Hundred Questions - Oneness of God (tawhid)
Oneness of God (tawhid)
Q38 In Surah-yi Ikhlas God says that He, may He be exalted, has not descended to this material world. Would you kindly explain what this means?
A38 Whatever has been said about the ipseity (huwwiyyat) of God, may He be exalted in Surah-yi Ikhlas, is not in these words that you have used. However, your question is about the oneness of God, that is, you want to know the essential points regarding the knowledge of God's oneness (`ilmu't-tawhid). The complete answer to this question is given in one of my books called Panj Maqalah, IV, in the last twenty-four pages [Pg. 22 in English version]. Please study this book carefully.
There are many bright realities of the recognition of self and the recognition of God in the holy farmans of the exalted Imam Hazrat-i Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (May peace be through him). In this connection the final and supreme teaching is the concept of monoreality, by understanding which not only do all questions pertaining to tawhid come to an end, but all the other highest sublime realities also become evident and clear, and total satisfaction is attained.
If the concept of monoreality is correct, it has to be applied first of all not to oneself but to the Perfect Man [of the time]. For it is he who is the example of the unity of all realities, pre-eternally and post-eternally. That is, it is the Perfect Man, namely the true Guide, who is the example of the perpetual unity and monoreality of all the souls and it is he who represents it (monoreality) and guides people towards it.
In the Qur'an and Islam, the great ancestor of the holy Prophet (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny), Hazrat-i Ibrahim (May peace be through him)'s recognition of God and tawhid is regarded as the best example to understand, explain and to follow it practically. (6:76-79). He accepted the star, the moon and the sun respectively as Lord (rabb) and as a result he achieved the recognition of the Creator of the universe. Here there is an allusion to reaching the unity of God or monoreality through the religious hierarchy (hudud-i din).
If you study the history of the religions of the world and Islam itself, it will be evident that although the oneness of God, as such, is always the same, in its interpretation and explanation there has been progress and gradually it has been purified. This exactly resembles the example of Hazrat-i Ibrahim (May peace be through him), because religion as a whole is not like an ordinary person, but like Hazrat-i Ibrahim (May peace be through him). Thus it is necessary that haqiqat and ma`rifat should progress with the passage of the life of religion.
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