Verily the greatest and most important issue that one should be concerned with is the issue of 'aqeedah; the issue of tawheed and it's opposite.

Tawheed is the reason that Allaah, the Most High, sent the Messengers, revealed the Books, and created mankind and jinn. The other regulations in Islaam are all secondary to tawheed.

Allaah says in the Qur'aan,

"I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship me." [1]

This basic foundation and greatest command is the first thing writers write about in their books. The daa'ees should concern themselves with this when giving guidance and aiding the truth. It is the truest science that one should cling on to with steadfastness and spread among all classes of people until they know its reality and distance themselves from that which contradicts it.

Indeed, I advice my brothers, the people of knowledge and those giving da'wah to concentrate on this great matter (i.e. tawheed), and write as much as they can about it in articles and letters; until (the knowledge of tawheed) is spread to the people and it becomes known to the elite and general public, as it is an issue of great importance and there is a urgent need for people to be aware of it.

The first thing that the Prophet (ﷺ) did and the foundation that he  laid was to call the people to the tawheed of Allaah and sincerity in worshipping Him, the Most High.

This is the first thing that one should do and the fundamental issue that one should talk about, invite others to and himself be upon, is da'wah (calling the people) to the tawheed of Allah and guiding them to its explanation.

The statement that proves this is: laa ilaaha illallaah none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. This is the firm foundation and with it is the declaration: Muhammad ur-rasoolullah Muhammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allaah.

The proof for this understanding is strengthened by the fact that the Prophet (ﷺ) lived in Makkah for ten years and called the people to the tawheed of Allaah, before prayer and other duties were obligated upon them. All of the Prophet's (ﷺ) da'wah was directed towards the tawheed of Allaah, leaving shirk, discarding idols and proclaiming the obligation upon all jinn and mankind to worship Allaah alone as well as leaving the shirk which their ancestors (i.e., of the pagan Arabs) and those who came before them were upon.

It is the ignorance of tawheed in most Islamic countries which has led people to their extremism of glorifying graves, especially the graves of those whom they call awliyaa or protectors and helpers. Mosques are built upon these graves and much worship is directed towards its people; acts of worship such as making supplications, calling for help, sacrificing animals, vowing and pledging etc.

It is also due to the ignorance of this fundamental issue of tawheed, that most Islamic countries rule according to man-made laws and ideas. They turn away from the rule of Allaah and His Messenger (ﷺ) which is the most just and perfect of all laws.

[1] Soorah adh-Dhaariyaat (51):56 Back