107- Explaining the importance of calling people to Tawhid
Q: We would like Your Eminence to clarify to people the importance of calling to believe in and worship Allāh, and the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allāh (there is no god but Allāh)."
A: Allāh's Glorious Book sufficiently informs and calls to this great Truth. In many Ayahs (Qur`anic verses), Allāh (Exalted be He) calls the people to worship Him Alone. Also, the Prophet of Allāh (ﷺ) called to the same truth both in Makkah and Madināh for twenty-three years during which he (ﷺ) exhorted the people to believe in Allāh and taught them their religion. Allāh (Glorified be He) says: O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allāh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqūn (the pious - See V. 2:21).) And: (And your Ilah (God) is One Hah (God - Allāh), La ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And: And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.) And: So worship Allāh (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allāh's sake only. Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allāh only. And: So, call you (O Muhammad ﷺ ) upon (or invoke) Allāh making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allāh's sake only and not to show off and not to setup rivals with Him in worship), however much the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allāh) may hate (it). And: So know (O Muhammad ﷺ) that, La ilaha illa Ilah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh), and ask forgiveness for your sin In many Ayahs, Allāh (Exalted be He) says: And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allāh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him) The Prophet (ﷺ) also said in a Hadith Sahih (a Hadith that has been transmitted by people known for their uprightness and exactitude; free from eccentricity and blemish): The Right of Allāh due from His Servants is that they should worship Him Alone, not associating anything with Him. (Agreed upon its authenticity) The Prophet (ﷺ) also said: Anyone who dies while still invoking a rival (in worship or divinity) to Allāh will enter Hellfire.) He (ﷺ) also said: Whoever meets Allāh while associating nothing with Him will enter Paradise; and whoever meets Him while associating anything with Him will enter Hell.) It is obligatory for all inhabitants of the earth who are Mukallafs (people meeting the conditions to be held legally accountable for their actions) to worship Allāh Alone, and to say "La ilaha illa Allāh", and to testify that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allāh. They should direct their Du'a' (supplication), fear, hope, seeking help. Sawn (Fast), Salah (prayer) and all forms of worship to Allāh Alone. Their circumambulating the Ka`bah should be done to get closer to Allāh and to worship Allāh Alone (Glorified and Exalted be He). People should be cautious against invoking anyone other than Allāh whether graves, statues, prophets or anything else because worship is the right of Allāh Alone. It is not permissible to direct it to anyone other than Allāh. Worship is a word which encompasses all that which Allāh likes and approves of, whether it is sayings or actions done openly or secretly. Salah is worship, Sawm is worship, Sadaqah (voluntary charity) is worship, Hajj is worship, fearing Allāh is worship and hope in Him is worship, vowing is worship, offering sacrifices is worship, and they should all be done for Allāh Alone. A Muslim should not slaughter a sacrificial animal except for Allāh, he should not pray except to Allāh, he should not prostrate except to Allāh, he should not fear in his heart anyone other than Allāh (Glorified be He), he should not beseech help or ask for strength from anyone other than Allāh because He is his Creator, his Lord and only He should be worshipped. Allāh sent all the prophets with these orders, from the first of the prophets to the last; from the first who was Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) to Muhammad (ﷺ) who was the last. All of them were calling people to Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allāh/monotheism). Allāh (Exalted be He) says: And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): 'Worship Allāh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tāghūt (all false deities i.e. do not worship Tāghūt besides Allāh)." He (Exalted be He) also says: (And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ﷺ): La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allāh)], so...