The most important component of taqwaa is tawheed: sincerely devoting all worship to Allaah alone. Thus, no prayer, supplication, sacrifice, vow, or any other form of worship should be devoted to other than Allaah, the Most Exalted. He said, ((Mankind, you must worship your Lord who created you and created those before you, so that you would become people who observe taqwaa)) [2:21]. He also said, ((You must all worship Allaah alone and not worship anything at all besides Him)) [4:36]. He further said to all people, ((That is Allaah, the Lord of every one of you. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. He is the Creator of all things. Thus, all of you must devote your worship to Him alone. He is the One who has complete guardianship and control of all things)) [6:102]. Allaah had instructed His Messenger, ((Say to the mushrikoon (i.e. those who ascribed partners to Allaah), "Do you, the people who are ignorant about your Lord, order me to worship other than Allaah?" Messenger of Allaah, it was indeed revealed to you, as well as to those before you, that if you devote any form of worship to other than Allaah, your deeds will surely be rendered void and you will certainly be among those who suffer complete loss. Rather, Allaah alone is the One you must worship, and you must ensure that you are among those who are duly grateful to Him.)) [39:64-66]. What preceded is the meaning entailed by the testimony "laa ilaaha illallaah" (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah), and it is accompanied by another testimony "muhammadun rasoolullaah" (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah). Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last of the Prophets. And Allaah always has complete knowledge of all things.)) [33:40]. This entails that his directives be complied with, that the information he conveyed be accepted, and that Allaah not be worshipped in any ways besides the way he prescribed (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). This is because Allaah completed the religion that Messenger was sent with and, as a result, it is not in need of anything to be invented and then claimed to be part of it. Here, in these very precincts of 'Arafah, the following statement of Allaah was sent down to His Messenger, ((Today, I have perfected your religion for you, I have completed My favour to you , and I am pleased with Islaam as a religion for you)) [5:3]. In addition, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) explained that Islaam is established upon five foundations: testifying that none has the right to be worhsipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing obligatory prayers, giving obligatory charity, fasting Ramadaan, and performing Hajj at Allaah's Sacred House if able to do so. --More 13:25 LOCAL TIME 10:25 GMT 0007 www.spa.gov.sa/w1381399