Discover Tawheed in Islam with Ahl Sunnah wal Jama’ah
AQEEDAH (CREED) IS AN UNWAVERING CONVICTION / AFFIRMATION/ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN A THING ( CREED OF ISLAM IN THIS CASE). ISLAM IS SUBMISSION. THERE IS ONLY ONE CREED IN ISLAM.
TAWHEED IS ONE ONESS OF ALLAH (GOD) WHERE BY ALL ACTIONS OF WORSHIP/PLEASURE /SERVICE / LOVE TOWARDS GOD ARE DIRECTED TO.
( MONOTHEISM)
Prophet Muhammad was sent among Arabs at a time when the religion of Ibrahim (A) was long forgotten and people were worshiping idols and believing in superstitions. However, history records that there were some exceptions to these, not everyone believed in idolatry and paganism. The books of Seerah mention that there were a handful of people who rejected idol worshiping. They are called ‘Hanif’ or ‘Hunafa’ in plural. Hanif means – turning away from – they were turning away from idolatry and turning to Allah.
There were four such famous people that we know about and are worth mentioning here. These people knew in their hearts that idolatry is not the way of Ibrahim (A). They met each other after the pilgrimage in Ka’bah, they realized that they are like minded. They refused to worship stones and decided to spread out to find the true religion of Ibrahim (A). This incident took place roughly before the birth of Prophet Muhammad . These four people were.
1. Waraqa Ibn Naufal – he rejected the religion of the people of the Quraish, converted to Christianity and learned Hibru and Aramaic. In the very late stage of his life, when he was about eighty years old, and had lost his eyesight – Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation and was brought to him by Khadija (R). Waraqa was the one who recognized immediately that this is what he has been looking for all his life. Just a little while after this incident, he passed away. He was the first Muslim to die.
2. Ubaidillah Ibn Jash – he converted to Christianity as well, later on he accepted Islam when the Prophet started preaching. He got married to Umm Salama and migrated to Abyssinia. But afterwards he became a ‘Murtad’ – he reverted back to Christianity and died as a Christian.
3. Uthmaan ibn Al-Huwayrith – he too accepted Christianity, left Makkah and never returned back. He traveled to Rome, became an interpreter in the Caesar’s palace. Most likely he never heard the preaching of Prophet Muhammad
4. Zayd Ibn Amar Ibn Nufayl – he did not accept either Christianity or Judaism. It is narrated that he told both the rabbis and priests – this is not the religion of Ibrahim and you know it.
Later on he came back to Makkah and told his people that none of you are following the religion of Ibrahim (A). He was strongly against the idea of killing their daughters, whenever he saw someone about to do so, he would say to him – give her over to me and I will bring her up. She will become my daughter.
It is authentically mentioned that the Prophet met Zayd when he himself was a young man, probably around 17-18 years old. The Prophet asked him what is the matter between you and your tribe? Why the animosity? Zayd explained to him that he cannot worship idols and cannot do what they were doing.
Zayd continued to live on his beliefs and died five years before the Prophet started preaching. His son, Sa’id ibn Zayd – one of the ten who were promised Paradise, one day asked the Prophet
In Islam as long as you believe that God ( Allah) is the only God/Lord/ Divine diety who deserves to be worshiped / served and that Muhammad is his final prophet and messenger among a long line of prophet and messengers from Adam to Iseah Eliyas Noah John the Baptist Enoch Moses to Jesus. Then you have attained salvation. Any sin you do intentional or unintentionally ( international associated with human nature as god created mankind especially to sin so that they go back to god to repent). You are forgiven. Any sin committed has the possibility of being forgive apart from ( Shirk/ associated partner with god)
On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Allah the Almighty said: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it. It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound. ( ahadith qudsi)
Heaven for christians is different from heaven for Muslims. What Christians consider heaven muslims consider paradise. While heavens are levels beyond the clouds which reach to paradise. The lowest and dorer heaven is adorned with beauty is stars. ( what we see as the night sky ans stars)
There is only one form of Islam which has no division. Sunni and Shia is nothing but politics which later evolved to difference in creed. Those who follow the Quran and Sunnah ( the way of the prophet are in the right path).
Do not be confused by madhab ( points of views/ perspective in understanding) Shaffi Maliki Hanbali Hanafi. They all follow the same Sunnah. Islam has its own culture so it is better to detach from ethnic culture.
And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s favor on you, for you were enemies of one another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided
[Surah Aal-Imran, Aayat 103]
