Introduction
Tawheed, monotheism is the belief in one god. In Islam it is the belief in Allah, the one true god. The basis of monotheism in Islam can be seen in the Qur’an where Allah says, “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.” (HQ21: 25). This idea is the basis of Islam. The purpose of writing this composition is to try to show Muslims and non-Muslims alike that there are many signs that point to monotheism. We will show that man has an innate desire to seek out his Lord. We will also show how nature points to monotheism and also how science and technology has helped man to see the oneness of Allah. It is my hope that this composition is easily understood and will help the readers to have a better understanding of Tawheed.Lesson One: Seeking Allah
Allah, the Lord, Cherisher, Evolver of the universe who depends on no one and with out Whom no one would exist has given man an innate need to search for Him. Allah says in the Qur’an, “Allah the needless” (112:2) which has also been translated as “Allah, the eternally besought of all” by Izzudd in al-Hayak, shows the fact that everyone searches for Allah. We all have a burning desire to know where we come from. The primitive man with his limited resources have from the beginning of time tried to explain how the world came into being and what his role should be in it. Man came into this world with everything he needs to survive; he didn’t have to find the necessities of life they were already provided for him. Man was never taught how to breath, and a baby was never taught how to suck on his mother’s breast, yet we all breath and are nourished. How did that come to be? There are all different types of plants and animals that were here prior to us, so we could not have created them, so where did they come from and who created them? These are the type of questions that were asked by our ancestors and are still being asked by us today. Fortunately for us Allah in His Omnipotent Wisdom and Knowledge created this inquisitive nature in us to search for the answers to these mysteries and has given us the answers to these perplexing questions. After a thorough examination of cause and effect we come to know that there is a Primary Cause that has instigated all the subsequent effects.When we don’t find or have an understanding of the Primary Cause we continue to search because we find ourselves unfulfilled and saddened. We do this because the Creator has also given us a need to be thankful because we were only created to worship and praise him. Indeed we have a lot to be thankful for, such as our mental and physical faculties as well as our social relations. In order for us to have a sense of completeness this urge to be thankful has to be addressed and satisfied. Satisfaction only comes from knowing your Lord and until He’s known the search will continue.
While we search for Allah, the Primary Cause, we find ourselves being pulled in many directions. Once the knowledge of there being a primary cause is realized we have to find the correct way of following the commands of Allah “The Primary Cause”. This process is just as difficult if not more difficult than finding the Cause because of everyone having an idea of how we should go about serving Allah. On an everyday basis we find Christians, Jews, Buddhist, Muslims, atheist and others trying to propagate their way of life. Unfortunately every road doesn’t lead to Allah and the way that he has chosen for us. However we are also blessed with fortune because the All Wise Creator and The Primary Cause has given us guidance from the beginning of mans existence as shown by the Holy Qur’an “And received Adam from his Lord words and Allah turned to him mercifully verily, He is the Oft-turning to mercy, the Most Merciful. Said We then, get down ye all together and when cometh from Me unto you a guidance, and whosoever follows My guidance on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve”. (2:37-38). Our learned men in their commentary on this verse states that the guidance that’s being referred to in this verse was created along with the creation of Adam (peace be upon him or p.b.u.h). In this we see that man has always been guided, the key is to be guided aright. With right guidance we can cease searching for Allah and begin knowing him.
Lesson Two: The signs of Allah in our daily life
Allah says in the Qur’an “Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah Sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they Trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth; - (Here) indeed are Signs for a people that are wise.” (2:164). This verse admonishes us to take notice of the natural order of life and how Allah provides sustenance for us. By doing this we will begin the process of getting to know our Lord. We take the time to revere and respect man for his achievements and works. And man’s works fall very, very short of the works of Allah. By contemplating the signs and wonders of Allah we obtain a greater appreciation
and knowledge for how great our Lord is. This knowledge allows us to worship Allah and have faith in Him. This knowledge is also essential in us having the right concept of Allah. The wrong concept of Allah will have us worshipping the created and not the Creator. With an incorrect belief system we will find ourselves depressed, frustrated and full of despair. This is the problem faced by materialist, agnostics, scientists, and atheist because through their disbelief they have nowhere to turn to in their time of need. An example of that is, when an agnostic person feels that a bad omen has come on them and they want help from the Almighty how do they address Him, how do they seek His countenance, how will they know what the prescribed actions are to alleviate themselves from this bad omen. They can’t find the solution to their problems because they don’t acknowledge “The Cause” so a lot of them from these groups commit suicide, turn to drugs or withdraw completely from life. This is because they have no hope. Hope can only comes from knowing that Allah, who created all things, has power over all things and has the ability to change all things. When you don’t submit to Allah you can’t know the kindness, love, and mercy that He has for his creatures. Thus leaving us to our own limited and inadequate understanding and depriving ourselves of the Mercy of Allah.
Islam is by definition is the total submission to the will of Allah. Another definition is peace. When we analyze these definitions we can deduce that peace, real peace, can only be obtained by submitting our will to that of Allah. That is the definition of a Muslim. Where in the above paragraph those that didn’t acknowledge Allah fell into peril and despair, the Muslim is assured of the mercy of Allah. Armed with this info the Muslim experiences lest anxiety when he deals with death, fear of the unknown, war and every day life. The Qur’an attests to this when it says, “It is those who believe and confuse not their beliefs with oppression – that they are (truly) in peacefulness, for they are on right guidance.” (6:82).
This peace that Allah bestows upon his devotees also gives him a sense of responsibility towards himself and the creations of Allah. This makes the Muslim learn what his rights are and the rights that others have on him. When a person doesn’t know that he is accountable for all his actions he will not always do his best. He wont cross his t’s nor dot his I’s , he wont see a job through, he wont have compassion for his fellow man. But the Muslim that fears his lord and knows his Lord, knows his responsibility and lives up to them. If everyone knew their rights and the rights of others on them there would be no selfishness, oppression or aggression toward one another.
Allah deals with his creation by His signs (prophets) through them He shows us how we are to deal with life on every level. This is why we have no excuses, our Lord has provided everything for us. And has guided us to righteousness, and in order to be righteous we have to hold true to the trust given to us by Allah most high. The only way to live up to this trust is to have a sense of responsibity, and make it strong within us and nurture it by understanding the signs of Allah.
Lesson Three: Two clear ways of knowing Allah
Man has been said to posses mind, body and soul. The mind and soul are the intellect and spiritual aspects in man. These are his tools that deal with his internal faculties. His eyes, ears, nose, skin and mouth deal with the external. These tools that Allah has given to man allows us to know Him in various ways.Allah has separated man from his other creation by giving him the ability to reason. With this reasoning, if man is left alone with no external coercion he will undoubtedly come to the conclusion that he didn’t create anything, not even himself, so there has to be a greater force, a Creator that has created everything. The Qur’an gives a great example of man’s inner and external search for him through the story of Prophet Abraham (p.b.u.h). Allah says, “ So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might (with understanding) have certitude. When the night covered him over, He saw a star: He said: "This is my Lord." But when it set, He said: "I love not those that set." When he saw the moon rising in splendor, he said: "This is my Lord." But when the moonset, He said: "unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray." When he saw the sun rising in splendor, he said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sunset, he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah. (6:75-79). In this story we see Prophet Abraham watching the heavens and observing the signs of Allah in nature (the stars, moon and sun). While he is using his physical faculties, he sees the stars, moon and sunrise and set. He when he saw each of them rise he concluded that they must be his Lord, but when they set his internal faculties deduced that these things were created and that the creator of these things must be worshipped. He must be his Lord. Hence Abraham declared “Verily I have turned my face wholly unto Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, being upright, and I am not of the associators.” (6:79) From Ibrahim (as) we find where man has found the right path through his intellect, and also by means of his physical faculties.
Some people never come to that realization. One group of people that used their physical faculties, were actually deceived by the signs of Allah when He bestowed his blessings on them like power, riches, sons and status. Pharaoh and the people of Pharaoh fit this description. There are many references to the story of Pharaoh and Prophet Moses (p.b.u.h) in the Qur’an for this purpose I will use what Allah says,” Then after them We sent Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they wrongfully rejected them: So see what was the end of those who made mischief. Moses said: "O Pharaoh! I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds, - One for whom it is right to say nothing but truth about Allah. Now have I come unto you (people), from your Lord, with a clear (Sign): So let the Children of Israel depart along with me." (Pharaoh) said: "If indeed thou hast come with a Sign, show it forth, - if thou tellest the truth." Then (Moses) threw his rod, and behold! It was a serpent, plain (for all to see)! And he drew out his hand, and behold! It was white to all beholders! Said the Chiefs of the people of Pharaoh: "This is indeed a sorcerer well-versed. "His plan is to get you out of your land: then what is it ye counsel?" They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while); and send to the cities men to collect- and bring up to thee all (our) sorcerers well-versed." So there came the sorcerers to Pharaoh: They said, "of course we shall have a (suitable) reward if we win!" He said: "Yea, (and more), - for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)." They said: "O Moses! Wilt thou throw (first), or shall we have the (first) throw?" Said Moses: "Throw ye (first)." So when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people, and struck terror into them: for they showed a great (feat of) magic. We put it into Moses’ mind by inspiration: "Throw (now) thy rod”: and behold! It swallows up straight away all the falsehoods, which they fake! Thus truth was confirmed, and all that they did was made of no effect. So the (great ones) were vanquished there and then, and were made to look small. But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration. Saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, - "The Lord of Moses and Aaron." Said Pharaoh: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick, which ye have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall ye know (the consequences). "Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross." They said: "For us, We are but sent back unto our Lord: "But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the Signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)! (HQ 7:103-126) Here we find Allah sending Pharaoh one of his signs (Moses p.b.u.h) with clear evidence. Pharaoh, taking himself to be god was full of arrogance because of what Allah had given to him (power, wealth, sons). Pharaoh’s intellect (inner faculties) was astray because of his physical perceptions concerning the blessing Allah gave him. Allah gave Moses (p.b.u.h) signs to warn Pharaoh of his waywardness and to return him to the path. When Pharaoh saw the physical power of Allah through His signs, Pharaoh resisted and was destroyed. When Pharaoh was drowning he finally acknowledge Allah, and said, “There is no god but the God of Moses (p.b.u.h).” (HQ 10:90). Here we find Allah giving man the opportunity to use his external and internal tools to acknowledge Him by his signs, but man not recognizing his own limitations failed to see Allah’s signs. He failed to see that Allah is not limited and it was Allah that gave man everything he had. May Allah keep us far away from the arrogance of Pharaoh, and may he also remove the veils from our sight so that we acknowledge Him internal and externally.
Allah has designed man to call out to Him in his time of need. At that time he realizes that he has no power. He sees his limitations and has no choice but to call on Allah.. At this time his faculties, internal and external, turn to the Primary Cause for help. Unfortunately after man is delivered from his calamity many of them fall right back into disbelief. The man that doesn’t fall back into disbelief is that man that has used his faculties to bring him to the light of reason. His veils are removed and he has truly come to know his Lord.
Lesson four: An answer to an important question
God, the eternal, there is no god but he, he, who has no partners or associates. He begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him. This by all accounts can be viewed as surah Ikhlas in the Qur’an, but it is actually the concept of Umvelinqangi, pronounced as Walla hu gani held by the South African Zulu tribe. This was their concept of Allah before any European made his way to their land. The Zulu’s are an ancient tribe that was isolated from outside influences and were able to arrive at this concept. We can say that this idea was miraculous, but Allah says in the Qur’an “ And indeed raised We in every nation an apostle (of Ours preaching) that “Worship ye God (only), and shun ye (the worship of every kind of) idol,” so of them were some whom God guided, and of them were others on whom error was confirmed; Therefore travel ye in the earth, then see what hath been the end of the beliers.”(16:36) Allah tells us here that every nation had an apostle sent to them, from among their own people. We have seen a reference from the Qur’an that when Allah created Adam (as) guidance from Allah was present. The Zulu’s aren’t the only ancient people that had this idea, the proof of that comes from the above verse where Allah says “travel the earth and see what happened to the beliers.”There are some that say that we get our religious beliefs from customs. However customs vary from people to people. The belief that there is a Higher Being can be seen in every people at every place and time. Customs have come to overshadow the belief in the Higher Being, but this Higher Being (Allah) gave guidance to every people. So the custom of Allah giving guidance is actually the most common custom. Allah testifies to this when He says “Verily We sent thee with truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner: and there is not a people but a warner hath gone among them.” (HQ35: 24) This shows that every people had been warned but they didn’t heed the warning. They forgot the revelation, changed it or disregarded it. This caused some people take their other traditions and even nature as being their gods (idols). Allah has given man an innate desire to know Him so that burning turns us back to Him.
Psychologists say, “that the human spirit or soul has four senses”: Sense of knowledge, sense of goodness, sense of beauty, and sense of belief. The sense of worship is rooted deep in our in our spirits. Allah created us this way. None of these senses can be separated from us or from each other. These senses are called fitrat (divinely- created nature) in Islam. This nature allows us to know that love for Allah has always existed and will continue to exist. And faith in Allah is an eternal flame that warms our heart and spirit. In order for us to be successful we have to be aware of this nature and nurture it.
Lesson five: A True story
Imam Ali (p.b.u.h) has said, “Praise be to Allah who wore (the dress of) honor and pride and has chosen them both for Himself giving not to his creatures.” He the Imam continues, “And Allah, The Exalted, has cursed those of his servants who attempt to quarrel with Him over this quality (honor and pride)”.From the above we see that only Allah has the right to be proud. Al- Mutakabbir is one of the attributes of Allah. This attribute describes how Allah is the One that possesses all greatness, Who is above having any of the qualities of His creatures, Who is above being harmed by the oppressors among His creation, Whose greatness and pride are the super-most. This shows that Allah is the only One that deserves the attributes of greatness, perfection, pride, and glory, all at the same time. Who is greater than Allah? And whom does Allah submit to? The answer to both questions is no one. Thus Allah has said, “Surely evil is the dwelling place of those who are proud.” (HQ16: 59). We find that, the first being to be filled with pride was the Iblis, the shaytan, he was ordered by Allah to bow down to Adam (as) but he was full of pride and Allah cursed him until the day of judgment. (HQ15: 29-33). By us being filled with pride we follow the example of shaytan, the rejected, and that leads straight to the hell fire. What an evil abode it is.
We see that as men we can’t do anything. Those that came before us were punished because they tried to adorn the cloak of Allah (pride). There are many ways for us to show pride, here are a few; we show pride by not obeying Allah, not giving full measure, not supplicating to Allah etc. Pride is a disease of the heart. The cure for it is to submit to Allah, realize everything was created by Him, thus everything belongs to Him, and that we are only here to worship Him.
Lesson Six: The second way of coming to know Allah
Looking at the world we live in, we realize that this world is not in chaos and disorder. On the contrary, we see that this world follows specific laws and follows them without any deviation. Nothing happens haphazardly, it happens for a reason.The earth is made primarily of water. Approximately 75% of the earth’s surface is water. This no coincidence, every living thing is made from water and is dependent on it for it’s survival. Without this essential element the earth could not support life. With water we grow our crops, give water to our cattle, and hydrate ourselves. It is no wonder why Allah has given us such an abundance of water. We get it from rain, dew, streams, and oceans. In this we see that this world had to be planned by a Master Planner, that knows the needs of the creatures here on earth.
We also see that all creatures have special qualities that allow them to survive. The animals that live in nature have furs and hairs that allow them to deal with cold and heat. In the winter they grow longer and fuller coats and in the summer they shed there winter coats so that they will be cool. This had to be planned because of how this happens all the time without fail. This is evidence of the laws of nature that all creation follows.
Men have been on the face of this earth for eons and have made tremendous strides in the field of science. Man has been a great imitator. All of his systems are based on nature. Man makes airplanes and the concepts of flight come directly from birds. He builds irrigation systems to simulate rain. Man looks at these systems occurring in nature and has to say once again that this system didn’t happen by chance. It had to have been made by a Master Builder.
The probability of an uneducated man going into a computer plant to reconfigure the programs of that system is slim to none. No matter how long he stares at this computer he will never be able to figure it out. There are some geniuses that are capable of doing extraordinary things, but the complexity of a computer system even confounds its makers. There are millions of actions that take place while operating a computer. The computer gathers data, displays that data, saves, deletes, and controls functions of other computers hundreds of miles away. In this world man is that uneducated
guy sitting there looking at the huge computer system. Even the brilliant among us can’t begin to imagine what it will take to run this universe. How can a man regulate all the births that occur in plants and animals, how can he regulate temperatures all over the world? How can he not see that it is Allah the Master Planner, and Master Builder, that is in control. He is The Lord, Cherisher, Sustainer, and Evolver of all the worlds. (HQ1:2).
Here we can see that if man were to sit back and ponder the order in nature he will find his Lord. Allah has said “Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding,- Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. (HQ3: 190. -191) These verses show that if man would ponder these signs in nature we will see that The All-Mighty creator made this system and we will be successful if we praised and worship Him. We can also see that this system was not created for nothing, but for a purpose. All praises belong to Allah.
Lesson seven: Examples from creation.
With the advancement of technology the world is as they say a “smaller place”. We are able to see now what was revealed in the Qur’an fourteen hundred years ago because of this newfound technology. The more we learn about this system the more we see the oneness of Allah. Maybe with more advancement we will be able to prove more of the Qur’an.
The human body is truly a work of art, Allah says ”We have created man in the best structure”. (HQ95: 4) This ayat from the Qur’an shows that there was a creator that created us, but in the previous section it was said that technology helped to prove the oneness of Allah. When we see man as an adult it is hard to imagine his humble beginnings, what we see is the end result. A man with two eyes to see, a nose to smell, a mouth to taste, skin to feel and a host of systems that make the machine (man) function. Science and technology has taught us that the most complicated thing on earth is man. We all have different talents, shapes, colors and languages yet we all begin the same way. In this we see that we all breathe, eat and drink to survive. That shows we all have the one creator. Allah says, “Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form)? Then did he become a leech-like clot; then did (Allah) make and fashion (him) in due proportion.”
(HQ 75:37-38). When man was fashioned, Allah gave him a respiratory, digestive, and neurological system that is self regulated. Again these aren’t things that man asked for but if he didn’t have them he couldn’t survive.
Here we will take the time to discuss one of the systems that makes man unique from other creatures, that is mans digestive system. Allah has given some animals the ability to only digest herbage, while in others meats. Man can digest both herbage and meats. Man needs nutrients from both to survive. To discuss the entire process here will be lengthy, but in brief digestion starts with saliva in the mouth, digestive enzymes in the stomach, and the distribution of nutrients from the large intestine. After then the body excretes the waste products that will harm the body. This is present not only in man but also through out all creation. The oneness of Allah is seen hereby technology because only with recent technological advances has this information become available. Allah has made these signs available to us fourteen hundred years ago.
Lesson eight: A world of wonder in a small bird.
In this lesson, we want to leave aside the large country of our body, which we have briefly touched upon and turn to a look at the wonder of other creatures.
We look at the sky at certain times and we see large groups of birds flying together in well-organized groups. These are called migratory birds and they fly thousands of miles annually to mate. These birds mate at there places of birth. These birds have no maps, compasses or north star system used in cars to guide them to their destination. How are they able to navigate these great distances without the guidance systems we have?
Science now says, that these birds have a natural compass that guides them over these great distances. These birds make these migrations annually. Who taught them how to fly? Allah says,” Do they not observe the birds above them, spreading their wings and folding them in? None can uphold them except (Allah) Most Gracious: Truly (Allah) Most Gracious: Truly it is He that watches over all things.” (HQ67: 67). Who tells them when it is time to make their migrations? Again science has said that birds have a natural instinct that allows these birds to know when to take flight. Allah says, "I put my trust in Allah, My Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature, but He hath grasp of its forelock. Verily, it is my Lord that is on a straight Path.” (HQ11: 56). In the commentary of this verse Abdullah Yusef Ali says, “this verse shows that Allah has full control over every creature.” This shows that what science is referring to, as nature is only Allah. More evidence can be seen of this when we find baby birds that have been hurt and are unable to keep up with the flock. Humans have nursed these birds to health and when it is time to make the migration they make that migration without any help. And they find their way back to their birthplaces. These phenomena can only be present if a Wise Creator were present to cause this wonderment.
Lesson nine: Love for insects and flowers.
Generally when we think of insects and flowers we either say of the flowers that they are beautiful or they cause allergies, and of insects that they are nuisances. All of these statements are true in their proper contexts.
Flowers and plants are beautiful; they have many different colors, shapes and scents. Along with being beautiful they provide oxygen and can be used as a food source for us humans. In them we also find some that have medicinal properties that helps heal people. Flowers and plants have a very big problem that has been solved by our Creator. The problem is that, science has found in the plant kingdom that there are both male and female plants, Allah also attests to this when he says” Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge. Because plants don’t walk like animals they need help in the area of reproduction. This is where the nuisances come in, (the insects). We have come to find that pollen that fertilizes the female plants get to them primarily by insects traveling from one plant to the other.
There is no wonder why plants and insects burst upon the scene at the same time. They are dependant on one another for their survival. Along with plants being beautiful some cause allergic reactions in people. Science now tells us that if people are allergic to say an individual flower if they eat the honey of bees that have eaten primarily from that flower they will build up a natural defense towards that allergy. Allah says of the bee, “And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men's) habitations; Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth), and find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord: there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors, wherein is healing for men: verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought. (HQ 16:68-69). Truly this gift from Allah is also a mercy from Him, and a testament that he knows his creation. He knew that some people would be allergic to flowers and has given them the perfect natural remedy. Glory be to Allah the Knower, the Merciful.
Lesson ten: In the world of infinitely small things.
Allah has said, “When Prophet Solomon (p.b.u.h) with his large army of men, jinn, spirits and animals entered a valley where several thousand ants were carrying on with their daily routine on the surface of the earth, they at once decided to enter into their holes inside the earth so that they might not be inadvertently crushed by the hosts of Sulayman.” (HQ 27:18) Allah has also said, “There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.”(HQ6: 38). From these Qur’anic verses the ants and other living beings are said to live in communities like us and also they have the ability to communicate with each other. We as humans are sometimes oblivious to these facts.
Science shows that the ant has a lifestyle very similar to ours. Ant society is very complicated, and organized. They have a Queen that they all answer to, nurseries, factories, armies, silos for grain and scouts. People have devoted many years to the study of ant society to bring us this information. The ant if his grains are wet brings them out to dry. If the grain begins to bud he removes the buds, this keeps the grain soft and from taking root. At the sign of danger the scout ant gets word back to the mound to have the mound protected. If the scout ant finds food he leaves a chemical trail that the other ants can follow to get to the food and they will never get lost. There are questions that keep recurring here, who taught the ant what it knows? The answer is always the same, Allah.
The smallest building block of creation recognized is the atom. Everything is made of atoms. Some atoms are very stable on their own and others are very unstable. Some atoms need to combine with others to become stabilized. The periodic table gives us a list of elements and it gives the atomic make up of all of them. Up until recently men thought that there was nothing smaller than the atom but science introduced us to protons and neutrons. Science has also shown how atoms can be split. The splitting of atoms have great benefit and great detriment.
We know how devastating the atomic bombs were to Japan in WWII, it is well documented the destruction it caused to that island. However today that same technology that was used for destruction is now used for energy. In many countries it is the chief source of energy. In many ways the atom or the splitting of the atom can be seen in the same light as iron. That may seem strange, but Allah says, “We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help, Unseen, Him and His messengers: For Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might (and able to enforce His Will).” (HQ 57: 25). From this verse Allah lets us know that in iron we can get destruction or benefits. We also see in the smallest of things the atom we can either have destruction or benefit. Allah, there is no god, but he knew what man could do with possessing atomic knowledge. He knew the power of it because we see it manifested everyday in the sun and stars that he created. Nothing was created for naught, Allah is not blind nature he is the Knower.
Appendix to lesson ten: How splendid are Allah’s Qualities!
Know that to the same extent that realizing the existence of Allah through studying the secrets of the created world is easy, learning of His Qualities is difficult and requires a great deal of care and caution.
This is because Allah can never be compared to anything. Allah in his infinite wisdom assures that when he says, “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him.” (HQ112: 3-4). Ayatollah Pooya in his commentary on this verse states, “Anthropomorphism, the tendency to conceive God in the terms known to man, creeps in at all times and among all peoples. Nothing or no being can be separated from the infinite Supreme Being nor was there anything or being from which He was separated. So neither He begets nor was He begotten. Therefore there cannot be any being like to Him.” So in a nutshell anything we imagine to be Allah is not Allah. So how do we know our Maker? We know him by his qualities.
Allah has Qualities both negative and positive and they’re both infinite. Infinite Qualities of any imagined perfection and negation of all imagined imperfections he doesn’t have.
The most well known Qualities of Allah are:
- Allah is the “Knower”(‘Alim): He knows all things.
- Allah is Powerful (Qadir): He has ability over all things.
- Allah is the Living because something which is living has wisdom, power and because Allah is Wise and Powerful, thus he is Living
- Allah is the Willer (Mur’id) that is He has a Will power and he is not obliged in His work and whatever He does, has a goal and wisdom and even the smallest thing in the universe does not lack a philosophy and a goal.
- Allah is Perceiving (Mudrek), that is, He understands and perceives all things; He sees everything; He hears all things and He is aware of all things.
- Allah is Primordial and Eternal (Qadim and Azali), that is, He always was and His existence has no beginning because He always boils from His inner Essence and because of this, He is primordial and eternal because a person whose being is from he himself has no non-existence or annihilation.
- Allah is the Speaker (Mutakalim), that is, He can create waves in the atmosphere and speak to His Prophet, not that Allah has a tongue or lips or a larynx.
- Allah is Truthful (Sadiq), that is, whatever He says is the Truth and is equivalent to reality because lying comes from ignorance or from weakness and a lack of power and it is impossible for Allah Who is Knowing and Powerful, to lie
- The Most well known negation of Qualities of Allah are:
- He is not a composite. That is, He does not have mixed elements because in this case, He would be in need of other elements, whereas, He is in need of nothing.
- Allah is not a body because every body is limited, unstable and accepts annihilation.
- Allah is not visible. That is, He cannot be seen because if He could be seen, He would be a body, limited and accepting annihilation.
- Allah has no place because He is not a body to require a place.
- Allah has no partner because if He had a partner, He would have to be a limited creature because two non-limited, from every point of view, is not possible and in addition, the unity of law of this world shows His Oneness.
- His Qualities are exactly like His Essence.
- Allah is Needless and Self –sufficient. He is rich and containing everything because an endless being from the point of view of knowledge, power and all things had no deficiencies.
- Allah says again, “There is nothing like unto Him.”
