Pillars of Laa ilaaha illallaah

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Every Muslim should know that the Tawheed we are entrusted to fulfill has two main pillars. If anyone fails to meet them then he won’t be regarded as a Muwahid (Monotheist) and his Shahaadah will not benefit him at all as it is the case with prayer, which has pillars like prostration and tashahud, and if they are violated in any way, the whole prayer becomes invalid.

The first pillar of Tawheed is the rejection of ‘Taghut’ and the second pillar is the ‘belief in Allah’. Allah azawajal says in Surah Al Baqarah: Ayah 256:

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All Knower.”

The “trustworthy handhold” mentioned in the above Ayah is ‘La ilaha illallah’.
In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is reported to have said “He who says ‘La ilaha illallah’ will find that his life and his property are protected and his reward is with Allah.”


First pillar of Tawheed: “The disbelief in Taghut”


It is very important to know that one can never be a monotheist until he completely disbelieves and rejects ‘Taghut’. This can never be achieved until he knows the meaning of the word ‘Taghut’. Literally speaking, the word ‘Taghut’ derives from the verb ‘Tagha’ which means ‘to exceed the proper bounds or limits.’ Allah (swt) says in Surah Al Haqqa 69: Ayah 11:

“Verily when the water rose beyond its limits (Tagha) (Nuh’s flood). We carried you (mankind) in the floating (ship).”

The definition of ‘Taghut’ in Shariah is ‘anyone who exceeds the proper limits by ascribing to himself any of the rights of Allah(swt) and makes himself a partner with Allah (swt)’. Allah(swt) says in Surah 79 An-Naz’iat Ayah 17:

“Go to Fir’aun; verily, he has transgressed all bounds (Tagha) (in crimes, sins, polytheism, disbelief).”

In other words a Taghut is any one who ascribes to himself one of the acts of Allah(swt), such as creation, provision or legislation or ascribes to himself any of the attributes of Allah (swt), such as knowledge of the ghaib (unseen). A person may also become a Taghut if he/she allows certain acts of worship to be directed to him/herself- acts such as invocation, offering, sacrifice or legislation. So anyone who ascribes to himself any of the above acts of worship- he has become a Taghut and a partner with Allah(swt).

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) defined Taghut as:
“Anything or anyone worshipped apart from Allah(swt) and this is a general definition, which includes a lot of things that are worshipped such as idols, graves, stones, trees and other such inanimate objects. This definition also includes Satan (the biggest Taghut), witches, soothsayers (claiming knowledge of the unseen), those who are pleased with people directing acts of worship to them, and those who legislate (making things halal and haram). All these are Tawaghit (Plural of Taghut) that every Muslim should disassociate himself from them and from those who worship them.”

*Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) said:
“The Tawaghit are many and their heads are five.

1) Satan who invites people to worship other than Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says in Surah 36:60:
“Did I not command you Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan. Verily he is a plain enemy to you.”

2) The oppressive ruler who changes the laws of Allah(swt). Allah azawajal says in Surah
An- Nisaa, Ayah 60:
“Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges) while they have been ORDERED to REJECT them. But Shaitan wishes to lead them far astray.”

3) The one who does not govern by what Allah(swt) has revealed. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al Maidah, Ayah 44:
“Verily, We did send down the Taurat, therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah’s Will, judged for the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests, for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah’s Book. Therefore fear not men but fear Me and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed are the Kafirun (disbelievers).”

4) The one who claims knowledge of the unseen. Allah(swt) states in Surah Al-Jinn, Ayah 26:
“The All-Knower of the Ghaib(Unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghaib.”

5) The one who is worshipped and pleased with it. Allah(swt) says in Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah29:
“And if any of them should say: “Verily I am an ilah (god) besides Him” such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We should recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers).”

*Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab also said concerning the last verse of Surah Al-Kahf…
“…associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord…” so know may Allah have mercy on you, that those who understand this verse perfectly are the ones who totally distinguish between the unity of Lordship and unity of worship, and know that most people are either Tawaghit who challenge Allah azawajal in His Lordship or people who worship them or others who have doubts about what Allah(swt) has revealed to His Prophet and do not differentiate between the deen of our Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and the deen of the Christians.”


Second Pillar of Tawheed: “Belief in Allah”


The belief in Allah(swt) means to assert Allah(swt’s) Oneness in Lordship, Worship, Names and Attributes.

1. The belief in Allah (swt)'s Lordship (Rububiyah):that is to believe in Allah(swt)'s acts which are specific to Him Alone like creation, provision, legislation and others and not to ascribe any of these acts to other than Allah(swt). Allah(swt) says in Surah 30 Ar-Rum, Ayah 40:

“ Allah is He Who Created you, then provided food for you, then will cause you to die, then (again) He will give you life (on the day of Resurrection). Is there any of your partners that do anything of that? Glory is to Him! And Exalted is He above all that they associate (with Him).”

2. The belief in Allah(swt’s) names and attributes. That is to believe in all the names and attributes that Allah(swt) has affirmed for Himself without disablement, distortion, likening and without looking at the manner or the way of His Attributes. One must ascribe all these names and attributes to Him Alone as Allah(swt) states in Surah-An Nahl, Ayah 65:

“And Allah Sends down water from the sky, He revives the earth therewith after its death. Verily in this is a sign for those who listen.”

3. The belief in Allah(swt)’s Uloohiyah (Worship): That is to believe that Allah(swt) is the only one to be worshipped and that all acts of worship like bowing, prostrating, invoking, vowing and others should be directed to none but to Allah(swt) Alone. Allah(swt) states in Surah 4 An-Nisa, Ayah 36:

“Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship); and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer, and those whom your right hand possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful.”

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