Ramadan 6, 1447 (February 23, 2026)
Assalaamun Alaykum Warahmatullah Taallah Wabarakatuhu
Belief in the Oneness of Allah – The First Pillar of Islam
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. We glorify Him, we seek His help, and we seek His forgiveness. We bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and we bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.
Dear brothers and sisters,
The foundation of Islam, the first and greatest pillar, is the declaration of faith — the Shahadah: Lā ilāha illā Allāh, Muhammadur Rasūlullāh (There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). This testimony is not merely a phrase spoken by the tongue; it is a conviction rooted in the heart and manifested in action.
Belief in the Oneness of Allah — Tawḥīd — means affirming that Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Controller of the universe. He has no partner, no equal, and no rival. As Allah declares in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Ikhlas: “Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
This short chapter summarizes the essence of our faith.
Allah is One in His Lordship (Tawḥīd ar-Rubūbiyyah), One in His right to be worshipped (Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah), and One in His Names and Attributes (Tawḥīd al-Asmā’ waṣ-Ṣifāt).
To believe that Allah alone deserves worship means we direct all acts of devotion — prayer, fasting, supplication, sacrifice, reliance, hope, and fear — to Him alone. We do not associate partners with Him in any form. No saint, no prophet, no leader, and no created being shares in His divinity. Even our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us that he is only a servant of Allah and His Messenger.
Dear believers,
Tawḥīd liberates the human being. When you truly believe that Allah alone controls your provision, your life, and your destiny, you are freed from fear of people. You no longer bow to status, wealth, or power. You do not compromise your faith for worldly gain. You stand firm in justice because your loyalty is to Allah alone.
The early Muslims endured persecution in Makkah because they refused to utter a single word that contradicted this belief. Their strength came from knowing that Allah is greater than any tyrant.
Their patience was rooted in their certainty that their Lord is One and fully aware of their struggles.
But belief in the Oneness of Allah is not only theological; it is practical. If Allah is One, then our obedience must be sincere. Our prayers must be for Him alone. Our charity must seek His pleasure alone. Our good deeds must not be performed to impress others. Sincerity (Ikhlāṣ) is the fruit of Tawḥīd.
Mind you. Whatever you see anybody doing out there – the good, the bad, and the ugly – is a reflection of the level of that person’s understanding of Tawḥīd.
Now, let us examine ourselves:
Do we truly rely on Allah, or do we rely more on human connections?
Do we fear His displeasure more than we fear criticism from society?
Do our actions reflect the testimony we proclaim daily?
My dear brothers and sisters, Ramadan provides the opportunity for us to renew our Shahadah in our hearts. Endeavour to teach it to your children. Build your homes upon it. Let every decision in your life be guided by the consciousness that Allah is One, Ever-Watchful, and Ever-Merciful.
May Allah strengthen our faith in His Oneness, purify our hearts from all forms of shirk, and make us among those who live and die upon the testimony of Lā ilāha illā Allāh.
Ameen.
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How To Perform Salat Duha
Following my previous post on the importance of Salat Duha, I received an enquiry about how to perform the Salat.
Please find below, the procedure.
Duha prayer (Salat al-Duha) is a recommended sunnah prayer performed between sunrise (approx. 15-20 mins after) and just before Dhuhr time, consisting of at least 2 and up to 12 rak’ah.
It is commonly observed to seek sustenance and blessings.
Steps to observing Duha Prayer
Time: The best time is when the sun has reached its heat (mid-morning).
Intention (Niyyah): Make the intention in your heart to pray 2 rak’ahs of Sunnah Duha for Allah.
Procedure:
First Rak’ah: Say Takbir (“Allahu Akbar”), recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by any short surah. Perform Ruku (bowing) and two Sujood (prostrations) as in regular prayer.
Second Rak’ah: Stand up, recite Al-Fatihah and another surah, perform Ruku and two Sujood.
At the end: Recite Tashahhud and finish with Tasleem (Salam).
Quantity: While 2 rak’ah are the minimum, you may pray up to 12, always in sets of two. That is: 2, 4, 8, or 12 rak’ah. Note: Not 6, or 10 rak’ah.
Recommendation: It is sunnah to recite Surah Ash-Shams or Ad-Duha, though not mandatory.
It is usually performed alone (munfarid). After finishing, you may ask Allah for your needs, particularly for sustenance and forgiveness.
May Allah SWT guide us aright.
Ramadan Mabrouq
