The Spirit of Monotheism

The Spirit of Monotheism

Negation of Servitude to False Gods

Scrutinizing about some other verses of the Qur'an will much more clarify the effect of monotheism and its monotheistic procedure on individual life and social organization.

According to the Qur'an, the refusal to worship false gods does not necessarily imply that one is a monotheist. In order to be considered a monotheist, one has to negate the obedience to the opponents of God as well. This point is so evident in the Qur'an that those who obey false gods are called idolaters. In this way, worshiping God which is the meaning and the spirit of monotheism can be called 'the exclusive obedience and servitude to God! Thus, the obedience to and the worshiping of false gods, being them in the form of an individual's commands, public rules, social organization and so forth, is considered idolatry. This is why with a protesting tone monotheism is manifested in the verses of the Qur'an such as the following:

What, shall I seek after any judge but God? For it is He who sent down to you the Book well- distinguished; and those whom We have given the Book know it is sent down from thy Lord with the truth, so be not thou of the doubters. Perfect are the words of thy Lord in truthfulness and justice; no man can change His words; He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing. If thou obeyest the most part of those on earth they will lead thee astray from the path of God; they follow only surmise, merely conjecturing.

Thy Lord knows very well who goes astray from His path. He knows very well the right-guided. Eat of that over which God's Name has been mentioned, if you believe in His signs. How is it with you, that you do not eat of that over which God's Name has been mentioned, seeing that He has distinguished for you that He has forbidden you, unless you are constrained to it? But surely, many lead astray by their caprices, without any knowledge, thy Lord knows very well the transgressors. Forsake the outward sin, and the inward; surely the earners of sin shall be recompensed for what they have earned. And eat not of that over which God's Name has not been mentioned: it is ungodliness. The Satans inspire their friends to dispute with you; if you obey them, you are idolaters. (6:114-121)﴿

﴾And Paradise shall be brought forward for the god fearing, and Hell advanced for the you were serving a par from God? Do they help you or help themselves?' Then they shall be pitched into it, they and the perverse and the hosts of Iblis, all together. They shall say, as they dispute there one with another 'By God, we were certainly in manifest error when we made you equal with the Lord of all Being. It was naught but the sinners that led us astray; so now we have no intercessors, no loyal friend, that we might return again, and be among the believers!' Surely in that is a sign, yet most of them are not believers.(26:90-130)﴿

Monotheism and the Negation of Social Classes

Social discrimination has always been the greatest cruelty of human history. In order to justify this cruelty, sometimes it is said: "Different gods have created different classes of society and, therefore, each class has its own peculiar advantages and rights." Sometimes it is said, "The One God has granted particular rights to a special group of people when creating them." On the whole, at different stages of the history of man's life this justification has had different forms and, on this basis, the luxury of the highly distinguished class of the oppressed class has been considered a natural necessity.

The principle of monotheism not only considers all the animates as creatures of one God, but also obliterates the roots of social discrimination from the minds of human beings. A part of the monotheistic instructions which can be seen in the verses of the Qur'an are as follows: ﴾Say: 'Whose is the earth, and whose is in it, if you have knowledge?' They will say, 'God's. 'Say: 'Will you not then remember?' Say: 'Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the mighty Throne?' They will say, God say: 'Will you not then be god fearing?' Say: 'In whose hand is the self unprotected, if you have knowledge?' They will say, 'God's.' Say: 'How then are you bewitched?' Nay, but We brought them the truth, and they are truly liars. God has not taken to Himself any son, nor is there any god with Him; for then each god would have taken off that he created and some of them would have risen up over other, glory be to God, beyond that they describe, who has knowledge of the Unseen and the Visible, high exalted be He, above that they associated! (23:84-91)﴿

﴾O you men, serve your Lord Who created you, and those that were before you; happy so you will be god fearing; who assigned to you the earth for a couch, and heaven for an edifice, and sent down out of heaven water, wherewith He brought forth fruits for your provision; so set not up compeers to God wittingly. (2:21-22)﴿

﴾O mankind, We have created you male and female, and appointed you races and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most god fearing of you. God is All-knowing, All-aware. (49:13)﴿

﴾We have honored the Children of Adam and carried them on land and sea, and provided them with good things, and preferred them greatly over many of those We created. (17:70)﴿

* THE GENERAL PATTERN OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT IN THE QUR'AN. By: SAYYED ALI KHAMENEI. Translated by: Alireza Anoushiravan