Is this believing in Allah (swt)?

Dear Readers,

Our daily lives, family meetings, concerts and chats include so many statements and behaviors which harm the "oneness" belief of the human.

The lyrics of the songs are shocking. Some of them include lyrics meaning "You created me", "I worship you" and "I worship Allah and you". Whilst the meaning of the lyrics, each of which can cause eternal disaster of the person, are innocent,  the general and common meanings of them can harm the belief of oneness.

Some of the women expect help from fortune telling, horoscope and awliyas who are in their tombs. Most of them regard awliyas as a god who is capable of everything. It is certainly a significant fault in terms of belief. It is a shirk.

However, wishing something from Allah (swt) for the love and respect of awliyas by knowing that Allah is the creator of everything is not wrong because awliyas are the successors of Rasulullah (s.a.w) in spiritual education. Their miracles are true. They are the beloved servants of Allah. Allah (swt) ordered that:

"Behold! verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve." [Yunus, 62]

Rasulullah ordered that:

"Allah (swt) creates the things if some of His servants swear for something. For He does not want them to lie."  [Buhari, Muslim]

Neither the messengers of Allah (swt) nor awliyas are gods. They are powerless servants just like us. They must not be idolized.

# The nature is not god

We sometimes witness the statements of scientists who say "the nature created" on the radio or TV. Dear Readers, what we call "nature" is a mass which is composed of rocks, stones, soil, water and gas. How can they create something? It is a significant logic fault.

Allah (swt) ordered for the Sun that is source of heat, light and life:

"Prostrate not to the Sun and the Moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to serve." [Fussilat, 37]

Can the material world be replaced with Allah (swt) which is the creator, organizer and ruler of it? What a big fault!...

Be careful! We must be careful about our statements and behaviors. We must know Allah (swt) well. We must abstain from the statements that will harm the belief of oneness. Allah (swt) is strong in protecting His religion and judgments. Some words that we state without paying attention may touch gayretullah (effort of Allah) and we can face an eternal disaster.

My father told the following story: There is a small village called Cumalı in Bozkurt district of Denizli. An old villager, who wanted to eat meat, said at the coffee house on the eve of a festival: "I will sacrifice the sheep, cook and eat it tomorrow." One of his friends warn him, please say "If Allah destines it." I wish he had not. The old man said:

"I will eat whether or not Allah destines it." Everybody learns that he passed away when they arrive for salat al eid. It is a true story.

We must fear Allah (swt) and abstain from the statements and performances which violate the tawhid (the belief of "oneness") and touch gayretullah.

# Allah (swt) is excluded from space and time

Dear Readers,

I wrote about the statements and behavior of the people who violate the oneness principle.

One of them is the statement which refers the place of Allah (swt) as "Allah sees over us". The terms which are used to define the locations of things as up, down, near, far, left, right, above, below, in and out are used after material world was created. Resulted from the changes of the situations of the objects, the term "time" is also related to material world. None of the terms existed before Allah (Swt) created the universe and the things in it. Only Allah (swt) existed then. Allah will exist forever. Allah (swt) is excluded from space and time. As He created the objects, volumes and shapes, He also created the events and times which are only change of the situations they are in. It is ordered in the hadith that:

"Allah existed in pre-eternity when there was nothing except Him." [Buhari]

It is ordered in the verse from the Qur'an that:

"He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden: and He has full knowledge of all things."  [Hadíd, 3] 

All of the scientist who are followers of sunnah totally agrees that "Allah is excluded from time and space".

# Allah (swt) is an absolute reality

On the other hand, Allah (swt) is an absolute reality. Material world is created in image level. The human perceives the material world by means of a mechanism which combines and fictionalizes the impressions of sense organs and gives meaning to it by mental processes as memory, mind and intelligence. In other words, we do not perceive directly the objects but their images that are given a meaning to them by the brain. When there are some problems within the functions of this mechanism, people begin to see things which do not exist or experience problems in perception of objects, time and space. (Remember the situation of some mental diseases.) Healthy people can also perceive the same materials and facts differently according to their knowledge level and mood.

Let's think about it... Can the imaginary world that the human mind created be the same with Allah (swt) which is the absolute reality? Therefore, Allah (swt) ordered that:

"there is nothing whatever like unto Him."  [Shura, 11] 

"Invent not similitudes for Allah. for Allah knoweth, and ye know not!"  [Nahl, 74]

# Qur'an explains everything with our measurements

Allah (swt) explains Himself and everything that He wants to teach to us with our values, measurements in a style which we can understand. It is ordered in the verses from the Qur'an that:

"And He is Allah in the heavens and on earth."  [Anaam, 3]

“But to Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth: And He it is that Encompasseth all things.”  [Nisaa, 126]

"To Allah belong the East and the West:  whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's face. For Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing."  [Baqarah, 115]

"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth."  [Nur, 35]

"It is He Who is God in heaven and God on earth."  [Zukhruf, 84]

"And He is with you wheresoever ye may be."  [Hadíd, 4]

As the reality and an imaginary world which is the fiction of mind cannot be compared, the statements in the verses of Qur'an as "He it is that Encompasseth all things" and "He is with you" do not resemble the relations of the objects in the material world. The verses of Qur'an explains everything in the way we can perceive.

Therefore, we must abstain from describing Allah (swt) with words that assign locations for Him.

Be entrusted to Allah.

The Personal Attributes of Allah must never be harmed

Dear Readers,

Allah (swt) partially and symbolically bestowed some of His subuti attributes as seeing, hearing, speaking, .. and some of His moral characteristics as mercy, grace, fairness and patience to His servants. However these attributes of Allah (swt) can never be compared with the characteristics of what He created. Each attribute of Allah (swt) is away from deficiencies. They are perfect and complete.

The personal attributes of Him must never be harmed because these attributes do not exist in any other living or non-living creatures even partially or symbolically. Let's remember again: These are Wujud (existence), Qidam and Baqa (Eternal existence in the past and future),  Wahdaniyyah (Oneness), Qiyam bi nafseehee (He is self-existent without any needs) and Mukhalafatun lil hawadith (He never resemble the things He created).

Materialists deny His existence by supposing the universe, which was created and organized by Allah (swt) infinite and eternal, in other words by harming Wujud, Qidam and Baqa attributes of Allah (swt) without any evidences.

The pagan people who believe in other things rather Allah (swt) fall into unbelief by harming all the personal attributes of Allah (swt).

"Not a messenger did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me." [Anbiyaa, 25]

"They serve, besides Allah, things that can hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah. Say: Do ye indeed inform Allah of something He knows not, in the heavens or on earth?- Glory to Him! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!" [Yunus, 18]

"O men! Here is a parable set forth! Listen to it! Those on whom, besides Allah, ye call, cannot create (even) a fly, if they all met together for the purpose! And if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. Feeble are those who petition and those whom they petition!" [Hajj 73]

# Allah has no sons or daughters, He never resemble what He creates

Some of the Jews and Christians believe that Allah has children; they harm Wahdaniyyah (Oneness) and Mukhalafatun lil hawadith (He never resemble the things He created) attributes of Allah (swt) and so they become devoid of true faith.

"The Jews call Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!" (Tauba, 30)

"Certainly they disbelieve who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help." [Maída, 72]

"They say: "Allah hath begotten a son!"  Glory be to Him! He is Self- Sufficient! His are all things in the heavens and on earth! No warrant have ye for this! Say ye about Allah what ye know not?" [Yunus, 68]

Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create: but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah, the One, the Over powering." [Zumar, 4]

"For it is not consonant with the majesty of the Most Gracious that He should beget a son. Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to the Most Gracious as a servant." [Maryam, 92-93]

Some Christians fall into unbelief by harming Wahdaniyyah (oneness) attribute of Allah (swt).

"They disbelieved who say: Allah is one of three (in a Trinity): for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous chastisement will befall the disbelievers among them."  [Maída, 73]

Some of the people prostrate to Sun, Moon and fire rather than Allah (swt). It is ordered in the verse from the Qur'an that:

"Among His Sings are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. prostrate not to the Sun and the Moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to serve." [Fussilat, 37]

# We must abstain from shirk (assigning partners to Allah)

Dear Readers,

The belief of oneness (tawhid), which means accepting that Allah is unique in His existence, attributes, works and godship, constitutes the basic of Islam religion. The violation of this basic belief is called "shirk". Shirk is the first of the big sins. It is the biggest sin. Therefore, the belief of "oneness" must never be harmed. It is ordered in the verses from the Qur'an that:

"Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to Him." [Hajj, 31]

"Take not, with Allah, another object of worship, lest thou shouldt be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected." [Isra, 39]

"Say thou: "I am but a man like you: it is revealed to me by inspiration, that your God is One God. so take the straight path unto Him, and ask for His Forgiveness." And woe to those who join gods with Allah."  [Fussilat, 6]

"Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed." [Nisa, 48]

The holly book with the most beautiful statements, Qur'an, which is the basic and perfect source of Islam and protected by Allah (swt), includes the numerous emphases of this basic principle.

"Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah): They love them as they should love Allah. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the punishment." [Baqarah, 165]

# Hidden shirk

Dear readers, shirk can sometimes be hidden which is of high importance as it leads us to disaster.

When Rasulullah (s.a.w) ordered that: "What I fear most about you is small shirk."  The companions of Rasulullah asked: "What is small shirk?" Rasulullah ordered that: "It is hypocrisy, worshipping to show the others. While Allah (swt) gives back the performances of everyone, He says to people who worship to show the others: Go to people who you made shows in the world and see if they have anything with them to give you."  [Ahmed b. Hanbel, Musned, V, 428]

When worship is performed to show the others, the godhead right of Allah (swt), who is unique in existence, attributes, performance and divinity, is harmed. It is ordered in the verse from the Qur'an that:

"O my son! join not in worship (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing." [Luqman, 13]

In the Holly Hadith, it is stated that:

"I am the one who can never be set up partners with. If the person sets up partners with me, I let the person with the ones whom they set up partners with me." [Muslim]

Be entrusted to Allah.

We must believe in Allah with His whole attributes

Dear Readers,

Believing in Allah (swt) means believing all Personal and Subuti attributes of Allah (swt) as they are stated in Qur'an which is the main source of religion and its best interpretation and explanation, Hadiths. His attributes do not resemble the characteristics of those He created. They cannot be compared. It is ordered in the verse from the Qur'an that:

"Invent not similitudes for Allah" [Nahl, 74].

# Allah (swt) doesn't resemble anything He created

Allah (swt) exists. His existence is absolute. Allah is unique in terms of existence, attributes, works and orders. His existence is forever and eternal. He is self-existent which means He exists with His power. Allah (swt) doesn't resemble anything He created.

He is alive. He knows everything which is secret or open in the past or in the future. He does what he wishes. He has the power over everything. He sees, hears and speaks. He creates, organizes and manages everything as He wishes. These are stated in the verses of Qur'an:

"That is because Allah is the Truth," [Luqman, 30] 

"Say: He is Allah, the One."  [Ikhlas, 1]

"That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things."  [Anaam, 102]

"He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden: and He has full knowledge of all things." [Hadíd, 3] 

"There is nothing whatever like unto Him."  [Shura, 11]

"Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;"  [Ikhlas, 2]

# The essence of Allah's attributes are different

Although He bestowed the creatures He created the subuti attributes of Him partially or symbolically as being alive, seeing, hearing and speaking, these characteristics of the creatures are on a representation level. They are not like Allah's attributes in terms of their nature and essence. They cannot be compared.

"Allah. There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Supporter of all."  [Baqarah, 255]

"And put thy trust in Him Who lives and dies not; and celebrate His praise" [Furqan, 58]

"Yea, to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; " [Al-Imran, 189;  Nur, 42;  Shura, 49;  Jathiya, 27;  Fath, 14]

"Allah is the Creator of all things."  [Zumar, 62] 

"But Allah has created you and your handwork."  [Saffat, 96] 

"Allah hath power over all things."  [Al-Imran, 189]

"The Originator of the heavens and the earth: When He decreeth a matter, He saith to it: "Be," and it is." [Baqarah, 117]

# Allah (swt) knows everything

Allah (swt) has infinite knowledge. Trillions of events that took place in the visible and invisible realms always takes place under His information.

"Allah has full knowledge of all things." [Mujadala, 7] 

"Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge." [Anaam, 59]

"Whether ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it, Allah knows it all."  [Al-Imran, 29] 

"Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things). " [Hajj, 75]

"It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil," [Shura, 51]

"Say: If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid."  [Kahf, 109] 

We must know Allah with these attributes. We must accept and approve the attributes but we must not try to understand their content. It is never possible for human to understand Allah (swt) or the content of His attributes because of that human sees, hears, knows and learns but these depend on the material relations and interactions.

# The attributes of Allah notified in His beautiful names

Dear Readers,

Some of the attributes of Allah (swt) are heralded to human with verses of Qur'an. However the attributes of Allah can never be compared with the characteristics of human. Each attribute of Allah is away from deficiencies. They are perfect and complete. The qualities of human, which are created out of soil, are defected by the desires of their nafs.

We forgive the people who harm us if they realize and apologize but every time we see them we remember the bad behaviors of the people. We feel sad. Even though we completely forgive them, it will never be a complete forgiveness with what our nafs whisper. Is it the same with the forgiveness of Allah?

Some of the beautiful names of Allah (swt) are ordered in three verses of Al-Hashr.

"Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful."  [Hashr, 22]

"Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the justly Proud. Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him."  [Hashr, 23]

"He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."  [Hashr, 24]

Dear Readers, some of the attributes of Allah (swt) which are defined in the beautiful names of Allah is as follows:

# Allah has infinite mercy, justice, favors and graces

Allah (swt) forgives the sins. He has the power to perform everything He wishes. He bestows a lot of complimentary blessings. He sustains every living creature and meet the needs. He solves all kind of problems. He knows everything that is hidden and open in the past and future with His eternal wisdom. He decreases or increases the sustenance of those He wishes. He collects and assigns the souls. He demeans whom He wishes. He honors and praises whom He wishes. He makes beloved whom He wishes. He makes worthless and low whom He wishes. He hears everything in the best way. He sees everything that is hidden or open in the best way. He is absolutely dominant. He is absolutely fair. He separates the truth and falsehood. He has the power over everything. He has grace and mercy. He knows everything that is secret or open. He is not quick in punishment. He treats His servants kindly. Nothing is compared to Him in greatness. He has forgiveness and mercy. He bestows good prizes for little performances. He is the superior of all. He protects everything. He creates sustenance. He evaluates His servants in the best way. He has glory and grandness. He has many favors, graces and mercies. He gives a lot in return for nothing. He observes everything in any time. He controls everything. He accepts the prayers. He has mercy and power. He surrounds everything with His knowledge. All of His works have wisdom. He likes goodness and shows mercy to good people. He is the one who deserves love. His blessing and mercy is infinite. His honor is very superior and He deserves all kind of praises.

# Everything is in need of His favors

He will give life in the last judgment day. He informs his servants about the truth by sending messengers. He is always ready and waiting without time and space. He exists. His existence never changes. He is the true one. He presents the truth. He finishes the works of His servants. He solves the problems of the ones who trust Him. His power is the superior and it never decreases. He is the source of strength and power of everything. He is the friend of Muslims. He loves and helps them. He deserves all kind of glory and praise. He knows the number of all the creatures He had created and He will create. He creates unique things out of nothing. He will kill what He creates and resurrects them again. He gives life to what He creates and will kill each living thing. He is alive with an eternal and infinite life. He sustains all the creatures. He is self-existent. Nothing is kept secret from Him. He needs nothing! But everything is in need of His favors. He has no partners in His existence, attributes and performances. He is the one. He is capable of creating as He wishes. He decides as He wishes. He praises the ones He wishes. He lowers the ones He wishes.

# His existence is forever and eternal

His existence is forever and eternal. His existence is obvious within the things He creates. He is hidden from imaginations of the mind. He rules all the universe. He is extremely supreme. He has many kindness and mercies. He accepts penitence and forgives the sins. He punishes the rebellious and cruel people. He always forgives. He is kind and tenderhearted. He is the owner of everything. He has glory, magnificence, perfection and mercy. He gets the rights of the suffering people. He rules in justice. He keeps the opposites together. He will collect all the creatures in the Judgment Day. He has no needs. He makes the people prosperous and contented whom He wishes. He prevents what He does not wish. He creates the harmful things which cause sorrow besides beneficial things. He enlightens the universes with His divine light. He leads to the right path whom He wishes. He creates wonders without examples. His existence is eternal. He is the real owner of everything. He does not need guidance. He shows the right path. He is never hasty to punish. He is patient.

We must know and believe in Allah (swt) with these attributes.

Be entrusted to Allah.

The first step to the path of maturity

Dear Readers,

In one of my previous articles, I had stated that Imam-ı Rabbani hazrats ordered that "when a person says "Lailahe illallah" (there is no god, but Allah) by being aware of its meaning, a touch of belief occurs in his heart".⁽¹⁾ 

The touch of belief that occurs with the word "Lailahe illallah" is the beginning of all goodness for human.  Because, the human believes the existence and oneness of Allah and accepts to be subject to the training of his Rab (Allah), in spite of the ego that led him to continuous denial; and so he takes the first step to become mature with this touch of belief. In fact it is the beginning of a severe fight between the wishes of the nafs (ego) and the desires and wishes of Allah. If the person, who will always have to choose between the will of Allah and his nafs, prefers to obey the wishes of Allah (swt), he will become a mature person in harmony with the universe and the society he lives in. The ones, who cannot succeed it, will be worse than the animals, face many difficulties in the world and Hereafter.

# The first step of the mercy ladder

Kalima-i tawhid (Lailahe illallah) means entering in the frontiers of Islam by passing over the thin line between unbelief and faith, and taking the first step to mercy ladder which elevates human to maturity. Therefore Allah (swt) and His Messengers have placed particular importance to the word "Lâilâhe illallah". Rasulullah (s.a.w) ordered that:

"The most important word of I and other Prophets said is Lailahe illallah."  [Tirmizi] 

"I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: Lailahe illallah, and whoever said Lailahe illallah, Allah will save his property and his life from me."  [Buhari, Muslim]

In the Holly Hadith, it is stated that:

"Lailahe illallah is my castle. The person who enters my castle is protected from my pain." 

Reciting "Lailahe illallah" by believing its meaning, the human goes into the borders of Islam and escapes from an eternal Hell fire but it is not enough to become a mature person. A perfect and true faith which is purified from doubts, worship, sincerity and taqwa (staying away from forbidden) is needed in order to be a mature person.

The faith in the heart becomes mature in time. Allah (swt) ordered that:

"The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "Ye have no faith; but ye (only) say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' For not yet has Faith entered your hearts. But if ye obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Hujurat, 14) 

Therefore, the people who accept the path of Allah (swt) cannot be totally excellent at first. They become Muslims but the faith hasn't grown in their hearts yet. We must help them to mature their faith and become a perfect believer and develop their goodness.

The faith in the heart becomes mature in time which is possible through cleaning the nafs by keeping it away from unlawful practices, doing worship and being obedient to Allah; and purifying the heart from bad thoughts by remembering Allah (swt) all the time.

# What does believing in Allah (swt) mean?

Dear Readers,

In my previous articles, I stated that faith means believing in Gayb (the unknown) and for a true and perfect belief one must believe Allah (swt), His Angels, Holly Books, Messengers, Hereafter and Fate. I would like to explain the statements more.

Believing in Allah (swt) means believing in the existence and oneness of Allah (swt) and everything reported by Him and His Messengers, in the way that they wished. Therefore religious scholars state Amentu as follows:

"Amentu billahi ve bima cae min indillah, ala muradillahi mucmelen ve mufassalan;"

(I believe in Allah and everything from Him in brief and detail in the way He wishes);

"Amentu bi rusulillahi ve bima cae min indi rusulillah, ala muradi rusulillahi mucmelen ve mufassalan;"

(I believe in Allah's messengers and everything from them in brief and detail in the way they wish.)

Amentu billahi ve melaiketihi ve kutubihi ve rusulihi ve'l-yevmil ahiri ve bi'l-kaderi, hayrihi ve sherrihi min Allahi Tealâ, vel ba'su ba'de'l-mevt. Hakkun eshhedu en lailahe illallah ve eshhedu enne Muhammeden abduhu ve resuluhu."

(I believe in Allah, His angels, Holly Books, Messengers, Hereafter, Fate and goodness and malice is from Him and life after death. There is no other God but Allah and Mohammed is His servant and prophet.)

Therefore amentu must be recited and memorized as it is stated above in order to keep our belief alive.

# Faith means approving Allah (swt) and His orders

After Rasulullah (s.a.w) ordered believing Allah (Swt) solely, he asked the people of Abdul Kays that: "Do you know the meaning of believing in Allah solely?" And they answered the messenger of Allah knows it better than us. The Messenger of Allah said: “Bearing witness that Allah is the only true god, and that Muhammad is Allah’s prophet, performing salaat, and paying Zakat, fasting and giving away one fifth of the booty.” [Buhari].

As it is clearly understood from the Hadith, believing in Allah (swt) means accepting and ratifying Allah (swt) as the single god, Rasulullah (s.a.w) who was sent by Allah (swt) as the last messenger, and everything notified by Rasulullah without any hesitation and doubts.

The hadith clearly shows that the word "Lailahe illallah" means accepting and approving all information that was ordered by Allah (swt) via His messengers besides accepting Allah (swt) as the only true god. In other words, when we recite "Lailahe illallah", we accept the existence and oneness of Allah (swt) and His messengers and everything ordered by them.

Be entrusted to Allah.

------------------------- 
[1] GUMUS, M. Siddik (Ed.), 1993. Tam Ilmihal Seadet-i Ebediye, s.892. Hakikat Kitabevi, Fatih, Istanbul.