After being consulted for advice, Shaykh al-Islām Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Wahhāb wrote:

All praises be to Allāh, the Lord of the Worlds. May He commemorate and praise the chief of the messengers, the leader of the pious: [Muḥammad صلى الله عليه وسلم] in the highest assembly of angels. You—may Allāh show you mercy—asked me to pen for you some words of advice, through which Allāh may benefit you.

The first of what I counsel you with, is that you turn [with submission] towards the revelation of Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as conveyed to him from Allāh. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was sent by Allāh with guidance for all of humanity’s needs. There is no righteous deed by which one draws nearer to Allāh and His Paradise except that he commanded it, nor is there any evil deed which distances one from Allāh’s pleasure and reward, drawing one nearer to the Fire except that he forbade and warned them from it. By means of this conveyance, Allāh established His proof upon His creation [that they have indeed been informed of His right to be worshipped and of Islam] that shall extend until the Day of Resurrection. Hence, no one possesses any legitimate excuse before Allāh after the sending of Muḥammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Allāh said regarding him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his brethren amongst the messengers:

إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِن بَعْدِهِ إلى قوله

“Verily, We have inspired you (O Muḥammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) as We inspired Nūḥ and the prophets after him.”
(Al-Nisāʾ, 4:163)

Thereafter he said,

رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ

“Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the messengers.
(Al-Nisāʾ, 4:165)

The greatest matter conveyed by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) from Allāh, and his very first order issued to mankind was tawḥīd. Tawḥīd is to worship Allāh alone while ascribing no partners to Him, making one’s religion sincere to him. As Allāh said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ ‎﴿١﴾‏ قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ ‎﴿٢﴾‏ وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ ‎﴿٣﴾‏

“O you enveloped [in garments] (i.e., the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم), arise and warn! And magnify your Lord!”
(Al-Muddathir, 74:1-3)

Allāh’s saying: “Magnify your Lord” means to glorify Him through tawḥīd, by directing all acts of worship to Him alone and associating none as a partner alongside Him. This commandment was revealed prior to that of prayer (ṣalāh), zakāt, fasting in Ramaḍān, Ḥajj and the other rites of Islām. His saying, “Arise and warn” means warn mankind from associating partners with their Lord in worship. This was revealed prior to prohibition of fornication and adultery, theft, ribá (interest), oppression and the other major sins.

Tawḥīd is the greatest, most obligatory fundamental of Islām. Allāh created everything in existence for the establishment of tawḥīd, as He says:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And I did not create the Jinn and men except to worship Me.”
(Al-Dhāriyāt, 51:56)

And because of it, He sent the messengers and revealed each of their respective scriptures unto them, as the Exalted said:

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

“And We certainly sent to every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allāh and avoid Ṭāghūt (false leaders and deities).’”
(Al-Naḥl, 16:36)

It is upon the fundamental basis of tawḥīd that all of mankind is divided into Muslims and disbelievers. Whoever meets Allāh after having worshipped Him alone in the dunyá shall enter Paradise. However, anyone who meets Him having associated partners with Him in worship shall enter the Fire, even if he was among the most staunch and consistent worshippers.^[1]

Translated by: Omar ibn Bilal