what is Tawheed (Belief in God) in islam

Belief in God (Tawheed)

Difference between Articles of Faith and Pillars of Islam

• The term 'Articles of Faith' is used for the six essential elements of faith i.e. Belief in God, Prophet-hood, The Last Day, Books, Angles and Divine Decree.

• The term 'Pillars of Islam', is used for the five observable features  i.e. Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj.

Literal Meaning of Tawheed

• Oneness of Allah or Monotheism.

Literary Meaning of Tawheed

• To believe in the Oneness of Lordship, Worship, Names and Attributes of Allah.

Three Categories of Tawheed

1-Tawheed al-Rububiyyah:

Belief in the Oneness of the Lordship of Allah

2-Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah:

Belief in the Oneness of the Worship of Allah

3-Tawheed al-Asma wa al-Sifaat:

Belief in the Oneness of the Names and the Attributes of Allah

Tawheed al-Rububiyyah

• Belief in the Oneness of the Lordship of Allah

Tawheed al-Rububiyyah

To believe that there is only one Lord for all the universe, its Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer and that is Allah

Arguments of Tawheed al-Rububiyyah

One thing can be said to those ignorant people who deny the existence of the Generous Lord: it is quite obvious that if you see a needle, you would certainly be assured that it has a Maker. So what can be said about this marvelous bright universe, which dazzle sights? Has it been created without a Creator? And much more, have it been organized without an organizer? He said, “Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators?”

Arguments of Tawheed al-Rububiyyah

One of the rational evidences is a debate between Abu Hanifah RA and an atheist who was arguing with him Existence of God. Abu Hanifah asked him, “before we talk about this issue would you tell me about that ship in Dajlah River, which has loaded itself with food and goods, and then returned by itself, after all it anchored and emptied its goods without having someone to direct?”, “this is quite impossible, and could not happen by any way!” he said, then Abu Hanifah told him, “what would you then say about all this upper and lower universe??”

Arguments of Tawheed al-Rububiyyah

Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah

• Belief in the Oneness of the Worship of Allah

Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah

• To believe that none has the right to be worshiped (praying, invoking, swearing, slaughtering sacrifices, giving charity, fasting, pilgrimage and so on) except Allah.

Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah

 ‏أَلاَ وَإِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانُوا يَتَّخِذُونَ قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ وَصَالِحِيهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ أَلاَ فَلاَ تَتَّخِذُوا الْقُبُورَ مَسَاجِدَ إِنِّي أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ .‏

Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that. (Sahih Muslim)

Tawheed al-Asma wa al-Sifaat

• Belief in the Oneness of the Names and the Attributes of Allah

Tawheed al-Asma wa al-Sifaat

He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males. Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. (Shura)

Tawheed al-Asma wa al-Sifaat

مَنْ أَتَى كَاهِنًا فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

who goes to a fortuneteller and believes what he says, he has disbelieved in that which was revealed to Muhammad. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Tawheed al-Asma wa al-Sifaat

• Affirmation of all the Divine Names and Attributes of Allah in a manner that suits His Majesty without any

• Tahreef (distortion)

• Ta’teel (suspension)

• Takyeef (adaptation)

• Tamtheel (likening)

Types of Shirk

• There are two types of Shirk;

1-Shirk e Akbar:

     Greater shirk open and apparent.

2-Shirk e Asghar:

     Lesser shirk concealed or hidden.

Greater Shirk

The Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH describes greater shirk in two forms;

• Shirk fi al-Zaat:

     To associate anyone with Allah Ta’ala as His part

• Shirk fi al-Sifaat:

     To associate Allah's attributes with someone else

Greater Shirk

Lesser Shirk

The Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH said; "One who offers the ritual prayers in an ostentatious way is a polytheist. One who keeps the fast, or gives alms, or performs the Hajj to show the public his righteousness or to earn good name is a polytheist."