[9] The Self-Evident and Irresistible Nature of Pure Islamic Monotheism
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Most High, said:
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلا يُطْعَمُ قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَلا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say (O Muhammad): “Shall I take as a Wali (helper, protector, etc.) any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed.” Say: “Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit.” And be not you (O Muhammad) of the [polytheists]. [Al-An’am 14]
Imam As-Sadi, may Allah have mercy upon him, commented:
“Say” to these people who ascribe partners to Allah:
أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا
“Shall I take as a Wali (helper, protector, etc.) other than Allah” –
from among these incapacitated created things to protect and help me?! I do not take a protector besides Him because He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth; meaning, He is their Creator and the (only) One in control and maintains (in perfect order) everything within them.
وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ
“He Who feeds but is not fed”.
Meaning, He is the All-Provider for all the creation without having any need from them, thus, how can it be befitting (permissible) to take as a protector other than Al-Khaliq, Ar-Razzaaq, Al-Ghaniy, Al-Hamid? [Footnote a]
قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ
Say: “Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit”-
to Allah through pure Islamic monotheism, and submitting to Him wholeheartedly with obedience, for indeed, I am more obligated to fulfil my Lord’s commands.
وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
And be not you (O Muhammad) of the polytheists.
Meaning: Also, I am forbidden to be from the polytheists – neither upon their creed, nor (to be) in their councils (of polytheism and sin), nor gather with them in their general gatherings (of polytheism and sin). This is the most obligatory of obligations upon me and the most incumbent of obligations.
An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased
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Footnote a: An Excerpt from an article titled “The Names and Attributes of Allah” by Shaikh Abu Talhah, may Allah have mercy upon him and his wife Amin.
Al-Khaliq: The Creator and Maker of everything. The One Who brought everything into existence after it had previously not existed. The One Who has always had the attribute of being The Creator even when there was no creation in existence. This is a fine point that Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah (rahimahullaah) brought and made clear that Allah did not become The Creator when He created – when the creation came into existence – rather He has always been The Creator. This has always been His Attribute. So He did not gain this attribute upon the arrival of the creation, rather He has always had this attribute.
Ar-Razzaaq: The Great Provider. The One Who provides extensively for the whole of creation, whatever they need. And Who also provides the provision of beneficial knowledge and Eemaan for the hearts of His obedient servants, indicating a Rizq that is general that which is for the whole creation, that He provides whatever the whole creation needs as regards to provision and sustenance. And the particular that which He provides for His beloved servants – in addition to the general provision – the particular provision. The special provision of beneficial knowledge and Eemaan, providing sustenance for the hearts of His believing servants.
Al-Hamid: The One Who is deservedly praised. The One Who is praised and completely deserves to be praised for His Self, His Perfect Names and Attributes, and for His Perfect Actions.
Al-Ghaniy: The Independent One Who is free of all need. The One Who has no need whatsoever of the creation. The One Who is free from any poverty or need. The One in Whose Hand are the treasures of the heavens and the earth, and of this world and the hereafter.