Written by: Abu ʿAbdullah Muhammad bin ʿAbd al-Malik (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Compiled by: Tauheed.com❖ 1. Simple Meaning of the Kalimah
The basic meaning of "Lā ilāha illā Allāh" is commonly understood as:
➤ “Allah is One”
➤ Or “Allah has no partner.”
This understanding is reflected in Surah al-Ikhlāṣ:
"قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ" — Say: He is Allah, the One.
Almost everyone who recites the Kalimah—regardless of their sect—accepts this and considers it the foundation of Islam.
However, the phrase “Allah is One” carries far deeper implications.
It is not enough to say it without understanding its true essence.
❖ 2. All Nations Acknowledge Allah’s Oneness
Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Jews, and even the polytheists of Makkah during the Prophet’s ﷺ time all believed in the existence of Allah and, in some form, His oneness.
Hence, the real issue is not about saying or accepting that “Allah is One,” but rather:
What is the correct understanding of His Oneness?
And how have different groups misinterpreted it?
❖ 3. Acknowledging Oneness but Still Committing Shirk
– Christians claim Allah is one, but they also believe He has a son (naʿūdhu billāh).
– Hindus, while acknowledging a supreme being, associate numerous avatars and deities with Him.
– Many so-called Muslims claim Allah is One, but hold beliefs and perform actions that contradict Tawheed, thinking their belief in His oneness remains unaffected.
❖ 4. Root Cause of Shirk
The common root of all this Shirk (polytheism) is:
Ignorance of the true and complete meaning of Allah’s Oneness.
If this concept were properly understood:
✔ Christians would abandon their misguidance and affirm true Tawheed.
✔ Hindus would forsake their religion.
✔ Deviant Muslims would become sincere believers.
Even the nations to whom Allah sent messengers claimed to believe in Him, yet due to violating His Oneness, they were labeled mushrik (polytheist) and kāfir (disbeliever).
❖ 5. Ways People Oppose His Oneness
Old and modern-day polytheists don’t claim there are two or more gods. Instead, they:
① Diminish Allah’s attributes and liken Him to creation — e.g., saying He dwells in humans or His qualities appear in others.
② Attribute divine powers to creation — e.g., believing someone else controls benefit or harm.
Thus, they consider themselves monotheists while practically opposing Tawheed.
❖ 6. Source of the Correct Understanding of Tawheed
The true belief in Allah’s Oneness is gained through:
✔ Deep study of His Names and Attributes,
✔ The Qur'an is filled with descriptions of His qualities,
✔ The Prophets clarified them through revelation.
✔ The universe and human beings are full of signs affirming Allah’s Oneness.
❖ 7. The Basis of Belief in Allah’s Oneness
Allah is unique in His being and in all His attributes.
"There is nothing like unto Him."— Surah al-Shūrā: 11
"And there is none comparable to Him."— Surah al-Ikhlāṣ: 4
❖ 8. Clarifying the True Concept of Oneness
Tawheed doesn’t just mean nothing is fully equal to Allah.
It also means nothing can even remotely resemble Him in any degree or aspect.
– Allah hears, but His hearing is unlike the creation's.
– Allah sees, but His seeing is unlike the creation's.
– Allah knows, but no knowledge compares to His.
– Allah is All-Powerful, while creation has no power independent of Him.
❖ 9. Difference Between Creator and Creation
– Allah’s attributes are limitless and independent of all causes.
– Creation’s attributes are limited and dependent on causes.
Any belief that creation shares Allah’s attributes — even partially — is false.
❖ 10. Allah is Free of All Means and Causes
"When He wills something, He simply says: 'Be', and it is."— Surah Yā-Sīn: 82
Allah needs no means to do anything.
In contrast, all causes depend on Allah for their existence and function.
❖ 11. All Creation is Bound by Causes
Everything created, including humans, functions within set laws and means.
If the required cause is absent, they are helpless.
❖ 12. Limits of Created Beings’ Attributes
– Creation’s attributes are limited due to their dependence on means.
– Allah’s attributes are unbounded and independent.
❖ 13. Examples to Clarify the Difference
– Humans hear through ears and sound waves; Allah hears without these.
– Humans see through light and eyes; Allah sees without limitation.
– Human sight is restricted; Allah’s vision is limitless.
❖ 14. What Are "Means"?
They include the basic elements: fire, water, earth, air—everything humans use in this life.
❖ 15. Causes Operate Under Divine Laws
Allah created fixed natural and physical laws governing all substances.
Humans act within these laws only.
❖ 16. Human Ability is Limited
Everything man achieves is within the bounds of these laws and means.
Without cause, even the smallest action is impossible.
❖ 17. All Causes Are Subject to Allah
Allah can:
– Disable any cause,
– Suspend any law,
– Or create something without cause.
Example: walking on water or splitting the moon.
❖ 18. Scientific and Medical Laws
No one can:
– Bring the dead to life,
– Make a newborn adult,
– Survive indefinitely without food/water—except by Allah’s will.
❖ 19. Prophets and Pious Are Also Bound by These Laws
Even prophets and saints:
– Ate and drank,
– Fell ill,
– Suffered hardship,
– Were limited by the same means as other humans.
❖ 20. Miracles and Wonders (Karamāt)
Sometimes Allah displays His power through miracles (muʿjizāt) for Prophets
or wonders (karamāt) for righteous individuals.
But they do not occur by their will or power, only by Allah’s command.
❖ 21. Miracles Are Not in Prophets’ Control
– Fire did not burn Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام).
– The sea parted for Mūsā (عليه السلام).
– The moon split for Muḥammad ﷺ.
All of this happened only because Allah willed it, not because Prophets could control it.
❖ 22. Allah Shares His Power With No One
"And He shares His command with none."— Surah al-Kahf: 26
If even a speck of divine power were given to creation, it would erase the line between Creator and creation, leading to major Shirk.
❖ 23. Can the Dead Gain Power?
Some claim that Prophets and saints gain powers after death — hearing supplications, helping people, etc.
But this has no basis in the Qur’an, Hadith, or practices of the Companions.
It’s based on fabrications and superstitions.
❖ 24. Souls Have No Need to Return to Earth
Souls of Prophets and righteous people receive paradisiacal blessings,
making them independent of worldly affairs.
If they had to return to fulfill others’ needs, it implies:
– Allah is no longer sufficient (naʿūdhu billāh)?
– Help is now in the hands of the deceased? — Clearly false!
❖ 25. Souls Cannot Help Anyone
If creation could benefit others after death, where would Allah’s ultimate control be?
Even Prophets endured hardship in life—how could they gain universal power after death?
❖ 26. Return of Souls to the World is Impossible
After death, the soul enters the next life (Ākhirah).
Its connection to the body is not material but metaphysical.
No soul returns to walk the earth, nor listens to or helps anyone.
❖ 27. Misunderstanding Miracles
Some read about miracles and wrongly believe saints or Prophets had divine powers.
The truth: Allah alone performed those acts.
Thinking they had such independent control leads to major Shirk.
❖ 28. Meaning of Worship and the Word "Ilāh"
Worship includes:
– Ultimate veneration, fear, and love,
– Calling for help in hardship,
– Believing in intervention,
– Making vows or sacrifices in someone’s name.
If this is done for anyone other than Allah, that entity becomes a false god (ilāh).
The Makkans also acknowledged Allah, but made others partners in these acts.
❖ 29. The Real Purpose of Life
"And I created not the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."— Surah al-Dhāriyāt: 56
Allah sent messengers in every era to call to His exclusive worship (Tawḥīd).
Polytheism begins when others are included in acts of devotion.
❖ 30. True Meaning of the Kalimah Ṭayyibah
"Lā ilāha illā Allāh" means:
No one deserves worship but Allah.
This includes:
– None shares even a particle in His attributes.
– No one hears all supplications or solves all problems.
– No one has any independent power to cause harm or benefit.
– Worship in all forms belongs only to Allah.
"Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh" means:
– The Prophet ﷺ is Allah’s final Messenger,
– His life and teachings are complete and conclusive,
– Anything not proven from him or his Companions is innovation and misguidance,
– No prophet can come after him.
These are the core beliefs that make one a
May Allah grant us the true understanding of His Oneness and protect us from every form of Shirk. Āmīn.
وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ