The First Pillar of Islam

LA-ILAHA ILLA-ALLAH,

Islam first requirement is BELIEF and then action. The Islamic Creed, the first pillar of Islam, LA-ILAHA-ILLA-ALLAH, MUHAMMADUR-RASUL-ULLAH. (i.e. There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). "A believer is like a brick for another believer, the one supports the other." (Sahi-Muslim)

The result of loss of believe in Allah was that he fell a prey to worldly temptations and sexual pleasures which led to moral degradation of the whole society.

On the last Day, the biggest loser will be the hypocrite who, when he goes to one party talks in one voice and when to other party, talks in another voice. (Sahi-Muslim)

Islam started from Prophet Adam (alai salam) and attained perfection with the last Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam, "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your Religion."(Al-Quran, 5:3) (the last verse on the Mount of Blessing)

"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him."(Al-Quran, 3:85)

"There is no force in religion."(Al-Quran, 2:256)

"Abrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian but an upright Muslim."(Al-Quran, 3:67)
And behold!Allah will say:"Issa the son of Mariam!Did you say to man, worship me and my mother as gods besides Allah? He will say, glory to you. I could never say what I had no right."(Al-Quran, 5:116).

Muslims should constantly let the world know that Islam is for all mankinds, because this is the religion of Almighty Allah. Man is born pure and sinless. The divine nature of Islam, makes it the only religion in the world, that offers genuine solutions to such problems as social unrest, destitution, prostitution, homocide and suicide, etc.

But the genuine solutions need strong faith in eternal abode and special care of immortal soul. The body will perish; whatever comport you look for, but the soul is the final stage of bliss. Time shows that nothing lasts but noble jobs of soul. Soul is the master of the body and after the departure of the soul, the body starts rottening. Islam's vital job is with soul which demands tolerance and love.

The first pillar starts with the most essential faith in unseen, (i.e. to believe in unseen). We have not seen Allah, yet we are to believe "LA-ILAHA ILLA-ALLAH" (There is no god but ALLAH). "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". "Allah" of the first pillar is :the Lord of the worlds" (Rabbul Alameen, Quran, 1:1) and Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) is "the Blessings for the worlds" (Rahmatul-lil-Alameen: Quran, 21:107).

FIRST PART - LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH (THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH)
Allah ta'ala declared: Translation: So know Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) "There is no go but Allah." (Al-Quran, 47:19)

The prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) said: "Whoever says LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH." sincerely, will enter Paradise". (Sahi-al-Jami)

"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH" is the foundation of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)
"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH" is the best rememberance.
"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH" is the key to Paradise.
"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH" is the highway to Paradise.
"LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH" is the best cleaner of heart and soul.

Almighty Allah caused all of Adam's descendants to come into existence and took a pledge from them, saying, "Am I not your Lord? to which they all replied, "Yes, we testify to it (i.e. "LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH" )(Al-Quran, 7:172)

The name of the Creator of the Universe in the first Pillar of Islam is "Allah". Another word very frequently used for the Almighty in the Holy Quran is "Rabb" which is generally translated into English version of the Quran, as "Lord".

The Holy Quran declares "But Allah has excellent names, call Him thereby." (Al-Quran, 7:180).This verse is commented upon in his tradition, and Abu Hurairah (Radi-allah-anha) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) said: Tranlation: "Verily, these are ninety names of Allah, and whoever recites them shall enter into Paradise."

In praying to Allah, it is usual for the worshipper to address the Almighty by that name of attribute which he wishes to appeal to. if praying for pardon, he will address Allah either 'Ya Afue' or ''Ya Tawwabu' etc. Allah is different from any thought we can possibly have, for our thoughts are transitory things.

One moment of enlightenment under Allah's light is better that thousand of months or years of worldly job.
 

MUHAMMAD -UR - RASULULLAH (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam)

MUHAMMAD (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH; AND THOSE WHO ARE WITH HIM ARE STRONG AGAINST UNBELIEVERS, (BUT COMPASSIONATE AMONGST EACH OTHER. ...... (48; 29) AL FATH.

What is the implication of the second part of the Kalimah ? Who is the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) ? What is his status? What is his personality? What is the nature of his personality and all their allied questions? There are numerous confusions which are arising in the minds of Muslims especially in this age of doubt and the impact of materialism. I do not stand for condemning groups and branding personalities as Kaafir and Mushrik. I realise as a humble pursuer of knowledge that knowledge has different levels. Everybody’s level of knowledge is not the same whether he maybe called an Alime – Deen. The comprehension of facts through knowledge varies from person to person. These problems arise because those who come forward to understand the problem view it with their subjective limitations. Don't say that they are dishonest. Those that say that the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam)’s teachings are important and cultivation of love for him is not, we cannot even call them dishonest. This is a matter of faith, and no one who is sincere would like to be dishonest. Akbar ilah Badi said about the status of the human being, 

"Mansoor said that I am God, and Darwin said that I am a monkey, when my friend heard these two opinions, he said, everybody understands according to his level of understanding."

Those who fall short in understanding, this is because of their subjective limitations. This should not be made into the grounds for fighting and theological bickering. Thus you will hear views expressed about the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) which many of us will consider as derogatory. For example, People read the same book but some recognize the Alphabets and some the words. Others will read sentences and paragraphs. Those with higher education will know the language in which it is written, the Subject, Theme, Sub Theme and Inter related Subjects. Therefore knowledge is either of a higher order or lower order. Those who can see as far as their nose, they can see that far and no further. How can we call them dishonest and make their limited knowledge the grounds for fighting. You will find people of knowledge of a lower order saying,

”The Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is just a mortal like us."

Yet you will find great intellectual giants of this 20 Century like the great Sir Muhammad Iqbal (r.a.) who as a poet of Islam is incomparable with anyone else before him except , Maulana Jalaludin Rumi (Rahmatullah-alai) , saying; "That possessor of knowledge of the parts of guidance , that terminator of the office of divine Messenger ship , that leader of all creation , who illuminates the sand below the feet of the caravan of his followers into the illuminated sand of Sinai . From the point of view of love and approach to the problem in depth; it is he who is the first and it is he who is the last, and it is he who is the Qur'aan and it is he who is the standard of right and wrong in this entire universe. And he is Ya-sin and Ta-hah."

What does the Holy Qur'aan say about the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam), which is absolutely authentic. Let's explain the status of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alai hi wa sallam) from the Holy Qur'aan. According to the Qur'aan , the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam) has a double status. The one aspect of his personality is universal and the other is mundane (earthly) The Holy Qur'aan says in S 21 V 107 - Al - Ambiya 

”O! Prophet (Sallallahu Alai hi wa sallam) I have not sent you but as a mercy to all the worlds." All the worlds, beyond this earth and humanity. This is called the cosmic or universal level. He is the mercy for the entire creation of Allah i.e. the universe. His mundane status is, as the Qur'aan say in S 18 V 110 - Kahaf 

”O! Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam) proclaim to the people that I am nothing more than a human being' Mislukum'. ”Many people have stumbled on this verse because this word Mislukum can be translated in two ways. One translation leads to Kufr whilst the other translation is the translation of Imaan. It has been translated by some as being”like you” This is the translation on the basis of Kufr. This statement is the greatest falsehood against the Qur'aan and Hadith and is blasphemous against the personality of the Holy prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam). Blasphemy leads a person to Kufr. No human being is like the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam), What do they mean when they translate it in this ugly fashion? Like whom? A robber, murderer, drunkard, thief, devil incarnate, like whom? Who has that standard of piety and status that he can be likened to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam)? The connotation of the verse is to emphasise the humanity of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam) so that Muslims do not fall prey ,like others have , in view of his great qualities and miraculous powers that Allah has given him. They may not fall into the misconception that he is God or son of God like others have fallen before them. It is his divinity that is being denied here, not that he is like us. He is a human being - We are human beings. Students of science and physics know that charcoal is pure carbon and diamond is also pure carbon. It is only the frequency of molecules of the electronic particles of the diamond that makes one a diamond and the other charcoal. Black - illuminous.

Medicinal value, monetary value, world of difference, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam) is human being and we are human beings, but he is diamond and we are charcoal. Although, basically, both are the same their laws of existence, value and worth is worlds apart. Although me and you and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam) are human beings, there is a world of difference in point of status, constitution of personality and powers. This is the status with regard to the temporal world in which we live. As a divine messenger, does Allah deal with him differently? Allah addresses all prophets in the Qur'aan from Adam (Alai' his salaam) to Jesus (Alai' his salaam) He always addresses them by name and He has not addressed the Holy prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) even once in the Qur'aan by name. Can we attribute any meaninglessness to Allah's wisdom? Allah wants to demonstrate the grandeur of the status of the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) and the special relation with Him. A person is not called by name either out of intense love or respect. Allah demonstrates here that He loves the Holy Prophet intensely and he wants the Muslims to honour him. Remember Allah has said in the Holy Qur'aan in s49 v 2 – hujerat

”O Believers do not raise your voices above the pitch of the voice of the Holy Prophet (as) and do not talk with him in the fashion which you speak amongst yourselves. If you make even this slight unconscious mistake, remember all your namaaz, prayers, fasting, Hajj, Zakaat, and every act of virtue will be annulled totally and you will not even know it."
What is this status? You will forgive any insult done to you but you will never forgive any insult done to your beloved. This is the law of love. If for a single error, of disrespect to Allah's beloved, every act of virtue is annulled, how much must Allah love him? He does not even give the blasphemer, the Tuafiq (divine help) to realise he has sinned, thus the door of repentance remains closed. Beware of this. The great aarifeen , those who rose to spiritual eminence , they say ,

”There is a place where respect has to be offered and that place is more delicate than the arsh of God, When great spiritual luminaries from amongst his followers like Junaid Baghdadi and Bayazid Bistami (r.a). When they come to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam) they come trembling. "

What are Muslims being taught? They have lost the source of grace and they feel that they can get grace from Allah. The source of grace as established by Allah is only the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alai hi wa sallam). There is no other source. " Ya ayyuhan Nabi " Ya ayyuhar Rasul" This refers to his official status.”Ya ayyuhal Muddathr" Ya ayyuhal Muzzamil" Here there is a rise in status. Here it shows the intimacy of friend ship. There is a further rise”Ya sin" "Ta ha" What is the meaning of this?" Parda ba parda heh nihah, pardah nashin ka raaze ishq" Love has curtains which cannot be penetrated by the outsiders. Not only is the Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) honourable but the soil upon which he walks becomes honourable. The Qur'aan says this in S 90 V 1-4 

”I swear by this city of Makkah, not because this city contains the Kaaba, but because your blessed feet touch the soil of this city"

Not only is the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) venerable but even the particles of dust that touch the soles of his blessed shoes become venerable. Moulana Zakarriya quotes in his book”the virtues of Hajj" in the chapter "behaviour in Madinah and its virtues" that the portion of the earth in the immediate vicinity of the holy body of Rasulullah (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is even higher in rank than the Kaaba and the Throne of Allah. He quotes on the authority of Qaadi Ayaadh, Imam Maalik and ibn Asaakir. Yet, what is being taught today?

UNIVERSAL/ COSMIC STATUS.

I refer you to the Quraan s 21 v 107 - Al Ambiya
"O Prophet(Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) ) I Have not sent thee but as a mercy unto the entire universe" and in another verse S 5 V 15 Maida " Verily their has come unto you a light and a clear book...." The wow here is the wow of conjunction, the noor is something different and the kitaab is something different. Their is a difference of opinion amongst the commentators , some say ' light ' here refers to the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) others say that it does not, but only to the guidance he has brought. Here again the same problem comes in, but the Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) was commissioned by God to explain every intricate verse of the Qur'aan, and it says ' O Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) I have commissioned thee to expound, explain and make clear that which has been revealed in the book “li tu bayyina lin naasi na nuzzila ilayhim”. Here comes in hadith as the authority. Let us ask the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) what is the reference to the word noor here. In the Hadith quoted on the authority of Muhaddith ' abd ar Razzaq the eminent fore runner of Imam Bukhari and (and even quoted by non-Ahle-Sunnah scholar like Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi one of the very eminent ulema of Deoband in his kitaab Nashrut teeb fi zikre Habeeb). Hazrat Jaber bin Abd ullah bi Ansari reports that the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) informed him that .The first thing which Allah created was my light, and every other creation was created from my light." This Hadith compels us to side with those commentators who say that noor here refers to the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam). It has been the consensus of Muslim belief which was challenged only in this period of Muslim decay and degeneration, under the impact of modern materialism, that the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is the centre of creation, that Allah created the light of the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) and from that light He created the whole universe. Allah is indivisible, so the meaning in the Hadith is sababbiya , not from the light, but because of the light. The Qur' aan also bears testimony to this that the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) was the first of creation, when it explicitly affirms this fact, when it says: s6 v 163 al Anaam ”I am the first among Muslims " . Muslim here refers to the first thing or being to submit to the will of Allah and not the misuse it has been put to in these days of bickering. Muslim means he or she that submits his/her will entirely to the will of God. In another verse Allah says, s 3 v 83 al Imraan "everything in the heaven and earth is Muslim" Then what would ' I am the first among the Muslims mean”? That the first being to be created by Allah was the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam).

Science bears testimony to this fact today. Modern science says that this entire universe started as a point of light in intense motion. This point of light projected itself on the tape of extension and became space and projected itself on the tape of duration and became time. The experiment of physical analysis pursued on the principle of heat, by raising temperature and disintegrating a particular thing into its constituent particles prove that the essence of all matter is light. Hubert Reeves, the Canadian Astro physicist - light radiation theory. The essential human being therefore is a spaceless and timeless being. (ar Ruh - the essence al Asl). All matter is therefore ultimately anti-matter and all the properties of matter ultimately cease to exist, since the essential being was created in the transcendental world called al Jannah. When Allah willed the universe to exist He said, Kun Muhammadah. There fore the real Muhammad (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is the foundation of the universe and all creation came through him. When our pious ancestors taught that the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is the medium or wasilah between this world and Allah- How can it be said that they were teaching wrongly? What else is there that links this universe with Allah except Allah's first creation. The “noor” (light) of Muhammad? Allah is all Mighty and all Powerful, He does not need any wasilah, but He has made a universe which is in need. (Angels are intermediaries- Allah is light- high voltage -transformers). The Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is the intermediary for forgiveness also according to the Quraan s 4 v 64 al Nisah. 'If these people who transgress the divine laws and damage their personalities, come to thee O Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) and they seek the forgiveness of Allah and if the Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) also seeks forgiveness for them most surely they will find Allah the acceptor of repentance and bestower of mercy.' This verse of the holy Qur'aan is for all times.

The Question arises, How do I approach the Holy Prophet (salla' llaahu'alaihi wa sallam) today? Some people say go to Madinah the Illuminated, then forgiveness is only for the rich. If we say the verse was only for the companions then we are denying the Qur'aan is for all times. People who say the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is only hayaat or living in Madinah the Illuminated seem to be very ignorant about the constitution of human life and the meaning of death. If one means by the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) his bodily constitution which lies buried in Madinah, then this is a childish view. Madinah the Illuminated has an added affinity because the blessed body lies buried there but the essential Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) transcends the limitations of space and time and thus , he is a living Prophet that is approachable every where. When one approaches anyone, with a plea of help , one approaches with full respect and humility. Thus our elders have taught , and rejected lately on the basis of defective knowledge, that we should stand with full respect and humility and greet him(salaam) , and present our plea(dua). The word salaat in Arabic has three meanings, namaaz, qurbiyat, (nearness) and greeting. Thus salatu salaam means approach and greet. We do this in attahiyat . Form a direct contact with him and present ones petition to him. If he feels we are fit then he will plea for us to Allah. Is Allah an impersonal force? He is also the beloved of Allah (Habib ullah ).The office of habib ullah is open to all Muslims, according to the Holy Quraan.s3 v31 

"Say; If you wish to become Allah's beloved follow me with love......". If through his imitation his followers can become Allah's beloved, it is absolutely rational and clear that he is Allah's beloved par excelled .He is the magnet that turns the iron filings into something magnetised. He has stated to his followers as we read in “Sihah sitta”, he said,"ana habib ullahi wa la fakr". "I am the beloved of Allah and I don't say it by way of pride". ”wala sowfa.......fatarda" Allah has commanded entire creation to seek Allah's pleasure, Allah says,
" I seek thine pleasure my beloved Rasul".

This is the “Muqam-e Mahbubiyah” Rank of the beloved. He has been given al Kauthar. "Good in abundance". Therefore he will liberate us sinners from hell by giving us charity from his abundance of virtues, on the Day of Reckoning. This is what is meant by Shafa'at or intercession. Another status is that which is unknowable to us. The Quraan proclaims in s33 v 45.

”I have sent thee as a witness....." Who else can be a witness except him who sees the things upon which he stands witness? He is witness that Allah exists, unless he has seen Allah he cannot be witness. He is a witness that the universe is infinite, heaven exists, angels etc. This status is beyond our understanding. The Hadith is in the sihah, were he says, "Li ma alahi waqtun la yasa'ni fi him malakun muqarrabun wa la nabiyun mursal" "There is an aspect of my life when my personality is projected in that direction, then I am with Allah and my time is with Him. It is at a level where no angel and no messenger can even witness it." This status transcends every body. How can I explain this status? How can Abu Bakr (Radiallahu anha) "Ya Aba Bakrin! lam yarifi haqiqati siwae Rabbi" Yet you see little, little Molvis, walking on their two legs, opening their mouths, that this unique personality is just like us. It is an insult to human reason. It is an insult to the Quraan. It is an insult to your Iman. It is to lay eggs at your own feet. One cannot damage the Holy Prophet (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) but it is damage to one's self. Beware of it.