Tawhid: Episode 2 | Sheikh Mohammed Mehdi

Summary

The transcript discusses the Islamic concept of monotheism (Tawhid) and the understanding of Allah. It outlines the stages of recognizing, attesting, and devoting oneself to Allah, emphasizing that complete devotion involves negating any false attributes assigned to Him. The speaker highlights the importance of acknowledging human limitations in knowledge, referencing Islamic teachings and the Quranic Surah, which defines Allah as the sole, independent, and non-composite Creator who is not burdened by any task. The message warns against attributing incorrect ideas to Allah or mixing God's nature with His creation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and attesting to Allah's existence as central to monotheism.
• 🙏 Devotion to Allah is the completion of monotheism, which involves negating anything falsely attributed to God.
• 🧐 Perfection in knowing God comes from refraining from making assumptions or opinions about Him.
• 🤔 It's better to admit ignorance in matters of Islamic law than to offer ungrounded opinions, as it can lead to misconceptions.
• 😇 Angels admitted their lack of knowledge when questioned by God, contrasting with human tendencies to assert opinions without knowledge.
• 📖 A frequently recited Surah in the Quran introduces and emphasizes God's uniqueness and singularity.
• 🔄 The Surah emphasizes that God is one and only, not composed of parts or dependent on anything else.
• 💪 Allah is independent, relies on no one, and is not burdened by any tasks, no matter how large or small.
• 🌍 Everything in existence depends on God for support and sustenance, illustrating His role as the sustainer of all things.
• ❗ The speaker warns against distorted interpretations of God that deviate from Quranic teachings, stressing reliance on these teachings for understanding Allah.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the speaker's discussion?

The speaker focuses on understanding Allah through recognition, attestation, monism (belief in one God), and devotion, explaining the importance of negating any human attributes assigned to Allah.

What does the speaker mean by 'monism'?

Monism, according to the speaker, is the belief in the oneness of God, emphasizing that there is only one Creator, one Sustainer, and no others that share these roles.

Why does the speaker emphasize not attributing anything to Allah?

The speaker highlights that perfection in knowing Allah comes from not attributing any human-like qualities or assumptions to Him, warning against giving opinions on matters of which one is uncertain.

How does the speaker describe the behavior of those who attribute things to Allah without knowledge?

The speaker compares such behavior to giving opinions without knowledge, likening it to being foolish, as such actions can lead to confusion and misguidance.

What lesson does the speaker draw from the example of the angels in the Quran?

The speaker uses the angels as an example of humility and knowledge, pointing out that when they were asked by Allah to name things they did not know, they simply admitted, 'We do not know.' This contrasts with humans who often speak without knowledge.

Why does the speaker mention the phrase 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread'?

The speaker uses this phrase to emphasize the importance of not rushing to give opinions on matters one does not fully understand, particularly in religious contexts where such actions can cause harm.

How does the speaker interpret the concept of Allah's independence?

The speaker explains that Allah is completely independent, relying on no one and needing nothing. This concept is central to understanding Allah’s nature and perfection.

What does the speaker say about Allah's role in maintaining creation?

The speaker states that Allah maintains everything effortlessly. Unlike humans, who get burdened by tasks, Allah is never exhausted by anything He does, no matter how great or small.

How does the speaker describe the common misunderstanding of God and creation being one?

The speaker warns against deviated ideas that suggest God and His creation are one entity. According to the speaker, this view is incorrect, and God is distinct from His creation, as stated in the Quran.

What key points does the speaker make about understanding Allah from the Quran?

The speaker emphasizes that one's understanding of Allah should be based solely on what is mentioned in the Quran and the teachings of Islam, rejecting any other interpretations or deviations.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Recognizing and Attesting to Allah

This paragraph begins with recognizing and attesting to Allah’s existence, emphasizing monotheism (tawhid) and complete devotion to Allah. The speaker explains the importance of negating attributes that are falsely ascribed to God and warns against making assumptions about Allah. The speaker also cautions against giving opinions on matters of Islamic law without knowledge, advocating humility and honesty in such situations. A contrast is drawn between angels, who admit their ignorance, and humans, who often rush to judgment.

05:01

📚 Misguided Intellect and False Heroes

The speaker critiques those who look to misguided thinkers from history, such as Niccolò Machiavelli, and consider them intellectual heroes. These historical figures, known for despotism and deception, are often quoted as authorities. The speaker argues that the answers to life's biggest questions, especially about God, are already provided in the Quran and the teachings of the imams, and there is no need to seek out complicated or incorrect ideas from misguided sources.

10:04

🛠️ The Nature of Allah: Not a Composite Being

This paragraph focuses on the nature of Allah, explaining that unlike humans, Allah is not a composite being made up of parts or attributes. Allah is independent, self-sufficient, and relies on no one. The speaker elaborates that any being made up of parts is dependent on those parts, but Allah has no such need. Furthermore, Allah is never burdened by tasks, large or small, and maintains the universe effortlessly. The speaker emphasizes that everything in existence is dependent on Allah, while He remains independent of all creation.

Keywords

💡Allah

Allah is the Arabic term for God, the central focus of Islamic monotheism. In the video, Allah is presented as the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Supreme Being who is self-sufficient and independent of anything else. The speaker explains that Allah is unique, has no associates, and nothing can be attributed to Him inaccurately, emphasizing His absolute oneness and perfection.

💡Monism

Monism in the context of the video refers to the belief in the oneness of Allah. It highlights the idea that there is only one God, who is indivisible and cannot be broken into parts or shared with other entities. The speaker emphasizes that understanding monism is crucial for devotion to Allah and rejecting any notion of associating partners with Him.

💡Devotion

Devotion is the act of fully committing oneself to the worship and service of Allah. The speaker describes devotion as an essential step after recognizing and attesting to the oneness of Allah. True devotion involves negating anything falsely attributed to Allah, focusing solely on serving and obeying Him without distraction.

💡Attestation

Attestation refers to affirming or declaring belief in something. In the video, it means affirming the oneness of Allah and acknowledging His attributes as described in Islamic teachings. This act of attestation is seen as part of the process of knowing and understanding God, which must be followed by devotion and further spiritual refinement.

💡Negation

Negation in this context means rejecting or denying any false attributes or partners that are ascribed to Allah. The speaker explains that true knowledge of Allah includes not only affirming His oneness but also actively denying any untruths or misconceptions about Him. This is presented as a critical step in perfecting one's faith and understanding of monotheism.

💡Composite Being

A composite being is an entity made up of parts or elements. The speaker contrasts humans and Allah by explaining that while humans are composite beings, Allah is not. Allah is presented as indivisible, without parts or dependencies, which signifies His absolute unity and uniqueness as the Creator. This reinforces the idea that Allah is self-sufficient and beyond human comprehension.

💡Dependence

Dependence refers to the need for something external to sustain or support existence. The video contrasts humans' dependence on Allah with Allah’s independence. All of creation depends on Allah for existence and sustenance, while Allah relies on nothing and no one, reinforcing His omnipotence and self-sufficiency.

💡Perfection of Knowing God

The perfection of knowing God involves recognizing Allah’s true attributes and avoiding any assumptions or opinions about Him that are not grounded in scripture. The speaker highlights that acknowledging ignorance when one does not know something about God is better than speculating. This idea emphasizes humility and the importance of seeking knowledge from trustworthy sources.

💡Surah

A Surah is a chapter of the Quran. The video refers to a specific Surah that introduces the concept of God’s oneness and His essential attributes. The speaker explains how this Surah conveys core ideas of Islamic monotheism, focusing on Allah's uniqueness, His role as the sustainer, and the rejection of any partnership or division in His being.

💡Angels

Angels are spiritual beings in Islamic theology who carry out Allah’s commands. The speaker mentions how angels, when asked a question by Allah, admitted their ignorance instead of offering an uninformed answer. This anecdote is used to highlight the importance of humility in seeking knowledge and not attributing things to Allah without certainty.

Highlights

Recognition, attestation, and monism lead to devotion to Allah, which is the core of monotheism.

Perfection of knowing God involves negating anything attributed to Him that is beyond human understanding.

It's wiser to say 'I do not know' than to offer guesses or opinions, especially in matters of Islamic law.

The angels admitted their lack of knowledge when asked by God, unlike humans who often rush to offer opinions.

Surah Al-Ikhlas emphasizes that God is one, unique, and has no equal, not as part of a sequence but as the only One.

People either love or hate God based on their connection to Him; disliking Him is a result of knowing He exists but rejecting His nature.

God's oneness is not numerical but absolute; He is the only Creator and sustainer of the universe.

Allah is not a composite being and does not rely on parts; He is whole and self-sufficient.

Unlike humans, God is not burdened by tasks, no matter how great or small; His actions are effortless.

God relies on no one and acts independently, reinforcing His complete power and autonomy.

All living beings are dependent on God for their existence and sustenance, which defines His omnipotence.

Any idea that merges God with His creation is a deviation from true monotheism, as God is separate and independent from His creation.

God is not tired or burdened by creation, unlike the biblical depiction of resting after creation.

The Quran provides the only true understanding of God, and deviations from it lead to misconceptions about His nature.

The Surah encapsulates the essence of monotheism by declaring God's absolute oneness, independence, and lack of associates.

Transcripts

[Music]

firstly we were on the point of

recognizing Allah the of Allah and the

of this to attest to what Allah says he

is

then says in

the the completion of attesting to this

is what is this is what this monotheism

is

so the completion of this

monism is to devote yourself to Allah so

we said recognition

attestation

monism devotion then what what comes

after that the completion of this

devotion is

what what is it when you devote yourself

to Allah is negating what is attributed

to Allah so

we said that but the completion of that

is to negate anything that's attributed

to God Almighty in fact me myself do not

attribute anything to God this is the

Perfection of knowing god anything that

you do not know do not make an opinion

of that's why the saying says Fools Rush

In Where Angels Fear To Tread

because you are foolish you see those

people when someone asks a someone asks

a jur Prudential question and you hear

those people they give their opinion

straight

away you're going to give your opinion

this is F this is Islamic law you give

your opinion you're giving your opinion

something you do not know you could

cause problems you're better off saying

I do not

know than giving a guess you know

sometimes you're sitting down in class A

teacher will ask question and you have a

student that always has the answer but

it's always the wrong answer student

that has an answer but it's always the

wrong answer but they have an answer as

long as they give the answer as long as

they've being heard the angels when God

asked

them let me know the names of these uh

people or these these ones that he was

turning towards or pointing towards or

in directing them

towards that they said we do not know

the Angels said we do not know you have

humans that refuse they'll attribute

things to God and they'll give their

opinion in anything whatsoever so don't

attribute anything to God this is the

Perfection of knowing

Allah now

let's look at one Surah in the Quran

that's oft recited people recite very

often that will let you understand

God one man came and

said he

asked I asked him

about he says to him in the

very simple response I asked him about

he

says whoever

reads and then he

says and believes in theah he says to

him listen this is something you're

going to go through your whole life

the imams give you the easy answer they

give you the correct answer which is

more important than just easy they give

you the correct answer but somebody

always wants the difficult route towards

God and the incorrect rout only

difficult incorrect he'll say oh you

know I understand I read from this

heretic or

this they might obviously call him a

heretic they'll tell you this Saint or

this scholar or someone that they found

in in in the garbage dumps of history

and they bring them back to life you

know how we have um terms that are

coined from names you know like if if

you're living at a when we mention the

the times of uh the the English times of

poverty in the feudal system and and

just at the Turnal sorry after a bit

after the feudal system as it was

starting to diminish that would call

those times dickensian times after the

author Charles Dickens or a willan times

if something's dystopian or using the

word some the word sorry a willan one of

the names and I think it's it's it's the

most words have been derived from this

name is the name of Nicolo MAV and a lot

of people like to read his stuff and

talk about him in all of him and and he

was this guy is the the textbook of

deception and he's the textbook of

despotism how someone is can be despotic

and deceptive at the same time so

nothing that is even worthwhile people

love to quote these types of people

people that out outlandish and they

think it makes some more

intellectual when the answers are all

with

so for you to

know when he's asked he

says believes in

what's in the he

says what he

says then they know what monism is it's

all in this Surah nothing more than that

and that's why we will have a look at

this

this whole Surah we'll have a look at it

over the next few lessons firstly how

does the Surah

begin notice it doesn't say when we ever

see with the word just you know on the

side you see it's Allah Almighty telling

his Prophet to

say

say why doesn't that

say why is

it who he because Allah is known that's

why we say he because Allah is known

everyone knows God everyone accepts God

we mentioned in previous lessons that

the reason people dis like God or hate

God because they know him you cannot say

for example I I dislike the fuzzy wzy

was a bear the fuzzy was he bear I

dislike the fuzzy wasy bear you can't

say something like that cuz they don't

exist but because you know God exists

people love God or they hate God because

he exists they have this love towards

him and they have this connection

towards God or they disconnect

themselves and they have this like this

disdain towards God they scorn God and

when they speak about him if you see see

the way they speak they speak with

contempt like a person that is estranged

from his parents does not like their

parents and hold a grudge against their

parents but with God they hold this and

they turn away that's why we say who he

cuz everyone knows that he exists that

there is a Creator but he's not

recognizes we mention last lesson in the

correct manner so basically in this

Surah here is an

introduction to God this is what it's

saying this God is one God not one as in

one 2 3 4 no no one and only there's

only one God there's only one Creator

there's only one sustainer and that's

all there is there's not one Creator one

another that sustains another that takes

lives another that gives lives no no

it's one one God and no other and the

second part of this Surah the second

verse after that says

Allah Allah is

a now generally when you see Allah you

might say Allah is needless or Allah is

whom everyone depends upon he depends

upon not but let's take a look at what

Allah is exactly firstly

Allah or this God that we believe in is

not a composite

being that this God unlike us we are

composite beings God is not a composite

being God is not made up of Parts God is

not made of up of

attributes God is not something uh is

not is not someone that can be pulled

apart or put together in any way see

because any composed being is in need of

parts and the ones that composed it so

they need of something else Allah said

is needless also as we have established

in previous lessons it's

impossible for a being that's in

need of existence and

subsistence to give it self or others

existence or subsistence so that being

becomes in need Allah is not in need

firstly Allah he has no Associates so he

acts independently and he relies on no

one this is what means when

im is asked about the meaning

of the first thing he says

is this is the first meaning of Allah

they he has no Associates that firstly

Allah acts independently and he relies

on no one this is what means that he

relies on no one

secondly he

says you know when you

read

says that Allah is not burdened with any

task so anytime you do something say for

example you under take a task it's a

burden for you it takes up your time it

uses up your energy you know you need to

um you need to replenish afterwards

Allah no no every task small task large

task all the same they do not exhaust

God they do not burden God they do not

affect God in the least this is what

means of sumon he doesn't even need any

respite whatsoever so when we say that

God created the heavens and the earth

when is mentioned the Bible in six days

and then he rested on the

seventh so he rested on the seventh so

that means he was tired after all this

it burdened

him Allah is not burdened in any way he

maintains everything with ease it is

absolutely effortless for him the third

point he mentions

is that nothing is independent from God

no one Lees independently from Allah

every living thing is dependent upon God

every living thing relies on the support

of God this is what Allah means number

one that he has no

Associates number two that he's not

burdened by any task number three is

that nothing is independent from him

everything is in need of him this is

what

Allah

means this you need to understand does

not mean that these things are a part of

him and this is a problem where people

try and bring in deviated ideas of where

they try and make God and His creation

as one entity so do not fall for any

other interpretations of what God is and

what is not other than what is is

mentioned by Allah in the Quran and in

the teachings

of this is all that I should be using in

order for me to understand my Creator

and nothing else

[Music]