Tawhid | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Tawhid as a Core Muslim Belief

• The term Allah originates from the Arabic phrase Al-ilah, which translates to The God (the sole God).
• Muslims hold that Allah is the singular, indivisible, and supreme God, unmatched in His authority and role as the creator of all existence.

The Qur’an states, ‘He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him’ (Qur’an 112: 1-4).

• All things belong to Allah, and everything humans possess is merely entrusted to them by Allah. Human existence is entirely dependent on Allah’s will.
• Allah is described by 99 names or attributes, which emphasize His oneness, including al-Ahad (the One and Only) and al-Wahid (the One).
• A Hadith from Muhammad (pbuh) emphasizes that Tawhid should be the first concept introduced when discussing Islam with non-Muslims.

‘Make the first thing you invite them to the Tawhid of Allah’ (Sahih al-Bukhari 93: 469).

How Tawhid Shapes Muslim Belief and Practice

• Muslims place unwavering trust in Allah and remain steadfast in their faith, unaffected by other religious beliefs.
• They express their devotion to the one true God through the act of sujood (prostration) during prayers, physically demonstrating their submission.
• The Shahada, the Islamic Declaration of Faith, is one of the five pillars and involves proclaiming that Allah is the only God.
  • The Shahada is recited as, ‘I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His Messenger.’
  • Muslims recite the Shahada multiple times daily. It is whispered to newborns as their first words and is ideally the last words a Muslim utters before passing away.
  • The Shahada underpins the other four pillars of Islam. A non-Muslim can embrace Islam by sincerely reciting the Shahada.
• Belief in a singular, all-powerful God fosters humility and modesty, helping Muslims avoid envy.
• Muslims believe that everything occurs for a purpose, and faith in one supreme God enables them to accept their circumstances, including any injustices.
• Suffering is regarded as a trial from Allah to test a Muslim’s response, aiding them in enduring hardships.

Islam as a Monotheistic Faith

• Monotheism lies at the heart of the Muslim belief in Tawhid, the oneness of God.
• Muslims reject all forms of polytheism, as they believe Allah should not be likened to anyone or anything.
• Polytheistic faiths include Shinto, Taoism, and the ancient religions of Greece and Egypt.
• Shirk, or associating partners with Allah, is considered the gravest sin in Islam, making any comparison of Allah to others sinful.

The Qur’an states, ‘Allah does not forgive associating partners with Him, but He forgives lesser sins’ (Qur’an 4: 116).

• Associating partners with Allah refers to worshiping other deities alongside or instead of Him.
• The Qur’an explicitly condemns idol worship as a sin for Muslims.

‘Believers strive for Allah’s cause, while disbelievers fight for the cause of false gods’ (Qur’an 4: 76).

‘Continue fighting them until idolatry ceases’ (Qur’an 2: 193).

‘Idolatry is more grievous than slaughter’ (Qur’an 2: 217).

• Muslims reject the Christian concept of the Trinity, as they believe Jesus could not have been the Son of God, possessing divine qualities.
• Nevertheless, Jesus is revered as a significant prophet in Islam.
• Some Muslims view Hinduism as polytheistic, though Hindus believe in one God expressed in multiple forms.