O slaves of Allah, I advise you and myself to fear Allah, the Almighty. Fear Allah and do not die except as Muslims.
And know that Allah, the Exalted, says in the Noble Qur’an:
( قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ ٣ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ )
Which means: [Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah is Self-Sufficient while all creations need Him. He neither begets nor is He begotten. Nor is there to Him any similar].
Brothers in Islam, this chapter (Surat Al-Ikhlas) is one of the great chapters of the Qur’an despite its brevity, because it contains meanings of the Oneness of Allah and His Attributes that reflect the belief of Muslims in their Lord with proper understanding. It has been reported that whoever recites it once, it is as if they have recited one-third of the Qur’an; whoever recites it twice, it is as if they have recited two-thirds of the Qur’an; and whoever recites it three times, it is as if they have recited the entire Qur’an.
As for the reason for the revelation of this Surah, it was when the Jews came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said to him, “Describe to us your Lord whom you worship.” Their question was not out of a sincere desire for knowledge but rather out of stubbornness. So, Allah, the Exalted, revealed this Surah to the Prophet. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “These are the Attributes of my Lord, the Almighty.”
(قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ)
This verse means that Allah is indivisible and cannot be multiple. He has no partner in His Self, Attributes, or Doings, and no one has an attribute like His, as Allah said:
(فَلَا تَضۡرِبُواْ لِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ)
Which means: [Do not ascribe similarities to Allah]—meaning, do not liken Him to His creation.
(ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ)
This verse means that all creations need Him while He is self-sufficient Who needs none. Everything seeks Him in times of distress, and He does not seek any benefit from His creations nor ward off harm through them, as Allah says:
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ ٥٦ مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنۡهُم مِّن رِّزۡقٖ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطۡعِمُونِ ٥٧ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلۡقُوَّةِ ٱلۡمَتِينُ )٥٨)
Which means: [And I (Allah) did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I do not require from them to provide any provision for themselves nor for others. Indeed, Allah is the All-Sustainer and All-Powerful]. (Surat Adh-Dhariyat: 56-58)
(لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ )
This verse means that nothing originates from Him as offspring originate from a father, nor does He originate from anything. That is, nothing is an extract from Him nor is He an extract of something.
( وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ )
This verse affirms that nothing resembles Him in any way whatsoever.
Dear brothers, it is necessary to warn against any statement that likens Allah to His creation or attributes to Him corporeality, division, or multiplicity.
As for the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah is Akthar“, its meaning is that He is more generous or merciful, not that His Self is multiple. Whoever interprets it to mean that His Self is numerous has committed blasphemy—may Allah protect us.
Some people who claim to be Sufis say about Allah: “One in multiplicity,” meaning that Allah is both one and many. These people are among the worst blasphemers of Allah’s creation, though they claim to be Muslims and Sufis. Their statement has no valid interpretation. Among them are those who say: “There is nothing in existence but One, but it became multiple when purified.”
Certain individuals among those who claim Sufism hold gatherings of dhikr (praising Allah), in which they begin with making salah upon the Prophet, then chanting “La ilaha illallah,” and then transition to saying “Ah” while standing and swaying. Among them is a leader who organises their movements and chants while repeating poetry containing blasphemy, claiming: “Allah was One, then He became many.”
They say that when Allah became purified, He became multiple! These individuals claim to follow a spiritual practice, yet one of their leaders, when asked how they justify their belief in “multiplicity after purification,” responded: “It is the multiplication of His attributes.” This is also blasphemy —may Allah protect us against anyone who distorts the religion of Allah.
Brothers in faith, the Attributes of Allah are eternal and everlasting. Allah is Eternal in His Self and Attributes. His Self is one and does not multiply, and His Attributes are eternal and unchanging. He is attributed with all attributes of perfection that befit Him, such as power, will, knowledge, hearing, sight, and life. He is clear from all deficiencies i.e., anything unbefitting of Him.
To Allah we belong, and to His Judgement we shall return.
