Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 483
28 SEPTEMBER 1905 483 The Essence of Tauhid & Shirk (The Turkish gentleman became silent after two questions. Then the Jewish gentleman started presenting his questions. ) THE JEW-Tauhid [Oneness of God] also exists among the Jews. What does Islam offer more than that? PROMISED MESSIAHas- MESSIAHas-There is no Tauhid among the Jews. Yes, the shell of Tauhid is undoubtedly there but a mere shell cannot be of any use. There are levels of Tauhid. Without them, the true essence of Tauhid cannot be known. It is not enough to say لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ]Lā ilāha illallāh—“There is no one worthy of worship except Allah']. Even Satan says this. So long as the true essence of لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ is not proven to be in the being of man in a practical manner, it is nothing. Where is this aspect in the Jews? You tell me. The initial stage and status of Tauhid is that nothing be perpetrated against the Word of Almighty Allah by man and no action of his should run contrary to the love for Almighty Allah. It should be as if he is engrossed and annihilated in the love and obedience of Almighty Allah. For this very reason its meanings [in Arabic] are: لَا مَعْبُوْدَ لِيْ وَ لَا مَحْبُوْبَ لِيْ وَلَا مُطَاعَ لِيْ إِلَّا اللهُ ; meaning that besides Almighty Allah, there is no God for me, no beloved for me, and no one worth obeying for me. Keep in mind there are various kinds of shirk [polytheism]. Among them, one shirk is said to be overt; the other shirk cov- ert. An example of overt shirk is generally what these idolaters do when they consider idols, trees, or other objects to be Gods. Covert shirk is when man venerates anything in the very same manner he venerates-or should venerate-Almighty Allah, or loves anything the way he loves Almighty Allah, or fears it or relies upon it.