Tawheed Definition:

Tawheed means the Oneness of Allah, which means “believing in the non-existence of any god except Allah.”

Oneness instantly reminds us of the statement “la ilaha illallah.” it is called the statement of oneness and means no real god to worship except Allah.

What is meant by the Oneness of Allah? 

Muslims believe that Allah generated all things to exist. Allah is the only one who assembled and sustained all things. Allah does not need help or assistance over creation. While Muslims greatly appreciate their prophets, including Muhammad and Jesus, they firmly divide them from Allah. 

On this point, the Quran says:

قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَمَّن يَمْلِكُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَمَن يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

 “Who is it that provides you with sustenance out of heaven and earth, or who is it that has full power over [your] hearing and sight? And who is it that brings forth the living out of that which is dead, and brings forth the dead out of that which is alive? And who is it that governs all that exists?” And they will [surely] answer: “[It is] God.” 

(Quran 10:31)

Prophet’s Teaching on Oneness of Allah 

Allah sent numerous prophets with Holy Books (divine mission) from the Prophet Adam to the last Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) to teach and guide their people how to believe in Allah and worship and help Him by the teachings of those holy Books obtained by them for their success in both the worlds, this and the Hereafter.

It is narrated in the Quran,

لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

“Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!” [Al-A’raf 7: 59]

In another verse of Al-Quran, it is explained.

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) all false deities” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying justified. So travel through the land and see what the end of those who denied (the truth) was.” [An-Nahl 16:36]

Allah describe about the people of Nuh (AS). He says

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

“And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Will you not then be afraid (of Him, i.e., of His punishment)?” [Al-Mu’minun 23:23]

Purpose of our Creation 

Non-believers cannot provide any convincing reason for the existence of this universe or human life. People who believe in a Creator believe that creation occurred by His will. But in a world where everything is revealed to have a purpose, it is natural for a human to wonder about his own creation’s purpose. One is undoubtedly justified in expecting the Creator who arranged us on this earth to notify us why He did so and what He desires of us. God created us to worship Him on earth, conveying His words and oneness of Allah:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [Az-Zariyat 51:56]

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ 

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him…” [Al-Isra’ 17:23]

Quranic Verses on Oneness of Allah 

Unity or Oneness of God is a vision dealing with the belief in only one God and the worship and assistance to Him without associating any partner to Him. It is believed the fundamental belief of Islam. However, a large section of humankind belonging to other religions also believes in the unity and oneness of Allah.

But Allah says in the Quran, 

أَجَعَلَ ٱلْءَالِهَةَ إِلَٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌ

“Has he made the Alihah (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God – Allah). Verily, this is a curious thing!” [Surah Sad 38:5]

ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ

 “That is Allah, your Lord!. There is no god but He, the Creator of all things. Then worship Him, and He has the power to dispose of all affairs” [Al-An’am 6:102]

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O humankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you, so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious). [Al-Baqarah 2:21]

Surah Ikhlash concentrates on the oneness of Allah and that everything and everyone ought to worship Him for their existence and needs. Surah Ikhlas defines Allah as not having any partners, nor He have a son, nor is the son of anyone.

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Say, “He is Allāh, [who is] One,

ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

Allāh, the Self-sufficient

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

He neither begets nor is born,

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ

Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

Definition of Tawheed in the Quran:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَٰشِفَٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

 “And verily, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” Surely they will say: “Allah (has created them).” Say: “Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah – if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?” Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him, those who trust (i.e., believers) must put their trust.” [Az-Zumar 39:38]

هَٰذَا خَلْقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ

“This is the creation of Allah. So show Me that which those (whom you worship) besides Him have created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers, and those who do not believe in the Oneness of Allah) are in plain error.” [Luqman 31:11]

What does Quran say about nonbelievers?

 

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَٰهُم ۗ مَّا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ

And they said, “If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them.” They have of that no knowledge. They are not but falsifying.

وَجَحَدُوا۟ بِهَا وَٱسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا ۚ فَٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ

 “And they rejected those signs in iniquity and arrogance, though their souls were convinced thereof…” [An-Naml 27:14]

 

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِرَٰشًا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Who has made the earth a resting place for you, sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky. Brought forth in addition to that fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshiped)” [Al-Baqarah 2:22]

Allah narrated the story of the father of Hazrat Abrahim (AS)’. 

وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ

 “And recite to them the story of Ibrahim (Abraham).

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

He said to his father and his people: “What do you worship?” 

قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَٰكِفِينَ

They said: “We worship idols, and to them, we are ever devoted.” 

قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ

He said: “Do they hear you when you call on (them)? 

أَوْ يَنفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ

“Or do they benefit you, or do they harm (you)?” 

قَالُوا۟ بَلْ وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ

They said: “(Nay), but we found our fathers doing so.” 

[As-Shu’ara 26:69-74]

وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ

And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other God, of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! The Disbelievers will not be successful.” [Al-Mu’minun 23:117]

Religion “Islam” about Oneness of Allah

Islam guides that now people are obligated to accept the Oneness of Allah based on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an to believe in Oneness of Allah and to worship Him alone. When a man thus believes in the unity, or oneness of Allah, he is required to declare his faith. 

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

 “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Al-Baqarah 2:256]

Many other religions also believe in the oneness of Allah. But after the arrival of Islam, Allah asked the believer to follow Islam

وَٱتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ ءَابَآءِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

 “And I have followed the religion of my fathers – Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaq (Isaac), and Ya’qub (Jacob) [A.S.], and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. By the Grace of Allah to us and humanity, but most men thank not (i.e., they neither believe in Allah nor worship Him).” [Yusuf 12:38]

Importance of Oneness of Allah is the Quran:

Muslims believe that Allah is the Creator and that Allah is almighty and all-knowing. Muslims believe that these before scriptures in their earliest form were divinely revealed, but that only the Quran stays as it was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Quran teaches us about the Oneness of Allah. 

It is narrated in the Quran,

 وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ

And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, “There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.”

And Allah says,

 

إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ

 “Verily! I am Allah! Lâ ilâha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshiped but I), so worship Me and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) for My Remembrance” [Surah Ta-Ha 20:14]