CONCEPT OF GOD

Alhamdulillah, was Salaatu was Salaam ala Rasoolillah wa ala aalihi wa ashaabihi wa ajma’een, amma baad. A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem, Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem.

Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum 'Allah Na`buda 'Illallah Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an Wa La Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi Fa'in Tawallaw Faqulush hadu Bi'anna Muslimun.

Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li 'Amri Wa Ahlul `Uqdatan Min Lisani Yafqahu Qawli

My respected elders and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome all of you with the Islamic greetings As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu, May peace, mercy and blessings of Allah (swt), of Almighty God be on all of you.

It’s a pleasure and honour for me that for the three consecutive sessions in the Peace Exhibition the Vision of Islam I’ve been asked to give the concluding speech.

The topic of this evenings talk is, “The Concept of God in Worlds Major Religions.”

‘Religion’ according to the Oxford Dictionary means…‘A belief in a Super Human controlling power, especially a personal God or gods, that deserve worship and obedience’. In short according to the Oxford Dictionary, religion means the belief in God. I started my talk by quoting a verse from the Glorious Qur’an from Surah Al Imran, Ch. No. 3, Verse No. 64, which says,

“Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab”,
“Say O people of the Book”

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”

Which is the first term?

“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah, Almighty God”

“Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an” “That we associate no partners with him”

“Wa La Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi” “That we erect not among ourselves Lords and Patrons other than Allah.”

“Fa'in Tawallaw”
“If they turn back”

“Faqulush hadu”
“Say ye bear witness”

“Bi'anna Muslimun”
“That we are Muslims bowing our will to Allah (swt).”

This verse of the Glorious Qur’an according to me I call it the Master Key for Da’wah. Whenever we speak to different types of people, people of different religions, the Qur’an says,

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”

Though the verse begins by saying,

“Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab”,
“Say O people of the Book”

This verse can be used for the people of all religions. It specifically refers to the Jews and Christians but in general it can refer to the people of the all religions. And the first term is,

“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah, Almighty God”

One thing common Al Hamdulillah in all the worlds major religions is that the followers of any religion they believe that the God they worship is the same for themselves as well as for others. For example, the God which the Hindu’s worship they believe he’s the God for the Hindu’s as well as for the Non Hindu’s. The God which the Christians worship, they believe He is the same God, for the Christians as well as for the Non-Christians. And the God which we Muslims believe, we believe that Allah (swt), Almighty God, is the same God for the Muslims, as well as for the Non-Muslims. The Worlds Major Religions can be broadly classified and divided into Semitic Religions and the Non Semitic Religions. The Semitic Religions are those Religions which are followed by the Semites. Who are the Semites? The Semites are the descendents of ‘Shem’. And it’s mentioned in the Bible, in the Old Testament, in the Book of Genesis, Chapter No. 5 to 11, ‘Shem’ is mentioned there and he is the son of Prophet Noah Alayhi Salaam (Peace be upon him). So Semitic Religions are those Religions, which are followed by the Semites, descendents of ‘Shem’ the Jews, the Arabs, the Asyrians, the Phoenicians - who speak the language Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, Phoenicians, etc. The major amongst the Semitic Religions are, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Non Semetic Religions can be further divided into Aryan Religions and the Non Aryan Religions. The Aryan Religions are the Religions which are followed by the Aryans - a powerful group of Indo-European speaking people who originated from Iran and Northern India, in the first half of the 2nd Millennium, that’s 2000 to 1500 B.C. The Aryan Religions can be further divided into Vedic Religion and the Non - Vedic Religions. The Vedic religion is that religion in which the people follow the Vedas. And it’s today called as a misnomer as Hinduism or Brahaminism. But the right word should be a Vedantik’.

The Non-Vedic Religions, are those Aryan Religions which do not follow the Vedas like Sikhism, Jainism, etc. And Zoroastrianism also happens to be an Aryan Religion which is not associated with Hinduism.

The Non-Aryan Religions, they are divided depending upon their origin, for example, those that originated from China, like ‘Confucianism’, like ‘Taosim’, those that originated from Japan, like Shintoism etc. But most of these Non Aryan Religions, they do not have a concept of God and they are more often referred to as ethical systems. That’s the reason as far as my talk today is concerned, the Concept of God in Worlds Major Religions, I will be discussing about ‘Aryan’ religions and the ‘Semitic’ religions. The most famous amongst the Aryan religions is the Vedic religion that is called as Hinduism. Let’s first discuss the concept of God in Hinduism. Before we discuss the Concept of God in any religion, first I’d like to make one point clear that the best and the most authentic way and methodology of understanding any religion is to try and understand what the scripture of that religion has to speak about Almighty God. Trying to understand the concept of God, by observing the followers of that religion may not be correct, because many a time the followers of that religion themselves do not know what is the correct concept of God. That’s the reason the best, the most authentic methodology to understand the concept of God in any religion is to try and understand what the sacred scripture of that religion has to speak about God.

As I mentioned, first we’ll discuss the Aryan Religions. And the most famous among the Aryan Religions is Hinduism which is a Vedic religion. First we’ll discuss the Concept of God in Hinduism. When we ask any Hindu, that how many gods does he believe in? Some may say 3, some may say 10, some may say thousand, while the others may say, 33 crores, 330 million. But when we ask a learned Hindu, who is well versed with his Hindu scriptures, he will tell you that Hindu’s should actually believe and worship only one God. But the common Hindu he believes in the philosophy known as ‘Pantheism.’ The common Hindu believes that everything is god. The tree is god, the Sun is god, the Moon is god, the human being is god, the snake is god. What we Muslim believes is everything is God’s - GOD with an apostrophe ‘S’, everything belongs to God. The tree belongs to God, the Sun belongs to God, the Moon belongs to God, the human beings belong to God, the snake belongs to God. So the major difference between the Hindu’s and the Muslim’s, the common Hindu say, everything is God, we Muslims we say, everything is God’s. GOD with an apostrophe ‘S’. The major difference is the apostrophe ‘S’. If we can solve this difference of Apostrophe ‘S’, the Hindus and the Muslims will be united. How do you do it? As the Qur’an says,

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”

Which is the first term?

“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but one Allah (swt).”

So let’s try and understand what is the Concept of God in Hinduism according to the Hindu sacred scriptures. Amongst the Hindu Sacred Scriptures, one of the sacred scriptures are called as Upanishads. It’s mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Section No. 2, Verse No.1,

“Ekam Evadvitiyam”

It’s a Sanskrit quotation which means,
“God is only one without a second.”

It’s mentioned in Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 9,

“Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah.” which means, “Of that God there are no parents, nor lords. Almighty God has got no father, he has got no mother, he has got no superior.”

It’s mentioned in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad; Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 19,

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no Prathima.”

Prathima in Sanskrit means an image, it means an idol, it means a sculptor, it means a photograph, it means a picture, it means a painting.

So Shvetashvatara Upanishad; Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 19,

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no image, there is no idol, there is no statue, there is no photograph, there is no painting, there is no picture.”

It’s mentioned in Shvetashvatara Upanishad; Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 20, it says that “You cannot see the image of God. The Eye cannot comprehend God.”

And amongst the Hindu scriptures the most widely read scripture is the Bhagavad Gita. This is the Bhagavad Gita which is the most popular and most widely book read amongst the Hindu scriptures. Its mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter No. 7 Verse No. 20,

“All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship demi gods.”

And if you read the commentary of Bhagavad Gita by Swami Prabhupada, he mentions, the demi god here refers to false god as well as idols. So it says,

“All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship false gods, they worship idols”

It’s further mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter No. 10 Verse No. 3,

“They know me as the unborn, beginning less and the supreme lord of all the worlds.”

And amongst the Hindu scriptures, the most sacred, they are the Vedas. It’s mentioned in Yajurveda Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3,

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no Prathima.”

As I mentioned earlier, Prathima is a Sanskrit word which means an image, an idol, a statue, a painting, a picture, a photograph. So Yajurveda Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3, says,

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no image, there is no idol, there is no statue, there is no picture, there is no painting, there is no photograph.”

It’s mentioned in Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 8,

“Almighty God is imageless and pure.”

It’s mentioned in Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 9,

“Andhatma pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste.”

‘Andhatma’ means darkness. ‘Pravishanti’ means entering, ‘Asambhuti’ means the natural things like fire, water, air etc. So Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 9, says, “They are entering darkness those who worship the ‘Asambhuti’, the natural things like fire, water, air, etc and the verse continues, they are entering more in darkness those who worship the Sambhuti, those who worship the created things like idols, chair, table etc. Who says that? Yajurveda Chapter No. 40 Verse No. 9.

It’s mentioned in Atharvaveda Book No. 20 Hymn No. 58 Mantra No. 3,

“Dev maha Asi”
“Verily great is Almighty God.”

And amongst the Vedas, the most sacred is the Rigveda. It’s mentioned in the Rigveda Book No. 1, Hymn No. 164, Mantra No. 46,

“Ekkam sad vipra bhudha vidante”
“Truth is one, God is one, sages and saints call him by a variety of names.”

And the same message is repeated in Rigveda, Book No. 10, Hymn No. 114, Mantra No. 5 that sages and saintly people call God by a variety of names and there are no less than 33 different attributes given to Almighty God in Rigveda Book No. 2 Hymn No. 1 alone. One amongst is mentioned in Rigveda Book No. 2 Hymn No. 1 Mantra No. 3 as Brahamma. Brahamma is called as the creator. If you translate creator into Arabic, it means Khaliq. We Muslims have got no objection if someone calls Almighty God is Khaliq or the Creator, but if someone says Brahamma is God who has got four heads and on each head is a crown, you are giving an image to Almighty God. And you are going against Shvetashvatara Upanishad Chapter No. 4 Verse No. 19 which says,

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no image.”

The other attribute given to Almighty God in Rigveda, Book No. 2, Hymn No. 1, Mantra No. 3 is ‘Vishnu’. Vishnu is called as the sustainer, cherisher. If you translate it into Arabic, it is somewhat similar to Rabb. We Muslims have got no objection if someone calls Almighty God as Rabb or Cherisher or Sustainer, but if someone says that Vishnu is Almighty God who has got four hands and one of his right hand he has the Chakra, the discus. One of his left hand, he has the conch, he’s flying on the bird by the name of Garuda or reclining on the bed of snakes, we Muslims take strong objection to it. Moreover you are giving an image to Almighty God and going against the Yajurveda, Chapter No. 32, Verse No. 3 which says,

“Na Tasya Pratima Asti”
“Of that God there is no image”

It’s further mentioned in Rigveda Book No. 8, Hymn No. 1, Mantra No. 1,

“Ma Chidanyadvi Sansad”
“Do not worship anyone but him alone, praise him alone.”

It’s mentioned in Rigveda, Book No. 6, Hymn No. 45 Mantra No. 16,

“Ya Ekit Mushtihi” “Praise him alone, worship that one God”

And the Brahma Sutra of Hinduism is

“Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan”

“Bhagwan ek hi hai doosra nahi hai, nahi hai, nahi hai, zara bhi nahi hai.”

“There is only one God not a second one, not at all, not at all, not in the least bit.”

So, if you read the Hindu scriptures, you shall understand the concept of God in Hinduism.

Let’s try and understand the concept of God in Sikhism. Though Sikhism is not considered one of the major world religions but has a huge following, it is considered as an off shoot of Hinduism and it was founded by Guru Nanak in the late part of the 15th century, in the land of Pakistan and North Western India, called as Punjab, the land of the five rivers. And Guru Nanak Sahib he was born on a Hindu Kshatriya family that’s the warrior caste family. And the word ‘Sikh’ is derived from the word ‘Sisya’ which means a ‘disciple.’ Therefore Sikhism is called as the religion of ten Guru’s, the first and the founder is Guru Nanak Sahib and the last is Guru Gobind Sahib and the sacred book of Sikhism is the Guru Granth Sahib, also know as Adi Granth. And every Sikh has to maintain his five ‘Ks’ .

The first ‘K’ is the ‘Kesh’, that’s the uncut hair which all the gurus kept. The second ‘K’ is the ‘Kanga’, that’s the comb to keep the hair clean. The third ‘K’ is the ‘Kadha’, that’s a metal or a steel bangle which is used for strength.
The fourth ‘K’ is the ‘Kirpan’, or the dagger which is used for self defense.
And the fifth ‘K’ is the ‘Kacha’ or the long under draws or under wear which is used for agility.

Every Sikh according to Sikhism has to maintain his 5 ‘Ks.’ And if you ask any Sikh that what is the definition of Almighty God in Sikhism, the best reply he can give you is quote to you the ‘Mul Mantra’ of Sikhism. That’s the fundamental creed of Sikhism, which is there in the first volume of Guru Granth Sahib, 1st Chapter, 1st Verse, know as ‘Japuji’ - It says that God is only One. He is called as the ‘True’, the Creator who’s free from fear and hate, ‘the Immortal, ‘not begotten’, ‘Self-Existing’ ‘Great and Compassionate’. This is the definition of Almighty God in the Japuji which is the Mul Mantra of Sikhism. And Sikhism is strictly monotheistic religion. And in the un-manifest form Almighty God in Sikhism is called as ‘Ek Omkara’ and in the manifest form, he’s called as ‘Omkara’. And there are various attributes given to Almighty God in Sikhism, in the sacred scriptures, he is refered to as ‘Akal’… that’s Eternal. He’s called as the ‘Kartar’, the creator. He’s refered to as ‘Satnama’ which is the Holy Name. He’s called as ‘Sahib’ which means the Lord. He’s called as ‘Parvardigar’, which means the Cherisher. He’s called as ‘Rahim’… the Merciful. He’s called as ‘Karim’…‘the Beneficient, he’s also called as ‘Wahe Guru’, means ‘One true God’. Sikhism besides being a Monotheistic religion, it is against ‘Avtarvada’, which means it is against Almighty God taking incarnation. Against Almighty God incarnating known as ‘Avtar.’ And it is also against idol worship. And Guru Nanak, he was also influenced by Sant Kabir, and in our school days we were taught the couplets, the ‘Dohas’ of Sant Kabir, and one of the famous couplet which I learnt in shcool was,

“Dukh mein sumren sab kare, Sukh mein kare na koi. Jo sukh mein sumren kare, to dukh kahe hoi.”

Which means, “During trouble all the people remember God but during Peace and happiness no one remembers God. The person who remembers God in times of peace and happiness, why should trouble touch him?”

This is the same thing which is mentioned in the Qur’an, in Surah Al Zumar, Chapter 39, Verse No. 8, where Almighty God says,

“When trouble touches man, he prays to the Almighty God, Allah (swt) and when Almighty God bestows His favours on him, he forgets that he had prayed to Almighty God and he associates partners with him.”

So if we read the Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikh scriptures you shall understand the concept of God in Sikhism.

Let’s discuss the Concept of God in Zoroastrianism ‘Zorastarnism’ is a Non Semitic, Non-Vedic Aryan Religion, which is also called as ‘Parisism’ and though it has a very small following, less than 130,000 people mostly living in Bombay the city where I come from. But it claims to be one of the oldest religions. It originated more than 2 ½ thousand years ago in Persia and it was founded by Zoroaster and this religion is also called the religion of ‘Fire Worshipper’ or religion of ‘Magianism.’ Almighty God in ‘Zorastarnism’ is called as ‘Ahura Mazda.’ ‘Ahura’ means God or Lord, ‘Mazda’ means wise. ‘Ahura Mazda means wise God or wise Lord and the Sacred Scriptures of ‘Zorastarnism’ or ‘Parsism’ are the ‘Dasatir’ and the ‘Awesta’. There are various descriptions of Almighty God given in Dasatir. It’s mentioned in Dasatir that Almighty god is One and Only. He doesn’t have a beginning neither does he have an end. He has no mother, no Father, no wife or no son. Nothing resembles Him. Almighty God has got no images, you cannot see Almighty God with your eyes, neither can you comprehend, he is far beyond your understanding and he’s closer to your own self. All these descriptions are given in Dasatir the sacred scripture of Parsis. If you read the ‘Avesta’, the ‘Yasna’ and the other books there are various attributes given to Almighty God, he’s refered to as the creator in Yasna, Chapter No. 31 Verse No. 7 and 11 as well as Yasna Chapter No. 44, Verse No. 7, Yasna Chapter No. 50, Verse No. 11, as well as Yasna Chapter No. 51, Verse No. 7. He’s called as the greatest in Yasna Chapter No. 33, Verse No. 11, as well as Yasna Chapter No. 45, Verse No. 6.

He’s called as the Beneficent in Yasna Chapter No. 33, Verse No. 11 as well as Yasna Chapter No. 48, Verse No. 3. Almighty God in the Parsi Scripture is also called as the Bountiful
in Yasna Chapter No. 43, Verse No. 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 50
as well as Yasna Chapter No. 44, Verse No. 2 and
Yasna Chapter No. 45, Verse No. 5,
in Yasna Chapter No. 46, Verse No. 9,
as well as Yasna Chapter No. 48, Verse No. 3.

There are various attributes given to Almighty God in the Parsi scriptures. So if you read the Parsi scriptures, you shall understand the concept of God in ‘Parsism’ and ‘Zorastarnism’

Let’s discuss the concept of God in Semitic Religions. As I mentioned the major among the Semitic Religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. First we’ll discuss the Concept of God in Judaism.

It’s mentioned in the Old Testament in the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 4, Moses (pbuh) says in Hebrew,

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."
It’s a Hebrew quotation which means.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”

It’s mentioned in the Book of Isaiah Chapter No. 43, Verse No. 11,
‘I, even I am Lord and there is no Savior besides Me.’

It’s mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter No. 45, Verse No. 5,
‘I am Lord, and there is none else, there’s no God besides Me.’

It’s mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter No. 46, Verse No. 9,
‘I am God, and there is none like me’.

It’s further mentioned in the Book of Exodus, Chapter No. 20, Verses 3 to 5, It says,

‘Thou shall have no other Gods besides Me’. This is Almighty God speaking in the Old Testament, Book of Exodus, Chapter No. 20, Verses 3 to 5,

‘Thou shall have no other Gods besides Me. Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image of anything, of any likeness, in the heaven above, in the earth beneath, and the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down to them, nor serve them, for I thy God, thy Lord, the God, am a jealous God.’

A similar message is repeated in the Book of Deuteronomy, Ch.No. 5, V.No.7 to 9, that…

‘Thou shall have no other gods besides Me. Thou shall not make thee any graven image, of any likeness, of anything that is the heavens above, that is in the earth beneath, and in the water beneath the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them for I the Lord, the God am a jealous God’.

So if you read the Jewish scriptures, the Old Testament you shall understand the Concept of God in Judaism, that you have have to believe in one God and Almighty God has got no images. Before we discuss the Concept of God in Christianity, I would like to make a few points clear. Islam is the only Non-Christian faith, which makes it an article of faith to believe in Jesus (pbuh). No Muslim, is ‘a Muslim’ if he does not believe in Jesus Christ (pbuh). We believe that he was one of the mightiest messengers of Allah (swt) - of Almighty God. We believe that he was the Messiah, translated Christ. We believe that he was born miraculously, without any male intervention, which many modern day Christians today do not believe. We believe that he gave life to the dead with God’s permission. We believe that he healed those born blind, and lepers with God’s permission. The Christians and Muslims, we are going together, but one may ask then where is the parting of ways? The parting of ways is that there are many Christians who say that ‘Jesus Christ (pbuh), he claimed divinity. Infact, if you read the Bible, there is not a single unequivocal statement in the complete Bible, where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says, that ‘I am God’, or where he says ‘Worship me’. I would like to repeat that statement, there is not a single unequivocal statement, not a single unambiguous statement in the complete Bible, where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says that ‘I am God’ or, where he says… ‘Worship me’. If any Christian can point out any unequivocal statement, any unambiguous statement, from any where in the Bible, where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says that ‘I am God’ or, where he says… ‘Worship me’, I am ready to accept Christianity today. I am not speaking on behalf of my other Muslims, I am a student of comparative religion. I am ready to out my head on the guillotine. If any Christian can point out any single unequivocal statement, in the complete Bible, where Jesus Christ (pbuh) himself says that ‘I am God’ or, where he says… ‘Worship me’, I am ready to accept Christianity. Infact if you read the Bible, Jesus Christ (pbuh) he mentioned himself in the Gospel of John, Chapter No. 14, Verse No. 28, Jesus Christ (pbuh) said – ‘My Father is greater than I’

Gospel of John, Chapter No. 10, Verse No. 29, “My father is greater than all.”

Gospel of Mathew, Chapter No. 12 Verse No. 28, “I cast out devil with Sprit of God’.

Gospel of Luke, Chapter No. 11 Verse No. 20, “I with the finger of God, cast out devils.”

Gospel of John, Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 30, “I can of my own self do nothing - as I hear I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my will, but the will of Almighty God.”

Anyone who says, “I seek not my will but the will of Almighty God”, he’s a Muslim. Jesus Christ (pbuh) was a Muslim. He never claimed divinity. Infact he clearly mentioned, its mentions in the Gospel of Mathew Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 17 to 20, Jesus Christ (pbuh) said that,

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the Prophets - I have come not to destroy, but to fulfill. Untill the heaven and earth pass away, Not one jot or title shall pass away from the law, untill all be fulfilled. And whosoever, shall break one of the least commandments and teach men to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whosoever shall keep the commandments, and teach men the same, they shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees, in no way shall you enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

This is a verbatim quotation from the Gospel of Mathew Chapter No. 5 Verse No. 17 to 20 and you can check it up. Jesus Christ (pbuh) said that if you want to enter Jannah you have to be better than the Jews, better than the Scribes and the Pharisees. You have to follow each and every commandment of Moses (pbuh), even if you break one of the least commandments you shall not enter Jannah, you shall not enter paradise. You have to believe in everything what Moses (pbuh) said earlier. You have to believe in one God, that God has got no images etc. Jesus Christ (pbuh) he never claimed divinity, infact he said it’s mentioned in the Gospel of John, Chapter No. 14, Verse No. 24, Jesus Christ (pbuh) said that,

“The word that you hear are not mine but my father’s who has sent me.”

It’s mentioned in the Gospel of John, Chapter No. 17, Verse No. 3

‘This is eternal life, so that you may know there is one God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent’.

It’s mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew, Chapter No. 19, Verse No. 16 and 17, once a person he approaches Jesus Christ (pbuh), and he asks him that,

‘Good Master, what good things should I do, so that I shall receive eternal life.’

He’s asking Jesus Christ (pbuh), good master what good things should I do so that I will get eternal life, I shall go to paradise. So Jesus Christ (pbuh) replies and says,

“Why Thou callest me good?”

Leave aside calling God,

“Why thou callest me good? There is only one good and that is Almighty God.” “And if thou want to enter eternal life. If you want to enter paradise, you keep the commandments.”
Jesus Christ (pbuh) did not say that if you want to enter paradise believe that I’m God, he did not say that I died on the cross for your sins. He said if you want to enter paradise you keep the commandments. All that there is one God. God has got no images etc. its clearly mentioned in the Book of Acts Chapter No. 2 Verse No. 22, it says,

“Ye men of Israel, listen to this, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God, amongst you, by miracles, and wonders and signs, which God did by him, and you were witness to it’. ‘Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God, amongst you, by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him and you are witness to it’.

And when Jesus Christ (pbuh) was asked, that ‘which is the first of the commandments’? He replies in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter No. 12, Verse No. 29, exactly verbatim what was said earlier by Moses (pbuh) in the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter No. 6, Verse No. 4 and he says,

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adonai Ikhad."
It’s a Hebrew quotation which means.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD”

So if you read the Christian Bible, you shall understand the concept of God, in Christianity, that Almighty God is only one, has got no images, we have to worship him alone and no one else.

Let’s discuss the Concept of God in Islam and the best reply that any Muslim can give you regarding the Concept of God in Islam is quote to you Surah Ikhlaas, Chapter No. 112 Verse No. 1 to 4 which says

“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say: He is Allah, One and Only”

“Allahus Samad” “Allah, the Absolute and Eternal”

“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad” “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten”

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad” “There is nothing like Him”

This is a four line definition of Allah (swt), of Almighty God given in the Glorious Qur’an. If any person says that so and so entity is God, if that entity fits in this four line definition, we Muslims have got no objection in accepting that person as God.

The first is “Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say: He is Allah, One and Only”
“Allahus Samad” “Allah, the Absolute and Eternal”, ‘Samad’ cannot be described in the English language. It means a person who is self existing, he’s eternal, he’s absolute, everything is depended on him, he’s independent of anything and everything. It has a very broad meaning.

“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad” “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten”

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad” “There is nothing like Him”

This Surah Ikhlaas is the Touchstone of Theology. ‘Theology’ means it comes from the Greek word ‘Theo’ meaning God, ‘Logy’ means study. Theology means the study of God. And Touchstone means if you want to buy Gold or want to sell God you normally go to a Goldsmith and yo want to find out how pure that God is. So if you want to buy Gold, you go to a Goldsmith, he takes the Gold and he rubs it against the touchstone and he matches the colour with the card he has got and then he tells you whether the Gold is 24 Karat Gold or 22 Karat Gold or 18 Karat or it may not be Gold at all. Because everything that Glitters is not Gold. And that panel is also there in the exhibition, Surah Ikhlaas the ‘Touch stone of Theology’. So anyone who says that so and so person is God, you put him to the test of Surah Ikhlaas. If he passes the test, we Muslims have got no objection in accepting that person as Almighty God.

For example, there are many human beings who say that Bhagwan Rajneesh he’s Almighty God. Once, during question and answer time, there was a Hindu brother who told me, brother Zakir, we don’t believe Bhagwan Rajneesh to be God. And I told him I have never said that the Hindus believe Bhagwan Rajneesh to be God, I said some people, many people believe Bhagwan Rajneesh to be God. I have read the Hindu scriptures, no where do the Hindu scripture say that Bhagwan Rajneesh is God. Let‘s put this Bhagwan Rajneesh to the test of Surah Ikhlas,

The first is:

“Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say: He is Allah, One and Only”

Was Rajneesh one and only? Was he the only human being who has claimed to be God? There are many, hundreds and in this country of ours, in India there are thousands of men who have claimed to be God. But a Rajneesh Bhakt will say, no he is unique. Let’s go to the next test.

“Allahus- Samad” “Allah the absolute and eternal”

Was Rajneesh absolute and eternal. When you read his autobiography, it’s mentioned in the autobiography of Rajneesh, that he was suffering from diabetes mellitus, from asthma, from chronic back ache. Imagine Almighty God suffering from diabetes mellitus, from asthma, from
chronic back ache.

And the third test is

“Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yulad.”
“He begetteth not, nor is He begotten.”

We know that Bhagwan Rajneesh he was born in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and he had a mother and father. And in the year 1981 he goes to America, he goes to USA and he takes thousands of Americans for a ride and in the state of Oregon, he starts his new village which was called as Rajneesh Puram. Later on, the American government, they arrest Bhagwan Rajneesh and they put him behind bars, I n prison and Bhagwan Rajneesh says that the American government gave me slow poisoning. Imagine Almighty God being slow poisoned. And in 1985, the American government kick Bhagwan Rajneesh out of USA and he comes back to India, and goes back to the city of Pune, in Maharashtra, the state I come from and he goes back to his old centre and gives the name the “Osho Commune.” And if you go to the “Osho Commune” and I have been there for several times, it’s mentioned on his Samaadhi, Bhagwan Rajneesh, “Osho” never born, never died, but visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931 to the 19th of January 1990. Never born, never died but visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931 to the 19th of January 1990. Never born, never died, but visited the earth from the 11th of December 1931 to the 19th of January 1990. They forgot to mention on his Samaadhi that he was not given visas to 21 different countries of the world. Imagine Almighty God coming down to this earth, he wants to visit the world and he requires visas. He was not given visas to 21 different countries of the world. And the Arch Bishop of Greece said if you don’t remove Rajneesh out of this country, we will burn his house and the house of his disciples.

And the last test

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad” “There is nothing like him”

Is so stringent that no one besides that true God can pass. The moment you can compare God to anything in this world, he is not God.

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad”

And we know Rajneesh like us human beings, he had 2 eyes, 1 nose, 2 hands, white beard, he wore a white robe. The moment you can compare God to anything in this world, he is not God.

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad” “There is nothing like him”

For example if someone says, Almighty God is thousand times stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger. You might have heard the name Arnold Schwarzenegger, the person who got the title, Mr. World, the strongest man in the world. Mr. Universe, the strongest man in the Universe. If someone says, Almighty God is thousand times stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger. The moment you can compare God to anyone, whether it be Arnold Schwarzenegger whether it be Dara Singh, whether it be King Kong, whether it be a thousand times or million times, the moment you can compare God to anything in this world, he is not God.

“Walam Yakullahu Kufuan 'Ahad”
“There is nothing like him.”

This is a four line definition which is given in the Qur’an in Surah Ikhlaas, Chapter No. 112, Verse No. 1 to 4, that anyone who you claim to be Almighty God if he fits in this four line definition we Muslims have got no objection in accepting that person as Almighty God. So which ever God you are worshipping, I would like to tell the audience here and all my brothers as well as my sisters, that which ever God you are worshipping put him to the test of Surah Ikhlaas, if that God passes the test of Surah Ikhlaas, he’s a true God. If he does not pass the test of Surah Ikhlaas he’s not a true God.

And we Muslims we prefer calling Allah (swt) by the Arabic world Allah instead of the English word God. People ask the question why do you call him Allah, the reason we call Allah by the Arabic word Allah instead of the English word God is because a person can play mischief with the English word God. For example if you add ‘s’ to God, it becomes ‘Gods’, plural of ‘God.’ There is nothing like plural Allah, “Qul Huwallaahu Ahad”, “Say he is Allah one and only.” If you add ‘dess’ to ‘God’, it becomes ‘Goddess’, meaning a female God, there is nothing like male Allah or female Allah. Allah (swt) is unique, he has got no gender. The moment you add father to ‘God’, it becomes ‘Godfather’. He is my ‘Godfather’, he is my guardian, there is nothing like Allah father or Allah Abba in Islam. If you add a mother to God, it becomes God mother. There is nothing like Allah mother or Allah Ammi in Islam. Allah is a unique word. If you prefix a ‘tin’ before God, it becomes Tin God meaning a fake God, there’s nothing like Tin Allah in Islam That’s the reason we Muslims, we prefer calling Allah by the Arabic word Allah instead of the English word God. But when the Muslims are speaking to the non Muslims, who may not understand the concept of Allah and when they use this word God instead of Allah I have got no objection. But I would like to remind them that God is not the appropriate translation of the Arabic word Allah. But when we speak to on Muslims we use this word we have got no objection. There are many Non Muslims who come and ask me that brother Zakir, God can do anything and everything so why do you have a problem if God becomes a human being? God can do anything and everything so what’s your problem if he becomes a human being. I said fine, if I agree with you for the sake of argument that God can do anything and everything and if God can become a human being. If God becomes a human being he ceases to be God, because the qualities of God and human beings, they are opposite. Almighty God is immortal, human being is mortal. You can’t have a person who’s immortal and mortal at the same time. You can either have a immortal person or a mortal person you cant have a immortal mortal person, it is meaning less. Almighty God he has got no beginning, human beings have a beginning. You can’t have a God-Man. A person having a beginning and no beginning at the same time is meaning less. Almighty God has got no end, human beings have an end. You can’t have a person who has an end and no end at the same time, it is meaningless. It’s like we telling you I saw a tall short man. I can either see a tall man or a short man, I can see a medium man, I can see a tall short man, it’s meaning less. I can’t see a fat thin man. I can either see a fat man or a thin man or a medium man but not a fat thin man. Therefore if you say Almighty God became a human being then he ceases to be Almighty God. If you say Almighty God can do anything and everything. Human beings we require to eat. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah An’aam Chapter No. 6 Verse No. 14,

“He feedeth everyone but does not require to be fed.”

Almighty God does not require to eat. We human beings we require sleep, we require rest. Almighty God does not require sleep and rest. It’s mentioned in the Qur’an in Ayat-ul-Kursi, Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 255,

“Allahu La 'Ilaha 'Illa Huwa Al-Hayyu Al-Qayyum La Ta'khudhuhu Sinatun Wa La Nawmun Lahu Ma Fis-Samaawaati Wa Ma Fil-'Ard”

“He is Allah one and only, The Absolute, the Eternal, no slumber can seize him, nor does He require rest - To Him belongs everything in the heaven and the earth.”

Therefore if you agree with this argument that Almighty God can do anything and everything and if Almighty God becomes a human being, you have to agree that he ceases to be God. So if a person who ceases to be God and becomes a human being like you and me then why should I worship human being like you and me? It does not make sense and if some people say again that human being became God, if human being can become God, even you and I can become God. So where’s the question of human being becoming God? So therefore this argument that God can do anything and everything, if you go a step further, if God can do anything and everything, God can even tell a lie. But to tell a lie is ungodly - The moment God tells a lie He ceases to be God. In the same argument, Almighty God, if He wants He can do injustice, but it is ungodly to do injustice. Allah says in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse No. 40,

“Allah Subhana Wa Taala is never unjust in the least degree.”

The moment God does injustice, He ceases to be God. In the same argument, if God can do anything and evveryting Almighty God if He wants, He can forget. But to forget is ungodly. Allah says in Surah Ta Ha, Chapter No. 20, Verse No. 52,

“Allah (swt) never forgets.”

The moment Almighty God forgets, then he ceases to be God. If you agree with the same argument that God can do anything and everything, Almighty God can make a mistake, but to make a mistake is ungodly. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Ta Ha, Chapter 20, Verse 52,

“Allah (swt) never errs”

He never makes a mistake. The moment Almighty God makes a mistake He ceases to be God. Therefore if you read the Qur’an nowhere does the Qur’an says Allah can do anything and everything. What does the Qur’an says?

“Innallaaha `Ala Kulli Shay'in Qadir”

“Verily Allah has power over all things”

It’s mentioned in several places in the Qur’an.
In Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 106,
Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 109,
Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 284,
In Surah Al Imran, Chapter No. 3, Verse 29,
In Surah Nahl, Chapter No. 16, Verse 77,
In Surah Fatir, Chapter 35, Verse No. 1

Allah says,

“Innallaaha `Ala Kulli Shay'in Qadir”

“For Verily Allah has power over all things”

And Allah says in Surah Burooj, Chapter No. 85, Verse No. 16, that,

“Allah is the doer of all He intends”

Whatever He intents He can do. But He does not intends doing ungodly things like telling a lie, like making a mistake, like forgetting, like doing injustice, like becoming a human being. The Qur’an says,

“Innallaaha `Ala Kulli Shay'in Qadir”

“For Verily Allah has power over all things”

Allah can do whatever He intends, but He does not intends doing ungodly things like making a mistake, like forgetting, like injustice, like becoming a human being, that’s the reason Almighty God will not become a human being and the Qur’an clearly mentions in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 18,

“Summun Bukmun `Umyun Fahum La Yarji`un”

“The Deaf, the dumb, the blind they will not return to the true path”

A similar message is repeated in the Bible, in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter No. 13, Verse No. 13,

“They see yet they see not, hearing they hear not, neither do they understand”

The same message is repeated in Rigveda, Book No. 10, Hymn No. 71, Mantra No. 4,

“They see the word yet they see not, some people hear the word yet they hear not”

All these scriptures, the Qur’an, the Bible, the Veda, they are saying seeing they see not, hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. They are telling clearly that the scripture are explicitly in clear terms mentioning that Almighty God is One, He has got no images, worship him alone, yet there are people,

“Summun Bukmun `Umyun Fahum La Yarji`un”

“The Deaf, the dumb, blind they will not come to the true path”

“Hearing they hear not, neither do they understand”

Rigveda, Book No. 10, Hymn No. 71, Verse No. 4, that

“Some see the word, yet they see not, other hear the word yet they hear not.”

All these scriptures are saying that the definition of Almighty God is given so explicitly in the major world religions, yet people behave like blind people, like deaf people and do not follow the scriptures.

And most of religion except Islam they have a philosophy known as ‘Anthropomorphism’ – that Almighty God, He takes the form of a human being, he becomes a human being. It is known as ‘Anthropomorphism’. Except Islam, most of the religion believes that Almighty God became a human being once, some believe he became a human being many times. And when you ask these people they have a very good logic, that Almighty God, He is so Pure, He is so Holy, He does not know the shortcomings of the human beings. He does not know the difficulties of the human being. He’s so pure, he does not know the feelings of the human beings. So Almighty God, so pure, so pious, so Holy, he became a human being and he came in this world to know what is good or what is bad for the human being so that he could set the rules for the human being. You know Almighty God is so Pure, so Holy, so Pious, he does not know the difficulties of the human beings, the short coming of the human beings, the feelings of the human beings, so he became a human being to set the rules for the human beings, the do’s and don’ts. On the face of it sounds like a very good logic. But I tell these people, that suppose I manufacture a tape recorder, I create a tape recorder; do I have to become a tape recorder, to know what is good or what is bad for the tape recorder? I write an instruction manual - that if you want to play the audio cassette, insert the audio cassette and press the play button. If you want to fast forward, press the FF button. If you want to stop, press the stop button. Don’t drop it from a height it will get damaged - Don’t immerse it in water, it will get spoilt. I write an instruction manual - I don’t have to become a tape recorder to know what is good or what is bad for the tape recorder, because I am the creator of the Tape Recorder. Similarly, when Almighty God, He’s the Creator of the human begins; He does not have to become a human being to know what is good or what is bad for the human being. What does he do? He reveals the instruction manual and the last and final instruction manual for the human beings, it is the Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the last and final instruction manual revealed by Almighty God to the human beings - The do’s and don’ts of the human beings is mentioned in the Qur’an. Almighty God does not become a human being what does he do? He reveals a instruction manual. And he chooses a man, amongst men and He communicates with them on a higher level, who we call as messengers or prophets of God. He does not have to come down on this earth and become a human being to know what is good or what or bad for the human being. He’s the creator. He reveals the instruction manual and the last and final instruction manual is the Glorious Qur’an. The Qur’an says in Surah Isra, Chapter No. 17, Verse No. 110,

“Qulid`ullaah 'Awid`ur-Rahmaan 'Ayyama Tad`u Falahul 'Asma' ul Husna”

“Say: call upon him by Allah or by Rahman, by whichever name you call upon him to him belongs the most beautiful names.”

You can call Allah (swt) by any name but it should be a beautiful name. It should be a name given by Allah (swt). It should not conjure up a mental picture. And there are no less than 99 different attributes given to Allah (swt) in the Qur’an, Ar Rahman, Ar Rahim, Al Hakim, Most Merciful, Most Benevolent, Most Wise… no less than 99 and the crowing one is Allah. And this verse to Allah belongs the most beautiful name, besides Surah Isra, Chapter No. 17, Verse No. 110, is also mentioned in Surah A’raaf Chapter No. 7 Verse No. 180 and Surah Ta Ha Chapter No. 20 Verse No. 8 and well as Surah Al Hashr Chapter No. 59 Verse No. 24,

“To Allah belong the most beautiful names”

And there are certain criteria as far as the name and attributes of Allah are concerned. It should be a name given by himself and besides that it should be a unique name for example, most of us know that the first man who set foot on the moon he was Neil Armstrong. Now if I have to give an attribute to Neil Armstrong and if I say that Neil Armstrong is an Astronaut. Yes Neil Armstrong is an Astronaut, but it’s not unique, there are thousands of Astronauts. If you reverse it, who’s an Astronaut? The answer will not be Neil Armstrong it can be something else. It can be a thousand people. If I say Neil Armstrong is an Amercian, there are millions of people who are American. Who’s an American? You can give a million names, its not unique belonging to Neil Armstrong alone. So if I have to give a unique attribute to Neil Armstrong, you have to say Neil Armstrong is the first man who set foot on the moon. If you reverse it who’s the first man who set foot on the moon, the reply is Neil Armstrong. So similarly when you give an attribute to Almighty God, it should be unique. If you say Almighty God created a building… Who can create a building? There can be a thousand people who can create a building, but if you say he’s The Creator or the Creator of the Universe… Who’s the creator of the universe? Allah (swt). Ar Raheem, Most Merciful. Who is the Most Merciful? Answer is only one, Allah. So the attribute you give and the name you give should be unique and belong only to Allah and no one else. Some people may say that why there should be one God. Why cant there be many God’s. If there would have been many God’s surely these God’s would have fought among themselves and we find this in the mythology of some of the religions. One God fighting with the other God. One God helping the other God to fight the third God. Can you believe in such a God who can be defeated? Who can be killed? And some people say that why cant there be different God? One God for Sun. One God for Cloud. One God for Wind. Now imagine if there were one God for each, each one belonging, having power over his own little thing. It’s logical to have one God who has power over all things rather than each different different god fighting among themselves. It’s illogical. That’s the reason the Qur’an says in Surah Ambiya, Chapter No. 21 Verse No. 22, that

“If there would have been God’s besides Allah surely there would have been confusion in the universe.”

It’s mentioned in Surah Mu’minoon, Chapter No. 23, Verse No. 91, that,

“Allah (swt) does not beget a son. If there were gods besides Allah each god would have taken things what they have created and loaded on the other.”

Surely there would have been in fighting amongst them. That’s what we see in the mythology. The best and most logical is only one God. One and only, all powerful. Having power over all things. That’s the reason if you read the scriptures of the major world religions all the scriptures of the major world religions they say that Almighty God is one. He has got no images, he’s not begotten, he’s one and only, absolute and eternal, nothing like him and by the passage of time many of the scriptures almost all besides the Qur’an these scriptures have changed. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah, Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 79,

“Fawaylun Lilladhina Yaktubunal-Kitaaba Bi'aydihim Thumma Yaquluna Hadha Min `Indillahi Liyashtaru Bihi Thamanan Qalila Fawaylulahum Mimma Katabat 'Aydihim Wa Wayluahum Mimma Yaksibuna”

That “Woe to those who write the book with their own hands and then say this is from Allah, to traffic for it with a miserable price. Woe to those for what they earn, woe to those for what they write.”

So here it’s mentioned in the Qur’an that people write the scripture with their own hand and then say this is from Allah. so by the passage of time all the scriptures that came before the Qur’an they have been changed and since they were not the last and final revelation Almighty God did not think it to be preserved. Because those were the previous revelations. But inspite of this corruption, inspite of the manipulation, inspite of the change yet in the remnants of all the world religions, in their scriptures you will find the mention of monotheism, the oneness of Almighty God, that he has got no images, he’s not begotten, he’s one and only, there’s nothing like him. So if you believe in a concept of God it should be according to your scriptures. There are some religions which are agnostics, you may not call them religions like Buddhism, they don’t comment on God they are silent as far as God is concerned and many ethical systems which I mentioned earlier like Confucianism, Taosim they are more of ethical systems than having a concept of God. And as far as the people who are atheist like Jainism etc, so those who are agnostic or atheist they can refer to my video cassette is the Qur’an God’s Word? And I gave that earlier also as well as recently in Bombay a couple of months back on the 24th of November, on the second day of the Peace Exhibition in Bombay, the Solution for Humanity… Is the Qur’an God’s Word? If they see this cassette of the talk Insha Allah if the human being is unbiased, with the help of the Qur’an, I’ve proved the existence of Allah (swt). As far as Islam is concerned, Islam does not merely believe in Monotheism. Islam believes in Tawheed. Tawheed means unification. It means ascerting oneness. It comes from the root word ‘Wahada’ means to unite, to unify, it means to consolidate. Islam does not merely believe in believing in one God, it believes in Tawheed and there are three categories of Tawheed. Tawheed Ar Ruboobiyah. Tawheed Al Asma Was Sifat and Tawheed Al Ibaadah.

In the first category of Tawheed Ar Ruboobiyah it means maintaining the Unity of Rabb, Unity of Lordship. Tawheed Ar Ruboobiyah is derived from the Arabic word Rabb meaning Lord, Sustainer, Cherisher, meaning that Allah (swt) is the creator, the cherisher, the sustainer of everything in the Universe. Everything is dependant on him and he is independent of anything and everything. Maintaining the unity of lordship of Allah (swt) that’s called as Tawheed Ar Ruboobiyah.

The second category is Tawheed Al Asma Was Sifat, maintaining the unity if the names and attributes of Allah (swt). This is further divided into five sub categories. Number one is whatever name you give to Allah (swt) it should be the name that he himself has given him. You cannot give your own names to Allah (swt). You cannot say that Allah is Al Ghazib, the angry one. The Qur’an does say he is angry but that’s not one of the names Allah has given himself or the Messenger has given to Allah (swt). Number Two, when you describe the attributes of Allah (swt) you describe it according to how Allah has described himself or the Messenger has described Allah (swt).you can’t give your own description and whatever the meaning is you have to take it. You can’t give your own description, allegorical meanings to the description of Allah (swt). The third is you cannot give the qualities of the creation of Allah (swt) to Allah himself. You can’t say that Allah forgets, Nauzubillah. That’s the quality of his creation you cannot say Allah makes a mistake, like some of the scripture say that Allah made a mistake, Nauzubillah. These are the qualities of his creation. Number four, you cannot give the attributes and qualities of Allah to any of his creation. You can’t say I know a person who is immortal, who’s eternal. These are the qualities of Allah (swt). And the fifth category is that you cannot give the name of Allah to any of his creation, if you have to give you have to add ‘Abd’ to it. For example, you cannot say that he is Ar Raheem, you can say Abdur Raheem, the servant of the Most Merciful and you cannot add anything before only Allah, anything else besides Allah, you can’t say Abdur Rasool, he is the servant of Rasool, this is not permitted, it breaks the second category of Tawheed Al Asma Was Sifat.

And the third category is Tawheed Al Ibaadah, maintaining the unity of Ibaadah. Ibaadah comes from the Arabic root word ‘Abd’ which means to serve, meaning a slave, meaning a servant, servitude. We have to maintain the unity of worshipping Allah alone and no one else. Tawheed Al Ibaadah means maintaining the unity of worshipping Allah alone and no one else. If you follow the first two categories like Tawheed Ar Ruboobiyah saying Allah has got, he’s Rabb, he’s the sustainer, creator also agreeing with Tawheed Al Asma Was Sifat, giving him good names and attributes, creator etc but if you worship somebody else besides Allah then too your breaking Tawheed. And there are several such examples in the Qur’an. Allah (swt) in the Qur’an in Surah Yunus, Chapter No. 10 Verse No. 31 refers to the pagans of Makkah, refers to the Mushriks and he says that

“When you ask them that who is the one in sustains the things in the heavens and the earth who has power to hear and see, who has the power to give life to the dead and death to the life, who has power to regulate all the affairs, they will say Allah. Then why don’t you show piety to Him”

That means Allah is referring to these pagan Arabs in Makkah. He’s agreeing that they believed in Allah, they called him Allah, they gave him good attributes, good names. Tawheed Ar Ruboobiyah was there. Tawheed Al Asma Was Sifat was there, but they worshipped things other than Allah. And the similar example is given in Surah Zukhruf, Chapter No. 43, Verse No. 87, that

“When you ask these Mushriks that who is the one who gave life to you, they will say Allah. Then why do you join partners with Him”

So here we realize that only following first two categories is not sufficient, following all three categories of Tawheed simultaneously is important. If you break any one of the categories of Tawheed its called as Shirk. ‘Shirk’ in Islam is the biggest sin. Shirk in Arabic means ‘associating partners’. In the Islamic terminology it means, ‘Associating partners with Allah. It is the biggest sin. If you break anyone of the three categories of Tawheed, you’re doing Shirk. Its the biggest sin in Islam and Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Nisa, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 48,

“Allah forgiveth not that you associate partners with Him anything else if He pleases, He may forgive, but anyone who associates partners with Him has done the most grievous, heinous sin”

The same message is repeated in Surah Nisa, Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 116,

“Allah (swt) does not forgive the sin of joining gods with Him, anything else if he pleases he may forgive. But anyne who has joined gods with Allah he has strayed away too far.”

So according to the Qur’an the sin which Allah will never forgive is Shirk. Therefore while doing Da’wah while speaking to anyone human being the best message you can convey is convey the message of Tawheed,

'Allah Na`buda 'Illallah
“That we worship none but Allah”

And Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Maidah Chapter No. 5, Verse No. 72, it says,

“Laqad Kafaral Ladhina Qaalu 'Innallaaha Huwal Masihubnu Maryama”
“They are doing Kufr those who say that: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary.””

“Wa Qaalal Masih”, “But said Christ”

“Ya Bani 'Isra'il”, “O children of Israel!”

“U`budullaah, “Worship Allah”

“Rabbi Wa Rabbakum”, “Whose My Lord and your Lord”

“Innahu Mayushrik Billaah”, “Anyone who associates partners with Allah”

“Faqad Harramallaahu `Alayhil Jannah”
“Allah will make Jannah forbidden for them” Allah will make paradise forbidden for them.

“Wa Ma'wahun Naaru Wa Ma Lilzzalimina Min 'Ansar”
“And the Fire shall be his dwelling place and he shall have no helpers in the hereafter.”

Jesus Christ (pbuh) said,

“Innahu Mayushrik Billaah”, “Anyone who associates partners with Allah”

“Faqad Harramallaahu `Alayhil Jannah”
“Allah will make paradise forbidden for him.”

“Wa Ma'wahun Naaru Wa Ma Lilzzalimina Min 'Ansar”
“And the Fire shall be his dwelling place and he shall have no helpers in the hereafter.”

That’s the reason I started my talk by quoting a verse of the Qur’an from Surah Al Imran, Chapter No. 3 Verse No. 64 which says,

“Qul Ya 'Ahlal-Kitaab”,
“Say O people of the Book”

“Ta`alaw 'Ilá Kalimatin Sawa'in Baynana Wa Baynakum”
“Come to common terms as between us and you”

Which is the first term?

“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah”

Only believing one God is not sufficient, besides believing in one God you also have to worship Him alone and no one else. The first term is,

“Allah Na`buda 'Illallah”
“That we worship none but Allah, one true Almighty God.”

“Wa La Nushrika Bihi Shay'an” “That we associate no partners with him”

“Wa La Yattakhidha Ba`duna Ba`dan 'Arbaban Min Dunillahi” “That we erect not among ourselves Lords and Patrons other than Allah.”


“Fa'in Tawallaw”
“If then they turn back”

“Faqulush hadu”
“Say ye bear witness”

“Bi'anna Muslimun”
“We are Muslims bowing our will to Allah (swt).”

And Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Yusuf, Chapter No. 12, Verse No. 106, that

“Most of people do not worship Allah without associating partners with Him”

That means most of the people when they worship Allah they also associate partners with Him. The right is worship Him without associating partners. Allah says in Surah Luqman Chapter No. 31, Verse No. 27, that

“If all the trees on this earth was converted into pens, and all the ocean into ink, backed with seven ocean, yet the words of Allah will not be exhausted.”

I would like to end my talk by giving the quotation of the Glorious Qur’an from Surah Hajj, Chapter No. 22 Verse No. 73 which says,

“Ye men listen to this parable all those who you take for protector besides Allah if all of them gathered to create a fly they cannot even create a fly.”

If all those who you worship besides Allah, even if they gathered they will not be able to create a fly

“And if the fly snatches away something they will not be even able to get it back. Feeble are those who petition, feeble are to those who they petition”

Wa Aakhirud Da’wana anilhamdu lillahi Rabbill Aalameen.