Introduction

In the name of Allaah, the Most-Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

Know, may Allaah have mercy upon you, that it is obligatory upon you to have knowledge of four matters:

1.      Knowledge (al-'Ilm), which is knowledge and awareness of Allaah, and knowledge of His Prophet, and knowledge of the religion of Islaam with the proofs.

2.      Action upon that.

3.      Calling to that.

4.      Patiently persevering and bearing any harm encountered upon that way.

The proof is the saying of Allaaah, the Most High:

"By time, mankind is in loss, except those who believe and worship Allaah alone, and do righteous good deeds, performing that which is obligatory upon them and avoiding that which they are forbidden, and enjoin one another with patient perseverance upon obedience to Allaah and in facing harm and trials." [Soorah al-'Asr (103)]

Ash-Shaafi'ee, may Allaah, the Most High, have mercy upon him said:

"If Allaah had sent down to His creation no other proof besides this Soorah, it would have been sufficient for them." [1]

Al-Bukhaaree may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:

"Chapter: Knowledge precedes speech and action" and the proof is the saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"Know that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and ask forgiveness of your Lord for your sins." [Soorah Muhammad (47):19] [2]

So He began by mentioning knowledge before speech or action.

Know, may Allaah have mercy upon you, that it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female, to learn and act upon the following three matters:

THE FIRST: That Allaah created us and provided sustenance for us, and He did not leave us without a purpose rather He sent Messengers to us. Whoever obeys him will enter Paradise, and whoever rejects and disobeys him will enter the Fire, and the proof is the Saying of the Most High:

"We sent a Messenger to you, O people, as a witness in favour of you or against you on the Day of Resurrection, just as We sent a Messenger to the Pharaoh. But the Pharaoh denied and rejected the Messenger, so We seized him with a severe punishment." [Soorah al-Muzzammil (73):15-16]

THE SECOND: Allaah is not pleased that anyone should be made a sharer in worship along with Him, neither any angel brought near, nor any prophet sent as a messenger, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"And the places of worship are for Allaah alone, so do not invoke anyone along with Allaah." [Soorah al-Jinn (72):18]

THE THIRD: That whoever is obedient to the Messenger and singles out Allaah with all worship, upon tawheed, then it is not permissible for him to have friendship and alliance with those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they are those most closely related to him, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger; even if they are their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their

kinsfolk. Rather Allaah has decreed true Faith for their hearts, and strengthened them with proof, light and guidance from Him; and He will enter them into the gardens of Paradise beneath whose trees rivers flow, and they will dwell therein forever. Allaah is pleased with them and they with Him. They are the Party of Allaah. Indeed the party of Allaah are the successful." [Soorah al-Mujaadilah (58):22]

Know, may Allaah direct you to obedience to Him, that the true and straight Religion, the way of Ibraaheem is that you worship Allaah alone making the Religion purely and solely for Him. This is what Allaah commanded all of the people with, and it was for this that He created them. Allaah, the Most High, says:

"I did not create jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me." [Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat (51):56]

And the meaning of worship ('ibaadah) here is to single Allaah out with all worship (tawheed). And the greatest of all that Allaah has commanded is tawheed which is to single out Allaah with all worship. The most serious thing that He forbade is shirk, which is to invoke others besides Him, along with Him. The proof is His Saying, the Most High:

"Worship Allaah alone, making all worship purely for Him, and do not associate anything in worship along with Him." [Soorah an-Nisaa (4):36]

So if it said to you, "What are the three principles which a person must know?" then say, "The servants knowledge of His Lord and His Religion (Deen), and his Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam).

Footnotes

[1] Tafseerul Qur’aanil 'Adtheem (8/500).

[2] Saheehul Bukhaaree (1/92).

THE FIRST PRINCIPLE

So if it is said to you: 'Who is your Lord?' Then say: 'My Lord is Allaah, who has nurtured me and all of creation with His favours and blessings, He is the one whom I worship, and there is no other whom I worship besides Him.' The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"All praise is for Allaah, the Lord of all creation." [Soorah al-Faatihah (1):1]

Everything besides Allaah is a created being and I am one of the creation.

So if it is said to you: 'How did you arrive at this knowledge of your Lord?' Then say: 'Through His signs and those things which he has created; and from his signs are the night and the day, the sun and the moon; and from that which He has created are the seven heavens, and the seven earths, and all those from within them, and whatever is between them.' The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"And from His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun, nor the moon, but prostrate to Allaah who created them, if you truly worship Him." [Soorah Fussilat (41):37]

And His, the Most High's Saying:

"Your Lord is Allaah who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then ascended upon the Throne. He causes the night to cover the day which follows with haste; and the sun, the moon and the stars are sub-servient and subject to His command. Certainly creation and commandment are His alone. Exalted is Allaah the Lord of all creation." [Soorah al-A'raaf (7):54]

The Lord is the one who is worshipped, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"O mankind, single out your Lord with all worship; He who created you and all those who came before you, so that you may be of those who seek to avoid Allaah's anger and punishment, those whom Allaah is pleased with. He who has made the earth a resting place for you and has made the sky a canopy, and sent down rain from the sky, and brought out with it crops and fruits from the earth as provision for you. So do not set up rivals with Allaah in your worship whilst you know that you have no Lord besides Him." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):21-22]

Ibn Katheer, rahimahullaah, said:

"The creator of these things is the One Who deserves to be worshipped." [1]

All the types of worship which Allaah commanded - like Islaam (submission and obedience to Allaah), eemaan (true Faith comprising belief of the heart, speech of the tongue and action of the limbs), and ihsaan (perfection of worship), and from that is invocation/supplication (du'aa), reverential fear (khawf), hope and longing (rajaa), trust and reliance (tawakkul), fervent desire (radhbah), dread (rahbah), reverence and humility (khushoo'), awe (khashyah), turning repentantly (inaabah), appealing for aid and assistance (isti'aanah), seeking refuge (isti'aadhah), seeking deliverance and rescue (istighaathah), sacrificing (dhabh), vows (nadhr) and the rest of the types of worship commanded by Allaah, all of them are to be done exclusively for Allaah, the Most High. The proof for this is the Saying of Him, the Most High:

"And the places of Prayer are for Allaah alone, so do not invoke anyone along with Allaah." [Soorah al-Jinn (72):18]

Anyone who directs any part of that to anything besides Allaah, then he is a mushrik (associationist), an unbeliever (kaafir), and the proof is the Saying of Him, the Most High,

"And whoever worships along with Allaah any other object of worship has no proof for that; his reckoning will be with his Lord. Indeed the unbelievers will never prosper." [Soorah al-Mu'minoon (23):117]

In the hadeeth there occurs:

"Invocation is the core of worship." [2]

And the evidence for this is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"Your Lord says: O people, invoke Me and supplicate to Me making your worship sincerely for Me alone, and I will answer you, and pardon you and have mercy upon you. Indeed those who disdain to worship Me alone will enter Hell-Fire in disgrace." [Soorah Ghaafir (40):60]

The evidence for reverential fear (khawf) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"So do not fear them, but fear Me and beware of disobeying Me, if you are truly Believers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan (3):175]

The evidence for hope and longing (ar-rajaa) is the Saying of Allaah the Most High:

"So whoever hopes to see his Lord and be rewarded by Him, then let him make his worship correct and purely and sincerely for Him; and let him not make any share of it for anyone other than Him." [Soorah al-Kahf (18):110]

The evidence for trust and reliance (at-tawakkul) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"And place your reliance and trust in Allaah if you are true Believers." [Soorah al-Maa'idah (5):23]

And He said:

"And whoever places his reliance and trust in Allaah then He will suffice him." [Soorah at-Talaaq (65):3]

The evidence for the fervent desire (ar-raghbah), dread (ar-rahbah) and reverence and humility (al-khushoo') is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"They used to hasten to acts of devotion and obedience to Allaah, and they used to worship Allaah upon love and desire, and upon fear, and were reverent and humble before Allaah." [Soorah al-Anbiyaa' (21):90]

The evidence for awe/dread (al-khashyah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"So do not have awe of them, but have awe of Me." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):150]

The evidence for turning repentantly (al-inaabah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"So turn, O you people, repentantly and obediently to your Lord, and submit obediently to Him." [Soorah az-Zumar (39):54]

The evidence for appealing for aid and assistance (al-isti'aanah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"O Allaah, You alone we worship, and to You alone we appeal for aid." [Soorah al-Faatihah (1):5]

And in the hadeeth there occurs:

"If you seek help, then seek the help of Allaah." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and declared Saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee in al-Mishkaat (no. 5302)]

The evidence for seeking refuge (al-isti'aadhah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn." [Soorah al-Falaq (113):1]

And:

"Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind." [Soorah an-Naas (114):1]

The evidence for seeking deliverance and rescue (al-istighaathah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"When you sought aid and deliverance of your Lord and He responded to you." [Soorah al-Anfaal (8):9]

The evidence for sacrificing (adh-Dhabh) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"Say (O Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam): Indeed my Prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are all purely and solely for Allaah, Lord of all creation. There is no share of any of that for other than him." [Soorah al-An'aam (6):162-163]

Also the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

"Allaah has cursed anyone who sacrifices for other than Allaah." [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 3/1093-1094/no. 4876)]

The evidence for vows (an-nadhr) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High:

"They fulfil their vows and they fear a day whose evil is widespread." [Soorah al-Insaan (76):7]

Footnotes

[1] Tafseerul Qur’aanil 'Adtheem (1/62).

[2] This hadeeth is reported by at-Tirmidhee and it is weak, see al-Mishkaat (no. 2331). However, there is an authentic hadeeth with the same meaning which states: "Supplication is worship." See Saheehul Jaami'us Sagheer (no. 3407).

THE SECOND PRINCIPLE

Knowledge of the Religion (Deen) of Islaam with the proofs. It is to submit to Allaah with tawheed, and to yield obediently to Him, and to free and disassociate oneself from shirk and its people. And its is of three levels: Islaam (submission and obedience to Allaah), eemaan (true faith comprising belief in the heart, speech of the tongue and action of the limbs), and ihsaan (perfection of worship). Each level has its pillars.

 

THE FIRST LEVEL

The pillars of Islaam are five: The testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; to establish the Prayer; to pay the zakaat; to fast Ramadaan; and to make hajj to the sacred House of Allaah.

So the proof for the testification (shahaadah) is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"Allaah bears witness that none has the right to be worshpped but Him; and likewise the angels and the people of knowledge bear witness: He Who maintains justics, none has the right to be worshipped but Him, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan (3):18]

Its meaning is that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah: "laa ilaaha" (Nothing has the right to be worshipped besides Allaah), and "illallaah" (except Allaah) affirms worship for Allaah alone, and that there is to be no one given any share of His Dominion and Sovereignty.

The explanation which will make it clear is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"And remember when Ibraaheem said to his father and his people: 'I am totally free from everything that you worship except for the one who created me. He will guide me upon the true Religion and the way of right-guidance.' And Allaah made this saying, that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, to persist amongst Ibraaheem's progeny, so that they might remember and return to obedience to their Lord, and to worshipping Him alone, and repent from their unbelief and their sins." [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43):26-28]

And His Saying:

"Say: O People of the Book, come to a word of justice between us, that we will single Allaah out with all worship and will not worship anything besides Him, and will disassociate ourselves from everything that is worshipped besides Him. Nor will we take one another as Lords besides Allaah by obeying one another in that which involves disobedience to Allaah. So if they turn away, then say: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims, submitting to Allaah and making our worship purely and sincerely for Him, and not worshipped anything else besides Him.'" [Soorah Aal-'Imraan (3):64]

The proof for the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"There has indeed come to you Allaah's Messenger, from amongst yourselves and known to you. It grieves him that you should suffer. He is eager and anxious for the guidance of those of you who are astray, and that they should repent and return to the truth, and he is full of compassion and mercy for the Believers." [Soorah at-Tawbah (9):128]

The meaning of the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah is: to obey him in whatever he commands; to believe and testify to the truth of everything he informs of; to avoid whatever he forbade and prohibited; and that you worship Allaah only with that which he prescribed.

The evidence for the Prayer (as-salaat) and the zakaat, and the explanation of tawheed is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"And they were not commanded except that they should worship Allaah alone, making their worship and obedience purely for Him, upon the true Religion and free from shirk; and that they should establish the prayer, and pay the zakaat - and that is the straight and true religion." [Soorah al-Bayyinah (98):5]

The evidence for Fasting (siyaam is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"O you who believe Fasting is prescribed as an obligation for you as it was prescribed as an obligation to those who came before you, so that you may attain taqwaa (obedience to Allaah and avoidance of whatever He has forbidden)." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):183[

The evidence for hajj is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"And hajj to Allaah's sacred Hous is an obligation upon those who are able to perform it; and whoever refuses and rejects the obligation of hajj to Allaah's House, then Allaah has no need of him or of any of the creation." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan (3):97]

 

The Second Level

Eemaan - and it has seventy and odd branches, the highest of them is the saying that 'none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah' (laa ilaaha illallaah), the lowest of them is removal of that which is harmful from the path, and a sense of shame (al-hayaa) is a branch of eemaan. Its pillars are six: to truly believe in Allaah; His Angels; His Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and that you truly believe in pre-decree (al-qadar) its good and evil. The proof for these six pillars is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the east or the west, but rather righteousness is the righteousness of those who truly believe in Allaah, and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Books, and the Prophets." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):177]

The proof for pre-decree is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"We have created all things in accordance with a pre-decreed measure." [Soorah al-Qamar (54):49]

 

The Third Level

Al-Ihsaan [lit. to do well or perfectly], it is a single pillar which is: that you worship Allaah as if you were seeing Him, and even though you do not see Him then He certainly sees you. The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"Allaah is with those who fear Him and keep away from what He has forbidden, and those who are people of ihsaan - those who do well in carrying out whatever He has obligated, taking care of His rights and being constant in obedience to Him, He aids, guides and assists them." [Soorah an-Nahl (16):128]

And His Saying,

"And place your reliance O Muhammad in the All-Mighty, the Bestower of Mercy. He Who sees you when you stand to pray, amd sees your movements alongs with those who follow you in the Prayer - in your standing, bowing, prostration and sitting. Your Lord is the One who hears whatever you recite and mention in your Prayer; and Who knows whatever you and those following you do in your Prayer - so recite the Qur'aan in it, and correctly perform it, since your Lord sees and hears you." [Soorah ash-Shooraa (26):217-220]

And His Saying,

"You are not involved in any matter; O Muhammad, nor do you recite the Book of Allaah, nor do you do any action - O people - whether it is good or evil, except that We are witnessing your deeds when you do them..." [ Soorah Yoonus (10):61]

The proof from the sunnah is the well-known hadeeth of Jibraa'eel, reported from 'Umar, radi-Allaahu 'anhu, that he said,

"Whilst we were sitting in the presence of Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) one day a man came to us having very white clothes and very black hair. No trace of having travelled was to be seen upon him, nor did any of us know him. So he came and sat down with the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) and put his knees against his knees, and placed his palms upon his thighs and said: "O Muhammad, inform me about Islaam." So Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "Islaam is that you testify that none has the right to worshipped except Allaah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establish the Prayer; pay the zakaat; fast Ramadaan; and perform pilgrimage (hajj) to the House if you are able to do so." He said: "You have spoken the truth." So we were amazed at him asking him a question and then saying that he had spoken the truth. He said: "Then inform me about eemaan." He said: "It is that you truly believe in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day; and that you truly believe in pre-decree - its good and its bad." He said: "You have spoken the truth." He said: "Then inform me about al-ihsaan." He said: "It is that you worship Allaah as if you were seeing Him, and though you do not see Him then He certainly sees you." He said: "Then inform me of the (Last) Hour." He said: "The one who is asked about it knows no better than the one who is asking." He said: "Then inform me about its signs." He said: "That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress; and that you will see the barefooted, unclothed and destitute shepherds competing in the building of tall buildings." He said: so he left, and we remained for some time, then he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) asked: "O 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" I replied: "Allaah and His Messenger know best." He said: "That was Jibraa'eel, he came to you to teach you your Religion (Deen)." [1]

Footnote

[1] Related in Saheeh Muslim (1/1-3). For a proper explanation of this hadeeth, refer to Majmoo' al-Fataawaa war-Rasaa’il (3/143) of Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen.

THE THIRD PRINCIPLE

Knowledge of your Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), and he was: Muhammad ibn 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib ibn Haashim; and Haashim was from (the tribe of) Quraysh; Quraysh were from the Arabs; and the Arabs have descended from Ismaa'eel, the son of Ibraaheem - the chosen beloved (khaleel) - may the most excellent blessings and peace be upon him and upon our Prophet. He lived for sixty-three years: forty years before prophethood, and twenty-three years as a prophet and a messenger. He was sent as a prophet with 'iqra' [i.e. the beginning of Soorah al-'Alaq], ans as a messenger with [Soorah] Muddaththir. His land was Makkah and he performed hijrah (prescribed migration) to al-Madeenah. Allaah sent him to warn against shirk and to call to tawheed.

The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"O you (Muhammad sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) wrapped in garments! Arise and warn your people; and venerate and worship your Lord, and purify yourself, your garments and your deeds; and shun the idols; and do not give anything in order to receive something more in return; and patiently persevere for the sake of your Lord in the face of any harm you encounter." [Soorah al-Muddaththir (74):1-7]

The meaning of "Arise and warn your people" is that he was to warn against shirk and to call to tawheed. "Venerate and worship your Lord" means honour and venerate Him with tawheed. "Purify yourself, your garments, and your deeds" means purify your actions from any shirk. "Shun the idols", ar-rujz means the idols, and hajr of them means shunning them, and freeing and disassociating oneself from them and their people.

He carried out this duty for ten years, calling to tawheed, and after ten years he was taken up through the heavens [i.e. the mi'raaj]; and the five Prayers were obligated upon him, and he prayed in Makkah for three years, and then he was commanded to perform hijrah (prescribed migration) to al-Madeenah.

Hijrah is migrating from the land of shirk to the land of Islaam. Hijrah from the land of shirk to the land of Islaam is an obligation upon this ummah and it continues until the Last Hour, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"As for those whose souls the angels take in a state of having earned Allaah's Anger; then the angels will say to them: 'In what condition were you regarding your Religion?' They will say: 'We were weakened by the great numbers and strength of the people of shirk in our land who prevented us from eemaan and from following the Messenger.' They will reply: 'Was not Allaah's earth spacious so that you could leave your land and homes where the people of shirk dominate and go to a land where you could worship Allaah alone and follow His Prophet?!' So these people will find their abode in Hell, and what an evil destination that is. Except for the weak ones from the men, women and children who were unable to migrate or find a way to do so. As for such, it may be that Allaah will pardon them, and Allaah is ever One who pardons and forgives the sins of His servants." [Soorah an-Nisaa' (4):97-99]

Also the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"O My servants who believe in Me and My Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), indeed My earth is spacious, so flee away from whoever prevents you from obedience to Me, and make your worship and obedience purely and sincerely for Me, and do not obey anyone in disobedience to Me." [Soorah al-'Ankaboot (29):56]

Al-Baghawee, rahimahullaah, said:

"This Aayah was sent down with regard to the Muslims who were in Makkah who did not migrate; Allaah addressed them with the title of eemaan." [1]

The proof for the hijrah found in the sunnah is his (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying:

"Hijrah will not be discontinued until repentance is discontinued, and repentance will not be discontinued until the sun rises from its place of setting." [2]

So when he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) settled in al-Madeenah he ordered the rest of the prescribed duties of Islaam, such as: the zakaat, the Prayer, the hajj, jihaad, the adhaan, and commanding good and forbidding evil, and the rest of the prescribed duties of Islaam. He spent ten yeats establishing that, after which he passed away, may Allaah extol and send blessings of peace upon him and his Religion remains, and this is his Religion: There is no god except that he guided this ummah to it, and no evil except that he warned them against it. So the good that he called them to was at-tawheed, and all that Allaah loves and is pleased with; and the evil that he warned against was ash-shirk and all that Allaah hates and rejects. Allaah sent him as a Messenger to all of the people, and Allaah made it obligatory upon all of the jinn and mankind to obey him. The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"Say, O Muhammad, to all of the people: 'I am the Messenger of Allaah to you all." [Soorah al-A'raaf (7):158]

Through him Allaah completed the Religion, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"This day have I completed your Religion for you, and perfected My blessings upon you, and am pleased with Islaam as your Religion." [Soorah al-Maa'idah (5):3]

The proof that he (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) died is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"O Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), you will die soon, and your people - those who deny you and those who believe will die. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will all dispute before your Lord until everyone oppressed receives their rights from the oppressor; and Judgement is established between them in truth." [Soorah az-Zumar (39):30-31]

After death the people will be resurrected, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"From the earth We created you, O mankind, and to it We shall return you after death, and from it We shall raise you to life yet again." [Soorah Taa Haa (20):55]

Also the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"And Allaah created you from the dust of the earth, then He will cause you to return to being dust within the earth, then Hs will bring you forth and restore you to life." [Soorah Nooh (71):17-18]

After the Resurrection the people will be brought to account and will be rewarded or punished for their actions. The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"That He may requite those who did evil and disobeyed Him, and punish them in the Fire for what they did; and that He may reward those who did good and were obedient to Him, with what is best (Paradise). [Soorah an-Najm (53):3]

Futhermore, whoever denies the Resurrection is an unbeliever, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"The unbelievers claim that Allaah will not resurrect them after death. Say to them, O Muhammad, 'By my Lord you will certainly be resurrected from your graves, and then you will be informed of the deeds which you did in the world. That is easy for Allaah.'" [Soorah at-Taghaabun (64):7]

Allaah sent all of the messengers as bringers of good tidings and as warners, and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"Messengers who were sent with the good news of Allaah's reward for those who obey Allaah and believe in His messengers, and as warner's of Allaah's punishment for those who disobey Allaah and diebelieve in His messenger: so that those who disbelieve in Allaah and worship others besides Him may have no excuse to avoid punishment after the sending of the messengers." [Soorah an-Nisaa' (4):165]

The first of them was Nooh, alayhis-salaam, and the last of them was Muhammad (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam); and the proof that the first of them was Nooh, alayhis-salaam, is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"We have sent you, O Muhammad, as a Messenger with Revelation, just as We sent Revelation to Nooh and the Messengers after him." [Soorah an-Nisaa' (4):163]

Allaah sent a Messenger to every nation, from Nooh until Muhammad, commanding them to worship Allaah alone, and forbidding them from the worship of at-taaghoot [i.e. everything that is worshipped besides Allaah], and the proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"We sent a Messenger to every nation ordering them that they should worship Allaah alone, obey Him and make their worship purely for Him, and they should shun everything worshipped besides Allaah." [Soorah an-Nahl (16):36]

Allaah made it obligatory upon all of the servants to reject and disbelieve in at-taaghoot, and to have eemaan in Allaah. Ibnul-Qayyim, rahimahullaah, said:

"At-taaghoot is anyone regarding whom the servant goes beyond the due bounds, whether it is someone worshipped, obeyed or followed." [3]

The taaghoot are many, and their heads are five:

1.      Iblees - may Allaah's curse be upon him;

2.      whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that;

3.      whoever calls the people to the worship of himself;

4.      whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the affairs of the hidden and unseen (al-Ghayb); and

5.      whoever judges by other than what Allaah sent down.

The proof is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High,

"No one is to be compelled to enter the Religion, true guidance has been made clear and distinct from falsehood. So whoever rejects at-taaghoot (all that is worshipped besides Allaah) - and truly believes and worships Allaah alone, then he has grasped the firmest handhold that will never break." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):256]

And this is the meaning of laa ilaaaha illallaah (None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah).

And in the hadeeth:

"The head of the affair is al-Islaam, and its supporting pillar is the Prayer, and its highest part is jihaad in Allaah's cause. [4]

And Allaah knows best, and may Allaah extol and send blessings of peace upon Muhammad, his true followers and his Companions.

Footnotes

[1] According to Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen, this quote from Imaam al-Baghawee exists only in meaning and can be found in his Tafseer.

[2] Related by Ahmad (4/99) and Abu Daawood (3/7) and ad-Daarimee (2/239). It was declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami' us-Sagheer (no. 7346).

[3] A'alaamul Muwaqi'een (1/53).

[4] Related by at-Tirmidhee (7/281) and Ibn Maajah (2/1314). It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee (no. 2110