Surah Ikhlas

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Bismillah hir Rahmaan Nir Raheem

Today we started talking about Tawheed and read Sura e Ikhlas. The significance of the surah lies in the fact that it is makes explicit Allah’s (swt) identity. Speaking about its revelation, Imam Jafer e Sadiq (as) said that a group of Jews once came to the Prophet (pbuh) and questioned him about Allah. The Prophet (pbuh) remained silent for three days awaiting a wahi from Allah (swt). And then, after three days, this surah was revealed. Being an answer to the questions the Prophet (pbuh) was asked, it begins with ‘Qul’ meaning ‘say’. From today’s perspective it is as if Allah (swt) is saying: Say this to anyone who asks about Me. The Surah unequivocally explains who Allah is, namely:
  • ·         He is One.
  • ·         He is Independent and Free from any need.
  • ·         He was neither born not was anyone born of Him.
  • ·         There is no one equal Him.

Making it absolutely clear that He is One with no second. Consequently, this surah is also called surah-e-tawheed.
We next discussed the three layers of understanding Tawheed.

1.       Tauheed dar zaat e qhuda – He is ‘Ahad’ - One - and there is no one like him. He is absolutely in-charge; the maker of any and everything. Not acknowledging Allah as Ahad is Shirk, ie, one is associating others with him. Idolatry is an open example.  There are, however, other more hidden examples of shirk that we indulge in unwittingly. For example, personal obsessions that cannot be given up, are shirk. Sometimes, ingrained habits that you cannot change can make you fall into shirk. So, it is imperative to always be watchful of ourselves and what drives us.

2.       Tauheed dar sifaat e khuda – His attributes reflect His essence. And He is the ultimate exemplar of all those attributes. No one can possess any of His attributes to the degree of perfection that He does – although we might display some of His attributes in fractional degrees. For example, He is Aleem – the Most Knowledgeable. All knowledge originates from Him. Anything that anyone might know is a fraction of that knowledge originating from that One Source - Allah (swt). It would be ignorance or arrogance to boast that the knowledge is ‘our’ knowledge when in fact it has been bestowed on us – as a reward for the effort made in seeking it.

3.       Tauheed dar afaal e Khuda – Everything that happens is with the Will of Allah. He is instrumental in any and everything that comes to pass. We often think that we were the authors of certain actions or were instrumental in someone’s progress – the truth is that Allah made is possible and appointed you the agent of that piece of goodness. Yes, we made the choice – but He is the one who gave us ability to choose. This concept of free-will. obviously needs to be discussed in further detail – perhaps tomorrow, IA.

The opposite of Tawheed, as mentioned earlier, is shirk. And shirk can creep into our psyche as stealthily as silence. It is as hard to identify as a ‘black ant on a black stone on a dark night’. It is, therefore, important to always be watchful. One does not have to worship a physical idol to be a mushrik. We are often beset by invisible idols that take over our lives. It could, for example, be possessions, relationships, power, anger, love, hate that could become an icon of obsession in our lives. They may exist in the garb of goodness – but if they become the food for one’s ego then they have become an idol and one is indulging in shirk. Shirk is therefore a trap, a lure that leads you away, distracts you from your goal. – Again a detailed discussion for another day. J

We also discussed the three types of sin
  • ·         Sins against the self like missing salah for eg – Allah might forgive through His infinite mercy through our prayer and repentance 
  • ·         Sin against Allah’s creatures – no forgiveness from Allah – He does not take the responsibility – that is left between the dwellers of the earth there is no forgiveness until we are forgiven by the those we have hurt/cheated etc.
  • ·         Shirk – absolutely no forgiveness  

Another interesting point we discussed was this Corona Virus situation in the world today. Is it an azab from Allah? Is it a test or a trial? From the discussion some interesting things that came out were:
It is a punishment for some and it is a trial for some.

How can we tell when a hardship is a trial or is a punishment?
When the hardship becomes a reason for qurbat e Ilahi it is a trial. When it distances one from Allah, it is a punishment.


Fi Amanillah

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