Often when it comes to learning about Islam, a lot of emphasis is put on learning the rules of Islamic jurisprudence: what we can and cannot do, what is forbidden and what is not. But what use is this knowledge if we do not first believe in Allah? How do we believe in Allah without knowledge of Him? The rules deal with obedience to Allah but to whom is this obedience due? Allah! Who is He?
Knowing Allah is vital in practicing Islam and in achieving happiness in this life and the next based upon His love. In order for the soul to be at peace with itself and be content with the worship of the Lord of the universe, it must first know Him (to the extent that we humans can). There is an abundance of information about Allah in the Quran itself. Just reading the Quran on a daily basis can give the Muslims a good sense of who our Lord is. Added to that is the great quantity of information about Allah that was taught to us by the Messenger of Allah (sallahu alayhi wa sallam). What better way is there to learn about Allah than from Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious Himself and the Messenger of Allah (sallahu alayhi wa sallam). Who is Allah? What does He do? What does He love?
These questions can only partially be answered by our limited knowledge of Allah. Allah is so great that He is beyond our imagination. He is greater than anything that our limited human minds can come up with; He is above everything and is wondrous. He is our Magnificent Creator. Allah is the only Lord of all that exists, including what is known to us and what is not. Allah is not a he or a she (although the pronoun He is used to refer to Allah, simply out of necessity). Allah is not a human being. He is much more than that. He is an entity, a reality, something more than we can ever know completely. He is in control of everything that happens. Nothing is a coincidence; it is all part of Allah's plan. Our lives are in His hands, and He alone knows what is best for us.
All existence points to a Creator, a Planner, a Controller, who is Allah. There are so many phenomena that cannot be explained by mere humans, and there is so much of existence that we do not know, there must be One who can explain it, who created it. Ponder the amazing things in this universe, from the largest galaxies to the tiniest subatomic particles, to believe that they came from nothing without a creator defies logic. All of the creation follows a perfect order - the laws of nature as they are called. Such perfection cannot be haphazard. Imagine if a ship were sent across the ocean without a captain, would it be likely that it would reach its destination? So how canour earth orbit the sun and the planets follow preset motions without a captain?Rather, Allah is the Captain, the one in charge of the creation, the one fashioning, controlling, and watching over all things. He is unique, wondrous and incomparable to anything that we know. Allah has only revealed a small amount of knowledge of Himself compared to His Greatness but He has revealed enough knowledge for us to know Him, worship Him and love Him. It is with this knowledge that we can answer the questions posed earlier on. Without the revelation, we would be lost regarding our Creator, left to make up things about Him. Sadly, there many erroneous ideas about Allah amongst Muslims, from thinking that our sins hurt Allah to denying beliefs that Allah has a face. This is a result of the lack of effort put forth by Muslims in getting to know their Lord. Far too often, we learn that Allah is One and that He is Merciful and He Punishes, and then the understanding of Allah is limited to those few beliefs. In order to become fully introduced to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and to know Him as He truly is, it is necessary to avoid incorrect beliefs and ideas about Allah. This edition of an-Naseehah attempts to refute some common misconceptions about Allah.
Misconception I
Allah is everywhere.
Allah says: "The Most Merciful (Who is) above the Throne established." (Q20[TaHa]:5). To explain this verse, Ibn Masood (RA) said: "...and the throne lies above the water and Allah is above (His) throne and He knows what condition you are in. "
Muawiyah ibn Hakam as-Sulami related the following story: "I went to the Messenger of Allah and said: "Messenger of Allah, a slave of mine was tending my sheep. I came to her and one of the sheep was lost. I asked her about it and she said that a wolf had eaten it so I became angry and I am one of the children of Adam so I struck her on the face. As it happens, I have to set a slave free. Shall I free her?" The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sal/am) questioned her: "Where is Allah?" She answered: "Above heaven." He asked: "Who am I?"She replied: "You are the Messenger of Allah." The Messenger of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Free her." (Abu Dawood and an-Nasai)
This hadith makes it clear that Allah is above His throne, above heaven. He is in fact above everything, the Most High. "He arranges [each matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count." (Q32[Sajdah]: 5) Since the affairs go up to Allah, that proves that Allah is up, Most High, and not everywhere. If He were everywhere, there would be no need for the affairs to go up to Him. It is incorrect to think that Allah is everywhere, for this belief is not only contrary to the texts, but it also includes humiliation for Allah. It necessitates that Allah is in dirty things, such a sexcrement and trash, and Allah is far removed from that. Also, if Allah were everywhere, it would mean that He was within people, so there would be nothing to prevent the worshipping of human beings, since Allah would be in them. This is clearly false and a very dangerous way of thinking about Allah.
Allah says: "Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and l see." (Q20 [TaHa]:46). This was said to Musa and Harun (alayhima salaam) when they were sent to the people of Firaun. The concept of Allah being with them must be understood in the proper context. Allah's knowledge, hearing and sight are all encompassing, complete and everywhere. On the other hand, His Being, His Self is above His throne, which is above everything.
Misconception 2
Our sins hurt Allah
Allah is free of all wants, free of any shortcomings and free of being hurt. Humans can be hurt but Allah is too great to be hurt by anyone or anything. Our sins, rather than hurting Allah only hurt ourselves and other creatures. Allah cannot be harmed. He mentions in the Qurﾒan: "You will not harm Him at all.."(QII [Hud]:57)
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (RA) narrated that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) reported this saying from Allah: "O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me and you will not attain benefitting Me so as to benefit Me. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of anyone of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of anyone of you that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it." (Muslim)
When we stand before Allah to answer for our sins, each of us will be alone to face the consequences of our sins. We risk punishment from Allah as a result of our sins, but our sins do not diminish Allah or His Kingdom in any way, and our sins definitely do not harm or hurt Allah. Allah says: "For men is a share of what they have earned and for women is a share of what they have earned .."(Q4 [Nisaa]:32)
Misconception 3
Manifestations of Allah.
It is not unheard of Muslims to believe that Allah may manifest Himself in a human being whether a specific human being (who usually claims prophethood) or any given enlightenedindividual. By suggesting that Allah manifests Himself in a human being, one is suggesting that Allah is imperfect. Why? Because humans are inherently imperfect, we have limitations, we have needs, and we have vain desires. If Allah were to manifest Himself in a human being, then it would follow that Allah had limitations, needs and vain desires and that Allah could die, as humans do. In fact, Allah is far above such things. He is free of all wants and He does not have needs or limitations. It is not possible to make the perfect (Allah) imperfect, which is what is being done with this misconception. Allah does not manifest Himself in anyone.
Misconception 4
Becoming one with Allah
This misconception is similar to the previous one but differs slightly.Some believe that they can attain such a high level of spirituality or enlightenment that they in fact become one with Allah. They consider this the goal of human existence: to reach that enlightened level of oneness with Allah. This however is impossible. Allah is our Creator. He is above us, greater than us and completely beyond being encompassed by us. Allah is separate from His creation, and He is unrivaled in His power, abilities and knowledge. He does not reveal His secrets (the secrets of the universe) to just anyone regardless of how pious or ascetic the person is.
[He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the1 unseen to anyone. Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed,He sends before him [i.e. each messenger] and behind him observers. (Q72[Jinn]:26-27). Humans are limited in their capabilities while Allah is unlimited and completely capable of everything. There is no comparison between the Creator and the created and the created can never become the Creator. We humans do not and will never have the powers, abilities and knowledge that our Creator, Allah has. Regardless of the spiritual exercises, meditation, or asceticism practised, people will always be bound by their physical bodies. They will always need to eat to survive and will always just be human beings.
Regardless of what their minds declare they will always be imperfect humans below and incomparable to Allah, the Most Great and Glorious All-Powerful Creator. Imagine for instance that a man made a bicycle. He created that bicycle. Can the bicycle ever become one with its creator? No, that is a silly thought. The bicycle is the bicycle and its creator is the man: they are two completely different entities. So it is also with Allah, the Creator of the universe and everything in it. The creation cannot become the Creator: such an ideadefies logic.
Misconception 5
Allah will reveal the secrets of the universe
This was briefly mentioned above, hut needs to he specifically dealt with. Some people have a misconception that if they perform certain acts of worship, usually invented ones like chanting or others like it, then Allah will reveal the secrets of the universe to them. For example, there is the following: claim: "If you say the name al-Ahad (the One) one thousand times in a day, then Allah will reveal the secrets of the universe to you." However, it must be emphasized that Allah does not reveal the secrets of the universe to just anyone as He says: [He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone. Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed. He sends before him [each messenger] and behind him observers," (Q72[jinn]:26-27)
No matter how much chanting a person does, Allah will not reveal the secrets of the universe to him or her. Neither is chanting names of Allah beneficial at all for two reasons. First, Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not do it and his religion and practices of worship were perfect; we cannot do better than him and we must not worship differently from him. Secondly, the mere chanting of a name of Allah is simply chanting. It is not praising of Allah which is rewardable. Saying things like, Allah is great. Praise be to Allah, and Glorified is Allah, are ways to praise Allah, become closer to Him and gain good deeds, but simply chanting a single name does not praise Allah and there is no benefit in it. Regardless of what people perform of worship, or how ascetic they become, Allah will not reveal the secrets of the universe to them.
Misconception 6
Seeing Allah in this life
It simply is not possible to see Allah in this life. Even the prophets of Allah did not see Him in this life. Allah says: "And when Musa arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him he said: My Lord, show me Yourself! that I may look at You. [Allah]said: You will not see Me ..." (Q7[Araf]:143) Aishah (RA) narrated: "If anyone tells you that Muhammad saw his Lord, then he has told a great lie about Allah."
When she was asked about the verses of Allah "And he has already seen him [Gabriel] in the clear horizon." (Q81 [Takweer]:23) and "And he certainly saw him in another descend." (Q53 [Najm]: 13). She responded: "I was the first to ask Allahs Messenger about this. He told me: That was only Jibreel(alayhi sallam)." (Muslim)
The believers, nevertheless will see Allah in the Hereafter: Suhayb ar-Roomi (RA) narrated that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "When those deserving of Paradise would enter Paradise, the Blessed and the Exalted would ask: Do you wish Me to give you anything more?They would say: Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not made us enter Paradise and saved us from hellfire? He (the narrator) said: Allah would lift the veil (from their eyes), and of the things given to them, nothing would be dearer to them than the sight of their Lord the Mighty and the Glorious." (Muslim and at-Tirrnidhi). Thus, it is clear that it is not possible to see Allah in this life but the believers look forward to seeing their Lord in the next life.
Misconception 7
Allahs Mercy negates His wrath
Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "When Allah decreed the Creation, He pledged Himself by writing in His Book, which is laid down with Him: My mercy prevails over My wrath. " (Bukhari) This well-known hadith of the Prophet Muhammad affirms the vastness of Allahs mercy, and there are a number of other hadiths that also illustrate this. For instance, Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrated that Allahs Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Allah divided Mercy into one hundred parts: He kept its ninety-nine parts with Him and sent down its one (hundredth) part to the earth. Because of that, its one single part. His creatures are merciful to each other so that even the mare lifts up her hoofs away from her young, lest she should trample on it. " (Bukhari)
However, Allahs vast mercy does not negate His anger, wrath and punishment as some Muslims would like to believe. Allah is certainly loving, forgiving and merciful but He is also swift in punishment. "Whoever disbelieves in [denies] Allah after his belief .... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion1 while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly]open their breasts to disbelief upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment." (Q 10[Yunus]: 10) And also Allaah says: "0 you who have believed fear Allah as He should be feared ... " (Q3[Aal-Imran1: 102)
Allahs mercy must not he used as an excuse to disobey Allah. The right balance needs to be found between love, hope and fear ﾖ that is, love of Allah, hope for His mercy, and fear of His punishment. Hoping for Allahs mercy is a good thing, but without fear, the Muslim has little deterrence from committing sins. When people commit sins, not only do individuals suffer but communities suffer as well. Hence, although Allahs mercy prevails over His wrath, it does not negate it.
Misconception 8
Astrology is Permissible
Allah says: "And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea." (Q6[Anam]: 97)
It is common in some societies for people to believe in horoscopes and astrological signs. They believe that their personalities are in part a result of the month in which they were born and the position of the stars. Sadly, some Muslims fall prey to this belief thinking that there is some science behind it. Hence another misconception regarding Allah arises in the belief that the control of lifes events and personalities is governed by stars, rather than by Allah.
The truth of the matter is that belief in astrological signs and horoscopes are forms of attributing to Allahs creation qualities that belong to Him alone, which is shirk. Allah in no way needs anything from the heavens to create and guide human personalities. Allah says:" When He decrees a matter. He only says to it: Be! and it is "(Q2[Baqarah]: 117)
We are the way we are because Allah created us that way and fashioned our lives according to His will. Our lifes experiences affect our personalities and this is all as Allah has decreed. The position of stars has no effect on our personalities or on our compatibility with others. This belief is an insult to Allah, in that His abilities are underestimated. Zaid bin Khalid AI-Juhani (RA) narrated that Allahs Messenger led the morning prayer in AI-Hudaibiya and it had rained the previous night. When the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) had finished the prayer he faced the people and said. "Do you know what your Lord has said?" They replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better." (The Prophet said). "Allah says, In this morning some of My worshipers remained as true believers and some became nonbelievers; he who said that it had rained with the blessing and mercy of Allah is the one who believes in Me and does not believe in star, but he who said it had rained because of such and such (star) is a disbeliever in Me and is a believer in star." (Bukhari). It is reported that Qatadah said: "Allah created the stars for three purposes: asornaments for heaven,missiles against devils, and as signs for the guidance of travelers. Whoever speculates beyond this errs and dissipates his credit as a scholar, for he would be transgressing the limits of his own knowledge."
Misconception 9
Jokes about Allah are permissible
It may be fun to tell jokes: it may be amusing and entertaining. It must be mentioned, however, that the content of the jokes must be halal. In other words, joking about Allah, His Messenger, or Islam is not permitted. People have a misconception about Allah that leads them to take lightly the telling of jokes wherein they disrespect Allah directly or indirectly. For instance, some people received through e-mail the following joke: "God may have created man before woman, but there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece." This joke is blasphemous to Allah, inappropriate, and enormously disrespectful. It implies that Allah is not perfect in His creation, and that He had to try first before getting it right. This is a great insult to Allah as well as a means of telling lies about Him. "They only invent falsehood, [those1 who do not believe in the verses of Allah, and it is those who are the liars!" (QI6[NahI]:105). Also, Allaah says; "And if you ask them, they will surely say: We were only conversing and playing. Say: Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" (Q9[Tawbah]: 65).
The following hadeeth narrated by Ibn Umar (RA) exemplifies the enormity of joking about Allah: "In the course of the campaign of Tabuk, a man came up one day and declared: We have seen no people with greater appetite, more lying or more cowardly in battle than these reciters of ours. Awf ibn Malik rose and said: It is rather you that are the liar. You are a hypocrite, pretending to be a Muslim. I shall tell the Prophet of Allah about you. Awf then went to the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) to inform him, but found that revelation had already preceded him. When the news reached the man, he mounted on his camel, sought the Prophet of Allah (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: But we were only joking, trying to pass the time while traveling. Ibn Urnar (RA) said: He was clinging to the saddle belt of the Prophets camel as it ran, his feet and legs being battered by the rough ground, and repeating: But we were only joking and the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) insisting, without turning his face to him: joking? Joking with Allah? With His Revelations? With His Prophet?" (Tabari). Therefore, joking about Allah, His Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) or Islam should be taken seriously and avoided at all costs. "... Indeed those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed." (QI 6[Nahl]: 116)
Misconception I0
Chain letters are permissible.
A chain letter is a letter (or in the twenty-first century an email) that tells a story and then promises that if the recipient passes on the letter to a certain number of people, good things will happen to him or her but that if the letter is not forwarded, then bad luck will befall the person. It may seem clear that good and bad is from Allah alone and not the result of passing on a letter; however, Muslims have been fooled by these types of letters. Again, this is a misconception regarding Allah and His abilities. It is an underestimation of the power of Allah and His all encompassing control of all that exists and all that occurs. It is, in fact shirk to believe in these types of letters and it is immensely disrespectful to Allah.
Shaykh Ibn Baz (RAH) made the following comments regarding a chain letter: "When I examined this fabricated chain letter I thought that it is my duty to comment on the claims made by its author, connecting benefits and interests to the one who writes it out and distributes it, and harm to the one who ignores it and does not pass it on. This is a lie which has no sound basis, rather it is the fabrication of liars and imposters who want to divert the Muslims from putting their trust in their Lord alone, with no partner or associate, to bring them benefits and ward off harm, whilst also taking the means that are prescribed in shareeah and are permissible. And who want to make them put their trust in and focus on something other than Allah in seeking to gain benefits and to ward off harm, and seek false means that are neither prescribed in Islam nor permissible, and to call people to depend on and worship something other than Allah." (Majmoo Fatawa) "And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray." (Q4[Nisaa]:116) In order to become fully acquainted with Allah and to believe in Him according to what He has revealed about Himself.
All misconceptions regarding Him must be avoided. Being aware of the reality regarding Allah enables one to dispel any doubts or error". Knowledge must be sought diligently and safeguarded strictly so that the believer does not fall inadvertently into associating something with Allah. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Shirk in the Muslim nation is more inconspicuous than the creeping of the black ant on a black rock." (Hakim)
All the praises are for Allah, who revealed to His Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) the following supplication, to be said three times in a day and a night, to expiate for this: "0 Allah! I take refuge in You from (the possibility) that I should ascribe anything as partner in Your worship and I am conscious of that, and I beg Your pardon for that sin which I am not aware of" (al-Hakim)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited