The Wisdom Behind the Repetitive Affirmation of Towheed ar-Ruboobiyyah in the Quran

Part 8 of a series of translated articles from the book, Lessons from the Noble Quran (pp.25-26) by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan (may Allaah preserve him), translated by Moosaa Richardson.

[ In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful, may His Complete Salaah and Salaam be upon His Messenger, and upon all his family members and companions, and all those who follow his way, to proceed… ]

In the Qur’aan Allaah only mentions towheed ar-ruboobiyyah, that which the disbelievers themselves affirm, to show its weight as a proof and to establish the evidence for towheed al-uloohiyyah. So Allaah brings an idea that they agree about as a proof against them, and this obliges them to answer the following questions:

  • How can you admit to Allaah’s Ruboobiyyah, that He is the sole Lord (Creator, Sustainer) of the creation, and not agree that He alone has the right to be worshipped?!
  • How can you worship someone or something that did not share in any part of the creation with Allaah?! This is a clear contradiction, as Allaah Almighty says [1]:

( Say: Do you see that what you call on besides Allaah, what have they created in the earth? Or what is their share in the heavens? Bring me a book from the past, or any trace of knowledge you have, if you are indeed truthful! )

Allaah also says [2]:

( This is the creation of Allaah! So now show me what those less than Him have created! )

And Allaah says [3]:

( O mankind! A parable has been set forth, so listen! Verily those who are called on besides Allaah can not even create a fly, even if they all gathered together to help each other! And if a fly were to snatch something from them, they do not even have the power to get it back! How weak are those who seek from them, and how weak are those being sought! )

So if flies attacked mankind, they would have no way to defend themselves or take revenge, while the fly is the weakest thing! So if flies and mosquitoes swarmed over them, they would not be able to rid themselves of them. They would only be able to kill some of them, but there would be such a great number of them that they would overwhelm all of mankind!

It is also said that the meaning of the verse is that if a fly were to take something away from an idol, some perfume or decoration that the people placed on it, that verily the idol could do nothing to get back what the fly took from it. Allaah says [3]:

( How weak are those who seek from them, and how weak are those being sought! )

In the verse, “those who seek” are the polytheists. “Those being sought” are the idols, and it has also been said that it means the fly itself.

With all of this, how can these things be made partners with Allaah, the Creator, the Provider, the Bringer of Life and Death, the Strong, the Mighty, the One who is capable of everything, the Glorified and Exalted?! Where is the intellect?! Where is the understanding?! We ask Allaah to pardon us.

Part 9 – Towheed Expounded Upon in Aayat al-Kursee…

FOOTNOTES

[1] The meaning of Soorah Al-Ahqaaf (46):4

[2] The meaning of Soorah Luqmaan (31):11

[3] The meaning of Soorah Al-Hajj (22):73

2 thoughts on “The Wisdom Behind the Repetitive Affirmation of Towheed ar-Ruboobiyyah in the Quran

    • wa ‘alaykas-salaam wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

      Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned something like that in Madaarij as-Saalikeen, that every aayah has a connection to towheed, somehow. However, every aayah being proof of a category? I don’t know how someone could say that “QAAF” or “ALIF-LAAM-MEEM” is a proof of one of the categories of towheed… And Allaah knows best.

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