Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Alhassanain (p) Network for Islamic Heritage and Thought

At-Tawhid or Monotheism

At-Tawhid or Monotheism as in the Ideological and the Value Systems of Islam

A book that delves into the several dimensions and depths of Tawhid (Oneness of God): the central and core concept of Islam. Starting from the basic definitions, it then moves onto how one's life and existence revolve around Tawhid.

Author(s): Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi

Translator(s): N.Tawhidi

Publisher(s): Islamic Propagation Organization

www.alhassanain.org/english

Table of Contents

Preface 4

Part 1: At-Tawhid in the Value System of Islam 5

At-Tawhid (Monotheism)-the base of Divine Religions 5

Prosperity, salvation and felicity both in this world and in th 5

The Necessity & Significance of At-Tawhid to Al-A’immatul Ma’sumuun (The twelve Infallible Imams) 5

The Hadith bearing Silsilatu-dhdhab 5

The statement made by Amirul-Mu’mineen Al-Imam ‘Ali (A.S.) on the Battle of Al-Jamal 6

At-Tawhid the Root of all Beliefs 7

Description of the relationship between At-Tawhid and the other beliefs 8

The Two Ideological and value systems of Islam and their Relationship 8

The Relationship of At-Tawhid with other Principles of the Religion 9

The relationship of Tawhid with Adl 10

The relationship of At-Tawhid with Nubuwwah 11

The relationship of At-Tawhid with Ma’ad 11

At-Tawhid-The Pivot of the value system (of Islam) 12

At-Tawhid in Creation 14

At-Tawhid in Rububiyyah (Lordship) 15

Rububiyyah pertaining to Divine Laws 15

Quranic Ayah in regard to Rububiyyah pertaining to creation 17

The position of Lordship in Divine Legislation and the required level of At-Tawhid 17

At-Tawhid in Ubudiyyah (servitude) to Allah 19

Manifestations in At-Tawhid in Ubudiyyah to Allah 20

The Reality of At-Tawhid 23

Expression of At-Tawhid with the tongue and not out of conviction 24

Obligation to At-Tawhid 25

The Meaning of the term At-Tawhid and the Initiation of Distortion in It 26

Wrong Imaginations concerning the Meaning of At-Tawhid 27

Clarification of Mechanical and Dynamic Movements 30

Divine Management 33

Divine Wilayah 35

At-Tawhid in Guidance 38

The Guidance particular to Man 41

Providing Sustenance 44

Allah’s predestination in Men’s Sustenance 46

Reasons for and causes of change of subsistence 47

Providing sustenance through uncommon ways 50

Divine Wisdom 51

The Wisdom behind bearing difficulties by Man 52

Divine Qada’ (Destiny) and Qadr (Decree) 58

Correct Clarification of the Meaning of Divine Qada’ and Qadr 58

Notes 63

Part 2: At-Tawhid In the Ideological System of Islam 64

The concept of value 64

Man’s honor 64

Moral Value 66

The Criterion for Moral Value 67

The Value of Freedom 68

Commitment and sense of duty 68

Taqwa 69

Stages of Taqwa 73

The Relationship of Taqwa with At-Tawhid 75

Ibadah (worship to Allah) 77

The Basis of Responsibility 78

Creational and Divine Legislative ‘Ibadah 79

Criticism on a Theory 81

Clarification of the Ethical Theory of Islam 82

The First Principle 83

Clarification of the Criterion for the Good and the Bad 86

The Second Principle 87

Various Meanings and Cases of the Application of Qurb 87

The first matter 89

The second matter 90

The Third Principle 91

Quranic Expressions about the Philosophy of Morality 91

Notes 96

Preface

The Establishment and Stability of the Islamic system requires, more than anything else, the firmness of the beliefs and values of Islam in the hearts of the people. The realization of this very significant matter, in its own turn, depends upon the universality of Islamic education at different levels, by using multifarious means and opportunities. One of the best of such occasions and opportunities is the weekly congregations of Salatul-Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer), particularly in cities where the proceedings of the Salatul-Jumu’ah are directly broadcast by the radio and television.

Hence, in response to the request of the management committee, in charge of the affairs of the Salatul-Jumu’ah in the city of Tehran, I delivered a series of lectures on “The status of At-Tawhid in the ideological system and value system of Islam”. The texts of these lectures were regularly published in the Persian language daily, viz: “Jamhuriyyi-Islami (The Islamic Republic)”,

Now, responding to the requests made by a large number of the listeners and also by some friends, an abridged version of these lectures is being published for the interested readers. It is hoped that this humble service will please Al-Imam Muhammad Al-Mahdi (AS)-may Allah the Almighty hasten his auspicious reappearance.

Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi