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Belief in Allaah's Uloohiyaah

From The Fundamentals of Faith
By Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh Al-Utheimeen
Translated By Dr. Saleh As-Saleh
© Message Of Islam

It is the belief that Allaah Alone is the true Ilaah who has no partner or associate. The Ilaah means Al-Ma'looh i.e. al- Ma'bood , the only true God who deserves to be worshipped out of love and magnification. Allaah said:

And your Ilaah is one Ilaah, La ilaaha illa Huwa (There is no true God worthy of worship but He), Ar-Rahmaan (Whose Mercy encompasses everything), the Most Merciful.

[ Quraan 2:163 ]

He also said:

Allah bears witness that La Ilaaha illa Huwa (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. La illaaha illa Huwa , the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

[ Quraan 3:18 ]

All that is being taken as an ilaah worshipped as god besides Allaah, its Uloohiyyah is false. Allaah says:

That is because Allaah-He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exixts, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and those besides Him whom they (the polytheists) invoke they are not but Baatil (vain Falsehood). And verily, Allaah, He is the Most High, the Most Great.

[ Quraan 22:62 ]

Calling them aaliha (gods) does not entitle them to the right of Uloohiyyah . Allaah said describing the pagan deities of Al-laat , Al-Uz-zaa and Minaat that:

They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allaah sent down no authority. 1

[Quraan 53:23]

He (Allaah) told us that Yusuf said to his two companions of the jail:

O two companions of the prison! Are many differnent arbaab (lords) better or Allaah, the One, Al-Qahhaar? 2 You don't worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allaah has sent down no authority.

[ Quraan 12:39-40 ]

For this reason, the Messengers, may the Salaat and Salaam of Allaah be upon them, used to say to their respective nations:

Worship Allaah! You have no other Ilaah (God) but Him.

[ Quraan 7:59 ,60 ,73 ,85; 11:50, 61, 84; 23:23, 32 ]

The Mushrikeen, however, refused and set up gods as rivals to Allaah, worshipping them besides Allaah, and seeking their support and help. Allaah invalidated their acts by two proofs:

First: There is not any Divine Quality in the gods they worshipped besides Allaah. These gods are created and cannot create and extend neither benefit to their worshippers nor can ward off harm from them; they can neither give life, nor cause their death; they possess nothing from the heavens and have no share in it. Allaah said:

They have taken besides Him other gods that created nothing but are themselves created, and possess neither hurt nor benefit to themselves, and possess no power (of causing) death, nor (of giving) life, nor of raising the dead.

[ Quraan 25:3 ]

Allaah also said:

Say: (O Muhammad to those polytheists, pagans, etc.) "Call upon those whom you assert (to be associate gods) besides Allaah, they possess noth even the weight of a small ant, either in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor there is for Him any supporter from among them. Intercession with Him profits not, except for him Whom He permits.

[ Quraan 34: 22-23 ]

Do they attribute as partners to Allaah those who created nothing but they themselves are created? No help can they give them, nor can they help themselves.

[ Quraan 7:191-192 ]

If this is the situation with those gods, then worshipping them as gods besides Allaah is the utmost of foolishness and falsehood.

Second: Those Mushrikeen used to confess that Allaah Alone is Ar-Rabb Al-Khaaliq (the Creator) in Whose Hand is the Sovereignty of everything and He protects (all), while against Whom there is no protector. 3 This (confession) necessitates that they should have attested that He is the Only True Ilaah worhty of worship ( Uloohiyyah ) as they have done with His Ruboobiyyah (when they took Him as their only true Rabb ). In this regard Allaah said:

O Mankind! Worship your Rabb (Allaah), Who created you and those before you so that you may become pious. Who has made the earth a resting place and the sky as a canopy, and sent down rain from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not setup rivals unto Allaah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).

He also said:

And if you ask them who created them they will surely say: "Allaah." How then are they turned away (from the worship of Allaah, Who created them)?

[ Quraan 43:87 ]

Say: 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 the dead from the living? And Who disposes the affairs? They will say: "Allaah." Will you not then be afraid of Allaah's Punishment (for worshipping other then Him)?" Such is Allaah, you Rabb , in truth. So, apart from Truth, what (remains) but error? So, how then you are turned away?

[ Quraan 10:31-32 ]

Footnotes

1.

Allaah said that Hud told his people:

Dispute you with me over names which you have named - you and your fathers, with no authority from Allaah?

[Quraan 7:71]

2.

Allaah is Al-Qahhaar: He subdued all creatures and all the elements of the loftiest and lowest worlds; nothing occurs or moves without His Permission. Everything of His Creation is in need of Him. his Irrestibility is linked to His Perfect Living, Power, and Ability.

3.

If Allaah saves anyone none can punish or harm him, and if Allaah punishes or harms anyone none can save him. See Translation of the Meaning of the Noble Quraan by Al-Hilaalee and Khan, Soorat Al-Mu'minoon, Ayah 88, p.534, quoting from Tafseer Al-Qurtubee, V.12, p.145.