Chapter 1 - On Unity of God

“That to thy Lord is the final Goal” [The Holy Quran: Najm 53:42] Therefore you better stop any further inquiry whenever a speech ends with talk of God's essence.”

Prophet of God (a.s) stated: “The reward for the one upon whom God has bestowed the blessing of Unity as a recompense is nothing other than Heaven.”

Abuzar stated: “One night I left the house and suddenly saw the Prophet of God (a.s) walking all alone. I thought maybe he did not want anyone to walk with him, so in the moonlight I started walking very slowly behind him. The Prophet (a.s) became aware that I was behind him and inquired: “Who is it?” I answered him as so “May I be your devoted servant. I am Abuzar.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Abuzar! Come along with me.” So I walked with him for one hour. Then the Prophet (a.s) remarked: “On Judgment Day the money-makers will be in the minority except those to whom God grants goodness and they give charity in the world to the left and the right sides, and in front of and in back, and use it to do good deeds.” Then Abuzar said: “I walked another hour with the Prophet (a.s) and then he stated: “Sit down here!” Then he made me sit down on a stony piece of land surrounded by mountains and hills. He stated: “Sit here until I return.” The Prophet (a.s) set out for a place by the name of Harra. He set out and I could no longer see him. Later, as the Prophet (a.s) was approaching me I heard him saying: “... and what if he has committed adultery? And what if he has stolen something?” As the Prophet (a.s) approached me, I impatiently asked him: “O' Prophet of God! May God make me your devoted servant! Who were you talking with over there in Harra? I heard someone answering your questions.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “(The angel) Gabriel showed himself to me at Harra and said: Give good news to your nation: whoever dies and has not associated any partners with God (the Almighty) will enter Heaven. I said: O' Gabriel! And is that so even if he has committed adultery? And is that so even if he has stolen something? Gabriel answered in the positive. Again I asked: And even if he has committed adultery? And is that so even if he has stolen something? Gabriel answered: Yes, even if he has drunk an intoxicating drink.”

“Whoever leaves this world and has not associated any partners with God will enter Heaven whether he has done some good deeds or some evil ones.”

Prophet of God (a.s) stated that God the Almighty said: “Whoever interprets My Words according to his own viewpoint has no faith in Me. And whoever considers Me to be similar to My creatures does not recognize Me. And whoever makes comparisons in my religion does not believe in My religion.”

he heard Imam Reza (a.s) say: “Whoever compares God to His creatures is a polytheist. And whoever supposes that God is in a given place is an unbeliever. Whoever associates with God what He has admonished against is a liar.” Then Imam Reza (a.s) recited this verse: “It is those who believe not in the Signs of God that forge falsehood: It is they who lie.” [The Holy Quran: the Bee 16:105]

Abi Hashim al-Ja'fari said that he asked Imam Javad (a.s): “What does unity of God mean?” He replied: “Unity refers to what people with all different languages agree on.”

A man asked a question from Imam Sadiq (a.s). In his reply the Imam (a.s) said: “In fact unity and justice are the foundations of religion. The amount of religious knowledge is extensive, and every sane person must acquire it. Therefore remember what will make it easier for you to attain this knowledge, and prepares you to retain it.” Then the Imam (a.s) added: “Unity implies that you do not deem permissible with God what you deem permissible with yourself. And justice implies that you do not associate with God what He has reproached you for.”

Abdul Aziz ibn al-Muhtadi said that when he asked Imam Reza (a.s) about Unity he replied: “Whoever recites: “Say: He is God, the One, and Only” [The Holy Quran: Ikhlas 112:2]and believes in it has recognized the concept of the Unity of God.” He then asked the Imam (a.s): “How should one recite this verse.” The Imam (a.s) said: “Recite it as other people do”, and added: “plus saying “This is Allah, my Lord” three times.”

What do you know of the main parts of science which allows you to ask me about its fine points?” The Arab asked: “O' Prophet of God! What is the main part of science?” The Prophet (a.s) replied: “It is recognition of God as He deserves to be recognized.” The Arab asked: “How can one really recognize God?” The Prophet (a.s) replied: “By recognizing that He is unique, and there is nothing else like Him. That He is the Only God. He exists inwardly and outwardly. He is the First and the Last. There is no match for Him, and nothing is similar to Him. This is how one may really get to know Him.”

Imam Kazim (a.s) about Unity. He said: “Do not transgress beyond what is stated in the Quran, where God the Almighty said: “If there were in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides God, there would have been confusion in both!” [The Holy Quran: Anbiyaa 21:22]