572 - AZ ZUMAR (Ayat# 01-04)
Surah Az-Zumar emphasizes the importance of pure monotheism – both in belief (Tawhid al-Aqidah) and in action (Tawhid al-Amal). The chapter highlights that true worship and devotion should be directed solely to Allah, rejecting any form of association or reliance on worldly desires. This concept of Tawhid al-Amal, as articulated by Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, centers on the idea that one’s ultimate aim and purpose in life should be the pleasure of Allah. Those who make their base desires their deities, even while performing religious rituals, are considered to be in a state of shirk. The surah contrasts the lives of those who live with a clear purpose – seeking Allah’s pleasure – with those who exist on a purely instinctual level, driven only by immediate needs. True humanity, it asserts, lies in having a defined objective in life: to love Allah, seek His approval, and dedicate one’s life and death to Him. The chapter condemns those who follow their whims and desires, making them their lords, and warns against hypocrisy and the mixing of sincere worship with worldly attachments. Surah Az-Zumar underscores the necessity of complete and unwavering devotion to Allah.
