Tawheed and important Pillar - Disbelief in Taghout !!!

Every Muslim should know that the Tawheed we are entrusted to fulfil has two main pillars. If anyone fails to meet them then he won’t be regarded as a Muwahid (Monotheist) and his Shahaadah will not benefit him at all as it is the case with prayer, which has pillars like prostration and tashahud, and if they are violated in any way, the whole prayer becomes invalid.

The first pillar of Tawheed is the rejection of ‘Taghut’ and the second pillar is the ‘belief in Allah’. Allah azawajal says in Surah Al Baqarah: Ayah 256: “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.”

The “trustworthy handhold” mentioned in the above Ayah is ‘La ilaha illallah’.

In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (saws) is reported to have said “He who says ‘La ilaha illallah’ will find that his life and his property are protected and his reward is with Allah.”

First pillar of Tawheed: “The disbelief in Taghut”

It is very important to know that one can never be a monotheist until he completely disbelieves and rejects ‘Taghut’. This can never be achieved until he knows the meaning of the word ‘Taghut’. Literally speaking, the word ‘Taghut’ derives from the verb ‘Tagha’ which means ‘to exceed the proper bounds or limits.’ Allah (swt) says in Surah Al Haqqa 69: Ayah 11:
“Verily when the water Tagha rose beyond its limits (Tagha) (Nuh’s flood). We carried you (mankind) in the floating (ship).”

The definition of ‘Taghut’ in Shariah is ‘anyone who exceeds the proper limits by ascribing to himself any of the rights of Allah(swt) and makes himself a partner with Allah (swt)’. Allah(swt) says in Surah 79 An-Naz’iat Ayah 17: “Go to Fir’aun; verily, he has transgressed all bounds (Tagha) (in crimes, sins, polytheism, disbelief).”

In other words a Taghut is any one who ascribes to himself one of the acts of Allah(swt), such as creation, provision or legislation or ascribes to himself any of the attributes of Allah(swt), such as knowledge of the ghaib (unseen). A person may also become a Taghut if he/she allows certain acts of worship to be directed to him/herself- acts such as invocation, offering, sacrifice or legislation. So anyone who ascribes to himself any of the above acts of worship- he has become a Taghut and a partner with Allah(swt).

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) defined Taghut as:
“Anything or anyone worshipped apart from Allah(swt) and this is a general definition, which includes a lot of things that are worshipped such as idols, graves, stones, trees and other such inanimate objects. This definition also includes Satan (the biggest Taghut), witches, soothsayers (claiming knowledge of the unseen), those who are pleased with people directing acts of worship to them, and those who legislate (making things halal and haram). All these are Tawaghit (Plural of Taghut) that every Muslim should disassociate himself from them and from those who worship them.”

*Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) said:
“The Tawaghit are many and their heads are five.

Satan who invites people to worship other than Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says in Surah 36:60:
“Did I not command you Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan. Verily he is a plain enemy to you.”

2. The oppressive ruler who changes the laws of Allah(swt). Allah azawajal says in Surah
An- Nisaa, Ayah 60:
“Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges) while they have been ORDERED to REJECT them. But Shaitan wishes to lead them far astray.”

3. The one who does not govern by what Allah(swt) has revealed. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al Maidah, Ayah 44:
“Verily, We did send down the Taurat, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah’s Will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests, for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s Book. Therefore fear not men but fear Me and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are the Kafirun (disbelievers).”

4. The one who claims knowledge of the unseen. Allah(swt) states in Surah Al-Jinn, Ayah 26:
“The All-Knower of the Ghaib(Unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghaib.”

5. The one who is worshipped and pleased with it. Allah(swt) says in Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah29:
“And if any of them should say: “Verily I am an ilah (god) besides Him” such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We should recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers).”

*Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab also said concerning the last verse of Surah Al-Kahf…
“…associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord…” so know may Allah have mercy on you, that those who understand this verse perfectly are the ones who totally distinguish between the unity of Lordship and unity of worship, and know that most people are either Tawaghit who challenge Allah azawajal in His Lordship or people who worship them or others who have doubts about what Allah(swt) has revealed to His Prophet and do not differentiate between the deen of our Prophet (saws) and the deen of the Christians.”

How to disbelieve in Taghut

And know brothers and sisters, may Allah azawajal enlighten your hearts that the rejection of Taghut requires five steps.

1. The belief that worshipping Taghut is False (Batil). Allah (swt) says:
“That is because Allah- He is the Haq (Truth) and what they invoke besides Him is Batil (falsehood). And verily Allah – He is the Most High, the Most Great.” Al Hajj: Ayah 62

2. Avoid worshipping Taghut as Allah(swt) states in Surah An-Nahl, Ayah 36:
“And verily, We have sent to every Ummah (nation), a Messenger proclaiming “Worship Allah and avoid Taghut”. Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied.”

And Allah (swt) also says in Surah Al-Hajj, Ayah 30:
“That (Manasik- prescribed duties of Hajj is the obligation that mankind owes to Allah), and whoever honours the sacred things of Allah, then that is better for him with his Lord. The cattle are lawful to you, except those (that will be )mentioned to you (as exceptions). So shun the abomination (worshipping) of idols, and shun lying speech.”

It is very important to know, may Allah guide you, that one way of worshipping Taghut and all false deities is to go to them for judgement, vow to them and ask them for support and help.

Al-Hafid ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“In his tafseer of Surah Al-Baqarah: Ayah 256, that Taghut is Shaitan because he embodies every evil path that the people of Jahiliya were in- from worshipping idols, going to them for judgment and asking them for support. It is also very important to acknowledge that Taghut must be avoided by means of belief, tongue and action. No one can therefore avoid Taghut without testifying through these means because some may reject Taghut by their tongue and action, but not by belief; that is the case of hypocrites. Others may avoid Taghut by belief and not by tongue such as those who take the oath to respect the idols and Tawaghit. There are also others who reject Taghut by belief but not by action, like those who prostrate to the Tawaghit, vow to them or go to them for judgement.”

Suleman ibn Abdullah Al Asheikh says in his Tafseer Al Aziz Al Hameed (pg. 419 explaining Ayah 60 of Surah An-Nisaa):
“In this verse there is strong evidence that to avoid going to the Taghut for judgment, which is anything other than the Quran and the Sunnah is compulsory- and that anyone who goes to the Taghut for the judgment is not a believer or a Muslim. And here, there is a very important point that Allah(swt) orders us to disbelieve in Taghut in respect of the acts of worship that are directed towards Him and which should be directed to Him Alone. Therefore if the Taghut is one that the people call upon for support, then we should not ask him for support- and if the Taghut is the one to whom people offer their sacrifices, then we as Muslims should not do so to him- and if the Taghut is one to whom people go for judgment, then we should not go to him for judgment.”

Imam ibn Taymeeyah (may Allah bless him) said:
“And that is why anyone to whom people go to for judgment other than the Quran and the Sunnah is called Taghut”. (Majmooal Fatawa pg.20)

Imam ibn Al-Qayyim wrote
“The Taghut of every people is the one whom they go to for judgment apart from Allah and His Messenger. (Aalamul Nouaquieen: 40,141)

3. To show Enmity: Allah(swt) reports us about what Ibrahim(as) said to his people in Surah Ash- Shu’ara, Ayah 77: “Verily, they are enemies to me, save the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).”

4. To show Hatred: Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Mumtahinah, Ayah 4:
“Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people; “Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah; we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allah Alone”- except the saying of Ibrahim to his father, “Verily I will ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah”- “Our Lord! In you we put our trust, and to You we turn in repentance and You is (our) final Return.”

In Addorar Assonnia of the scholars of Dawaa An Najdia (pg.91/93) in explaining Surah An Nahl: Ayah 36: “And verily, We have sent to every Ummah (nation), a Messenger proclaiming “Worship Allah and avoid Taghut”. Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied”- They said this verse means that if a person worships Allah(swt) through total obedience and love but does not hate Mushrikeen and their actions and does not show enmity towards them, he has not avoided Taghut and therefore is not regarded as a Muslim- even if he shows piety by making Qayaam (praying all night) or fasting through day. He is in fact like someone who prayed with Jannaba (ritual impurity) or someone who fasts voluntarily during a hot day and commits adultery in the month of Ramadhan.

5) To consider the Taghut, anyone who worships him (the Taghut) and takes him as protector and anyone who comes up with any other religion than Islam as a disbeliever.

*Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) said:
“So know that the first divine obligation on us is the disbelief in Taghut and the belief in Allah and the evidence for this is Surah An Nahl: Ayah 36:
“And verily, We have sent to every Ummah (nation), a Messenger proclaiming “Worship Allah and avoid Taghut”. Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied.”

The attributes of the disbelief in Taghut is to believe in the falsehood of worshipping other than Allah (swt), to avoid it, to hate it, to consider anyone who does not avoid it as a disbeliever and show enmity towards them.

He also said: “So cling to the roots of Deen from the beginning to the end and from base to head. Know, understand and love ‘La ilaha illallah’ and the Muslimeen testifying to this, to make them your brothers even if they are far from you. And disbelieve in Taghut, show enmity towards them, hate them and show enmity towards anyone who loves them and argues about them or does not consider them as Kafirs (disbelievers).Hate anyone who invents a lie against Allah(swt) by claiming that it is not his duty to judge them because Allah (swt) has indeed ordered him to disbelieve in them, and disassociate himself from them even if they are his own brothers or sons.”

Second Pillar of Tawheed: “Belief in Allah”

The belief in Allah(swt) means to assert Allah(swt’s) Oneness in Lordship, Worship, Names and Attributes.

1. The belief in Allah (swt)'s Lordship (Rububiyah): that is to believe in Allah(swt)'s acts which are specific to Him Alone like creation, provision, legislation and others and not to ascribe any of these acts to other than Allah(swt). Allah(swt) says in Surah 30 Ar-Rum, Ayah 40:
“ Allah is He Who Created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then (again) He will give you life (on the day of Resurrection). Is there any of your partners that do anything of that? Glory is to Him! And Exalted is He above all that they associate (with Him).”

2. The belief in Allah(swt’s) names and attributes. That is to believe in all the names and attributes that Allah(swt) has affirmed for Himself without disablement, distortion, likening and without looking at the manner or the way of His Attributes. One must ascribe all these names and attributes to Him Alone as Allah(swt) states in Surah-An Nahl, Ayah 65: “And Allah Sends down water from the sky, He revives the earth therewith after its death. Verily in this is a sign for those who listen.”

3. The belief in Allah(swt)’s Uloohiyah (Worship): That is to believe that Allah(swt) is the only one to be worshipped and that all acts of worship like bowing, prostrating, invoking, vowing and others should be directed to none but to Allah(swt) Alone. Allah(swt) states in Surah 4 An-Nisa, Ayah 36:
“Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer, and those whom your right hand possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful.”

How can a person be a monotheist?

Firstly a person should know the divine rights of Allah(swt) and they are three:

1. All the acts that are specific to Allah(swt) alone which no-one should ascribe to other than Allah(swt): not to an angel or messenger. For instance, only Allah(swt) can create from non-existence and can provide from nothingness. Only Allah(swt) can give life, death, benefits or harm, arranges every affair from the heavens to the earth, manages the universe and also legislates.

2. All the names and attributes, which no one should ascribe to other than Allah(swt). For example some of Allah(swt)’s names are “Allah”, “Al Ahad” (the One), “As Samad” (the Self-sufficent), “Ar Rahman” (the Beneficient), Al Kadoos (the Holy) and others. As for the attributes, Allah(swt) is omnipotent, omniscient and that He Alone Hears everything remote or near, along with other attributes that are specific for Him Alone.

3. All the acts of worship that should be directed to Him Alone because it is He Who Created and provided us and gives us life and causes us to die. Allah(swt) says in Surah 30, Ayah 40:
“Allah is He Who Created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then (again) He will give you life (on the day of Resurrection). Is there any of your partners that do anything of that? Glory is to Him! And Exalted is He above all that they associate.”

Allah(swt) also says in Surah 2, Ayah 21/22: “O mankind! Worship your Lord Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun.”

And in a Hadith reported by both Bukhari and Muslim Muaad ibn Jabal (ra) said, “ I was riding a donkey behind the Prophet (saws) then he said “ O Muaad - Do you know the right of Allah on his slaves and the right of the slaves on Allah. Muaad said “Allah and His Messenger know best. He (saws) said the right of Allah on His slaves is that they should worship Him and not ascribe partners with Him, and the right of the slaves on Allah is not to punish anyone who does not commit shirk. He (Muaad) said, “shall I tell people the good news” He (saws) said “ Don’t do so lest they settle on this.”

And among these acts of worship are invocation, bowing, prostration, love, exaltation, fear, hope, repentance, submissiveness, reliance, vowing, sacrifice, asking for help and going to for judgment. So if anyone directs any of these acts to other than Allah(swt), he becomes a Mushrik, even if he prays, fasts, goes to Hajj and claims to be a Muslim.

Secondly, a person should assert Allah azawajal's Oneness and worships Him by belief, tongue, and action, because worshipping Allah is based on two main pillars; the disbelief in Taghut and belief in Allah (swt).

The disbelief in Taghut is the first pillar of Tawheed and this pillar cannot be fulfilled until the person rejects the Taghut by belief, tongue, and action, so if one of these requirements is violated, then the person cannot be regarded as a disbeliever in Taghut. For instance, if a person believes that Allah(swt) Alone is Al-Hakim (the Legislator) and declares this with his tongue, but later commits Kufr by appointing someone in a legislative authority which reserves the absolute right to legislate, then this person has committed Shirk by ascribing an act which is specific to Allah(swt) Alone to other than Allah.

Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab said: “So know that the Deen of Allah(swt) is in the heart in terms of belief, love and hatred, and in the tongue in terms of verbally pronouncing the shahaadah, and in the limbs in terms of implementing the pillars of Islam and avoiding actions which drive out of Islam. Therefore if any of these requirements are violated, the person becomes Kafir or Murtad (apostate).”

The belief in Allah (swt) is the second pillar of Tawheed. This pillar cannot be fulfilled until the person asserts Allah (swt)'s oneness and worships Him by belief, tongue and action. So if any of these requirements are violated, then the individuals' belief in Allah (swt) is insufficient.

Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab also said (regarding this): “There is no disagreement within the Muslim Ummah that Tawheed is by heart- which is knowledge, by tongue- which is verbal declaration, and by action- which is implementing what Allah(swt) orders and forbids, so if any of these are violated, the person cannot be regarded as a Muslim. And if the individual acknowledges Tawheed and does not implement it, he is an obstinate Kafir (disbeliever) like iblis (Shaitan) and Fi’raun, or if he implements Tawheed without believing in it, he is a pure Munafiq (hypocrite) who is worse than a Kafir.

Abdullah ibn AbdurRahman Aba Battin said:
“When the Muslim knows the greatness of the Shahaadah and its requirements and this should be by belief with the heart, articulation with the tongue and action with the limbs. So if one of these requirements is not met, the person is not regarded as a Muslim- as Allah(swt) has mentioned and explained this in His Book(Quran). If a person was a Muslim implementing all the pillars of his Deen, then he said or did anything that contradicts the Shahaadah, all that he did would not benefit him as Allah(swt) said about those who talked about the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet (saws)) after the battle of Tabuk:

Surah At Taubah: Ayah 66:
“Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you because they were the Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners).”

And in the same Surah but Ayah 74 Allah (swt) says:
“They swear by Allah that they said nothing (bad), but really they said a word of disbelief, and they disbelieved after accepting Islam, and they resolved with that which they were unable to carry out, and they could not find any cause to do so except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His Bounty. If then they will repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful torment in this wordly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a Wali (supporter, protector) or a helper.”