Q
I have never understood the need for or value that Islam places on tawhid, or the scriptural basis for it. I believe that Muslims have expended considerable time and energy on defining an undefinable God in very specific ways. It is my opinion that all that time and effort was is wasted because it is not relevant to monotheism and the worship of the personal creator deity. Ultimately there is only one understanding of God - He is the creator of all things. All else that we know is through revelation, through The Word made flesh. Were it not for Jesus we would not know God. IMHO tawhid is meaningless, it teaches us nothing. So what in your view is the value of tawhid?
Thank you so much for sending us your message, and for posing your questions respectfully.
What’s the point in living? What’s the purpose of life? Well, the purpose of our creation is to know our God, connect with Him, learn about Him and He will teach us. He created us and gifted us with the ability to gain knowledge so He can teach us, help us grow and test our sincerity and pure faith in Him.
“And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers. And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.” [Quran 51: 55-58]
Worshiping the Creator is the purpose of our creation, and this worship is NOT limited to ritual acts, or merely few minutes we spend remembering Him.
Worship in this verse means sincerity in seeking God, learning about Him, knowing Him, connecting with Him, remaining on His path and dedicating one’s self and pursuits in life to Him, doing the good that He prescribed and refraining from the harms that He warned against.
It is an educational process of self-realization and self-actualization through the connection with the Creator of this self. From the beginning of the Quran [Chapter 2:30-37], when God was introducing the creation of our father Adam (peace be upon him), He used the word ‘taught’.
“And He taught Adam the names – all of them.” [2: 31]
We’re here to learn… from the Best Teacher. The first words revealed from the Quran were “Read”… “Read in the name of your Lord who created -Created man from a clinging substance. Read and your Lord is the most Generous – Who taught by the pen -Taught man that which he knew not.” [Quran 96: 1-2]
Each of the five pillars of Islam (Testimony of Faith, Prayer, Alms-giving, Fasting and Pilgrimage), each of those acts is essential to helping one learn, grow, connect with the Creator and come to major realizations about life and existence. They form a deep spiritual and educational process.
A strong connection with the Creator. Now, you tell me: a loving Creator would want to connect with his beloved created beings on a daily basis… or have a shallow relationship with them?
Is it more loving to talk to him once a week, month, year… or on a daily basis so you can confide to Him, and He showers you with mercy, love, serenity and provides you with the guidance you need?
We can’t simply say that we love God or believe in Him. We need to connect with Him, and not through our terms, but His terms since HE is The Most Knowing, The All-Knowing, The Wise, The Knower of The Seen and Unseen so He designated what is best for us with His Infinite Knowledge and Wisdom. Allah’s Knowledge and His relationship with us don’t end at Him being our Creator.
“Say, “If the sea were ink for [writing] the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement.” (Quran: 18:109)
Actualizing tawhid is a life time process of proving our pure faith, knowledge of God and sincere dedication to Him. Please take the time to look deeper into this issue. Read the Quran thoroughly, ask all questions you need. Everything has an answer.
If you are truly looking for answers sincerely and objectively, you will find what truly fulfills your heart, mind and soul. God speaks for himself in the Quran. This Book is the direct, verbatim word of God. Before your reject it, isn’t it fair to adequately study it and investigate the claims we made for yourself?
You mentioned something about the word in flesh. But still, what do you mean by flesh? White flesh or black flesh or yellow flesh? Isn’t it discriminatory for a God (or son of God?) to choose a certain flesh over the other? What is the message that this is sending to the rest of His creations if He chose a certain flesh over the other?
“[He is] The Originator of the heavens and the earth. He has given you mates of your own kind just as [He has willed that] among the cattle [there be] mates – to multiply you thereby;[but] There is nothing like Him, and He alone is all-hearing, all-seeing.” (Quran: 42:11)
There is nothing like Him. The Creator is not similar to what He created. Steve jobs didn’t need to be an iPhone to show us that he truly understands the iPhone that He created. The Creator doesn’t have to take the form of what he created. There is no need or purpose in that. The Creator is already most knowing of what he created.
“Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?” [Quran: Chapter 67: Verse 14] “And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein” (Quran 50: 16)
God is closer to us than our own consciousness. Before we think of a specific thought He already knows it and hears it. He knows what goes in your own heart and mind as you look at the screen to read those words.
Contrary to what you’re saying, tawhid eliminates the sense of vagueness and blurriness we have in our perceptions of God, and replaces it with a deep sense of knowledge and understanding,which inevitably enhances the communication and connection we have with Him. This, my brother, is the concept of tawhid.
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