In numerous verses...

In numerous verses, the Glorious Qur’an states that God is the Only Designer of the world, as in the following: قل أغير الله أبغي رباً وهو رب كل شئ “Say, ‘Shall I seek a Lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all things?’” [^7] Of course, the same two ways of interpreting the unity of the Divine creative power are used for interpreting the unity of the Divine design, and what is meant by the unity of the Divine design is to believe that independent design belongs to no one other than God.

On this basis, all the sorts of subordinate designing among the creatures in the order of universe take place by the will and permission of God.

The Holy Qur’an also points to this Divine design, stating: فالمدبرات أمراً “By those who direct the affairs {of creatures}.” [^8] Monotheism in authority {hakimiyyah} Monotheism in authority { hakimiyyah } means that authority belongs to God as a fixed right, and He is the Only Ruler over the individuals constituting the society, as the Glorious Qur’an says: إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاّ لِلّهِ “Sovereignty belongs only to Allah.” [^9] Therefore, the rule of others has to be through His decree so that upright individuals may rule over the people and take them to the ultimate abode of felicity and perfection, as the Holy Qur’an states: يا داوُودُ إِنّا جَعَلْناكَ خَليفَةً فِي اْلأَرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النّاسِ بِالْحَقّ “O David!

Indeed We have made you a vicegerent on the earth. So judge between the people with justice.” [^10] Monotheism in obedience {ta‘ah} Monotheism in obedience means that the only object of obedience in essence { muta‘ bi’dh-dhat } and the One Whom the people have to follow is God, the Exalted. Therefore, the necessity of obeying such people like the Prophet (S), Imams, faqih , mother, and father is something enjoined by Him and it occurs by His will.

The unity of the Divine legislation {taqnin or tashri‘} The unity of the Divine legislation means that the right of legislation belongs only to God.

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