The Need for Tawheed (The Importance of Knowledge)

By Kashiff Khaan

A brief lecture on the importance of understanding tawheed, studying it constantly and the role of this understanding towards taqwaa (fear of Allaah), knowledge of what Allaah loves and hates and the overall strength to worship Allaah and refrain from sin.

Review:

“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghoot[] (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghoot besides Allaah)." Then of them were some whom Allaah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).” (An-Nahl 16:36)

“...The Prophet Moosaa (‘alayhi salaam) was ordered to go to Fir’awn and inform him of his transgressions. We have boundaries of tawheed which cannot be transgressed. So Moosaa sent was to fir’awn in the best manner, requesting of him, "do you wish to purify yourself", speech with gentleness and ease to the most treacherous of people. So he offered him knowledge of his Lord so that he may fear him.”


“...So tawheed is the basis of learning about our Lord so that we may fear Him and love Him, which leads to eemaan (faith) and it is safety, between fear and hope.”


“So the Prophets and Messengers strove to teach tawheed so that one would gain knowledge and subsequently taqwaa...fearing the day he meets his Lord, thus being able to prevent himself from sin. This level cannot be obtained except by knowledge. Fearing what answers they will have to give to Allaah, so they sought aid through the salaah and du’aa which brought about patience. This is not easy, so when trials and tribulations come to us, we falter as we can’t rely on something we can’t see, hear or feel. So instead we rely on ourselves.
As for the one who knows tawheed, he is patient and relies upon his lord as he knows one day he will return to Allaah and answer to him.”


How do we know Allaah?

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- We begin by his signs, his created and revealed signs. The night and the day, “It is out of His Mercy that He has put for you night and day, that you may rest therein (i.e. during the night) and that you may seek of His Bounty (i.e. during the day), and in order that you may be grateful.” (Al-Qasas 28:73)

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His revealed signs, “Do they not then think deeply in the Qur'ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)? (Muhammad 47:24). “And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'aan) to Our slave (Muhammad Peace be upon him), then produce a Soorah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allaah, if you are truthful. (Al-Baqarah 2:23)

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So Allaah sent signs in His Prophets such As Moosaa or ‘Eesaa, healing the blind and the lepers, and in the Time of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), poetry and eloquence was the thing of the day, so the Qur’aan was revealed on to Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam),.

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His Names and his Attributes, “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be requited for what they used to do.” (Al-A'raf 7:180) Ibn ‘Abbaas said "Those who make shirk would use Allaah’s Names and Attributes and give them to other than Him subhana and add names to Allaah that which isn’t from him.
"...There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. (Ash-Shura 42:11)” so we do not add, liken or interpolate or degrade these Names and Attributes. So our attributes are limited, as for the Names and Attributes of Allaah, they are befitting His majesty. Between this earth and the lowest heaven is a distance of 500 years and between each heaven 500 and between the heavens and the kursee 500 and the kursee and maa 500 more and the throne is above the water and Allaah is above the throne in a manner befitting His majesty, nothing escapes his knowledge he is the all-Hearing, all-Seeing. So we believe in them (attributes) we believe in all of them and asking about it is a bid’ah.