This article is derived from the book "Islam Mustafa ﷺ" authored by the esteemed Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
The linguistic meaning of Tawhid is: "to be one in essence, to be unique, solitary, and singular."
The being who is unique and solitary is called Wahid, Wahid, or Wahad.
In Shariah terminology, Tawhid refers to:
"To affirm the Oneness of Allah in His essence and attributes, and to worship Him alone, without associating any partner with Him in His divinity or worship."
(Reference: Al-Mughni Al-Murid, 1/13)
Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi رحمہ اللہ explains Tawhid in Hujjatullah al-Baligha as follows:
There are four fundamental and essential beliefs of Tawhid:
① The only necessary existent, eternal and everlasting being is Allah.
② Allah is the Creator of the Throne, the heavens, the earth, and all essences.
(These two beliefs were not disputed even by the Arab polytheists or the Jews and Christians.)
③ Allah alone is the Manager, Disposer, and Administrator of all things between the heavens and the earth.
④ Only Allah deserves to be worshiped and adored.
(These last two beliefs have been disputed by various groups.)
[Reference: Hujjatullah al-Baligha, Section 1, Chapter of Tawhid]
All solutions to human problems lie within the perfect and true religion of Islam, a faith without flaw or deficiency.
However, most people are unaware of this truth, leading them to follow false religions and drown in the oceans of misguidance.
It is the essence of all righteous actions, whether in worship, dealings, or ethics.
Without Tawhid, neither faith nor Islam exists, and all acts of worship become void and fruitless.
This belief is so important that Allah سبحانه وتعالى sent more than one hundred thousand prophets and revealed numerous books and scriptures for its propagation. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
(Al-Anbiya: 25)
And when the seal of prophethood was conferred upon Muhammad رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, the religion was perfected, especially this fundamental belief of Tawhid.
One-third of the Holy Qur'an revolves around this very subject.
✔ ① Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah
✔ ② Tawhid al-Rububiyyah
✔ ③ Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat
This is the very Tawhid for which Allah created both Jinn and humans, as Allah says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
(Adh-Dhariyat: 56)
Acts of worship like prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, charity, bowing, prostration, making vows, circumambulation, seclusion, supplication, seeking help, obedience, and servitude should all be exclusively for Allah alone.
Even the polytheists of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ time acknowledged this form of Tawhid.
Allah says:
قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ...
(Yunus: 31)
However, atheists and materialists reject this, attributing creation to "nature" instead, although reason ultimately compels even them to accept a supreme cause.
Allah says:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
(Al-A'raf: 180)
And:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
(Ash-Shura: 11)
❀ ① Knowledge (Ilm)
❀ ② Certainty (Yaqeen)
❀ ③ Sincerity (Ikhlas)
❀ ④ Truthfulness (Sidq)
❀ ⑤ Love (Mahabbah)
❀ ⑥ Submission (Inqiyad)
❀ ⑦ Acceptance (Qabul)
Each of these conditions must be fulfilled for Tawhid to be valid.
Their detailed explanation involves proofs from the Qur'an, Hadith, and statements of the scholars.
✿ The Meaning and Concept of Tawhid
The root of the word Tawhid is Wahd, and its derivatives include Wahdan, Wahdatan, Wahdah, and Wuhudan.The linguistic meaning of Tawhid is: "to be one in essence, to be unique, solitary, and singular."
The being who is unique and solitary is called Wahid, Wahid, or Wahad.
In Shariah terminology, Tawhid refers to:
"To affirm the Oneness of Allah in His essence and attributes, and to worship Him alone, without associating any partner with Him in His divinity or worship."
(Reference: Al-Mughni Al-Murid, 1/13)
Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi رحمہ اللہ explains Tawhid in Hujjatullah al-Baligha as follows:
There are four fundamental and essential beliefs of Tawhid:
① The only necessary existent, eternal and everlasting being is Allah.
② Allah is the Creator of the Throne, the heavens, the earth, and all essences.
(These two beliefs were not disputed even by the Arab polytheists or the Jews and Christians.)
③ Allah alone is the Manager, Disposer, and Administrator of all things between the heavens and the earth.
④ Only Allah deserves to be worshiped and adored.
(These last two beliefs have been disputed by various groups.)
[Reference: Hujjatullah al-Baligha, Section 1, Chapter of Tawhid]
❀ The Need for Tawhid
Every person must nurture their children with proper education and upbringing so that, upon maturity, they adhere to the belief of Tawhid and become true followers of Islam.All solutions to human problems lie within the perfect and true religion of Islam, a faith without flaw or deficiency.
However, most people are unaware of this truth, leading them to follow false religions and drown in the oceans of misguidance.
✿ The Importance of Tawhid
The belief in Allah’s Oneness is the core of faith and the ultimate principle of Islam.It is the essence of all righteous actions, whether in worship, dealings, or ethics.
Without Tawhid, neither faith nor Islam exists, and all acts of worship become void and fruitless.
This belief is so important that Allah سبحانه وتعالى sent more than one hundred thousand prophets and revealed numerous books and scriptures for its propagation. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
(Al-Anbiya: 25)
And when the seal of prophethood was conferred upon Muhammad رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, the religion was perfected, especially this fundamental belief of Tawhid.
One-third of the Holy Qur'an revolves around this very subject.
❀ Categories of Tawhid
Tawhid is divided into three categories:✔ ① Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah
✔ ② Tawhid al-Rububiyyah
✔ ③ Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat
◈ First: Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah
Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah means acknowledging Allah alone in all forms of worship and not dedicating any act of worship to anyone else.This is the very Tawhid for which Allah created both Jinn and humans, as Allah says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
(Adh-Dhariyat: 56)
Acts of worship like prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, charity, bowing, prostration, making vows, circumambulation, seclusion, supplication, seeking help, obedience, and servitude should all be exclusively for Allah alone.
◈ Second: Tawhid al-Rububiyyah
Tawhid al-Rububiyyah refers to acknowledging that Allah alone is the Creator, Provider, Giver of life and death, and Manager of all affairs.Even the polytheists of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ time acknowledged this form of Tawhid.
Allah says:
قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ...
(Yunus: 31)
However, atheists and materialists reject this, attributing creation to "nature" instead, although reason ultimately compels even them to accept a supreme cause.
◈ Third: Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat
Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat is to believe in all the names and attributes of Allah as mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah, without distorting, denying, or likening them to the creation.Allah says:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
(Al-A'raf: 180)
And:
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
(Ash-Shura: 11)
✿ The Conditions of Tawhid
There are seven conditions for the acceptance of Tawhid:❀ ① Knowledge (Ilm)
❀ ② Certainty (Yaqeen)
❀ ③ Sincerity (Ikhlas)
❀ ④ Truthfulness (Sidq)
❀ ⑤ Love (Mahabbah)
❀ ⑥ Submission (Inqiyad)
❀ ⑦ Acceptance (Qabul)
Each of these conditions must be fulfilled for Tawhid to be valid.
Their detailed explanation involves proofs from the Qur'an, Hadith, and statements of the scholars.
