The Universal Call to Worship: Embracing the One True God: Hasan Maruf

To truly submit to the Lord of all creation—the One who governs humanity, every living being, the galaxies, and the vast expanse of the universe—one must worship Him alone, without associating partners or intermediaries. He is Allah, Rabbul-‘Izzah wal-Jalal’, the King of all kings, to whom we bow in awe, praise, and utmost reverence. His oneness (Tawhid) forms the cornerstone of sincere faith and devotion, binding the human soul to its Creator with purity and clarity.

When humanity deviates from this pure monotheism, it plunges into the abyss of error and misguidance. Associating Allah with fabricated, man-made deities—whether through ancestral traditions or mythologies rooted in human imagination—diminishes His unparalleled majesty. Consider the distorted practices of polytheism: idol worship in what is often misrepresented as Hinduism, the theological contradictions of the Trinity in Christianity, or the adulteration of the Torah by certain factions of Judaism. These innovations stand in stark defiance of the unadulterated monotheism revealed to the prophets, from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them).

The Qur’an warns against such deviations: “And do not associate with Allah any partners while you know [the truth].” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:22). Islam emphatically calls upon humanity to reject intermediaries, whether they are idols, saints, clerics, or even shrines of revered individuals. Allah reminds us, “Indeed, sincere devotion is due to Allah alone” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:3). Those who grant divine status to any being other than Allah or depend on intermediaries tarnish the sanctity of Tawhid, straying from the straight path illuminated by revelation.

True submission to Allah transcends cultural and religious labels. Whether one identifies as a Muslim, Hindu, Christian, or Jew, the ultimate purpose of creation is to worship the One God. The Qur’an proclaims, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56). The scriptures of other faiths, when uncorrupted, echo this profound truth. For instance, the Bible declares, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord, is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Similarly, the Rig Veda, a foundational scripture of ancient Hindu texts, attests: “Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti” (“Truth is one; the wise call it by many names”).

Why, then, as many amongst us stubbornly claim, do we not see Allah, the Sovereign of all that exists? The answer lies in this temporal life as a test. To witness Allah’s presence directly would diminish the trial of faith and lead to complacency. As the Qur’an explains, “No vision can encompass Him, but He encompasses all vision” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:103). The human eye, bound by the limitations of mortality, cannot perceive His infinite grandeur and glory. When Moses (peace be upon him) sought to behold Allah, he was told, “You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it remains firm in its place, then you will see Me. But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:143).

Allah’s invisibility does not denote His absence but affirms His transcendence. He exists beyond the confines of time, space, and physical dimensions. The Qur’an states, “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing” (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:11). This metaphysical reality underscores the limitations of human perception and reinforces our dependence on faith, revelation, and the countless signs He has placed within creation: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding” (Surah Al-Imran, 3:190).

Even science and philosophy also echo the profundity of Allah’s transcendence. Astrophysics demonstrates the vastness of the cosmos, unveiling an intricate order that hints at a Supreme Creator. Philosophers such as Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina argued for the necessity of a Prime Mover, while contemporary thinkers marvel at the fine-tuning of the universe—a reality that cannot be dismissed as mere chance.

Furthermore, Allah has created humanity in breathtaking diversity as a testament to His boundless wisdom and creativity. The Qur’an states: “O mankind, we have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:13). This kaleidoscope of races, languages, cultures, and dispositions is a reflection of His grandeur. It offers humanity the opportunity to unite under the banner of Tawhid, celebrating differences while embracing the unifying truth of the One Creator.

In conclusion, the path to true submission is paved with the recognition and worship of Allah alone. It requires transcending man-made divisions and embracing the universal truth of His oneness. Regardless of one’s religious affiliation, the ultimate purpose remains unchanged: to acknowledge Allah Ajja Wajjal as the singular, unparalleled Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. Let us, therefore, turn to Him with sincerity and humility, guided by revelation and reason. In doing so, we fulfill our ultimate purpose and honor the sacred covenant that binds us to our Creator. May Allah (SWT) grant us clarity, steadfastness, and the ability to worship Him as He deserves. Amen.