Recap on Islamic Awareness Week

Bismillah,

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

First let me apoligize for not posting in a while. Right after Islamic Awareness week, I got the flu, I think my immune system was low due to the lots of driving around and of course it rained in Montego Bay. But Alhamdullilah, I'm fine now, just been a little busy with some projects at work.

The seminars were excellent MashaAllah. Brothers Abu Khadeejah of salafipublications and Abu Hakim Bilal Davis are really vibrant speakers MashaAllah. This was the first event of this kind being held in Jamaica and InshaAllah there will be more to come.

They said they have never travelled to any country where the people were more open to dawah as here in Jamaica, they loved it here, and may be coming back to do more seminars in the near future InshaAllah.

There was good turnout at the seminars in Kingston, Montego Bay and Mandeville Alhamdullilah. They also held small classes in St. Mary but I was not able to attend those.

They spoke on various topics including Islam's solution to crime and violence and achieving security, death and the day of judgment and the importance of knowledge. The lecturers were inspiring, upliftibg, educational and especially in the case of the lecture on death and the day of judgement, heart wrenching. It really helped to put things in perspective for me and others who attended. MashaAllah all in all it was pretty good and I look forward to more InshaAllah.

In fact tonight (June 9th, 2009) there will be a recording of their Interview with Ian Boyne on the TV programme 'Religious Hardtalk' InshaAllah. All of you here in Jamaica, be sure to tune in to TVJ at 9:00 pm.

Rumour has it that another overseas speaker may be coming later in the Summer InshaAllah.

Back to basics

Reminder on Tawheed


This book gives a clear understanding of what Islamic Monotheism means.
"Tawheed, the oneness of God, is the core of the Islamic faith" It is the basis of the religion of Islam expressed by 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah subhana wa ta'ala), there is only one true God and He alone is deserving of worship.

Tawheed was taught by all the Prophets and Messengers to mankind.

There are three categories of Tawheed

Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah - Maintaining the Unity of Lordship, affirming that Allah is one, without partners in His sovereignty. "Allah alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing. He sustains and maintains creation without any need from it or for it, and He is the sole Lord of the universe..." "Nothing happens in creation except what He allows to happen.

"Allah created all things and He is the agent on which all things depend." (Holy Quran 39:62)

"And Allah created you and whatever you do." (Holy Quran 37:96)

"And no calamity strikes except by Allah's permission..." (Holy Quran 64:11)

Tawheed al-Asma was-Sifaat - Maintaining the Unity of Allah's Names and Attributes, belief that Allah is uniquely one in His names and attributes without similitude and comparison. "Allah must be referred to according to how He and His Prophet (peace be upon him) have described Him, without explaining away His names and attributes by giving them meanings other than their obvious meanings." It also involves referring to Allah as "He has referred to Himself without giving Him any new names or attributes", "referring to Him without giving Him the attributes of creation" and "requires that man must not be given the attributes of Allah"

"..There is nothing like Him and He is the hearer and seer of all." (Holy Quran 42:11)

"Nor is there to Him any equivalent" (Holy Quran 112:4)

Tawheed Ulooheeyah/ Ibaadah - Maintaining the Unity of Allah's Worship, the belief that All is uniquely one in His worship or divinity without rival. "Firm belief in the first two categories alone is not sufficient.." "the idolators of the Prophet's time confirmed many aspects of the first two forms of Tawheed" and "Many disbelievers knew of Allah's sovereigntity, dominion and power"

"Say: 'Who is it that gives you sustenance from the sky and earth, Who governs sight and hearing, and Who brings forth life from dead(matter) and death from the living; and plans the affairs of man?' They will all say 'Allah'..." (Holy Quran 10:31)

"If you asked them who created them, they would surely say 'Allah'..." (Holy Quran 43:87)

"Most of them do not believe in Allah except while joining partners to Him." (Holy Quran 12:106)

"All forms of worship must be directed only to Allah because He alone deserves worship, and it is He alone who can grant benefit to man as a result of His worship." "There is no need for any form of intercessor or intermediary between man and God." The main purpose of man's creation is to worship Allah.

"I did not create jinn and mankind except for My worship." (Holy Quran 51:56)

"Verily, We have sent to every nation a messenger [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid false gods'..." (Holy Quran 16:36)

"You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help" (Holy Quran 1:5)