.........continued from part(1)
Therefore Islam calls for the greatness of Allah, Allahu Akbar(Allah is great) and nothing else supersedes Him. Any form of comparability with Allah, be it at par, or elelvated, is rejected for there is nothing whatever like unto him
لَيْسَكَمِثْلِهِشَيْ
there is nothing
Whatever like unto him
(Asy-Syura 11)
That is why, when the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. (Peace bu upon him) was propagating his da'wa , he called on the people to free themselves from being slaves of man (a creation) to the more glorified slaves of Allah ('abdullah).
What is Deen?
Is Islam a religion? the answer is Yes. And more. Al Naquib Al Attas(1976) contended that the word religion when used for Islam is not the same as the concept of religion as interpreted and understood throughout western religious history. When Islam is referred to in English as religion, it is meant and understood to be deen with all the basic connotations inherent in it.
Islam is a set of beliefs which is fundamental to its existence. These beliefs determine a Muslim's interaction with Allah: Hablum Minallah (covenant from Allah) which is manisfested in his ibadah (the act of service to Allah). At the same time a Muslim also has interactions with people, called Hablum Minannas (covenant from men) [Ali Imran 3:112] which are guided by the beliefs and values of Islam. These values are determined by Allah, such as halal(permitted) and haram (prohibited). In his interaction with people, a Muslim must all the time be guided by the beliefs and values prescibed by Allah.
At lowest microcosm, man interacts with his own self. He acts and interacts in accordance with the beliefs and values of Islam. For example if he has fifty ringgits in his pocket, he would only spend his money on things that are halal, and refrain from spending on things that are haram.
When the scale gets bigger, let's say his interaction with his family, the all his and his family's deeds must conform to Islamic beliefs and values. If he is the head of the family, then he is held responsible for the family's deeds, not only in this world, but it contiues to the world of hereafter. Take for example the attire of the members of his family. He has to ascertain that this trivial matter is in accordance with Islam, for every beiever is warned:
يَاأَيُّهَاالَّذِينَآمَنُواقُوا أَنفُسَكُمْوَأَهْلِيكُمْنَارًاوَقُودُهَاالنَّاسُوَالْحِجَارَةُعَلَيْهَامَلَائِكَةٌغِلَاظٌشِدَادٌ لَايَعْصُونَ
اللَّهَمَاأَمَرَهُمْوَيَفْعَلُونَمَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
O ye who believe!
Save yourself and your
Families from a Firre
Whose fuel is men
and Stones, over which
Are (appointed) angles
Stern (and) severe
Who flinch not (from
Executing) the Commands
They receive from Allah,
But do (precisely) what
They are commanded
(At Tahrim 22:7)
If a trivial matter such as above has to conform to the values and rules as prescribed by Allah, then naturally the more important matters must undoubtedly submit to His rule much more........................ to be continued
