World Blog by humble servant. GOD: THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BESIDE HIM. How many ways can God tell us to worship Him alone?

World Blog by humble servant. GOD: THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BESIDE HIM. How many ways can God tell us to worship Him alone?

If you ask any Muslim, even a casual Muslim, what’s the first “pillar” of Islam, they’ll tell you without hesitation the shahadah. I bear witness that there is no god besides God. Most will then nullify that very statement by adding Muhammad name. And that’s the problem. Every Muslim knows absolutely that the fundamental aspect of Islam is to worship God ALONE. Every human being comes with the natural instinct to worship God. So, as it says in 23:89: Where did we go wrong?

It’s not as if God doesn’t give us lots of chances. Because we’re weak and rebellious and egotistic, God gives us opportunities to repent and reform, to grow our souls, and to be appreciative. Not just a single chance, but chance after chance. He is so merciful. And since we’re so thick-headed, He makes sure that the information is available to us in multiple forms. So if we don’t get it the first time, maybe we’ll recognize it the second or the third.

That’s especially true of His command to us to worship Him alone.

We came to this earth because we failed to uphold God absolute authority. We waffled and thought perhaps there could be another god with God. So we’re here to denounce that idolatry and wholeheartedly worship God alone. So in His final scripture, the Quran, God reminds us over and over in many different ways that this is our first and most important duty. It’s the only way our souls can grow enough to return to His presence in the Hereafter.

From Sura 1, where God gives us the words that will save us—You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help—to Sura 112, where He tells us four times that He is the only One worthy of  worship:

Proclaim, “He is the One and only GOD. The Absolute GOD. Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten. None equals Him.” [112:1-4]

God repeatedly informs us in beautiful various ways to worship Him alone. Dozens of times, He repeats the phrase There is no god but He (to name a few: 2:63, 3:18, 2:255,3:6, 20:8, 27:26, 44:8, 59:22-4). So how much clearer can that be? Well, then to make it clearer, He tells us that all the messengers preached the same message to worship God alone:

To `Aad we sent their brother Hood. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Would you then observe righteousness?” [7:65] (see also 7:59,73,85; 11:50,61,84; 23:32; 5:72,117)

He puts it as a direct command to us: You shall worship GOD alone - do not associate anything with Him. [4:36]  

Then He puts it in the first person: “I am GOD, there is no other god beside Me. You shall worship Me alone, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) to remember Me. [20:14] 

GOD has proclaimed: “Do not worship two gods, there is only one god. You shall reverence Me alone.” [16:51] 

Then He makes it a double negative: You shall not worship beside GOD any

other god. There is no other god beside Him. Everything perishes except His presence. To Him belongs all sovereignty, and to Him you will be returned. [28:88]  

He embellishes the statement so that we can recognize His amazing qualities: Such is GOD your Lord, there is no god except He, the Creator of all things. You shall worship Him alone. He is in control of all things. [6:102]

Say, “My Lord advocates justice, and to stand devoted to Him alone at every place of worship. You shall devote your worship absolutely to Him alone. Just as He initiated you, you will ultimately go back to Him.” [7:29] 

The Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them; you shall worship Him and steadfastly persevere in worshiping Him. Do you know of anyone who equals Him? [19:65] 5+6=11+9=20-1=19

Your only god is GOD; the One beside whom there is no other god. His knowledge encompasses all things. [20:98] 2+0=2+9=11+8=19

He is the Living; there is no god except He. You shall worship Him alone, devoting your religion absolutely to Him alone. Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe. [40:65] 

Your only Lord is GOD; the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then assumed all authority. He controls all matters. There is no intercessor, except in accordance with His will. Such is GOD your Lord. You shall worship Him. Would you not take heed? [10:3] 

He explains what would happen if there really were another god besides Him: Say, “If there were any other gods beside Him, as they claim, they would have tried to overthrow the Possessor of the throne.” [17:42] 2x7=14+4=18+1=19 

GOD has never begotten a son. Nor was there ever any other god beside Him. Otherwise, each god would have declared independence with his creations, and they would have competed with each other for dominance. GOD be glorified; far above their claims. [23:91] 

He tells us the consequences of not worshiping Him alone, reminding us that setting up any partners with God is blasphemous idolatry.

It has been revealed to you, and to those before you that if you ever commit idol worship, all your works will be nullified, and you will be with the losers. [39:65] 

You shall maintain your devotion absolutely to GOD alone. Anyone who sets up any idol beside GOD is like one who fell from the sky, then gets snatched up by vultures, or blown away by the wind into a deep ravine. [22:31] 

We sent down to you this scripture, truthfully; you shall worship GOD, devoting your religion to Him alone. Absolutely, the religion shall be devoted to GOD alone. Those who set up idols beside Him say, “We idolize them only to bring us closer to GOD; for they are in a better position!” GOD will judge them regarding their disputes. GOD does not guide such liars, disbelievers. [39:2-3] 

Here are some other ways that God puts across His most important message:

O people, worship only your Lord - the One who created you and those before you - that you may be saved. [2:21] 

Therefore, you shall worship GOD alone, and be appreciative. [39:66] 

Therefore, you shall devote your worship absolutely to GOD ALONE, even if the disbelievers dislike it. [40:14] 

All that was asked of them was to worship GOD, devoting the religion absolutely to Him alone, observe the contact prayers (Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat). Such is the perfect religion. [98:5] 

This is only a small fraction of the ways God puts this commandment to us. As you read your Quran, look for all the different statements concerning worshiping God. It’s truly amazing. He even tells us what to say:

Say, “I have been commanded to worship GOD, devoting the religion absolutely to Him alone. [39:11] 

Say, “GOD is the only One I worship, devoting my religion absolutely to Him alone. [39:14] 

Say, “O people, if you have any doubt regarding my religion, I do not worship what you worship beside GOD. I worship GOD alone; the One who will terminate your lives.

I am commanded to be a believer.”  [10:104] 

Say, “O you disbelievers. I do not worship what you worship. Nor do you worship what I worship. Nor will I ever worship what you worship. Nor will you ever worship what I worship. To you is your religion, and to me is my religion.” [109:1-6] 

So there’s no way we can ever say that we missed this one. We need to take the message to heart and be appreciative of God blessing that He gives us all these chances and all these ways to understand what He’s telling us:

GOD: there is no other god besides Him, the Living, the Eternal. Never a moment of unawareness or slumber overtakes Him. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. Who could intercede with Him, except in accordance with His will? He knows their past, and their future. No one attains any knowledge, except as He wills. His dominion encompasses the heavens and the earth, and ruling them never burdens Him. He is the Most High, the Great. [2:255]