Tawheed (Monotheism)

Tawheed in Islam

The Oneness of Allah in Lordship, Worship, and Attributes

Introduction

Tawheed is the heart of Islamic belief. It affirms that Allah is One in His lordship, worship, and attributes. This concept is the foundation of faith, and without it, belief remains 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). For more, see Tawheed in Islam.

Tawheed al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship)

Affirming that Allah alone creates, sustains, and governs the universe. Nothing happens except by His will, and He alone controls creation, an idea explained in Allah’s role as Creator and Sustainer.

“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 (Salah), supplication, sacrifice, devotion must be directed to Allah alone, with sincerity.

“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 exactly as revealed in Qur’an and Sunnah, without distortion, denial, or comparison. His qualities are perfect and beyond likeness.

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

Importance of Tawheed

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that salvation rests on Tawheed and warned against shirk. This is echoed in the dangers of shirk.

“Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell.” Sahih al-Bukhari 4497

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. 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: Sharing worship with saints, idols, or spirits contradicts Islam’s call to exclusive devotion.
• Asma wa-Sifat: Denying, distorting, or comparing Allah’s attributes opposes the clear teachings of Qur’an and Sunnah.

Scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qudāmah emphasized Tawheed as the dividing line between true belief and disbelief.

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.

Secondary Sources

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