Rationale for Inviting Non-Muslims to Tawhid

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Rationale for Inviting Non-Muslims to Tawhid


By

Dr. Norlain Dindang

(Note: The Author is now using her real family name instead of her husband’s family name (Mababaya) in conformity with Islamic value, where woman in Islam retains her real family name even after marriage.)

There are three categories of Tawhîd (the Oneness of God) that we must explain very clearly to the non-Muslims. First is Tawhîd Ar-Ruboobeeyah (Oneness of Allâh’s Divinity or Allah as the Only God and Creator). Allah is the Only Rabb, the Creator, the Sovereign, the Sustainer, the Provider, and Manager of the whole mankind in all affairs. Second is Tawhîd Al-Ulooheeyah or Tawhîd Al-Ibaadah (Allah is the Only One worthy of our worship). No one deserves true worship but Allâh. Allah created the whole mankind and the jinn to worship Him Alone (51:56). Worship in Islâm is a comprehensive term. Everything we do in accordance with Allâh’s Law is an act of worship. Such worship must be done sincerely for the pleasure of Allah alone. Third is Tawhîd Al-Asmaa wa As-Sifât (Allâh Alone deserves the most Magnificent Names and Attributes). All praises belong to Allah . No one shares in any of His beautiful Names and Attributes, which are found in the Qur’ân and Ahâdîth.

Of the three categories of Tawhîd, we must give emphasis on the Tawhîd Al-Ulooheeyah or Tawhîd Al-Ibâdah. That is to invite or call people to worship Allah alone. This is to guide them to the Truth so that they will fulfill their very purpose of existence/creation in this world ¾ i.e., to worship Allah throughout their lives and therefore avoid committing the most sinful of all sins, which is Shirk (associating partners with Allah ). Allâh the Most High tells us:
“I have created not the jinn and men except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah s the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.” (51:56-58)
“So glorify the praises of your Rabb and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him). And worship your Rabb until there comes unto you the Hour that is certain (i.e., death).” (15:98-99)
“Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah s to devise a sin most heinous indeed.” (4:48)
To guide mankind to Tawhîd Al-Ulooheeyah, Allâh the Most Gracious, Most Merciful sent prophets and messengers to every nation. We read in the Qur’ân:
“And verily, We have sent among every nation a messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allâh (alone) and avoid false deities.’…” (16:36)
“And We did not send any messenger before you (O Muhammad) except that We inspired him (to proclaim) that none has the right to be worshipped except Me (Allâh), so worship Me (Alone).” (21:25)
The Prophet r, just like other prophets and messengers of Allah before him [e.g., Noah (7:59 and 23:23); Abraham (2: 257 and 6: 80); Jesus Christ, the son of Mary (5: 72)] invited people to the worship of Allah . Allâh the Exalted tells us:
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is One God: whoever expects to meet His Rabb, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Rabb, admit no one as partner.” (18:110)
In line with the above Islâmic injunctions, it is imperative that we Du’at must invite non-Muslims to Tawhîd. We must call those who worship false deities as well as those who associate partners with Allah and the atheists toTawhîd for the following reasons:
1. We must invite or call non-Muslims (e.g., Christians) to worship Allah alone so that they will fulfill their very purpose of existence/creation in this world ¾ ito worship Allah throughout their lives. Allâh the Most High says:
“I have created not the jinn and men except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah s the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong.” (51:56-58)
“So glorify the praises of your Rabb and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him). And worship your Rabb until there comes unto you the Hour that is certain (i.e., death).” (15:98-99)
2. To invite non-Muslims to Tawhîd is to guide them to Islâm, the right religion and therefore refrain themselves from committing the most sinful of all sins, which is Shirk (associating partners with Allah ). Allâh the Almighty tells us in His Book:
“You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allâh has sent down no authority. The Command is for none but for Allâh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him, that is the right religion, but most men know not.” (12:40)
“Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah s to devise a sin most heinous indeed.” (4:48)
3. If the non-Muslims will believe in the Oneness of Allah and will do righteous deeds, they will be in the eternal paradise and hence attain supreme success. They will be saved from the eternal chastisement in the Hell-Fire, which Allah has prepared for those who disbelieve in His Oneness. Allâh the Almighty says:
“So those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh) and did righteous deeds will be in the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).” (22:56)
“But those who disbelieve and belie our Ayaat (proofs, verses, etc.): such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever.” (2:39)
4. We have to invite non-Muslims to Tawhîd especially Tawhîd Al-Ulooheeyah (to sincerely worship Allâh as the only God worthy to be worshipped) because it was the message conveyed by all the prophets and messengers of Allah . Allâh the Most Gracious, Most Merciful sent prophets and messengers to every nation to proclaim that none has the right to be worshipped except Him. We read in the Qur’ân:
“And verily, We have sent among every nation a messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allâh (alone) and avoid false deities.’…” (16:36)
“And We did not send any messenger before you (O Muhammad) except that We inspired him (to proclaim) that none has the right to be worshipped except Me (Allâh), so worship Me (Alone).” (21:25)
5. Inviting non-Muslims to Tawhîd is a message that is supreme. This is a commandment from Allah to His Messenger r, which we must also follow as stated in the following Ayât:
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘Truly am I a Warner: no god is there but the One Allâh Supreme and Irresistible, the Rabb (Sustainer) of the heavens and the earth and all between Exalted in Might Able to enforce His will forgiving again and again.’ Say: ‘That is a message supreme (above all) from which you do turn away!’” (38:65-68)
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is One God: whoever expects to meet His Rabb, let him work righteousness, and in the worship of his Rabb, admit no one as partner.’” (18:110)
It is imperative that we Du’at must invite non-Muslims to Tawhîd as it is the Sunnah of Allâh’s Messenger r. In fact, the first thing he enjoined one of his Companions, which we must also follow, was to invite people to worship Allah . The following authentic Hadîth tells us:
Ibn Abbas narrated that when Allâh’s Messengerr sent Muadh to Yemen, he said (to him), “You are going to People of the Book. First of all invite them to worship Allâh (Alone) and when they come to know Allâh, inform them that Allâh has enjoined on them, five prayers in every day and night; and if they start offering these prayers, inform them that Allâh has enjoined on them, the Zakat. And it is to be taken from the rich amongst them and given to the poor amongst them; and if they obey you in that, take Zakat from them and avoid (don't take) the best property of the people as Zakat.” (Bukhari 2/537)
Islâmic History tells us that for ten years, the Prophet r invited the non-believers in Makkah to Tawhîd (to worship no other God but Allah ). While in Makkah, he was raised to Heaven where he was given the divine commandment to institutionalize the five obligatory daily prayers (Salaat). He r performed the prayers in Makkah for three years. Then, he was commanded to migrate to Madinah to build the first Islâmic State ¾ to implement Islâm in its complete and purest way. This shows how the Prophet r stressed the need to give priority to Tawhîd, which we must also follow in our Da’wah. This means to explain to non-Muslims the concept and rationality of the absolute oneness of Allâh and why we need to worship Him, before explaining other pillars of Islâm as well as the articles and other teachings of the True and Right Religion.