There are countless evidences in this universe, which substantiate the unity and Oneness of Allah.
The significance of such evidences is adequately mentioned in the Qur an. Allah describing about His own identity states:
شَهِدَ اللهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَأُولُوا الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمِ
“Allah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He, and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. None has the right to be worshipped but He, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Surah Aal-‘Imran 3:18].
An eminent poet has elucidated his thoughts in a meaningful poem:
In everything, there is a sign,
Which proves to the unity of Allah
Wondering then: How can people disobey God?
Or how can a denier reject God?
To Allah, in every move,
And in every halt always a witness.
The following aspects offer a wider perspectives and plain in proving the unity and Oneness of Allah:
(1) The natural phenomena
(2) Different aspects of divine laws.
(3) The rationale of life
(4) Logic or common sense.
(5) Reaching to conclusion from the Names and Attributes of Allah.
These aspects clearly prove the existence of Allah and exemplify the three basic concepts of Islamic Monotheism (Oneness of Allah), as mentioned earlier, which correlate with one another.
Therefore, ascribing partner with Allah in any one of the three above-mentioned concepts, is tantamount to committing polytheism in all other concepts as well.
For instance, If a person seeks Dua’a (supplication) from other than Allah is considered a kind of worship and clearly an act of Shirk or polytheism with Allah in His worship.
In this context, invoking others (persons or things) than Allah is like seeking their intermediation and believing that they (intermediaries) can interfere and recommend to Allah on behalf of the supplicant and fulfill his/her requirements. This is completely an act of shirk or polytheism and tantamount to ascribing partner(s) with Allah, the Lord (Rabb) of the Universe.
Moreover, a supplicant who assumes that others besides Allah also possessed the power of hearing and seeing and could answer his/her invocation (Du aa) is considered as an act of shirk (polytheism) as regards to Names and Attributes of Allah.
First, it is a gross violation of divine laws to supplicate others than Allah. In no way this act is acceptable in Islam. Moreover, it is an act of Shirk (polytheism) if a person believing that with whom he/she engaged in supplication other than Allah can listen to him/her no matter whether faraway or closer.
It is, therefore, considered as a major act of Shirk (polytheism) with Allah in His worship as associating or correlating someone or something with Names and Attributes of Allah, Who is the Lord (Rabb) of the universe.
The reason for above-mentioned evidence can more elaborately be explained here:.
(1) EVIDENCES FROM THE NATURE:
Fitrah in literary Arabic denote to the innate character of a particular person. According to an authentic scholarly view the meaning of this word specifically signifies the Islam. Among those scholars, who are of this opinion, include Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Teemiyah and his student Ibn Al-Qayyim, etc.
It is instinct of every human being at his/her birth, who is inclined to the true belief in his/her Lord. This inclination remains intact in all humans before he/she is happened to be nurtured in a typical environment and different reflections of life other than Islam.
As the man grows under the influence of different tenets of a religion other than Islam his basic inclination towards the Oneness of Allah (Islamic Monotheism) tends to divert and as the time passes that ultimately vanishes from his heart.
Allah’s Messenger () said,
« كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ »
“Every child is born upon the Fitrah (i.e., the natural religion of Allah which He made for humanity), it is only his parents who turn him into a Jew, a Christian or a Zoroastrian.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another Hadith on the same subject narrates:
“Every child is born upon the (or this) Millat (i.e., Islamic Monotheism).”
According to Hadith Qudsi as narrated by ‘Iyad bin Himar quoting Allah’s Messenger () as saying:
« وَإِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ كُلُّهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ أَتَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجْتَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ »
“And I have created My all servants as Hunafaa’ (Naturally inclined towards pure Islamic Monotheism or Tawhid). But the Devils approach them and turn them away from the right religion.” (Muslim)
Ibn Al-Qayyim said as reported from ‘Ikrimah, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Ibrahim, Ad-Dahhak, and Qatada, quoting the statement of Allah,
فِطْرَةَ اللهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللهِ
“Allah s Fitrah (i.e. Allah s Islâmic Monotheism), with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in Khalqillâh (i.e. the Religion of Allah Islâmic Monotheism).” [Surah Ar-Rum 30:30].
Their comments based on the phrase: ‘Fitaratallahi’ which signifies that it is the religion of Islam. The phrase “Khalqillah” means Allah’s religion.
It is natural of a man, if afflicted or in any distress to always seek protection from his Lord. A person whether a believer, disbeliever or even an atheist who is happened to be in a difficult situation, or facing a danger in life turns to Supreme Power i.e. the Lord of the Universe (Allah). He does so by simply throwing away all sorts of false notions, misconceptions and superstitions.
The ultimate thought in such a traumatic situation, which comes to the mind of any human being, knowingly or unknowingly and irrespective of faith is the natural inclination to turn to seek Divine Help.
The moment this thought comes, it is spontaneous with a conviction and a strong urge in his/her heart the reference is made only to the Oneness of Allah and none else.
Thus, the spontaneity of that thought itself reflects that there is Only One and real Lord, Who will succor man in his difficult situation and redress him from afflictions.
And at that moment of anxiety the man realizes that the true and firm belief lies only in the Monotheism and Oneness of Allah. He/she thinks of Allah Alone and no one else.
It would be appropriate to mention some historic examples, which narrate this phenomenon as experienced to one of the American Presidents and Mr. Churchill, the Head of England at the time of a fierce battle during World War II.
It so happened that both these leaders of international fame remained in the back of the battleship and started to glorify God Alone by engaging in deep and sincere invocations when Hitler tightened the noose and harried them using the allied forces.
Both these leaders engaged in supplicating their God Alone with total dedication. They tried to forget everything that was involved in their day-to-day life including the infidelity and polytheism.
To exemplify such a state of affair of a man of whatever stature he may be Allah stated.
فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ
“And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only, but when He brings them safely to land, behold, they give a share of their worship to others (Shirk).”[Al-‘Ankabut 29:65].
As mentioned earlier, every newborn baby, who arrives in this world possessed the natural inclination toward the Islamic Monotheism. This does not necessarily mean that all the newborn babies are scholars of Islamic teachings by birth.
Allah said,
وَاللهُ أَخْرَجَكُمْ مِنْ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا
“And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing.” [Surah An-Nahl 16:78].
This also does not necessarily mean that every newborn baby will be naïve or innocent, ignorant of Islamic Monotheism (Tawheed) or Polytheism (Shirk).
However, it means that every newborn baby is arriving in this world with a devotion to the natural inclination of Islamic Monotheism and the natural religion of Islam.
He/she also then acknowledges to Allah being his/her Lord and admits to Him exclusively for the worthy of worship as well as being the Supreme Authority for the sole servitude.
Meanwhile, if this attitude of a man (when still an infant) is not changed by any factors or contradictions to his/her natural mindset, the baby would have remained unperturbed and follow the Islamic Monotheism and the Oneness of Allah.
This could be explained on the analogy of a newborn baby whose instinct is to eat and drink without being taught even by his/her mother right after the birth. Therefore, it should be noted here that the infant would have the desire for suckling the milk in a manner that is suitable to his/her physical composition of the body.
Allah said,
قَالَ رَبُّنَا الَّذِي أَعْطَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ ثُمَّ هَدَى
“[Mûsa (Moses)] said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each thing its form and nature, then guided it aright.” [Surah Ta-Ha 20:50].
This is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
« فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ »
“It is only his parents who turn him (newborn baby) into a Jew, a Christian or a Zoroastrian.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
However, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say, "they (parents) turn him (newborn baby) into a Muslim
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