English

• Analyze whether the sentence reverses or distorts the ontological relationship between Creator and creation.

• In English:

  • The subject (human/self) often acts independently, which aligns with secular and “self-centered” worldviews.
  • Creation is often made the “object” of human action, suggesting independence or control.

• Theological Error: Any sentence that implicitly or explicitly elevates creation to a level of divine action (shirk) is grammatically and ontologically flawed.

• Example of Error:
  “The universe gave me success.”

  • Subject: “The universe” (a created entity).
  • Verb: “gave” (implies causation).
  • Object: “me” (the recipient).
  • Error: The universe, as creation, cannot act or give independently. Success comes only from Allah.

• Correction: “Allah granted me success through the universe as a means.”

• Who/what is performing the action? Is the source of the action creation or the Creator?
• Verbs that imply causation (create, give, provide, sustain) must be carefully analyzed:
  • Creation cannot “create” or “sustain” in any absolute sense. These actions belong to Allah alone.
• Look for causal chains where the subject is incorrectly given divine agency.
• Example of Error:
  “Nature provides for us.”
  • Verb: “provides” (a divine action falsely attributed to creation).
  • Correction: “Allah provides for us through nature.”

• Pay attention to prepositions that define relationships between Creator, creation, and actions:
  • “through”: Creation is a means (Allah provides through nature).
  • “by”: Implies agency; only Allah can be an independent agent.
• Any sentence that uses prepositions to blur the Creator-creation boundary must be corrected.
• Example of Error:
  “I succeeded by my own efforts.”
  • Preposition “by” incorrectly attributes success solely to the self.
  • Correction: “I succeeded by Allah’s will and through my efforts.”

• The dominance of individual agency in English sentences (e.g., “I choose,” “I made,” “I created”) reflects a secular worldview where the self is central.
• Arabic grammar, especially Quranic Arabic, consistently places Allah as the subject of ultimate causality.
• Impact: English grammar, without theological awareness, can obscure tawhid by promoting independence and self-sufficiency.

1. Step 1: Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object
   • Who is the subject? What action is attributed to them?
2. Step 2: Analyze Ontological Relationships
   • Does the sentence elevate creation to a divine role?
3. Step 3: Review Verb Usage
   • Are verbs like create, give, or provide being used for creation instead of Allah?
4. Step 4: Check for Prepositions and Causality
   • Is creation being described as an independent cause (e.g., “by,” “through”)?
5. Step 5: Compare to Arabic/Quranic Framework
   • Refer back to Quranic sentence structures to ensure alignment with the tawhidic worldview.

Sentence:
“I made my own success.”

1. Subject: “I”
2. Verb: “made” (causative, implies creation).
3. Object: “my success”
4. Error: The sentence falsely attributes causality to the self. Success is ultimately from Allah.
5. Correction: “Allah granted me success, and I strove through His permission.”

• English grammar and syntax often place the self as the initiator of action, reinforcing an illusion of independence.
• Arabic, especially Quranic Arabic, aligns with the tawhidic reality: Allah is the ultimate subject, while creation is always subordinate and dependent.
• The error lies in failing to recognize the signs of Allah and linguistically obscuring the relationship between Creator and creation.

“And they did not appraise Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be within His grip on the Day of Resurrection.” Quran 39:67