Aqida Tahawiyya, Lesson 2: Two Schools and the Oneness of Allah
Section 14 of 27 · Aqeedah · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Everything Besides Allah
The word ʿālam is a very, very interesting term. The ʿālam, to define it very easily and simply, is everything besides Allah (swt). Everything besides Allah (swt), other than Allah (swt), is called al-ʿālam. Al-ʿālam comes from ʿayn, lām, mīm: ʿalam, which basically means a sign, an indicator. Everything in the world is an indicator to Allah (swt), the Creator.
In fact, had there been no creation, and it would be right to say this, had there been no creation, Allah would not have been recognised. He would not have been known, had there been no creation. So creation was created; and the signs are so inherent, and so essential, and so intrinsic in anything, that there is no way a person can deny Allah (swt), unless there is a lot of perversion and adulteration of the mind.
In fact, the biggest proof of the existence of Allah (swt) is that the majority of the inhabitants of the world, throughout the centuries, have believed in this supreme being. They may have called Him something else, or may have had additional ideas; but they believed in one supreme being. That is a natural faith, and that is the fiṭrah that the human being is created on. That is the biggest evidence.
In fact, a study of the Qur'an shows that it does not have many verses that deal with the existence of Allah (swt), verses that set out to prove His existence and bring evidence for the existence of Allah (swt). The majority of the proofs are about the oneness of Allah. Because even the pagans of Makkah believed in Allah; but they also believed in a number of other intermediaries in between. They said:
أَلَا لِلَّهِ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْخَالِصُ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ زُلْفَىٰٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِى مَا هُمْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌ كَفَّارٌ
“Remember, Allah alone deserves the exclusive submission. As for those who have adopted guardians other than Him (saying), “We worship them for no other reason but because they would bring us near to Allah closely”, Allah will judge between them in the matters in which they are differing. Surely, Allah does not guide anyone who is liar, highly infidel.” (39:3)
Mā naʿbuduhum illā li-yuqarribūnā ilā Allāhi zulfā: we only worship them because they take us closer to Allah (swt). They're our agents in between. Very few people have rejected Allah (swt), because it is such an essential reality. Yes, they are very loud. Those who reject are very loud; the atheists are very loud, because it is all about slogans. But in reality, one of the biggest proofs is that the majority of the world believe in Allah, and that is the only way this world stays in motion. That is the life of this world: that Allah's name is taken.