The Impact of Monotheism in This World
Monotheism has numerous effects on the life of a Muslim, including the following:
Peace of Heart
A heart that is attached to Allah – the Exalted – experiences a life filled with joy and tranquility. Conversely, those who abandon faith in Allah – the Exalted – often find their hearts constricted. The Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – stated: “Indeed, faith creates in the heart of one of you just as a garment can wear out. So, ask Allah to renew faith in your hearts.”
Freedom from Servitude to Others
A true believer in his Lord liberates himself from the servitude to anything other than Allah – the Exalted. He recognizes that no one possesses a favor over him except the One who created him, establishing a firm bond between his heart and his Lord. He kneels and submits only to his Creator, relying solely on Allah in all matters. Thus, he seeks sustenance only from Allah – the Exalted – and fears none but Him.
Reliance on Allah
True reliance on Allah cannot thrive in the heart of a believer unless it is pure in its monotheism. When one sincerely acknowledges that there is no creator or provider in this universe except Allah – the Exalted, he will not seek sustenance from anyone other than Allah. And when he understands that all strength belongs to Allah, he fears none but Him.
A person whose monotheism is pure understands that all influences in the universe are mere means governed by Allah. For instance, a ship at sea is propelled by the winds, but those winds are under Allah’s command. Therefore, reliance must be placed on Allah, who directs the wind, not on the wind itself.
Similarly, crops depend on rain, which is also under Allah’s control. Thus, the reliance is on the One who commands the rain, not the rain itself. A heart that is deeply rooted in monotheism and saturated with it will have an unwavering reliance on Allah, as stated by Allah – the Exalted: “Say, ‘Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.’ And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
Pride in One’s Creator
The Islamic creed instills in a Muslim the importance of pride in their Creator, who is above all human attributes, in their Prophet – the best of humanity, and in the Quran – the miracle for all mankind. A Muslim, by virtue of their belief in monotheism, recognizes that Allah – the Exalted – is the one who manages all affairs, holding the power over life and death. Therefore, they fear no one, as their fate lies in the hands of their Creator. Allah – the Exalted – provides sustenance without limit; His treasures never run dry, so the believer does not seek sustenance from anyone else.
Courage in Truth and Persistence in It
A person is courageous and strong only when they firmly rely on Allah – the Exalted – their Lord. The companions of the Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – exemplified exceptional bravery, anchored in their Creator.
Despite their challenging circumstances and limited resources, those Arabs were able to spread their message far and wide. It was our loss of dignity and homeland that stemmed from the erosion of courage in our hearts. Allah – the Exalted – states: “Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant? And yet they frighten you with those besides Him. And whoever Allah misleads – for him, there is no guide.”
The Effects of Monotheism in the Hereafter
Monotheism has significant implications for people’s destinies in the hereafter, including the following effects:
Forgiveness of Sins
Complete faith in Allah – the Exalted – free from any form of polytheism earns immense rewards. The reward for those who sincerely dedicate their worship to Allah – the Exalted through monotheism is Paradise and salvation from Hellfire. Monotheism forgives sins and erases transgressions. In contrast, for disbelievers, polytheism nullifies their good deeds. The Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – narrated from his Lord: “Whoever meets Me with the extent of the earth’s sins without associating anything with Me, I will meet him with the same magnitude of forgiveness.”
Complete Security on the Day of Judgment
As Sheikh Al-Sa’di stated: “Indeed, Allah defends the monotheists, the people of faith, from the evils of this world and the hereafter, granting them a good life, tranquility through His remembrance, and frequent reassurance.” Many evidences from the Quran and Sunnah support this assertion. One such testament is the verse: “Those who have believed and have not mixed their faith with injustice – they are the ones who will have security, and they are the rightly guided.”
Divine Approval
Those who achieve monotheism in the manner prescribed by Allah – the Exalted acquire His pleasure and attain His satisfaction. They shall not face His displeasure and are promised Paradise as their abode. However, access to this abode relies on fulfilling two essential conditions: sincere belief in Allah – the Exalted and His oneness, followed by righteous deeds.
Allah – the Exalted states: “Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – they are the best of creatures. Their reward with their Lord will be Gardens of Eternity beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is for whoever has feared their Lord.”
Entry into Paradise
The purity and consistency of one’s monotheism are the keys to entering Paradise, and monotheism protects one from Hellfire, provided certain conditions are met and obstacles removed. Some may overlook this truth, which can lead to missing the ultimate goal of monotheism and the grand reward of entering Paradise. The Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – stated: “No one testifies that there is no deity but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger, sincerely from their heart, except that Allah has prohibited them from the Fire.”