Aqidah (Imaan)

THE MEANING OF BELIEF IN ALLAH (سبحانہ و تعا لی)

It is in Hadith – Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said,  “the Faith (Iman)  is to believe in Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ), His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection.”(Bukhari). 

Following Quranic verses and Ahadith explain us about Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) and His attributes.

It is in Quran –  قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ .  اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ  .  لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ  .  وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَد [Meaning – Say, He is the God, the one and only.  God, the eternal and absolute. He begets not, nor is he begotten.  And there is none like him.] (Ikhlas 1- 4).

It is in Quran – وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ [Meaning – When My servants ask you (O’ Prophet – صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) concerning Me, ( tell them ) I am ever present ( with them ) and I listen to the call of him that calls Me.] (Al-Baqara – 186).

It is in Quran –  هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ [ Meaning -He is the First and the Last, He is the Manifest (apparent) and the Immanent (actually present through out the material world) and (He) is the knower of all things’.] (Al-Hadeed – 3).

It is in Quran – فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ  [ Meaning Whichever side you turn, you will find Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی); Verily ( in truth ) Allah – (سبحانہ و تعا لی) is Omnipresent (existing everywhere every moment) and Omniscient ( infinitely wise)]. ( Al-Baqra – 115).

It is in Hadith –  Narrated by Abdullah (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) – “Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said  ‘Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) is not hidden from you”.(Bukhari)

It is in Hadith –  Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said that “you worship Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) seeing Him, and in case you fail to see Him, do your prayer knowing fully well that He is seeing you“. (Bukhari, Muslim and others.  It is a long Hadith. Translation of a part is given here).  Read more… 

ALLAH (سبحانہ و تعا لی) AND THE COSMOS 

Q 1 –  Has Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) taken any matter / material from outside to create the things in this cosmos?

 

Ans – No. Everything existing in this cosmos,  was in Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) knowledge.

It is in Quran – لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ [Meaning Whatever is in the Heavens and whatsoever is in the Earth belongs to Him. (Al-Baqara – 255). 

 

Q  2 –  How did we exist in Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) knowledge?

 

Ans – Like the painter knows individual details of his paintings, then he draws them together on a canvas;  similarly, we all existed in Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) knowledge in the shape of individual facts. Allah(سبحانہ و تعا لی) commanded “Be”  to these individual facts to come into “Being” and there we came into existence for a specific period (known to Allah – سبحانہ و تعا لی).  If He commands again, we will go back into his thought (knowledge). 

 

An important thing has to be understood here.  The Artist has taken the material (paint-Brush-Canvas, etc.) from outside and his painting is existing outside the Artist.  But in Allah’ (سبحانہ و تعا لی) creation, nothing has come out of his Unity (Zaat).  We are still in Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) thought, but in a different format. 

 

It is in Quran – إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ [ Meaning – And a thing, We (Allah – سبحانہ و تعا لی)Will (to create), We only Say ‘Be’, and there it is (it comes into existence.] (An-Nahl – 40).

 

It is in Quran –  كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ – وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ [Meaning – All that there is in the Cosmos shall vanish. The Countenance (stand alone) of your Lord (by Himself) shall endure, the Lord of Majesty and Glory’. (Ar-Rahman – 26-27).

 

Q 3 –  Is it wrong to say that everything in this cosmos is Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) thought (Khayal) and is  absolutely dependent upon His attention?

 

Ans –  No, it is not wrong.  The real existence belongs to Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) and the existence of this Cosmos and whatever there in it,  is Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) thought,  appearing in different forms as per their individual facts.

 

Q 4 –  Can Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) Absolute Existence (Being)   be confined (arrested / held)   into any shape / form / body?

 

Ans –  No. Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) is free from the consideration of time, shape, body, form of any kind; exclusive or creature like.

 

It is in Quran –    وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَد  [Meaning –  And there is none like him.] (Ikhlas – 4).

It is  in Quran – لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ   ( Meaning – Nothing is like Him) (Ash-Shura – 11).

Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) is free from the considerations of   form , shape, body and limbs.  All kinds of body considerations (exclusively divine or creature like)  are negated from the above verses. 

The Quranic verses that (apparently) point towards hands, face, eyes of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) are allegorical, for explanation purposes to human beings.  These should not be understood in literal or textual sense.  If you deduce their textual meanings, you will not remain a Muslim; you will become an Idol worshiper.   

 

Salafis and their like minded groups allege  that Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی)Himself has stated that He has body/eyes/hands/face (Astaghfirullah). This is slander and an extreme case of idolatry. Those who talk like this and spread falsehood about Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) are outside Islamic fold.  They are Sky Idol God worshipers. Read more…

 

It is in Quran – وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ ۗ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ  [ Meaning – And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی)or (he who) gives the lie to His communications (verses of Quran); surely the unjust will not be successful.( Al-An-A’am-21)

 

CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF QURANIC VERSES AND AHADITH

Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی)  is free from the considerations of form, shape, image, matter, weight, direction, time and dwelling.  In their inability to understand Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) Existence (Wajood-e-Elahi),Hindus, Salafis, Buddhists Christians, etc., started worshiping all kinds of Idols/Deities (imaginary as well as man made).  The difference between Hindu God Vishnu and Salafi Sky Idol God is, Vishnu is married, while Salafi God is single.  Hindus make an idol of Vishnu, while Salafis imagine their Monster size God sitting over the skies and they both prostrate in front of their Deities. 

Salafi Sky Idol God is a huge imaginary human-like Monster who has a physical body and is sitting over the skies.  They prostrate to this Monster 5 times a day during their so called Salah and confuse innocent Muslims by calling this Monster as Allah.  They impose all Quranic verses about Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) on this Monster and claim that this is the God referred to in Quran.  (La haula wala quwwata illah billah). 

Salafis mislead innocent Muslims by taking literal/textual meanings of certain Quranic verses.  Read the following Quranic verse, you will understand the meaning of  ‘Wajha’ (Face). 

 

It is in Quran –  وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ [Meaning – “To Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) belong the East and the West. Wherever you turn, you will find Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) ( Meaning Allah – سبحانہ و تعا لی is Omnipresent – existing everywhere every moment).  Indeed Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) is all pervading (He is there throughout the Cosmos) and Omniscient ( infinitely wise ).] (Al-Baqra – 115 ) 

Imam Bukhari translated ‘Wajhu’ as ‘dominion and sovereignty (mulkuhu) in verse  كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ[Everything will perish save His countenance (Al-Qasas – 88) in the ‘Book of Tafsir in Sahih Bukhari.] (Refer Arabic Edition, Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Published Beirut, Lebanon, page 171 – last para).   

 

Similarly, Quranic references of ‘eyes’ depict “Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی)Exalted attribute of Seeing”.  Read the following Quranic verses, you will understand the meaning of ‘eyes’.

  

It is in Quran – لَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ [ Meaning – Nothing, even the weight of a mote lying either in the heavens or in the earth escapes  His notice’.]  (As-Saba – 3).

It is in Quran – وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ [ Meaning – So wait patiently (O’ Muhammad – صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes (Observation).](At-Tur – 48)

It is in Quran – وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَاحٍ وَدُسُرٍ – تَجْرِي بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَاءً لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ  [ Meaning -And We carried him on a (ship) made of planks and nails, Floating under Our Eyes (Observation), a reward for him who had been rejected!] (Al-Qamar – 13-14)

It is in Quran – وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي [ Meaning – And I endued you with love from Me, in order that you may be brought up under My Eye (special care).] (TaHa – 39)

It is in Hadith –  Narrated Anas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) , The Prophet  (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said, “No prophet was sent but that he warned his followers against the one-eyed liar (Dajjal). Beware! He is blind in one eye, and your Lord is not so, and there will be written between his (Dajjal) eyes (the word) Kafir (disbeliever). (Bukhari, Book 88, Hadhti # 245 –  This Hadith is also narrated by Abu Hurairah  and Ibn ‘Abbas رضئ الله تعالی عنهم)

When someone is blind in one eye, his ability to see or observe things gets limited.   The purport of the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in the above Hadith is, Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) has perfect vision. His attribute of seeing can never get limited like the objects of this Cosmos.  The Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) is emphasizing the perfection of the attribute of Seeing of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی).

Imam Baihaqi translated the Quranic word “Eyes” as ‘Divine Sight’ in his book ‘Al-Asma was-Sifat’.  

 

In the same way, Quranic references of hands depict Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی)  attribute of  “Omnipotence” (Qudrat).  Read the following Quranic verses, you will understand the meaning of  ‘Hands’.

 

It is in Quran – وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ رَمَىٰ [Meaning – (O’ Prophet – صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) ‘You did not throw, when you threw, but Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) has thrown.](Infe’al – 17).

 

It is in Quran – إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ [ Meaning – Certainly, those who are doing ‘the promise of allegiance’  (ba’ya ) to you, (O’ Prophet – صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم), they are actually doing the promise of allegiance to Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی).   Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی)hand is upon their hand.] (Al-Fath – 10). 

Quranic verses about Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) that apparently point towards creature like attributes of hands, eyes, face,  etc., should be understood in their proper perspective.  If we take their textual / literal meanings and say that (nauzubillahi) Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) has a body and limbs, we will get deviated from the straight path of Islam and go astray.  

It is in Hadith :

روى البخاري  ومسلم – عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ طُولُهُ سِتُّونَ ذِرَاعًا فَلَمَّا خَلَقَهُ قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَى أُولَئِكَ النَّفَرِ مِنْ الْمَلائِكَةِ جُلُوسٌ فَاسْتَمِعْ مَا يُحَيُّونَكَ فَإِنَّهَا تَحِيَّتُكَ وَتَحِيَّةُ ذُرِّيَّتِكَ فَقَالَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَقَالُوا السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ فَزَادُوهُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ فَكُلُّ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى صُورَةِ آدَمَ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ الْخَلْقُ يَنْقُصُ بَعْدُ حَتَّى الآن

Abu Huraira (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) reported that Allah’s Apostle(صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said: Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) created Adam(علیـــه السلا م) in His image with His height of sixty cubits (30 meters tall), and as He created him He told him to greet that Group, and that was a party of angels sitting there, and listen to the response that they give him, for it would form his greeting and that of his offspring. He then went away and said: Peace be upon you! They (the angels) said: May there be peace upon you and the Mercy of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی), and they made an addition of “Mercy of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی)“. So he who would get into Paradise would get in the form (appearance) of Adam (علیـــه السلا م), his length being sixty cubits, then the people who followed him continued to diminish in size up to this day. (Muslim Book 40, Hadith # 6809 ) (Bukhari Book 55, Hadith # 543).

There are 7 primary attributes of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی), viz.,Life, Knowledge, Will, Power, Hearing, Seeing, and Speech.  Human beings have also been provided with these attributes in their limited formats. In addition we have been provided with ‘Wisdom’, also an attribute of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی). The difference is, Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) attributes are His own, our attributes are Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) bestowal ( عطاء الهى ). Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) existence is His own, our existence is His bestowal ( عطاء الهى ). The above Hadith emphasizes this distinction, describing Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی)has created Adam in His image ( خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ عَلَى صُورَتِهِ  ).

We have explained above Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی)  is free from the considerations of form, shape, image, matter, body, weight,direction, time and dwelling. Salafis misunderstood this Hadith and took literal/textual meaning of the Hadith and became Idol worshipers. (Astaghfirullah)

 

It is in Quran – هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗوَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ [ Meaning – He (Allah – سبحانہ و تعا لی) is who has sent down to you (O’ Prophet – صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) the Book (Quran).  Some verses of it are definite in meaning (Ayaat-e-Muhkamaat).  These form the mother of the Book (the basic there in) and the rest are figurative (metaphorical) ( Ayaat – e – Mutashaabihaat ).  But  they,  in whose minds there is a tendency to deviate from truth, take the metaphorical (verses in their literal / textual sense) craving discord, and craving to give them their own interpretation, although none knows the reality about them except Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی).  And those who make it right approach to knowledge could only say  ‘we believe therein all that is from our Lord’.  None can catch their significance except those gifted with insight.] (Aal-e-Imran – 7).

Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) instills wisdom and gives special vision to certain people with which they extract the meaning of Quranic verses and understand facts of things.   From metaphor they reach to the truth, from source they get to the imperative, from abstract they get to the detail,  from root they get to the branches and fruits and from integral command they reach to the fractional commandments.

It is in Quran –  وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ [ Meaning – And if they had referred it to the Apostle ( صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) and the people of respective command (Saheb-e-Amr), those among them capable of deducing things and have sound imagination, would have known it (the subject fully)” (An-Nisa – 83).

 

It is in Quran – فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ [ Meaning – Those who have wise heart and open eyes, get warned] (Al-Hashr – 2).

It is in Quran – وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ [Meaning – The people who strive in our way, We show and put them on the right path’ (Al-An-Kaboot – 69).  

 

Who are the people who have been gifted with insight to know the real meaning of Quranic verses and Allah’s (سبحانہ و تعا لی) signs in this Cosmos? 

 

We all know that Awliya Allah / Sufi Shaikhs are  the people who can understand Quranic verses and Ahadith and the fact of things in their proper perspective.

SALAFI SKY IDOL GOD

 

 

Salafis translate Islamic Kalima as  “There is no Deity  (Idol) save Allah. When they say Allah is one, they mean that the Big Deity or Idol sitting on the skies is one, unique and no other Deity or Idol is like it.  They worship this idol 5 times a day.

Ibn Taymiyaah who propagated Paganism in the name of Salafi Islam, invented a theory of their Idol’s Tawheed or Oneness of theirPlanetary human-like-Idol ( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ), which was later improved by other Salafi Scholars  as follows:  

 

(i) Tawheed-ar-Rububiyya 
(ii) Tawheed al-Uloohiyya, and 
(iii) Tawheed-al-Asma-was-Sifaat

 

In Tawheed-ar-Rububiyya, they claim that their Planetary human-like-Idol ( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ) is  “Rabb” ( Sustainer) of all creatures and human beings in the Universe.

 

In Tawheed-al-Uloohiya, they claim that their Planetary human-like-Idol ( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ) is Divine. They prostrate in front of this Idol.  They say that they only ask from their Sky Idol God and from no one else. They demand all Muslims to bow down in front of theirPlanetary human-like-Idol ( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ).  Whoever does not do that, they call him Mushrik. 

 

In Tawheed al-Asma-was-Sifaat, they claim that their Planetary human-like-Idol ( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ) is  ‘compassionate, merciful and all that.  They paste all attributes of Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) on theirPlanetary human-like-Idol ( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ). 

 

As a matter of fact, they copy-paste all Quranic verses and Ahadith about Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) on their Planetary human-like-Idol ( المعبودالكواكب مثل الإنسان ) by misinterpreting their meanings.  Watch the following vidoe clip.

https://youtu.be/dClb2lAsEho

 

The above facts shows that by calling their Planetary human-like-Idol( المعبود الكواكب مثل الإنسان ) as Allah, Salafis have led millions of people into Idol worship and all of them will sure enter Hell fire in Hereafter.

 

BASIC ISLAMIC BELIEFS

There are 5 Tenets  (pillars or principles) of Islam, (i) Shahadah  (Iman – faith), (ii) Salah (Distinctive Submission – a form of Islamic Prayer ), (iii) Zakah (Islamic Charity), (iv) Sawm (Islamic Fasting), (v)Hajj  (Pilgrimage to Makkah).

   

It is in Hadith – Narrated by Ibn Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) – Allah’s Apostle (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said –  Islam is based on (the following) five (principles) – (i) ‘there is no (real) god except Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) and Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) is Allah’s Apostle, (ii) to offer Salah ( prayers)  dutifully and perfectly, (iii) to pay Zakat (Islamic charity),(iv)  to perform Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makka), and (v) to observe fast during the month of Ramadhan. (Bukhari Book 2 Hadith 7 )

 

 

 

 BELIEF IN ANGELS

 

Allah (SWT) created Angels from “Nur” (light).  They are responsible for various tasks in the cosmos

The World of Angels  The world of Angles is also known as ‘the world of souls’ (Aalam-e-Arwah) and ‘the world of command’ (Aalam-e-Amr).

 

The soul (rooh) has seven basic attributes; Life, Knowledge, Will, Power, Hearing, Seeing, and Speech. 

The World of souls is pure from ‘form’, ‘space’, ‘period’, ‘traces of appearance’, ‘age’, ‘shape’ and ‘weight’.

Unlike our creation in the world of manifestation (Aalam-e-Shahadah)  where we acquire skills and proficiency gradually, (we are born, we grow gradually and reach to the zenith of knowledge and expertise later in our old age), the creation of angels is instantaneous. Meaning, the moment an angel is born, he becomes proficient in everything that was required of him.

There is no age (in the history of  creations) when the angels were not there. Therefore, their creation is ‘timeless antiquity’ (Dahri). Meaning we cannot prescribe a time frame for their creation.

It is not like ours, which is ‘periodic antiquity’ (Zamani). Meaning, we can prescribe a time frame of our creation. Like, the grand father is born first, followed by the son and then the grand son.

The Unity of Allah (SWT) is eternal antiquity (Sarmadi). Meaning, there is no one before Allah (SWT).

It is in Quran – ‘And our command is but an instantaneous single word like the twinkling of an eye’. (Al-Qamar – 50).

It is in Quran – ‘ Say O’Prophet (SAWS) the soul is of the command of my Sustainer’. (Bani Isra’el – 85).

It is in Quran – ‘ And when Allah (SWT) wants to decree His behest, He only says ‘Be’, and there it is (the thing comes into existence).’ (Aal-e-Imraan – 47).

Angels are responsible for various types of assignments. (1) Angels who are busy is special prayers to Allah (SWT). (2) Angels who are responsible for various works in the Cosmos.

There are 4 Honorable Resolute Angels; as follows.

Hazrat Jibreel (AS) is Allah’s (SWT) Personal Assistant and nucleus of knowledge in the Cosmos. He has been responsible to bring revelations to all Prophets from Allah (SWT). He is very active and chief architect of major works.

Hazrat Micha’el (AS) is the nucleus of Subsistence in the Cosmos. His primary responsibility is rainfall on planet Earth.

Hazrat Israfeel (AS) is the nucleus of Life in the Cosmos. His primary responsibilities include arrangements of the Day of Resurrection.

Hazrat Izra’el (AS) is the nucleus of Allah’s (SWT) Wrath (Qahar) in the Cosmos. His primary responsibility is to cease the souls of human beings when they die.

There are innumerable subordinate angels who work under the 4 Resolute Angels.

Various assignments of Angels have been mentioned in Quran. Following Quranic verses specify some of these assignments.

It is in Quran – ‘Who is an enemy to Allah (SWT), and His angels and His messengers, and Jibreel (AS) and Michael (AS)! Then, look! Allah -SWT (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers’. (Al-Baqara – 98).

It is in Quran – ‘Say (O’ Mohammad – SAWS, to mankind): Who is an enemy to Jibreel (AS)! For he it is who has revealed (this Scripture – Quran) to your heart by Allah’s (SWT) assent, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, and a guidance and glad tidings to believers’. (Al-Baqara – 97).

It is in Quran – ‘(Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (shoulder, to note his or her actions) . Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)’. (Qaaf – 17-18).

It is in Quran – ‘Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having marks (of distinction)’. (Aal-e-Imraan – 125).

It is in Quran – ‘The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (Jibreel -AS) on Allah’s (SWT) behest with all Decrees. Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah – SWT) to the believers) until the appearance of dawn. (Al-Qadar – 3-5).

In addition, angels are responsible for works in Heaven, Hell and for various works related to Cosmic Administration. Angles are appointed for providing comforts or torment to human beings after their death. There are various Ahadith giving details of Angels’ assignments. Concerned books can be studied for details.

 

                                        

                                       BELIEF IN HIS BOOKS

 

 

We believe in all the books that have been revealed to the Apostles of Allah (SWT).

 

It is in Quran – “ Say – We believe in Allah (SWT) and that which has been sent down on us (Quran), and sent down on Abraham (Ibrahim -AS)  and Ishmael (Isma’eel – AS) , Isaac (Is-haq -AS) and Jacob (Ya’qub -AS) , and the Tribes, and in that which was given to Moses (Moosa -AS) and Jesus (Isa -AS) , and the prophets, of their Lord; we make no division between any of them“. (Al-Baqara – 136)

 

It is in Quran – “This is the book in which there is guidance, without doubt, for those who fear Allah (SWT)“. (Al-Baqara – 2).
 
It is in Quran – “We (Allah – SWT) have revealed Quran and We only will preserve it.“ (Al-Hajr – 9)

 

It is a word (speech) of Allah (SWT) revealed on Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWS) heart.  Quran is  not a creation of Allah (SWT), as believed by Mua’tazila sect.  It contains 114 chapters covering many subjects.  It was revealed over a period of 23 years.   Quran is the only Divine Book that has been preserved in its original form.  Not even a vowel sign of a word has been changed in it over a period of 1,440 years.  It is indeed guidance to the entire mankind till the Day of Resurrection.

 

Allah (SWT) also sent down His  (scriptures) to some of His Messengers for guidance to their nations.  These scriptures are known as “Kitab”  (larger scripture) and “Sahifa” (smaller scripture).

 

The following are the 4 books revealed by Allah (SWT) to His Apostles.

• Torah (Tawrat) was revealed to Prophet Moses ( Musa AS ).

• Psalms (Zabur) was revealed to Prophet David (Dawood – AS).

• Gospels (Injil) was  revealed  to Prophet Jesus (Isa -AS).

• Quran, the final book was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (SAWS).
  

In addition, Sahifas were revealed to Prophet Ibrahim (AS). 

 

It is in Quran –  “Or, has he not been informed of what is in the scriptures of Musa (AS)? And (of) Ibrahim (AS) who fulfilled (the commandments)” (An-Najm – 36)

 

 

BELIEF IN HIS MESSENGERS

 

We believe in all Prophets who are mentioned in Quran and Sahih Ahadith. All of them have communicated the same message.  The religions of all the Prophets is same which is monotheism (one-ness) of Almighty. There are no differences of teachings among prophets with regard to Allah (SWT) because all of them are honest and  Allah (TSA) is the same who is there from the beginning and who will remain existent for ever.

 

 

BELIEF IN THE LAST DAY

 

We believe in the Resurrection and the Day of Judgment.  There are many Quranic verses and Ahadith giving details about Resurrection and the Day of Judgment.  
 
It is in Quran – “Whatsoever is on it (earth) will perish.” (Ar-Rahman -26)
 
When there are no Awliya Allah left on the Planet earth, Allah (SWT) will call it a Day.  No one knows about the Day of Resurrection except Allah (SWT).  However, there are Ahadith and Quranic verses that indicate the circumstances in which the end of the world will happen. 

 

We  will have  to answer for our deeds to Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment.  We believe,  real Muslims will see Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgment. We believe in ‘Sirath’ (the bridge) on which everyone will be required to walk on the Day of Judgment.  We believe in Hell and Paradise as these have been described in Quran and Ahadith.  We believe  some people will be awarded Jannah from the beneficence of Allah (SWT) and some will realize that they deserved punishment of Fire in view of their faithlessness and evil deeds. 

 

In short, we believe in everything about the Last Day; about the things we know and about the things which are known to Allah (SWT) and His Apostle Mohammad (SAWS).  
 
We believe in  Life after Death.   We believe in the Questions of two Angels in Grave after our dead bodies are buried.  We believe in the torment of Grave and the life of Burzakh (Life after Death).  We believe in Fateha and Eithaal-e-thawaab.  It is established from Sahih Ahadith that Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) visited the graves of Sahaba, therefore it is Sunnah to visit the graves of dead believers and Awliya Allah. 

 

We believe in everything about the Life of Barzakh as known to Allah (SWT) and His Apostel Mohammad (SAWS).

BELIEF IN DESTINY AND FATE

Everything in this Cosmos is being run in a systematic and organized manner.  There is no mismanagement or discrepancy in the happenings of this world.  Allah (SWT) is aware of His creatures  before  they  were created from His command  “Be”.

The Universal Administration and its happenings, one after the other in a sequence,  are known as  “Destiny (Qadar )”. 

There are two facets of Destiny;  (i) With reference to Allah (SWT) and(ii) With reference to Human Beings. 

We will explain this issue with an example.

When we appear in an examination,  we do not know how much percentage of marks (or grade) we will get till the outcome of its result.    Sometimes it happens that the result is as per our expectation, sometimes  the result is  close to our expectations and sometimes it is totally against our expectation.   

Similarly, in a world cup final football match we do not know the outcome, until the match is over.  Sometimes it so happens that a very strong and favorite team looses the Cup in Penalty shoot out.  At that time we say it destiny.

Let us find out what actually happens.

In both the above instances there are  causes that need to  happen to decide the outcome. 

Like in our exam,  what are the causes that can affect our results?

The causes are (i) our study and preparation in the subject, (ii) our freshness and confidence on the day of exam, (iii) our reaching the Exam Center  well before the commencement of exam, (iv) nothing untoward incident should happen to us on the way to exam center, (v)our mental abilities working 100% on that day to grasp the questions fast, (vi) the safety of our answer sheets at the exam center, (viii) our answer sheets corrected by a broad minded evaluator who should be in a jolly mood while correcting our answer sheets, (ix) correct tabulation of our marks/grades by the computer operator, (x) honest officials overlooking the results, (xi) an efficient computer program and printing facility at the University / Education Board to publish our results, etc.

If all the above causes work 100% positively, we get an outstanding result,  may be we will get a gold medal.  If some of the causes work positively and some negatively, it affects our results accordingly.

When the cause (or causes) work favorably for a positive outcome of a work,  we term it as ‘complementary cause’ (illat-e-mutammim); meaning the cause has  complemented the positive outcome of our effort/work. 

When the cause (or causes) work unfavorably for the negative outcome of a work, we term it as ‘impediment cause’  (illat-e-ma’ane), meaning the cause has resulted in the negative outcome of our effort/work.  

A destiny (Qadar) about which nothing is clearly known is called ‘Pending fate’  (Qadha-e-Mu’allaq).

By ‘complementary cause’, or ‘impediment cause’ when the thing becomes clear, it is known as ‘Inevitable fate’ (Qadha-e-Mubram).

‘Inevitable fate’  is also known as “Destiny” (Qadar).   And  ‘Pending Fate’ is also known as “Fate” (Qadha).

With reference to Allah (SWT) everything is ‘Destiny’ or Inevitable fate.  Some people call it predestination.  And with reference to Human beings, it is ‘Fate’ or Pending fate; meaning we generally do not know what is in our “fate”.

However, we have been taught about the “positive causes”, and warned about the “negative causes” which effect our fate.  This is the reason, Prophet Mohammad (SAWS) emphasized all of us to undertake good deeds.

What are good deeds?  These are positive causes that may effect our fate in this world and in Hereafter.  We are required to strive in the way of Allah (SWT) and expect good results.  But we are told that we need to depend totally upon Allah’s (SWT) mercy for positive outcome of our efforts. We should not say that because of our efforts, we got certain thing.  Rather we should say that because of Allah’s (SWT) mercy and Hidaya we were able to do good work and it is Allah (SWT) who has accepted our work and rewarded us with this thing.  

We are also taught to accept the ‘inevitable fate’ or destiny without any complaints.  

These issues are part of the subject of Ihsan.  Be in the company of Sufi Shaikhs, they will insha-Allah lead you to the straight path of Islam.

Some people misunderstand the meaning of Destiny and become lazy. When you ask them to get up and work for the welfare of themselves, their families and community, they say that whatever is destined for us will happen and we cannot change anything in this world.   This disease is more common in misguided Sufis and among people who misunderstand teachings of great Sufi Shaikhs of Ihsan.  They should find a right teacher to learn true Islamic facts.

It is in Quran – “Human being gets what he strives for.  Man sees the result of his efforts” (An Najm 39-40)

It is in Quran – Whoever does a good deed, it will be better for (His) self.  And whoever does bad, it will cause loss to him (Ha-Meem – 46). 

It is in Hadith –   (Tirmidhi) Prophet (SAWS) replied to a person who asked him – “Should I leave my camel untied and trust in Allah?”  The Prophet (SAWS) said, “Tie it and trust in Allah (SWT).”

It is in Quran – “Allah (SWT) erases whatever He wishes and leaves whatever He wishes.  He has the mother (original) of all the Books.(Ar-Ra’d – 39).  

The meaning of “Mother of all books”,  is Allah’s (SWT) Knowledge (Ilm-e-Elahi).  Some people say it is ‘Divine Tablet’ (Lauh-e-Mahfooz).  All the things which will appear or not appear in this cosmos are their in Allah’s (SWT) knowledge. 

What should we do in the light of the above verse? 

We should do good deeds and pray earnestly that even if some bad is written in our fate, let Allah (SWT) erase it with His Mercy or change the bad into good.  If torment is written in our fate in Hereafter, let Allah (SWT) change it into recompense from His Mercy.  Remember, only our “Dua” can become (insha-Allah) the cause of changing our fate from bad into good.  So, dear brothers and sisters don’t stop from striving in this world and have faith in Allah (SWT) and His Apostle (SAWS).  Insha-Allah, you will get the rewards of Allah (SWT) in abundance, in this world and in Hereafter.   

BELIEF IN VIRTUE AND EVIL  

 

Allah (SWT) is absolutely virtuous.  Whatever is happening in the cosmos is as per the prior knowledge of Allah (SWT) and is therefore virtuous. 

What is evil?

A thing could be virtuous for a certain thing and evil for another.  Like a tiger killing a deer is virtuous for tiger because if he does not kill the deer, he will die of hunger.  But the same act is evil for the deer.

How do we understand the following 3 verses of Quran? 

(i) It is in Quran – “Laha ma kasabath wa alaiha maktasabath”(Meaning – The servant gets good of the virtue he earned and he suffers for the evil he earned”. (Al-Baqara – 286).

(ii) It is in Quran –  “Ma asabaka min hasanatin fa minallahi vamaa asabaka min sayyi’atin famin nafsik” (Meaning – Evil is  from servant and virtue is from Allah (SWT)”.

(iii) It is in Quran – “Qul kullun min indallah” (Meaning – Say O’Prophet -SAWS,  Everything is from Allah (SWT). (An-Nisa – 78).

 

Shaikh Mohammad Abdul Qadeer Siddiqui (r) has mentioned about this issue in his book “Islamic Wisdom”.  I am explaining this issue here  based on  Shaikh Siddiqui’s (r) explanation.

Understanding of verse No. (i)  – It is evident that we pray, we do fasting.  But many of us also get involve in lie and back biting.  Out of these, nothing can be  attributed to Allah (SWT).  Therefore, the virtue and evil concern with ‘Servant’, and not with Allah (SWT).

Understanding of verse No. (ii)  – Everyone of us knows that the sunlight is coming evenly to everything on this planet. However when this sunlight hits different things, it gets reflected in accordance with the  capacities of these things.  This is the reason we see the colorfulness of this Universe. 

Similarly, when you go to a laughing gallery, the mirrors kept there show your images differently.  Some mirror shows you very fat, some shows you abnormally tall and some shows you upside down.  The problem is not in the sun or in your viewing.  It is because of the mirrors that are showing different shapes.  

In the same way, Allah’s (SWT) bestowal is reaching to everyone.  Some people are using it properly, as per the guidance provided in Quran and Sunnah while others are misusing these bestowals and  are getting involved in all kinds of sins. 

Thus, it is proved that the virtue is from Allah (SWT) and evil is from servants.

Understanding of verse No. (iii)  – We all know that everything in this cosmos is appearing after Allah’s (SWT) command “Be”.  Meaning, Allah (SWT) is the creator of all the things in this cosmos.  Unless He commands “Be”, neither we can come into existence, nor our deeds.  Thus, in the bestowal of being (Ata-e-Wajood), everything is dependent upon Allah (SWT). This is the meaning of “Qul Kullun min indallah”(Say O’Prophet (SAWS) everything is from Allah (SWT).

With the above explanations,  it is clear that we need to understand Quranic verses in their proper perspective.  We believe in Quran and all Ahadith books.  By reading certain verses which apparently describe creature like attributes, you should not start saying that (Nauzubillahi), Allah (SWT) has hands, face, eyes, body and other limbs.  This kind of understanding of Quran will lead you to go astray.

O’ Allah (swt), kindly reveal the facts of things, as they are, and keep us Muslim while dying and unite us with the group of righteous people for the sake of the happiness of your beloved Prophet Mohammad (saws).