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Fundamentals of Islam

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Fundamentals of Islam

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Roots of Religion

- (Oneness of Allah)
'Adl

- (Justice of Allah)
Nubuwwat

- (Prophethood)
Imamat

- (Guidance)
Qiyaamat

- (Resurrection)

Branches of Religion

Tawheed

Tawheed simply means ONE. The belief in One God is the foundation stone of Islam. Muslims believe that Allah is ONE in all respects.

The proper name Muslims use for God is "Allah". 'Allah' means 'One who deserves to be loved' and 'Into Whom every one seeks refuge'. Grammatically speaking, the word 'Allah' is unique. It has no plural and no feminine. He has no partner, wife, children or relatives nor is He born of any parent. The name cannot be translated by the word 'God' because God can be transformed into 'Gods' and 'Goddess'.
"Say: He is Allah, The One and Only;

Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;

He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;

And there is none like unto Him."

Surah 112 (Tawheed)

Two Aspects of Tawheed.

The two main sides of Tawheed are:-

1. Belief in existence of Allah.

2. Belief In Unity of Allah.

1. Belief in existence of Allah.

Belief in Allah is a natural,instinct. An atheist once asked Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) how could he convince him about the existence of God. Coming to know that the man had, gone several times on sea voyages, Imam asked him, "Have you ever been caught in a fierce storm in the middle of the sea with your sails torn away and you trying desperately to keep your boat afloat?" The answer was: 'Yes'. Then the Imam asked. "And sometimes perhaps even that leaking boat went down leaving you exhausted and helpless on the mercy of raging waves?" The answer was again: "Yes". Then the Imam asked, "Was not there in all that black despair, a glimmer of hope in your heart that some power could still save you?" When he agreed, Imam said, "That power is God." The atheist was intelligent and recognised the truth.

For things to come into existence without a creator is not at all possible as even a small. item such as a pencil requires a worker to manufact ure it. Nothing can come into existence without a person making it. All the magnificient creations including ourselves are a proof of the presence of a creator.

A man once came to Imam Ali (A.S.) requesting for proof on the existence of God. In response the Imam said, "The wasteballs of a camel prove its existence and the dung of a donkey proves its existence and the footprints are evidence that someone passed a certain way. So why should not this sky and earth serve as the evidence, of the existence of One most Great and All-knowing."

In the same way in this vast universe the stars, sun, planets, animals trees and we ourselves are sign of Allah.

2. Belief In Unity of Allah

Our belief concerning Tawheed is that Allah is Wahid and Ahad. Wahid means Single, Sole or One with no second unlike as in the system of counting.

Ahad means absolutely Unique in the sense that there is no likeness to him among things. Allah has knowledge but not like the limited knowledge of others. He hears but not with ears, He sees but not with eyes like those of men and so only Allah is AHAD.

Effects of two or more Gods.

1. If there were two gods and one of them over-rides the decision of the other, then the second one is weaker than the first and therefore is not completely strong. Therefore the stronger one would be supreme god, and if both think and act exactly on similar lines then what is the need to suppose two gods at all? One God is enough.

2. Supposing there were several gods and each one in charge of a specific job. So a seed will not grow until all the gods from the sky to underneath the earth play their part in full co-operation. If at a given time there was no co-operation, the result would be conflict and germination of seed will not take place. But no disturbance or disorder occurs in the smallest or largest creation.

The Holy Qur'an explains:
If there had been in them any gods except Allah, they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder; therefore glory be to Allah, the Lord of the dominion, above what they attribute (to Him). (Quran 21:22)

Related articles:

Seven Reasons Why A Scientist Believes In God (Adapted from: God of Islam. By Seyyid Saeed Akhter Rizvi).

Related sites:

(Adapted from: God of Islam. By Seyyid Saeed Akhter Rizvi)

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