوَأ ْل َز َمهُمْ َكِلمَةَ التّ ْقوَى َوكَانُوا أَحَقّ ِبهَا َوأَ ْهَلهَا َوكَانَ الُّ ِبكُل‬

Whereas they who are bent on denying the truth harboured a stubborn disdain in
their hearts - the stubborn disdain [born] of ignorance God bestowed from on high
His [gift of] Sakeenah (revelation) upon His Apostle and the believers (i.e. the
companions) and bound them to the Kalimah of Taqwaa (Ibn Abbas explained this to
be laa ilaaha illallah i.e. Tawheed): for they were most worthy of this [divine gift],
and deserved it well. And God has full knowledge of all things. [EMQ 48:26]

THE MEANING OF TAWHEED

The prophet (saw) sent Mu'adh to Yemen, commanding him to call them to Islam
saying,

"Let the first thing you call them to, be Al Tawheed."

And so when Mu'adh called them to Tawheed, they asked, "what is Tawheed?" he
said,

"Al Tawheed is Ifraadallahu tabaraaka wata'aala wahdahu laa sharikalah bil Ibaadah
(Exclusivity to Allah (swt) in all forms of worship alone and without partners)."
So when they asked about worship (al-Ibaadah), Mu'adh explained that Ibaadah is a
name for

"Everything that Allah is pleased with from your actions hidden and apparent."

The apparent actions are the sayings and the actions, so whatever you say or do
that Allah is pleased with [i.e. based on the command of Allah (swt)] is Ibaadah. For
example, Allah (swt) ordered us to speak the truth and forbade us from lying, so to
fulfil these orders is Ibaadah. Similarly, he ordered us to eat only Halal slaughtered
meat and forbade us from eating pork or dead meat and so staying within these
boundaries is worship.

The hidden actions are the actions of the heart, for example to love, to have Yaqeen
(certainty), Khushou' (ritual fear), Tawakkul (relying on Allah) are all actions of the
heart obliged by Allah just as he ordered us to avoid Dhann (doubt), Tashaa'um
(pessimism and superstitions), Ya'ess (despair) and Qunoot (hopelessness). Fulfilling
these commands with our heart is also ‘Ibaadah.

The actions of the limbs are many. They include actions such as Jihad, Salah, eating,
drinking, fasting, walking, running, stealing, cheating. Some of these actions are
Fardh (compulsory); some of them are Haram (prohibited); some of them are Kufr
(disbelief) and shirk (associating partners with Allah) like arbitration to Taghoot. For
this reason it a mistake to restrict the term ‘Ibaadah to the ritual acts (manaasik). In
reality any action that pleases Allah is an act of worship. Ibn Taymiyyah said,

"Al Ibaadah includes all that Allah has ordered us to do and all that he is pleased
with from sayings and actions of the heart, the tongue or the limbs."

The Imaan increases and decreases and similarly the Tawheed increases and
decreases. That is because the Imaan, like every other good deed, is Tawheed. In
fact we can say that Al Islam, Al Imaan and Al Tawheed are synonymous and imply
the same meaning when mentioned in their own right, even though they may have
more specific detailed meanings when mentioned together in a single sentence.
With this understanding in mind, we understand that it is not possible for us to
declare just anyone a Muslim. It is not enough simply to believe in a creator. It also
exposes the previous nations of misguidance, who associated with Allah partners in
their worship, as being upon falsehood despite their justifications and efforts to
uphold their religion. Mu'adh Ibn Jabl said,

"I found the Christians of najraan so stubborn in their falsehood."

He found them working day and night to support their Deen even though their Deen
was Baatil (falsehood). It also means that it is not enough for people to simply
believe in their hearts or be convinced, even with total certainty, that Islam is the
truth. Unless they also submit to Allah with their tongues and their limbs,
worshipping Him alone and physically abstaining from the Kufr sayings and actions,
they cannot enter Jannah.

This also reveals the fact that Tawheed is not something easy to fulfil. It is not a
surprise that many resist the call of Tawheed, despite it being so clear and
irrefutable. Mu'adh introduced the Tawheed to the people of Yemen and he found
that,

"The Tawheed is harsher upon them than a mountain to fall on their head."

BANU ISRA'EEL AND TAWHEED

Similarly Ibn Abbas said,

"By Allah, the Tawheed is harder on the people than the death, look to bani Isra'eel
and take lesson."

So why did Ibn Abbas mention Bani Isra'eel as an example? Tawheed is to give
exclusivity to Allah (swt) in all His af'aal (actions and functions). Allah's role is that
He is The Creator, The One who gives life, takes life, forgives, guides and
commands. Allah is also The One who helps and all forms of help are from none but
Allah. Whenever any person is helped or supported, it is Allah who helped him
whether it was through His creation or directly. He (swt) is Al Naasir (The Supporter),
Al Mu'een (The Helper).

With this in mind, we can follow the advice of Ibn Abbas and look to the story of
Bani Isra'eel. We find that Bani Isra'eel are those who Allah supported time after
time. He favoured them above other nations; He (swt) supported them against
Fir'awn and sent Musa and Haroon to rescue them from slavery, yet when they were
faced with the ocean, they gave up hope and diverted the attribute of Allah (swt) of
support and claimed that they were destroyed. Allah (swt) says,

َ‫سرَائِيل‬
ْ ِ‫كَ َذِلكَ َوَأ ْو َر ْثنَاهَا َبنِي إ‬
َ‫شرِقِين‬
ْ ّ‫َفَأ ْت َبعُوهُم م‬
َ‫ج ْمعَانِ قَالَ َأصْحَابُ مُوسَى ِإنّا َلمُ ْد َركُون‬
َ ْ‫َفَلمّا َترَاءى ال‬

Thus it was: but [in the course of time] We were to bestow all these [things] as a
heritage on the children of Israel. And so [the Egyptians] caught up with them at
sunrise; and as soon as the two hosts came in sight of one another, the followers of
Moses exclaimed: "Behold, we shall certainly be overtaken [and defeated]!" [EMQ
26:59-61]

Then Allah destroyed the armies of Fir'awn in a miraculous way in front of their own
eyes such that there could be no doubt left about their duty to Allah and yet they
still abandoned the Tawheed at the first opportunity. When Musa left them for 40
days to meet with his Lord, they took the calf as an idol to worship. Then after Allah
forgave them and gave them another chance they refused to fight with Musa (as)
and Harun (as). Allah (swt) says,

‫خرُجُواْ ِم ْنهَا َفِإنّا‬

ْ َ‫خرُجُواْ ِم ْنهَا َفإِن ي‬
ْ َ‫ح ّتىَ ي‬
َ ‫خَلهَا‬
ُ ْ‫جبّارِينَ َوِإنّا لَن نّد‬
َ ‫قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى إِنّ فِيهَا َق ْومًا‬
َ‫خلُون‬ ِ ‫دَا‬

They answered: "O Moses! Behold, ferocious people -dwell in that land, and we will
surely not enter it unless they depart therefrom; but if they depart therefrom, then,
behold, we will enter it." [EMQ 5:22]
Despite the fact that Allah (swt) showed them the power and irresistible might of
their Lord that will support them (i.e. by destroying the biggest and most powerful
army in their history being destroyed in front of them), they still did not believe that
the support and help was from Allah (swt) alone. They did not trust that Allah was
the one who will give them victory and so failed this test again.

But instead of destroying them like Fir'awn, Allah made them wander for 40 years,
not as a punishment but as another chance. Allah tested them in order to develop
their Tawheed. For 40 years Allah gave them whatever they needed, Allah showed
them how Allah was the only one who supports and can give them everything,
feeding and providing for them from the heavens. Yet they still were not satisfied
and after 40 years there were still some who did not enter the city.

This is Tawheed al-Rububiyyah; to affirm exclusively to Allah all of His Af'aal (his
actions). Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah is the exclusive worship to Allah (swt) by the af'aal
(actions) of the servant. This means that the one who believes that nobody provides
except Allah, it is binding upon him that he will never ask for his provision except
from Allah (swt).

Al-Tawheed Asmaa' wal sifaat is related to the belief in Tawheed Al Rububiyyah and
also to Tawheed Al Uluhiyyah. Allah (swt) says,

َ ‫لْ ْنعَامِ َأ ْزوَاجًا يَ ْذ َر ُؤكُمْ فِيهِ َل ْي‬

‫س‬ َ ‫سكُمْ َأ ْزوَاجًا َومِنَ ا‬
ِ ُ‫جعَلَ َلكُم مّنْ أَنف‬
َ ِ‫لْرْض‬
َ ‫سمَاوَاتِ وَا‬
ّ ‫طرُ ال‬
ِ ‫فَا‬
ُ‫سمِيعُ البَصِير‬ ّ ‫شيْءٌ وَ ُهوَ ال‬ َ ِ‫َك ِم ْثلِه‬

"The Originator [is He] of the heavens and the earth. He has given you mates of
your own kind just as [He has willed that] among the beasts [there be] mates - to
multiply you thereby: [but] there is nothing like Him, and He alone is all-hearing, all-
seeing." [EMQ 42:11]

This is the principle of believing in the attributes of Allah (swt) with Ithbaat and Nafi,
that is to affirm belief about Allah, whatever Allah attributed to himself and to
negate the possibility of there being anything similar to Him (swt) in any of His
attributes.
The Sahabah manifested this Tawheed in all spheres, Tawheed al-Rububiyyah,
Tawheed Al Uluhiyyah, Tawheed Al Asmaa' Wa Sifaat, Tawheed Al Haakimiyyah and
many other manifestations of Tawheed.

THE CHRISTIANS AND TAWHEED

The messenger (saw) sent his companions to different places in order to carry the
call and spread the Deen of Islam. Just as Mu'adh Ibn Jabl was sent to Yemen, he
(saw) also sent Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, Ubay Ibn Ka'ab and many other companions with
the message of Tawheed to far away lands and their people. However, the message
they were sent with was not simply Tawheed al-Rububiyyah, that Allah is the
Creator, Sustainer and Provider, but was the message of Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah, that
none must ever be worshipped, followed or obeyed instead of Allah; that none
should be invoked for support, help, guidance or forgiveness instead of Him (swt).
That is because Tawheed al-Rububiyyah (i.e. the roles and actions of Allah as the
Creator and Sustainer) was already accepted in the minds of the disbelievers, even
the Mushrikeen of Makkah. Allah (swt) says,

َ‫ش ْمسَ وَالْ َق َمرَ َليَقُولُنّ الُّ َفَأنّى ُيؤْ َفكُون‬

ّ ‫خرَ ال‬
ّ َ‫لْرْضَ وَس‬
َ ‫سمَاوَاتِ وَا‬
ّ ‫خلَقَ ال‬
َ ْ‫سَأ ْل َتهُم مّن‬
َ ‫َوَلئِن‬

And thus it is [with most people]: if thou ask them, "Who is it that has created the
heavens and the earth, and made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws]?"
- They will surely answer, "God." How perverted, then, are their minds! [EMQ 29:61]

And,

ْ ِ‫لْرْضَ َليَقُولُنّ الُّ قُلْ أَ َف َرَأ ْيتُم مّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ الِّ إ‬
‫ن‬ َ ‫سمَاوَاتِ وَا‬
ّ ‫خلَقَ ال‬
َ ْ‫سَأ ْل َتهُم مّن‬
َ ‫َوَلئِن‬
َ‫س ِبي‬
ْ َ‫ح َمتِهِ قُلْ ح‬ ْ َ‫سكَاتُ ر‬ ِ ْ‫حمَةٍ هَلْ هُنّ ُمم‬
ْ َ‫ض ّرهِ َأوْ َأرَا َدنِي ِبر‬
ُ ُ‫ضرّ هَلْ هُنّ كَاشِفَات‬
ُ ‫َأرَا َد ِنيَ الُّ ِب‬
َ‫عَليْهِ َي َت َوكّلُ ا ْل ُم َت َو ّكلُون‬
َ ُّ‫ال‬

And thus it is [with most people]: if thou ask them, "Who is it that has created the
heavens and the earth?" - They will surely answer, "God." Say: "Have you, then,
ever considered what it is that you invoke instead of God? If God wills that harm
should befall me, could those [imaginary powers] remove the harm inflicted by
Him? Or, if He wills that grace should alight on me, could they withhold His grace
[from me]?" Say: "God is enough for me! In Him [alone] place their trust all who
have trust [in His existence]." [EMQ 39: 38]

That is why no prophet was ever sent to inform the people about the existence of
god as such an irrational delusion was not prevalent until recent times. Atheism is a
relatively new religion and phenomena. People had always believed in Allah but
used to worship others alongside Allah and when they faced severe hardship, they
used to worship and ask Allah (swt) alone, Allah (swt) says,

َ‫ش ِركُون‬
ْ ُ‫خِلصِينَ لَهُ الدّينَ َفَلمّا نَجّاهُمْ ِإلَى ا ْل َبرّ إِذَا هُمْ ي‬
ْ ُ‫عوُا الَّ م‬
َ َ‫فَإِذَا َر ِكبُوا فِي الْ ُف ْلكِ د‬

And so, when they embark on a ship [and find themselves in danger], they call unto
God, [at that moment] sincere in their faith in Him alone; but as soon as He has
brought them safe ashore, they [begin to] ascribe to imaginary powers a share in
His divinity: [EMQ 29: 65]

One of the messages sent out by the Prophet (saw) was to Heracles of the Romans,
he wrote,

"From Muhammad the messenger of Allah to the king of Al Rum, submit (aslim) and
you will be safe and you will receive reward twice,"

Abu Musa Al Ash'ari commented,

"Because he believed in Christianity and in Islam"

The prophet (saw) continued,

"Come on to one word between us (i.e. the Tawheed) that is the same that we do
not worship any but Allah and we do not associate with Him any partners and we do
not take each other as Lords instead of Allah..."
This was in reference to the verse of the Qur'an,

َ َ‫ش ْيئًا و‬
‫ل‬ َ ِ‫ش ِركَ بِه‬ ْ ُ‫سوَاء َب ْي َننَا َو َب ْي َنكُمْ أَلّ َن ْعبُدَ إِلّ الّ وَلَ ن‬
َ ٍ‫قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ ا ْل ِكتَابِ َتعَاَل ْواْ ِإلَى َكَلمَة‬
َ‫سِلمُون‬
ْ ُ‫شهَدُواْ بَِأنّا م‬ْ ‫ضنَا َبعْضاً َأ ْربَابًا مّن دُونِ الّ فَإِن َت َوّلوْاْ فَقُولُواْ ا‬ ُ ‫َيتّخِذَ َب ْع‬

Say: "O followers of earlier revelation! Come unto that tenet which we and you hold
in common: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall not ascribe
divinity to aught beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords
beside God." And if they turn away, then say: "Bear witness that it is we who have
surrendered ourselves unto Him." [EMQ 3:64]

This was because Allah (swt) informed us how even though the Jews and Christians
had been sent many prophets and messengers and believed firmly in Allah alone as
their creator, nevertheless they used to worship and take others as Lords besides
Allah (swt), Allah (swt) says,

‫حبَارَهُمْ َورُ ْهبَا َنهُمْ َأ ْربَابًا مّن دُونِ الّ وَا ْلمَسِيحَ ابْنَ َم ْريَمَ َومَا ُأ ِمرُواْ إِلّ ِل َي ْعبُدُواْ ِإلَـهًا‬
ْ َ‫اتّخَذُواْ أ‬
َ‫ش ِركُون‬ ْ ُ‫عمّا ي‬ َ ُ‫سبْحَانَه‬
ُ َ‫وَاحِدًا لّ ِإلَـهَ إِلّ ُهو‬

They have taken their rabbis and their monks-as well as the Christ, son of Mary-for
their lords beside God, although they had been bidden to worship none but the One
God, save whom there is no deity: the One who is utterly remote, in His limitless
glory, from anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity! [EMQ 9:31]

Abu Musa Al Ash'ari described the worship of the Jews and Christians to the rabbis
and the priests as two types,

"They used to make Sujud to stone and trees and seek help from them in times of
crisis."
The first type is that they used to go to the trees and stones and shrines of their
rabbis and priests to take blessing and help from it. The second type of worship to
the Ahbaar (Rabbis) was that,

"They used to obey them when they forbade what Allah made Halal and permit
what Allah made Haram."

‘Uday Ibn Haatim used to be Christian and he never used to make the first type of
worship, in other words he never made Sujud to the trees and items of the priests
like some others and so when he came to the prophet (saw) while he was reciting,

‫حبَارَهُمْ َورُ ْهبَا َنهُمْ َأ ْربَابًا مّن دُونِ الّ وَا ْلمَسِيحَ ابْنَ َم ْريَمَ َومَا ُأ ِمرُواْ إِلّ ِل َي ْعبُدُواْ ِإلَـهًا‬
ْ َ‫اتّخَذُواْ أ‬
َ‫ش ِركُون‬ ْ ُ‫عمّا ي‬ َ ُ‫سبْحَانَه‬
ُ َ‫وَاحِدًا لّ ِإلَـهَ إِلّ ُهو‬

They have taken their rabbis and their monks-as well as the Christ, son of Mary-for
their lords beside God, although they had been bidden to worship none but the One
God, save whom there is no deity: the One who is utterly remote, in His limitless
glory, from anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity! [EMQ 9:31]

"Uday said, we did not worship them!" The messenger (saw) replied, ‘did they not
make the Haram Halal and the Halal Haram and you obeyed them?" he said, "yes
indeed" the prophet (saw) said, "that is how you used to worship them." Uday said,
"You said the truth Yaa Rasulullah."

According to the Sahabah, the essence of Tawheed is total submission to the

command of Allah in every sphere of life without any regret, without any rejection,
without any association of partners and without any aim except to please Allah
(swt). Allah (swt) says,

َ ‫عَل ْيكُمْ عَذَا‬

‫ب‬ َ ُ‫غ ْي ُرهُ ِإ ّنيَ أَخَاف‬
َ ٍ‫عبُدُواْ الَّ مَا َلكُم مّنْ ِإلَـه‬
ْ ‫س ْلنَا نُوحًا ِإلَى َق ْومِهِ فَقَالَ يَا َقوْمِ ا‬
َ ْ‫لَقَدْ َأر‬
ٍ‫َيوْمٍ عَظِيم‬
Indeed, We sent forth Noah unto his people, and he said: "O my people! Worship
God alone: you have no deity other than Him. Verily, I fear lest suffering befall you
on an awesome Day!" [EMQ 7:59]

THE MUSHRIKEEN AND TAWHEED

Umar Ibn Khattab informed us about certain things that the disbelievers used to do
and how the prophet (saw) responded to that. When the Arab tribes offered the
prophet (saw) anything he wished from riches, women, status, power and doctors to
dissuade him from his call, he (saw) demanded of the tribes only one thing, he said,

"Say one word and you will be kings of all the tribes of the Arabs and the non-arabs"
they said, "We will give you ten words, what is this one word?" he said, "say: laa
ilaaha illallah [there is none worthy of worship besides Allah]." They replied, "We will
say everything but this word."

Umar said,

‘I heard them saying that to the prophet and from that day I realized that he (saw)
challenged them with a word that they cannot say. I was looking to him and realised
that he was speaking the truth and so I wanted to know this Kalimah. Then when I
heard it and saw that they could not say it, I realised the weakness of my tribes."

He (ra) embraced hearing the debate of the prophet (saw) with Quraysh, after that
he could not sleep from the defeat, he said,

"I wanted to say it just to show Muhammad."

He took time but his heart was shaken by the Kalimah laa ilaaha illallah, that is why
when he entered to embrace Islam, the prophet (saw) was shouting,

"How long are you going to delay? You know it is the truth...." And he said, "Ash
hadu an laa ilaaha illalllah (i.e. he already knew what to say)"
The prophet (saw) rose to call his people to Tawheed. He had informed them that he
was the Nabi, and it was an opportunity for them to be proud as they had always
wished to have a prophet from the Arabs to be proud of as the Jews used to boast
and gloat that they never had any prophet while the Jews had many. However they
were foolish and so they failed. They really would have ruled over the Arab and the
Ajam (non-arabs) if they had just said the Kalimah, but they rejected.

The companions used to look to the revelation as an address to them individually as

well as collectively and would respond to the commands in the Qur'an as though it
was addressing them by name, Umar Ibn Khattab said,

"O you who believe, if you hear ‘O you who believe' make your ears focused and
listen to what follows, that is the word of Allah addressing us what comes after is a
duty for you to fulfil."

LOVE AND TAWHEED

The companions taught us about love. If a man makes any effort for a matter and
spends his money for it, it is inevitable that he will develop love for it. For example if
a man works for forty years of his life to accumulate wealth, he will love this money
and he will be upset if any of his money is stolen. Similarly if he spends that money
on a car or a house, he will love that car and will never accept anyone to touch it.
That is why the Mushrikeen were so attached to their idols despite them being
exposed as such clear falsehood by Muhammad (saw). Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood said,

"The love for the Aalihah in their heart is out of love for the effort they made for
them and for what they had spent money on them."

Because they had spent so much effort and money for their gods, their festivals and
customs, it was not easy for them to leave it all of a sudden. They used to spend a
lot on those idols and had established a strong bond with them so that didn't want
to leave it. Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood explained that the Kalimah forbids this type of
love, he said,
"laa ilaaha illallah is that there is none worthy to be worshipped or loved except for
Allah (Laa ma'bouda wa laa mahbooba illallah)."

This is why, when people spend money and take out an expensive mortgage and
spend on their home and decorate it with so much money and effort, it is not easy
for them to leave it when they discover that mortgages are Haram.

The prophet (saw) established such a clear understanding and such a strong
Tawheed among the companions in Makkah, that when Allah (swt) ordered them to
pray, they prayed without question; when Allah ordered them to pray in the Masjid,
they prayed in the Masjid; when Allah forbade the alcohol, they left all the alcohol
even though they had been drinking it all their lives; when Allah obliged the Hijaab,
they observed the Hijaab; whatever they were ordered, they obeyed Allah (swt).

Love is a function of the heart and the disbelievers loved their customs and
traditions in their heart. Indeed, it is very difficult to take out the love for one's
customs, wealth, women and Hawaa from the heart and implant the love for the
Tawheed, Allah and Islam. The prophet (saw) said,

"Cursed is the slave of Dinar, cursed is the slave of Dirham, cursed is the slave of
the woman, cursed is the slave of the Hawaa, cursed is the slave of the private
parts."

Moreover, anyone who loves their gods will hate to hear them dispraised and
condemned. That is why, when the prophet (saw) condemned them, it was so hard
on them. Allah (swt) revealed,

ْ ِ‫لْرْضَ َليَقُولُنّ الُّ قُلْ أَ َف َرَأ ْيتُم مّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ الِّ إ‬
‫ن‬ َ ‫سمَاوَاتِ وَا‬
ّ ‫خلَقَ ال‬
َ ْ‫سَأ ْل َتهُم مّن‬
َ ‫َوَلئِن‬
َ‫س ِبي‬
ْ َ‫ح َمتِهِ قُلْ ح‬ ْ َ‫سكَاتُ ر‬ ِ ْ‫حمَةٍ هَلْ هُنّ ُمم‬
ْ َ‫ض ّرهِ َأوْ َأرَا َدنِي ِبر‬
ُ ُ‫ضرّ هَلْ هُنّ كَاشِفَات‬
ُ ‫َأرَا َد ِنيَ الُّ ِب‬
‫عَليْهِ َي َت َوكّلُ ا ْل ُم َت َو ّكلُون‬
َ ُّ‫ال‬

And thus it is [with most people]: if thou ask them, "Who is it that has created the
heavens and the earth?" - They will surely answer, "God." Say: "Have you, then,
ever considered what it is that you invoke instead of God? If God wills that harm
should befall me, could those [imaginary powers] remove the harm inflicted by
Him? Or, if He wills that grace should alight on me, could they withhold His grace
[from me]?" Say: "God is enough for me! In Him [alone] place their trust all who
have trust [in His existence]." [EMQ 39: 38]

Allah (swt) was making them look defeated with these Ayaat, informing them that
all those efforts and sacrifice for their idols was for nothing. Ibn Abbas said,

"Tasfeeha ahlaamihim - all their dreams were ridiculed".

Thus, when the prophet (saw) said to them, "Your idols do not see or hear nor
benefit or harm" they reacted and took it as an insult claiming, "He insults our
gods." When the prophet (saw) said to them, "you follow blindly your fathers ..." the
Mushrikeen said to Abu Talib,

"He insulted our parents, ridiculed our dreams and mocked our gods."

RELYING ON NONE BUT ALLAH

Abdullah Ibn Abbas narrated,

"When they put Ibrahim in the catapult, Ibrahim flew towards the fire, Jibreel (as)
came to him while his hands were empty and he was on the way to the fire of the
dunyaa, he said, ‘are you needy for any help from me?' he said, "from you, I am not
needy but from Allah I am needy."

This is the Muwahhid, Ibrahim (as) was a man of Tawheed and Allah made him the
example even to Muhammad (saw) and all the Muslims. Nobody could doubt that
Ibrahim was needy for help yet he did not except help even from Jibreel, who is the
trusted angel and guardian of the revelation, because he knew that none can help
except for Allah (swt), Allah (swt) responded immediately commanding,

َ‫علَى ِإ ْبرَاهِيم‬
َ ‫لمًا‬
َ َ‫ُق ْلنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي َبرْدًا وَس‬
"We said: O fire, be cool and peaceful for Ibrahim." [EMQ 21:69]

Similarly the prophet (saw) would rely totally on Allah. During one of his battles, he
went to sleep under a tree and hung his sword on a branch. A Mushrik then came
while he slept and took his sword. The prophet (saw) awoke and the Mushrik said,

"Who can save you from me?" The prophet (saw) replied simply, "Allah."

The hand of the Mushrik froze and he dropped the sword and ran. That same
polytheist later returned and embraced Islam and the prophet (saw) said, "Allah
saved you from me to guide you."

AL IMAAN IS AL TAWHEED

Jibreel (as) came to the messenger of Allah among his companions after the Hijrah
and Umar reported about the meeting, ‘Umar Ibn Khattab (Allah be well pleased
with him) said:

"One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) when
there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair
extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us
recognized him. At last he sat with the Prophet (SAWS) He knelt before him placed
his palms on his thighs and said: "O Muhammad! Tell me about Islam". The
Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: "Islam is that you testify that there is no god but
Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay
Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you
are able". He (the inquirer) said: "You have told the truth". He (Umar Ibn al-Khattab)
said: It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify
the truth. He (the inquirer) said: "Inform me about Imaan (faith)". The Prophet
(SAWS) replied: "That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His Angels, in His Books, in
His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree
about good and evil. He (the inquirer) said: "You have told the truth". He (the
inquirer) again said: "Inform me about Ihsan (performance of good deeds)". The
Prophet (SAWS) said: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though
you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you. He (the inquirer) again said: "Inform me
about the Last Hour". The Messenger of Allah replied: "The one who is asked knows
no more than the one who is asking". He (the inquirer) said: "Tell me some of its
indications". The Prophet (SAWS) replied: "That the slave-girl will give birth to her
mistress and master, whom you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with
one another in the construction of magnificent buildings". He (the narrator, Umar
Ibn al-Khattab) said: "Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with the
Messenger of Allah (SAWS) for a long while. He then, said to me: "Umar, do you
know who this inquirer was?" I replied: "Allah and His Apostle know best". He said:
"It was Jibreel (the angel Gabriel). He came to you to teach you your religion."
[Saheeh Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

When he said, "Al Imaan is to believe in Allah ..." that means to believe in Allah
(swt) exclusively. So that Imaan is Al Tawheed. In fact Al-Tawheed was described in
this Hadith as three things, as Al Imaan, Al Islam and Al Ihsaan. All three are
synonymous and even when described together like in this Hadith; they all describe
different aspects of the same Tawheed. Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood said about this
incident,

"Jibreel taught us that Imaan, Islaam and Ihsaan are all Tawheed."

Al Imaan was understood by the companions as the sayings and the actions, hidden
and apparent. The Imaan is the Tawheed of the apparent actions and the hidden
actions (Tawheed Al A'maal Al Zhaahirah and Al Tawheed Al A'maal Al Baatinah).

When he was asked about Islam in this Hadith, the prophet (saw) describe to him
the Tawheed of the apparent actions (Tawheed Al A'maal Al Zhaahirah), when he
asked him about Imaan, he (saw) told him about the Tawheed of the hidden actions
(Al Tawheed Al A'maal Al Baatinah).

Al Tawheed is sayings and actions and I'tiqaad, it is total exclusivity of Allah (swt) by
the sayings and actions and conviction; it increases by the good deeds and
decreases by the bad deeds.

The two pillars of the Imaan are the apparent and hidden actions and they increase
and decrease. For example, the Salah could be rewarded more or less for each
Salah, one person could have Khushou' more in one Salah than he has on another
day, the deeds increase and decrease and the Imaan increases and decreases. The
prophet (saw) said,
"The Imaan are 70 and more branches, the highest is the Kalimah laa ilaaha illallah
and the lowest is to remove rubbish from the road."

Similarly the Tawheed increases and decreases as the Imaan and Tawheed are
synonymous. Zaid Ibn Thaabit said,

"Al Imaan is Al Tawheed."

This article, taken from Saheeh Al Sahabi, is intended to give the perspective of the
companions of the prophet (saw) on Al Tawheed. There is no doubt that they were
the standard and the best example for us all, and their understanding of the
revelation is a binding argument (Hujjah) for the later generations.

May Allah purify our understanding and Aqeedah and put us on the straight path of
Ummah of Tawheed (i.e. the prophet (saw) and his companions (ra)) and not on the
path of Ummah that has earned the anger of Allah or the misguided Ummah that
has gone astray (i.e. the Jews and the Christians).