Oneness of Lordship (tawheed ar-rububiyyah)

[k.ibrahim]

Bismillah Ir-Rahman, Ir-Raheem. I begin with ALLAH's Holiest ,whose Name is the Best among all the names. All Revences, All Sanctities and All Worships are due to ALLAH alone. Ashahadu An Laa illaaha illal llahuWa Ash Hadu Anna Muhammadan Abdu Hu Wa Rasooluhu''I bear witness that there is no deity but Allahwho is without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is the Rasool.''"O Allah, Shower Your Peace come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have brought peace to Ibrahim and his family.Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, Shower your blessing upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as you have blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious". I am Satisfied with ALLAH as My Rabb and Cherisher, I am Satisfied With Islam as My Din (religion) and I am satisfied with Muhammad as a Rasulallah (Messenger)sallallahu alaihi was salam) I seek Protection with ALLAH! With the Glorious and Noble Face of ALLAH! With the Complete and Perfect words of ALLAH! With the Exalted Attributes of ALLAH! From the Punishment of Hell; From chastisement in the Grave; From the Trial of Life and Death; From the Mischief of the dajjal. There is no power nor strength with (anyone) save Allah. ALLAH is Good and Only accept that which is Good. ALLAH is the Truth and only accept that which True. ALLAH is Pure and only accept that which is Pure. Ya ALLAH! ALL the praises are for You,You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are are the Substaner of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All the praises are for you;You have the Possession of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All the praises are for You; You are Light (Nur) of the Heavens and Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. Ya ALLAH! All praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the Truth, And Your word is the Truth and the Meeting with You is true, And Parardise is True And Hell is true and All the Prophets(peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) is true, And the Day of Resurrection is True. Ya ALLAH! You have promise and Your promise is the truth,Ya ALLAH! You have promise and Your words is the truth, Ya ALLAH! You have promise and You are the Truth!. Ya ALLAH! You have created Rasulallah(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) to be the most truthful of men and what He(sallallahu alayhi wa salam) has said is the absolute truth.) In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. ALLAH The Exated says: And invite (Men) to (Believe in) Your Rabb [i.e., in the oneness(Tauhid) of ALLAH -(1) oneness of the Lordship of ALLAH; (2) oneness of the Worship of ALLAH;-(3)oneness of the name and Qualities of ALLAH].(28:87). The oneness of Allah’s Lordship ithe bes lief that Allah alone has created the universe, that He alone is its Provider and Sustainer, and that He has complete ownership and power over His creation. In other words, Allah is one and unique in regard to His actions, such that no creature shares His power in creating and managing the universe.Allah said:

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَVerily, your Lord is Allah who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, chasing it rapidly, and the sun, the moon, and the stars are subjected to His command. Unquestionably, for Him is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds.Surah Al-A’raf 7:45

The oneness of Lordship includes the belief in divine providence (qadr), that all things happen by the decree of Allah. Allah alone has complete and uncontested power in the universe and everything occurs according to His will and wisdom.Allah said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌVerily, Allah has power over all things.Surah Al-Baqarah 2:20

And Allah said:

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍVerily, We have created all things by measure.Surah Al-Qamar 54:49

The universe must necessarily have a Creator because it is impossible for the universe to have created itself or to have been created by nothing. Therefore, there must have been a Creator who provided the initial force and energy needed to set the universe in motion. This is sometimes called the cosmological argument, or argument from existence.Allah said:

أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَWere they created by nothing, or were they the creators of themselves? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.Surah At-Tur 52:35-36

And Allah said:

أَوَلَا يَذْكُرُ الْإِنسَانُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ يَكُ شَيْئًاDoes man not remember that We created him before while he was nothing?Surah Maryam 19:67

Imam Abu Hanifa used the motion of the universe to establish the existence of the Creator in his debate with the atheists.Ibn Abu Al-‘Izz reported: It is said that Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, was approached by some speculative theologians who intended to discuss with him the oneness of Allah’s Lordship. He said, “Before we discuss this question, tell me what you think about a boat in the Euphrates which goes to shore, loads itself with food and other things, then returns, anchors and unloads all by itself, without anyone sailing or controlling it?” They said, “This is impossible.” Abu Hanifa said:

إِذَا كَانَ هَذَا مُحَالًا فِي سَفِينَةٍ فَكَيْفَ فِي هَذَا الْعَالَمِ كُلِّهِ عُلْوِهِ وَسُفْلِهِIf it is impossible with a boat, then how is it possible for the world, in all its vastness, to move by itself?Source: Sharh Aqidah At-Tahawi 35

This argument agrees with sound reasoning and has been accepted by philosophers and theologians across different religions through history. The argument is so strong that Jubair bin Mut’im said that after he had recited the verses of Surah At-Tur (52:35-36):

كَادَ قَلْبِي أَنْ يَطِيرَI felt my heart was about to fly.Source: Sahih Bukhari 4573, Grade: Sahih

Further evidence of the Creator exists in the patterns and designs found in nature which imply the necessity of a Designer. Allah calls our attention to observe the various signs (ayat) in nature that demonstrate His power. This is sometimes called the teleological argument, or argument from design.Allah said:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِVerily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding, who remember Allah while standing or sitting or lying on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying: Our Lord, You did not create this without purpose, exalted are You above such a thing, then protect us from the punishment of the Hellfire.Surah Ali Imran 3:190-191

And Allah said:

سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌWe will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a witness?Surah Fussilat 41:53

A classical formulation of this argument is mentioned by Ibn Kathir. Once a bedouin was asked about the evidence of Allah’s existence, so he responded:

يَا سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْبَعْرَةَ لَتَدُلُّ عَلَى الْبَعِيرِ وَإِنَّ أَثَرَ الْأَقْدَامِ لَتَدُلُّ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ فَسَمَاءٌ ذَاتُ أَبْرَاجٍ وَأَرْضٌ ذَاتُ فِجَاجٍ وَبِحَارٌ ذَاتُ أَمْوَاجٍ أَلَا يَدُلُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى وُجُودِ اللَّطِيفِ الْخَبِيرِGlory be to Allah! The camel’s dung testifies to the existence of the camel, and the track testifies to the fact that someone was walking. A sky that holds the stars, a land that has fairways and a sea that has waves? Does not all of this testify to the existence of the Most Kind, Most Knowing?Source: Tafseer Ibn Kathir 2:21

Ibn Kathir further comments:

وَكَذَلِكَ هَذِهِ الْأَنْهَارُ السَّارِحَةُ مِنْ قُطْرٍ إِلَى قُطْرٍ لِمَنَافِعِ الْعِبَادِ وَمَا ذَرَأَ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْحَيَوَانَاتِ الْمُتَنَوِّعَةِ وَالنَّبَاتِ الْمُخْتَلِفِ الطُّعُومِ وَالْأَرَايِيحِ وَالْأَشْكَالِ وَالْأَلْوَانِ مَعَ اتِّحَادِ طَبِيعَةِ التُّرْبَةِ وَالْمَاءِ عَلِمَ وُجُودَ الصَّانِعِ وَقُدْرَتَهُ الْعَظِيمَةَ وَحِكْمَتَهُ وَرَحْمَتَهُ بِخَلْقِهِ وَلُطْفَهُ بِهِمْ وَإِحْسَانَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَبِرَّهُ بِهِمْ لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ وَلَا رَبَّ سِوَاهُ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ وَالْآيَاتُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ الدَّالَّةُ عَلَى هَذَا الْمَقَامِ كَثِيرَةٌ جِدًّاWhoever thinks about the running rivers that travel from area to area bringing benefit, whoever ponders over what Allah has created on earth; various animals and plants of different tastes, scents, shapes and colors that are a result of unity between land and water. Whoever thinks about all of this then he will realize that these facts testify to the existence of the Creator, His perfect ability, wisdom, mercy, kindness, generosity and His overall compassion for His creation. There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, nor is there a Lord besides Him, upon Him we rely and to Him we turn in repentance. There are numerous verses in the Quran on this subject.

Imam Ash-Shafi’ee drew attention to the food of animals to establish the existence of the Creator.Ash-Shafi’ee said:

هَذَا وَرَقُ التُّوتِ طَعْمُهُ وَاحِدٌ تَأْكُلُهُ الدُّودُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْإِبْرَيْسِمُ وَتَأْكُلُهُ النَّحْلُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْعَسَلُ وَتَأْكُلُهُ الشَّاةُ وَالْبَعِيرُ وَالْأَنْعَامُ فَتُلْقِيهِ بَعْرًا وَرَوَثًا وَتَأْكُلْهُ الظِّبَاءُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا الْمِسْكُ وَهُوَ شَيْءٌ وَاحِدٌThe leaves of a berry bush all have one taste. Worms eat it and produce silk, bees eat it and produce honey. Goats, camels, and cows eat it and deliver offspring. Deer eat it and produce musk. Yet, all of these come from one thing.Source: Tafseer Ibn Kathir 2:21

Imam Malik was asked by Caliph Harun Rasheed about evidence for the Creator and he drew attention to our various languages, sounds, and melodies in nature.Malik said:

فَاسْتَدَلَّ بِاخْتِلَافِ اللُّغَاتِ وَالْأَصْوَاتِ وَالنَّغَمَاتِYou will find evidence in the different languages, different voices, and different melodies.Source: Tafseer Ibn Kathir 2:21

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal drew attention to the wonders of life emerging from an egg to establish the existence of the Creator.Ahmad said:

هَاهُنَا حِصْنٌ حَصِينٌ أَمْلَسُ لَيْسَ لَهُ بَابٌ وَلَا مَنْفَذٌ ظَاهِرُهُ كَالْفِضَّةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَبَاطِنُهُ كَالذَّهَبِ الْإِبْرِيزِ فَبَيْنَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذِ انْصَدَعَ جِدَارُهُ فَخَرَجَ مِنْهُ حَيَوَانٌ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ ذُو شَكْلٍ حَسَنٍ وَصَوْتٍ مَلِيحٍConsider an impenetrable fortress without any doors or exits. The outside is like white silver and the inside is like shimmering gold. It is built like this until its walls crack and out comes an animal hearing and seeing with a beautiful shape and a pleasant voice.Source: Tafseer Ibn Kathir 2:21

Ibn Al-Qayyim likewise used the argument by design in his debates with the atheists.Ibn Al-Qayyim writes:

فسل المعطل الجاحد ما تقول في دولاب دائر على نهر قد احكمت آلاته وأحكم تركيبه وقدرت ادواته احسن تقدير وأبلغه بحيث لا يرى الناظر فيه خللا في مادته ولا في صورته وقد جعل على حديقة عظيمة فيها من كل انواع الثمار والزروع يسقيها حاجتها وفي تلك الحديقة من يلم شعثها ويحسن مراعاتها وتعهدها والقيام بجميع مصالحها فلا يختل منها شيء ولا يتلف ثمارها ثم يقسم قيمتها عند الجذاذ على سائر المخارج بحسب حاجاتهم وضروراتهم فيقسم لكل صنف منهم ما يليق به ويقسمه هكذا على الدوام اترى هذا اتفاقا بلا صانع ولا مختار ولا مدبر بل اتفق وجود ذلك الدولاب والحديقة وكل ذلك اتفاقا من غير فاعل ولا قيم ولا مدبر أفترى ما يقول لك عقلك في ذلك لو كان وما الذي يفتيك به وما الذي يرشدك اليهSo ask the atheists, the deniers: What do you say about a watermill spinning over a river with perfect parts? It is delicately made in a way that an observer can see no breach in the construction, it efficiently irrigates a splendid orchard that contains all kinds of plants and fruits, the orchard being well cared for, pruned, weeded, and well served in every way so that nothing is left missing or ignored, no fruit is left to rot. Then its produce is estimated by the harvester and the money gained is distributed to various groups according to their needs, each getting what is right for them, and all of this happens each time. Would you say that all of this would happen by accident without an actor who has will and resolution? Would you say that the wheel and the orchard are there by coincidence and everything goes on there without an actor who has will and resolution? What would your mind say to that? How would it solve the riddle? What would that lead you to?Source: Miftah Dar As-Sa’adah 1/214

Moreover, the vast majority of human beings throughout history and across religious traditions have affirmed the existence of the Almighty Creator. It is simply part of our nature to recognize these signs because Allah has created us this way.Allah said:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَDirect your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. Adhere to the nature of Allah upon which He has created all people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.Surah Ar-Rum 30:30

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلَّا يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِNo one is born except they are upon natural instinct.Source: Sahih Muslim 2658, Grade: Sahih

Allah said:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ۚ قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَIf you asked them: Who created the heavens and earth? They would surely say: Allah. Say: All praise is due to Allah, but most of them do not know.Surah Luqman 31:25

And Allah said:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَIf you asked them who created them, they would surely say: Allah. So how are they deluded?Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:87

For this reason, every human being will call out to Allah during times of calamity, as it is an innate instinct to turn to the Creator in times of distress.Allah said:

قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَّئِنْ أَنجَانَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَSay: Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and sea when you call upon Him imploring aloud and privately: If He should save us from this crisis, we will surely be among the thankful. Say: It is Allah who saves you from it and from every distress, yet you still associate others with Him.Surah Al-An’am 6:63-64

And Allah said:

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ كَفُورًاWhen adversity touches you at sea, lost are all those you invoke except for Him. But when He delivers you to the land, you turn away from Him. Ever is man ungrateful.Surah Al-Isra 17:67

And Allah said:

فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَWhen they board a ship, they supplicate Allah, being sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him.Surah Al-Ankabut 29:65

Human nature also establishes the existence of the Creator by recognizing objective moral values shared across religions and cultures throughout time, known to philosophers as the “natural law” of the Creator. This is sometimes called the moral argument.Wabisa ibn Ma’bad Al-Asadi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him:

جِئْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ الْبِرِّ وَالْإِثْمِHave you come to ask about righteousness and sin?

I said, “Yes.” So the Prophet brought his fingers together and struck his chest three times, saying:

اسْتَفْتِ نَفْسَكَ اسْتَفْتِ قَلْبَكَ يَا وَابِصَةُ ثَلَاثًا الْبِرُّ مَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ إِلَيْهِ النَّفْسُ وَاطْمَأَنَّ إِلَيْهِ الْقَلْبُ وَالْإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي النَّفْسِ وَتَرَدَّدَ فِي الصَّدْرِ وَإِنْ أَفْتَاكَ النَّاسُ وَأَفْتَوْكَConsult your soul, consult your heart, O Wabisa. Righteousness is what is satisfying to your soul and your heart, and sin is what wavers in your soul and causes hesitancy in your chest, even if the people give you a judgment, and again give you a judgment.Source: Sunan Ad-Darimi 2533, Grade: Hasan

It might asked why some people disbelieve in the Creator if sound human nature inclines toward faith. The answer is that Allah has created life as a test involving various influences such as the temptations of Satan and selfish desires. Although human nature inclines toward faith, a person must ultimately choose to pursue faith in the Creator over the influences of unbelief.Iyad ibn Himar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

وَإِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ كُلَّهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ أَتَتْهُمْ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجْتَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ وَحَرَّمَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا أَحْلَلْتُ لَهُمْ وَأَمَرَتْهُمْ أَنْ لَا يُشْرِكُوا بِي مَا لَمْ أُنْزِلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًاAllah said: I have created all of My servants naturally inclined to worship one God but it is the devils who turn them away from their religion. They make unlawful for them what has been made lawful for them, and they command them to associate partners with Me, although no authority has been revealed for them.Source: Sahih Muslim 2865, Grade: Sahih

In conclusion, the oneness of Lordship is one of the three essential principles of Islamic monotheism, the belief that Allah alone has created the universe, that He alone is its Provider and Sustainer, and that He has complete ownership and power over His creation. His power, existence, and unity is established by contemplating upon the universe and the signs of its design within nature. The Oneness of Allah, known as tawhid, is the first and paramount constituent of the Islamic concept, as it is the fundamental truth of the Islamic faith. It is also one of the chief characteristics of the Islamic concept because, among all the belief systems and philosophies cur-rently prevailing among human beings, only the Islamic faith can be characterized as having a pure form of monotheism. This is why we have included “The Oneness of Allah" as one of the characteristics of the Islamic concept.From the outset we state that the message of the Oneness of Allah has been the chief constituent and characteristic of all religions brought by the Messengers of Allah Most High, because every religion sent from Allah was nothing but Islam, which is submission to Allah alone by following the way prescribed by Him alone, receiving guidance in matters of faith and moral conduct from Him alone, purifying one's intention and worship for Him alone, and obeying His commandments and implementing His laws in human affairs as well as in worship. Unfortunately, after these Messengers passed away, interpolations and deviations were introduced into the pure din of Islam producing many impurities in these religions, so that no belief has been left in its correct and pure form apart from the concept brought by Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's blessings be upon him. Allah Himself has protected the principles of the Islamic faith so that no deviation has ever touched it nor has any impurity ever entered into its beliefs. This is why “the Oneness of Allah" has become the distinctive characteristic of this faith.The Oneness of Allah is a characteristic of the Islamic concept because the truth of the Divine Oneness includes all aspects of the Islamic faith and practice. It permeates concepts, morals, manners, and all types of dealings among people in a truly Islamic community.The certainty of the truth that Allah is One dominates the Muslim's concept of the universe and of everything happening in it and his concept of the real, active power behind events in his own life and in the life of the community in which he lives. This certainty and conceptual conviction extend to all aspects of a Muslim's life, includ-ing what is hidden and what is apparent and what is significant and what is insignificant, and it applies to everybody he meets, the great as well as the lowly, to all customs, laws, beliefs, and actions, and to this life and the life-to-come, simply because not a single element of the Islamic system can escape from the all-inclusive belief in the Oneness of Allah. This point was earlier discussed in the chapter entitled “Comprehensiveness."The Islamic concept rests on the principle that the Divine Being is distinct from His creation. Divinity belongs exclusively to Allah Most High, while creatureliness is common to everyone and everything else. Since Allah Most High is the only Divine Being, it follows that all the Divine attributes belong to Him alone. And since everyone and everything else is His creation, it also follows that they are all devoid of Divine attributes. Thus there are two distinct orders of existence, namely, the independent existence of Allah Most High and the depend-ent existence of all others as His creatures. The relationship between Allah and everything else is that of the Creator to His creatures and of the Lord to His servants.This is the first principle of the Islamic concept and all other principles follow from it. Because the Islamic concept rests on this basic principle, the Oneness of God is its most important characteristic.Earlier we said that all the Messengers of Allah Most High brought the message of the Oneness of Allah, so this was the characteristic of all the Divinely-revealed religions. Our assertion is derived from the Qur'an, which states this fact in relation to the earlier Messengers.Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.