Tawheed ar-Rubbubeeyah (the Unity of Lordship) is accepting that Allah is One and the only. The faith of a man lacks basis if there is no strong belief that Allah alone caused the existence of all things, that He alone maintains creation without any need from it or for it; He has absolute control of all things and no one shares in His Sovereignty. It is upon Him all depends.
It is this creator-sustainer quality that is described in Arabic as Rubbubeeyah derived from the root word "Rabb" (Lord). It is well explained with the saying that two captains cannot master a ship at the same time nor could two drivers move the vehicle at the same time. If Allah were to be more than one, then one would want the sun to rise while the other would prefer darkness. This principle is captured in Muslims' declaration:
" Say He is Allah, the One and only, Allah the Eternal, the Absolute, He begets not nor is He begotten, and there is none like unto Him." (Q112:1-4)
In the scheme of things in the world,
"... no calamity can occur except by the leave of Allah. "(Q 64:11)
and a believer should be aware that, " if the whole of mankind gathered together in order to do something to help you, they would only be able to do something for you which Allah had already written for you. Likewise, if the whole mankind gathered to harm you, they would only be able to do something to harm you which Allah had already written to happen to you. " (Tirmidhi).
Apparently 'good fortune' and 'misfortune' are both from Allah and cannot be caused by goodluck charms, lucky numbers, zodiac signs, verses of the Qur 'an wrapped into charm or amulet. All these amounts to negation of tawheed and it is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Whatever man conceives as good fortune and misfortune are merely events in the decree of Allah.
Hence seek your help only from Allah, the Lord of the worlds. No sheikh, alfa, pastor, guru or any human being can benefit you except Allah. No power exists in any name except the power of Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"La hawla wa laa quwwata ilia billaah" (There is no might nor power except by Allah's Will). Allah is the only power in existence and nothing happens in creation except that which He allows. Submit only to Allah for He
"... is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs" (Q37:62).
"O Allah our Lord! send us from heaven a table set (with viands), that there may be for us for the first and the last of us a solemn festival and a sign from You; and provide for our
".... Allah sets forth parables for men Parables in order that they may receive Admonition” (Q14:25)
THE OAK
See you not how Allah sets forth a parable? a goodly word (La illaha illa illah) like goodly tree whose root is firmly fixed and its branches (reach) to the heavens ... " (Q14:24).
Do you ever observe the oak: tree? How firmly it is rooted, to what great height it reaches, how extensively its branches spread, what fine foliage it bears! How did this tree acquire such strength and magnificence? From the nature of its fruit, the acorn, it has an inherent right to become a great tree and this right was so self-evident that when it made its claim; the earth, the water, the air, the warm day and the cool night, infact, all elements concerned, acknowledged it and gave to it what it demanded.
By merit it develops into a great tree yielding beneficial fruit and by the nobility of its dimensions it continues to demonstrate that it deserves to become a great tree of mighty status and that the help given it by the forces of the heaven and the earth was totally justified. More! It was the duty of the elements to give such help because the power that is possessed by the earth, water, and air and other elements to nourish, develop and mature tree! is precisely meant for the purpose of helping trees of noble species.
This is the parable of Kalimat at tawheed (words of declaration of faith). Everything created by Allah are made to nourish, sustain and assist the establishment of the deen of Allah for that is the purpose of creation.
TAQWAH BAY
“O you who believe: Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam." (Q3:102)
Listen to the inner rhythm of the men of Taqwa
* Hold firm to five issues: worship Allah as much as you need to worship Him; take from the world according to your stay in it; sin according to your stamina to absorb its punishment; take provisions from the world according to your stay in the grave and work for Paradise as much as your desire to stay there." - Shaqeeq Balkhi
* The sign of taqwa is to engage in worship and the sign of worship is to refrain from doubtful issues." -Ibn Qayyin.
* The heart becomes corrupt through six means: committing sin in the hope of repenting: seeking knowledge and not applying it: practice without sincerity: Eating the sustenance of Allah without appreciating it; Not being pleased with Allah's allocation (decree); Burying the dead but not learning from them." - Hassan Basri (R.A)
THE WILD PLANTS
"...And the parable of an evil word (false ideas) is that of an evil tree. It is tom up by the root from the surface of the earth; it has its stability" (Q14:26).
What about the wild self-seeded plants? Where are their strengths and virtues? Their roots are so shallow they can be pulled up by a child. They are so weak they whither away in the wind. If you touch them you may well be pricked by thorns. If you taste them they may well be bitter and harmful. Allah knows how many of this sprout each day and whither away. They do not possess the intrinsic right to grow that the acorn does and which allows the growth of the mighty oak.
When there are no trees of noble species to grow, the earth by which its nature cannot remain fallow, tolerates the growth of shrubs and weeds in multiples. Water does give nourishment, and some energy is supplied by the air, but none of the elements accepts the right of existence of these plants as they do of the oak. That is why neither the earth allows their roots to spread themselves within itself, nor is water willing to wholeheartedly give nourishment, nor is the air inclined to help them flourish. So when, with this poor subsistence, these plants grow unhealthy, tasting bad, often bearing thorns and poisonous fruits, it is conclusively demonstrated that earth and heaven are not created to help the growth of such plants.
This is the parable of the Kalimah Khabitha (corrupt words). Numerous as they may seem, they are corrupt, they will wither and they will pass away
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited