Tawheed (Monotheism)

Tawheed in Islam

The Oneness of Allah in Lordship, Worship, and Attributes

Tawheed is the heartbeat of Islam. It is the declaration that Allah alone is Creator, Sustainer, and the only One worthy of worship. Every prophet called to it, every act of worship rests on it, and every believer’s salvation depends on it. Tawheed is not just theology it is a lived reality that purifies worship, anchors the soul, and frees the heart from dependence on anything besides Allah.

Introduction

Tawheed affirms that Allah is One in His Lordship, Worship, and Names and Attributes. It is the foundation of Islamic belief, and without it, faith is incomplete.

“Say, He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.” Qur’an 112:1-4

Understanding Tawheed

Every prophet began their mission with the call to Tawheed. It defines the bond between Creator and creation, teaching us to rely on Allah alone, worship Him sincerely, and avoid shirk (associating partners with Him).

Tawheed al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship)

Affirming that Allah alone creates, sustains, and governs the universe. Nothing happens except by His decree and wisdom.

“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.” Qur’an 39:62

Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship)

All acts of worship prayer, supplication, sacrifice, devotion must be directed to Allah alone.

“And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.” Qur’an 98:5

Tawheed al-Asma wa-Sifat (Oneness of Names and Attributes)

Affirming Allah’s names and attributes as revealed in the Qur’an and Sunnah without distortion (tahrif), denial (ta’til), questioning (takyeef), or likening (tashbeeh). His qualities are perfect and beyond likeness.

“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” Qur’an 42:11

Practical Implications of Tawheed

1. Pure Worship: Devotion belongs to Allah alone, free from shirk.
2. Reliance on Allah: Trusting Him fully in all matters.
3. Obedience: Living by His commands with sincerity.
4. Avoidance of Shirk: Rejecting idols, superstitions, or attributing divine qualities to creation.

Addressing Misconceptions

• Rububiyyah: Acknowledging Allah as Creator is not enough unless worship is directed to Him alone.
• Uluhiyyah: Praying to saints, idols, or spirits contradicts the essence of Islam.
• Asma wa-Sifat: Denying, distorting, or comparing Allah’s attributes opposes the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Classical scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qudāmah emphasized Tawheed as the dividing line between true belief and disbelief.

Conclusion

Tawheed is more than an idea it is the believer’s anchor. It frees the heart from servitude to creation and binds it to the Creator. Through Tawheed, worship becomes sincere, life gains direction, and death becomes the gateway to eternal success.

Tawheed is the first call of the prophets, the last words of the righteous, and the key to Paradise. Whoever dies upon it is saved, and whoever abandons it is lost.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4: Allah’s absolute oneness.
2. Az-Zumar 39:62: Allah as Creator and Disposer.
3. Al-Bayyina 98:5: Worship Allah sincerely.
4. Ash-Shura 42:11: Allah’s attributes are unique.

Hadith

5. Sahih al-Bukhari 4497: Warning against shirk.
6. Sahih Muslim 26: Whoever dies upon Tawheed enters Paradise.

Secondary Sources

7. Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab, Kitab al-Tawheed: Key text on Tawheed and shirk.
8. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo’ al-Fatawa: Deep exploration of Tawheed.
9. Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī: Legal rulings rooted in Tawheed.
10. Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan: Contemporary commentary on Tawheed.