Secondly. The Prophets
adhered to it and followed it, which shows clearly that it is not an area for
ijtihaad (independent interpretation and Judgement), so we do not find,
(1) Any Prophet beginning his call with Sufism.
(2) Another one beginning with philosophy and theological rhetoric (Kalaam).
(3) And others beginning with
politics.
Rather we find that they all followed a single
methodology, and all gave the same primary importance to Tawheed of Allaah.
Thirdly, Allaah made it
obligatory upon our noble Prophet, whom Allaah made it obligatory upon us to
follow. that he should follow then and their methodology. So He said, after
mentioning eighteen of them,
Meaning: They are those whom Allaah has guided.
so follow the way and guidance which they were upon.
And he followed their way by beginning with Tawheed and
giving the greatest importance to it.
Fourthly, Since their call
in its most complete form was to be seen in the call of 1braaheem, alaihis-
sallaatus was-salaam, Allaah further emphasised the matter and ordered our
Prophet Mohammed (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to follow his methodology. He says,
Meaning: Then We revealed to you, 0 Muhammad,
that you should follow the religion of Ibraaheem who was a Muslim upon the true religion
and was not one of those who worshipped idols and associate partners with Allaah.''
So the order to follow Islam covers adherence to his
religion which is Tawheed and fighting against Shirk, It also covers following
his methodology in beginning by calling to Tawheed. Then Allaah, the Most High,
further emphasised this order also, ordering the Ummah of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) to
follow the way and the religion of this Prophet who was upon the true religion,
So He, the Most High says,
Meaning: 'Say, 0 Muhammad, Allaah has indeed
spoken the Truth, so follow the religion of Ibraaheem who was upright, upon the religion
of Islaam, and he did not make any share of his worship for any created being.'
Therefore the Ummah of Islaam is commanded to follow his
religion and way. So just as it is not permissible to act contrary to his
religion, then likewise it is not permissible to turn away from his methodology
in calling to Tawheed and fighting Shirk and its manifestaions and causes.
Fifthly, Allaah, the Most
High, says,
Meaning: So if you disagree in any of the affairs
of your religion, then refer it back to the Book of Allaah and the, Sunnah of His
Messenger, if you truly believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is better for you in this
world and the Hereafter, and better in its final consequences.
So if we refer back to the Quraan we are informed that
ail of the Messengers had as their 'Aqeedah the 'Aqeedah if Tawheed and that
call began with Tawheed, and that Tawheed is the most important and greatest
thing which they came with. We also find that Allaah ordered our Prophet to
follow them and to follow their methodology. Then of we also refer back to the
Messenger we find that this call from start to finish gave the greatest
importance to Tawheed and to fighting Shirk and its manifestations and causes,
and we have already seen this in what has preceded.
Sixthly, Allaah created the creation and organised and
ordered it with laws governing its nature. and laws and prescriptions relating
to and ordering its behaviour. So He caused it to proceed upon natural laws
which are such that if they were broken then this creation would end in
destruction. So He made the heavens and the earth, the planets and the stars,
the sun and the moon and provided laws by which they proceed, and if they were
to be broken then this creation would cease to be. From these natural laws laid
down by Allaah is that animals, humans and others cannot live except with a
spirit and a body. So if the spirit leaves the body then the body dies and rots,
and this body must be buried so that other animals are not harmed by its stench.
Also from the creational laws laid down by Allaah in the world of plants is that
trees cannot stand and survive except upon a trunk, so if the trunk is cut off
then the branches die.