Is faith the oneness of Allah?
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The questioner : Is faith the oneness of Allah?
The Shaykh : Faith and the oneness of Allah are two distinct things and two things that agree.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The oneness of Allah is singling out Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for what He deserves and what is unique to Him in terms of lordship, worship, names, and attributes. For this reason, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: The oneness of Allah is divided into three categories: the oneness of lordship, the oneness of worship, and the oneness of the names and attributes. And these categories are found in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Maryam 19:65] His saying: [Maryam 19:65] means the oneness of lordship, His saying: [Maryam 19:65] means the oneness of worship, and His saying: [Maryam 19:65] means the oneness of the names and attributes. This division actually encompasses faith, because faith in Allah (Mighty and Majestic) includes faith in His lordship, His worship, His names, and His attributes.
Accordingly, the one who singles out Allah for His oneness believes in Him, and the one who believes in Allah singles Him out for His oneness. However, a defect may occur in the oneness of Allah or in faith, causing them to decrease. For this reason, the stronger position is that faith increases and decreases; it increases and decreases in its reality, its effects, and its implications. A person sometimes finds in his heart a profound tranquility, as if he is seeing the One who was unseen whom he believed in. At other times, he experiences a degree of lack of this complete certainty. If you wish to know that certainty varies, read the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding Abraham, His intimate friend (peace and blessings be upon him):[Al-Baqarah 2:260].
It also increases through its effects and implications. As a person increases in righteous deeds, his faith increases until he becomes one of the pure believers. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener, who used the initials A.M.M. for his name from the village of ..., says: O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Faith and the oneness of Allah are two distinct things and two things that agree.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The oneness of Allah is singling out Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for what He deserves and what is unique to Him in terms of lordship, worship, names, and attributes. For this reason, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: The oneness of Allah is divided into three categories: the oneness of lordship, the oneness of worship, and the oneness of the names and attributes. And these categories are found in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?"
رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَاعْبُدْهُ وَاصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَادَتِهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّاLord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them
رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَاso worship Him and have patience for His worship
فَاعْبُدْهُ وَاصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَادَتِهِDo you know of any similarity to Him?"
هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّاAccordingly, the one who singles out Allah for His oneness believes in Him, and the one who believes in Allah singles Him out for His oneness. However, a defect may occur in the oneness of Allah or in faith, causing them to decrease. For this reason, the stronger position is that faith increases and decreases; it increases and decreases in its reality, its effects, and its implications. A person sometimes finds in his heart a profound tranquility, as if he is seeing the One who was unseen whom he believed in. At other times, he experiences a degree of lack of this complete certainty. If you wish to know that certainty varies, read the saying of Allah the Exalted regarding Abraham, His intimate friend (peace and blessings be upon him):
And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." [Allah] said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but [I ask] only that my heart may be satisfied."
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِ الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنْ لِيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِيIt also increases through its effects and implications. As a person increases in righteous deeds, his faith increases until he becomes one of the pure believers. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener, who used the initials A.M.M. for his name from the village of ..., says: O honorable Shaykh.