37.Tawhid Al-Uluhiyyah
Allah next mentioned His Oneness in divinity and stated that
He has favored His servants by bringing them to life after they did not exist.
He also surrounded them with blessings, both hidden and apparent. He made the
earth a resting place for them, just like the bed, stable with the firm
mountains.
﴿وَالسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً﴾
(And the sky as a canopy) meaning, `a ceiling'. Similarly,
Allah said in another Ayah,
﴿وَجَعَلْنَا السَّمَآءَ سَقْفاً مَّحْفُوظاً وَهُمْ عَنْ
ءَايَـتِهَا مُعْرِضُونَ ﴾
(And We have made the heaven a roof, safe and well-guarded.
Yet they turn away from its signs (i.e. sun, moon, winds, clouds)) (21:32).
﴿وَأَنزَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً﴾
(And sends down for you water (rain) from the sky) meaning,
through the clouds, when they need the rain. Hence, Allah caused the various
types of vegetation and fruits to grow as a means of sustenance for people and
their cattle. Allah reiterated this bounty in various parts of the Qur'an.
There is another Ayah that is similar to this Ayah (2:22),
that is, Allah's statement,
﴿الَّذِى جَعَـلَ لَكُـمُ الاٌّرْضَ قَـرَاراً وَالسَّمَآءَ
بِنَـآءً وَصَوَّرَكُـمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُـمْ وَرَزَقَكُـمْ مِّنَ
الطَّيِّبَـتِ ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُـمْ فَتَـبَـرَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ
الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾
(It is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place
and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good
(looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord, so
Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all that exists) (40:64).
The meaning that is reiterated here is that Allah is the
Creator, the Sustainer, the Owner and Provider of this life, all that is in and
on it. Hence, He alone deserves to be worshipped, and no one and nothing is to
be associated with Him. This is why Allah said next,
﴿فَلاَ تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ أَندَاداً وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
(Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you
know (that He alone has the right to be worshipped)) (2:22).
The Two Sahihs record that Ibn Mas`ud said, "I said to
the Messenger of Allah , `Which evil deed is the worst with Allah' He said,
«أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك»
(To take an equal with Allah, while He alone created you.)''
Also, Mu`adh narrated the Prophet's statement,
«أَتَدْرِي مَا حَقُّ اللهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ؟ أَنْ
يَعْبُدُوهُ وَلَا يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا»
(Do you know Allah's right on His servants They must worship
Him alone and refrain from associating anything with Him in worship.) Another
Hadith states,
«لَا يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ وَشَاءَ
فُلَانٌ، وَلكِنْ لِيَقُلْ: مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ شَاءَ فُلَان»
(None of you should say, `What Allah and so-and-so person
wills. Rather, let him say, `What Allah wills, and then what so-and-so person
wills.)
38.A Hadith with the same Meaning
Imam Ahmad narrated that Al-Harith Al-Ash`ari said that the
Prophet of Allah said,
«إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ أَمَرَ يَحْيَى بْنَ زَكَرِيَّا
عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِنَّ، وَأَنْ يَأْمُرَ
بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا بِهِنَّ وَأَنَّهُ كَادَ أَنْ يُبْطِىءَ
بِهَا،فَقَالَ لَهُ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّكَ قَدْ أُمِرْتَ بِخَمْسِ
كَلِمَاتٍ أَنْ تَعْمَلَ بِهِنَّ وَتَأْمُرَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا
بِهِنَّ فَإِمَّا أَنْ تُبَلِّغَهُمْ وَإمَّا أَنْ أُبَلِّغَهُنَّ، فَقَالَ: يَا
أَخِي إِنِّي أَخْشَى إِنْ سَبَقْتَنِي أَنْ أُعَذَّبَ أَوْ يُخْسَفَ بِي قَالَ: فَجَمَعَ
يَحْيَى بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ حَتَّى
امْتَلَأَ الْمَسْجِدُ، فَقَعَدَ عَلَى الشَّرَفِ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ وَأَثْنَى
عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللهَ أَمَرَنِي بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ
بِهِنَّ وَآمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْمَلُوا بِهِنَّ أَوَّلُهُنَّ: أَنْ تَعْبُدُوا اللهَ
وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا، فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى
عَبْدًا مِنْ خَالِصِ مَالِهِ بِوَرِقٍ أَوْ ذَهَبٍ فَجَعَلَ يَعْمَلُ وَيُؤَدِّي
غَلَّتَهُ إِلى غَيْرِ سَيِّدِهِ، فَأَيُّكُمْ يَسُرُّهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَبْدُهُ
كَذلِكَ، وَإِنَّ اللهَ خَلَقَكُمْ وَرَزَقَكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا
بِهِ شَيْئًا. وَآمُرَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ يَنْصِبُ وَجْهَهُ لِوَجْهِ
عَبْدِهِ مَا لَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُمْ فَلَا تَلْتَفِتُوا. وَآمُرُكُمْ
بِالصِّيَامِ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ مَعَهُ صُرَّةٌ مِنْ مِسْكٍ
فِي عِصَابَةٍ كُلُّهُمْ يَجِدُ رِيحَ الْمِسْكِ وَإِنَّ خَلُوفَ فَمِ الصَّائِم
أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ. وَآمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّ
مَثَلَ ذلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَسَرَهُ الْعَدُوُّ فَشَدُّوا يَدَيْهِ إِلى
عُنُقِهِ وَقَدَّمُوهُ لِيَضْرِبُوا عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: هَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْ
أَفْتَدِيَ نَفْسِي مِنْكُمْ فَجَعَلَ يَفْتَدِي نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمْ بِالْقَلِيلِ
وَالْكَثِيرِ حَتَّى فَكَّ نَفْسَهُ.وَآمُرُكُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ كَثِيرًا وَإِنَّ
مَثَلَ ذلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلِ طَلَبَهُ الْعَدُوُّ سِرَاعًا فِي أَثَرِهِ فَأَتَى
حِصْنًا حَصِينًا فَتَحَصَّنَ فِيهِ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَأَحْصَنَ مَا يَكُونُ مِنَ
الشَّيْطَانِ إِذَا كَانَ فِي ذِكْرِ الله»
(Allah commanded Yahya bin Zakariya to implement five
commands and to order the Children of Israel to implement them, but Yahya was
slow in carrying out these commands. `Isa said to Yahya, `You were ordered to
implement five commands and to order the Children of Israel to implement them.
So either order, or I will do it.' Yahya said, 'My brother! I fear that if you
do it before me, I will be punished or the earth will be shaken under my feet.'
Hence, Yahya bin Zakariya called the Children of Israel to Bayt Al-Maqdis
(Jerusalem), until they filled the Masjid. He sat on the balcony, thanked Allah
and praised him and then said, `Allah ordered me to implement five commandments
and that I should order you to adhere to them. The first is that you worship
Allah alone and not associate any with Him. The example of this command is the
example of a man who bought a servant from his money with paper or gold. The
servant started to work for the master, but was paying the profits to another
person. Who among you would like his servant to do that Allah created you and
sustains you. Therefore, worship Him alone and do not associate anything with
Him. I also command you to pray, for Allah directs His Face towards His
servant's face, as long as the servant does not turn away. So when you pray, do
not turn your heads to and fro. I also command you to fast. The example of it
is the example of a man in a group of men and he has some musk wrapped in a
piece of cloth, and consequently, all of the group smells the scent of the
wrapped musk. Verily, the odor of the mouth of a fasting person is better
before Allah than the scent of musk. I also command you to give charity. The
example of this is the example of a man who was captured by the enemy. They
tied his hands to his neck and brought him forth to cut off his neck. He said
to them, 'Can I pay a ransom for myself' He kept ransoming himself with small
and large amounts until he liberated himself. I also command you to always
remember Allah. The example of this deed is that of a man who the enemy is
tirelessly pursuing. He takes refuge in a fortified fort. When the servant
remembers Allah, he will be resorting to the best refuge from Satan.)
Al-Harith then narrated that the Messenger of Allah said,
«وَأَنَا آمُرُكُمْ بِخَمْسٍ اللهُ أَمَرَنِي بِهِنَّ: الْجَمَاعَةِ
وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَالْهِجْرَةِ وَالْجِهَادِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ. فَإِنَّهُ
مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنَ الْجَمَاعَةِ قِيدَ شِبْرٍ فَقَدْ خَلَعَ رَبْقَةَ الْإِسْلَامِ
مِنْ عُنُقِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يُرَاجِعَ وَمَنْ دَعَا بِدَعْوَى جَاهِلِيَّةٍ فَهُوَ
مِنْ جُثَى جَهَنَّم»
قَالُوا: يَا
رَسُولَ اللهِ وَإِنْ صَامَ وَصَلَّى؟ فَقَالَ:
«وَإِنَّ صَلَّى وَصَامَ وَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مُسْلِمٌ،
فَادْعُوا الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ عَلَى مَا سَمَّاهُمُ اللهُ عَزَّ
وَجَلَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِبَادَ الله»
(And I order you with five commandments that Allah has
ordered me. Stick to the Jama`ah (community of the faithful), listen and obey
(your leaders) and perform Hijrah (migration) and Jihad for the sake of Allah.
Whoever abandons the Jama`ah, even the distance of a hand span, will have
removed the tie of Islam from his neck, unless he returns. Whoever uses the
slogans of Jahiliyah (the pre-Islamic period of ignorance) he will be among
those kneeling in Jahannam (Hellfire).) They said, "O Messenger of Allah!
Even if he prays and fasts'' He said, (Even if he prays, fasts and claims to be
Muslim. So call the Muslims with their names that Allah has called them: `The
Muslims, the believing servants of Allah.')
This is a Hasan Hadith, and it contains the statement,
"Allah has created and sustains you, so worship Him and do not associate
anything with Him in worship.'' This statement is relevant in the Ayat
(2:21-22) we are discussing here and supports singling Allah in worship,
without partners.
39.Signs of Allah's Existence
Several scholars of Tafsir, like Ar-Razi and others, used
these Ayat as an argument for the existence of the Creator, and it is a most
worthy method of argument. Indeed, whoever ponders over the things that exist,
the higher and lower creatures, their various shapes, colors, behavior,
benefits and ecological roles, then he will realize the ability, wisdom,
knowledge, perfection and majesty of their Creator. Once a bedouin was asked
about the evidence to Allah's existence, he responded, "All praise is due
to Allah! The camel's dung testifies to the existence of the camel, and the
track testifies to the fact that someone was walking. A sky that holds the
giant stars, a land that has fairways and a sea that has waves, does not all of
this testify that the Most Kind, Most Knowledgeable exists''
Hence, whoever gazes at the sky in its immensity, its
expanse, and the various kinds of planets in it, some of which appear
stationary in the sky - whoever gazes at the seas that surround the land from
all sides, and the mountains that were placed on the earth to stabilize it, so
that whoever lives on land, whatever their shape and color, are able to live
and thrive - whoever reads Allah's statement,
﴿وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ
أَلْوَنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌوَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَآبِّ وَالاٌّنْعَـمِ
مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَنُهُ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ
الْعُلَمَاءُ﴾
(And among the mountains are streaks white and red, of
varying colours and (others) very black. And likewise, men and Ad-Dawabb
(moving (living) creatures, beasts) and cattle are of various colours. It is
only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah) (35: 27-28).
Whoever thinks about the running rivers that travel from
area to area bringing benefit, whoever ponders over what Allah has created on
earth; various animals and plants of different tastes, scents, shapes and
colors that are a result of unity between land and water, whoever thinks about
all of this then he will realize that these facts testify to the existence of
the Creator, His perfect ability, wisdom, mercy, kindness, generosity and His
overall compassion for His creation. There is no deity worthy of worship except
Allah, nor is there a Lord besides Him, upon Him we rely and to Him we turn in
repentance. There are numerous Ayat in the Qur'an on this subject.
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى
عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ شُهَدَآءَكُم مِّن دُونِ
اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ - فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفْعَلُواْ
فَاتَّقُواْ النَّارَ الَّتِى وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّتْ
لِلْكَـفِرِينَ ﴾
(23. And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in
doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our servant
(Muhammad ), then produce a Surah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your
witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful). (24.
But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose
fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.)
40.The Message of Messenger of Allah is True
Allah begins to prove the truth of prophethood after He
stated that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Allah said to the
disbelievers,
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى
عَبْدِنَا﴾
(And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt
concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our servant)
meaning, Muhammad ,
﴿فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ﴾
(then produce a Surah (chapter)) meaning, similar to what he
brought to you. Hence, if you claim that what he was sent with did not come
from Allah, then produce something similar to what he has brought to you, using
the help of anyone you wish instead of Allah. However, you will not be able to
succeed in this quest. Ibn `Abbas said that,
﴿شُهَدَآءَكُمُ﴾
(your witnesses) means "Aids.'' Also, As-Suddi reported
that Abu Malik said the Ayah means, "Your partners, meaning, some other
people to help you in that. Meaning then go and seek the help of your deities
to support and aid you.'' Also, Mujahid said that,
﴿وَادْعُواْ شُهَدَآءَكُم﴾
(and call your witnesses) means, "People, meaning, wise
and eloquent men who will provide the testimony that you seek.''
41.The Challenge
Allah challenged the disbelievers in various parts of the
Qur'an. For instance, Allah said in Surat Al-Qasas (28:49),
﴿قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِكِتَـبٍ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ هُوَ
أَهْدَى مِنْهُمَآ أَتَّبِعْهُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ﴾
(Say (to them, O Muhammad ): "Then bring a Book from
Allah, which is a better guide than these two (the Tawrah (Torah) and the
Qur'an), that I may follow it, if you are truthful''). Also, Allah said in
Surat Al-Isra' (17:88),
﴿قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَن يَأْتُواْ
بِمِثْلِ هَـذَا الْقُرْءَانِ لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ
لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا ﴾
(Say: "If mankind and the Jinn were together to produce
the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they
helped one another.'') Allah said in Surat Hud (11:13),
﴿أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُواْ بِعَشْرِ
سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُواْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ
إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ﴾
(Or they say, "He (Prophet Muhammad ) forged it (the
Qur'an).'' Say: "Bring you then ten forged Surahs (chapters) like it, and
call whomsoever you can, other than Allah (to your help), if you speak the
truth!''), and in Surat Yunus (10:37-38),
﴿وَمَا كَانَ هَـذَا الْقُرْءَانُ أَن يُفْتَرَى مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ
وَلَـكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ رَيْبَ
فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ - أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُواْ
بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ
إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ﴾
(And this Qur'an is not such as could
ever be produced by other than Allah (Lord of the heavens and the earth), but
it is a confirmation of (the revelation) which was before it (i.e. the Tawrah,
and the Injil), and a full explanation of the Book (i.e. Laws decreed for
mankind) ـ wherein
there is no doubt ـ from the Lord of all that exists.) (Or do they say: "He
(Muhammad ) has forged it'' Say: "Bring then a Surah (chapter) like it,
and call upon whomsoever you can besides Allah, if you are truthful!''). All of
these Ayat were revealed in Makkah.
Allah also challenged the disbelievers in the Ayat that were
revealed in Al-Madinah. In this Ayah, Allah said,
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ﴾
(And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in Rayb)
meaning, doubt.
﴿مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا﴾
(Concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an)
to Our servant) meaning, Muhammad ,
﴿فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ﴾
(then produce a Surah (chapter) the like thereof) meaning,
similar to the Qur'an. This is the Tafsir of Mujahid, Qatadah, Ibn Jarir
At-Tabari, Az-Zamakhshari and Ar-Razi. Ar-Razi said that this is the Tafsir of
`Umar, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and the majority of the
scholars. And he gave preference to this view and mentioned the fact that Allah
has challenged the disbelievers as individuals and as groups, whether literate
or illiterate, thus making the challenge truly complete. This type of challenge
is more daring than simply challenging the disbelievers who might not be
literate or knowledgeable. This is why Allah said,
﴿فَأْتُواْ بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِّثْلِهِ﴾
(Bring you then ten forged Surahs (chapters) like it)
(11:13), and,
﴿لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ﴾
(They could not produce the like thereof) (17:88).
Therefore, this is a general challenge to the Arab
disbelievers, the most eloquent among all nations. Allah challenged the Arab
disbelievers both in Makkah and Al-Madinah several times, especially since they
had tremendous hatred and enmity for the Prophet and his religion. Yet, they
were unable to succeed in answering the challenge, and this is why Allah said,
﴿فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفْعَلُواْ﴾
(But if you do it not, and you can never do it), indicating
that they will never be able to answer the challenge. This is another miracle,
in that, Allah clearly stated without doubt that the Qur'an will never be
opposed or challenged by anything similar to it, for eternity. This is a true
statement that has not been changed until the present and shall never change.
How can anyone be able to produce something like the Qur'an, when the Qur'an is
the Word of Allah Who created everything How can the words of the created ever
be similar to the Words of the Creator
No comments:
Post a Comment