Monotheism (Tawhid)

Monotheism (Tawhid) is the central belief of Islam, which asserts the oneness and unity of God (Allah). This belief is based on the Quranic verse "There is no god but Allah", which emphasizes the absolute and exclusive nature of God's sovereignty and power. Muslims believe that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that all worship and devotion should be directed towards Him alone.

Tawhid encompasses several key concepts, including the unity of God's essence, attributes, and actions. Muslims believe that God is one in essence, meaning that He is indivisible and without partners. God's attributes, such as His mercy, justice, and wisdom, are also seen as a reflection of His unity and perfection. Finally, Muslims believe that God's actions are also unified and purposeful, and that everything that happens in the universe is part of His divine plan.

The belief in Tawhid has several implications for Muslim belief and practice. For example, it emphasizes the importance of worshipping God alone and rejecting all forms of idolatry and polytheism. It also underscores the importance of acknowledging God's sovereignty over all aspects of life and submitting to His will. Finally, Tawhid provides a unifying principle for Muslims of all races, nationalities, and cultures, emphasizing the common bond of faith and the importance of working towards a common goal of pleasing God.

According to Quran

The concept of Tawhid, or the oneness of God, is emphasized throughout the Quran, which describes God as the one and only creator and sustainer of the universe. The Quranic verse "Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him." (Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4) is considered to be a key expression of Tawhid in Islam.

The Quran also stresses the importance of monotheism as the cornerstone of Islamic belief, and warns against associating partners with God or engaging in polytheistic practices. For example, Surah Al-An'am, 6:151 states, "Say: Come, I will rehearse what Allah hath (really) prohibited you from: join not anything as equal with Him; be good to your parents; kill not your children on a plea of want;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- come not nigh to shameful deeds, whether open or secret; take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom."

Furthermore, the Quran emphasizes the importance of worshiping God alone and seeking His guidance and forgiveness. The Quranic verse "And your Lord hath said: Call on Me, and I will answer you." (Surah Ghafir, 40:60) highlights the importance of turning to God in prayer and supplication, and seeking His help and guidance in all aspects of life.

Overall, the Quranic teachings on Tawhid emphasize the importance of recognizing God's oneness and sovereignty, and of directing all worship and devotion towards Him alone.

According to Hadith

The concept of Tawhid, or the oneness of God, is also emphasized in numerous Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). Here are a few examples:

The Prophet Muhammad said, "Whoever dies while still calling upon someone else besides Allah, as a rival to Him, will enter Hellfire." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 35)

The Prophet Muhammad also said, "Allah is One and likes Unity." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 66)

The Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of seeking refuge in Allah alone, stating, "Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of what He has created." (Sahih Muslim, Book 35, Hadith 6505)

The Prophet Muhammad also warned against associating partners with Allah, stating, "He who died knowing that there is no god but Allah entered Paradise." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 44)

Overall, these Hadith reinforce the Quranic emphasis on the oneness and unity of God, and emphasize the importance of directing all worship and devotion towards Allah alone. They also warn against the dangers of polytheism and associating partners with Allah, and stress the importance of seeking refuge and guidance in Allah alone.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "Allah is the One who should be invoked (in prayer), but when you seek help, it is permissible to call upon another person (in the world)." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5, Hadith 3876)

This Hadith emphasizes the distinction between worship and seeking help or assistance from others. While Allah is the only one who should be invoked in prayer, it is permissible to seek help or assistance from other human beings as long as they are not being worshipped as deities.

The Prophet Muhammad also emphasized the importance of sincerity in worship, stating, "Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your outward appearance but He looks at your hearts and deeds." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 256)

This Hadith highlights the importance of purifying one's intentions and focusing on inner sincerity in worship, rather than merely performing outward acts of piety.

The Prophet Muhammad also stressed the importance of recognizing Allah's power and sovereignty, stating, "Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order to help you, they would not be able to help you except if Allah had written so. And if the whole world were to gather together in order to harm you, they would not harm you except if Allah had written so." (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book 4, Hadith 2045)

This Hadith emphasizes the concept of Allah's divine decree and the importance of recognizing His power and sovereignty over all things.

Overall, these Hadith reinforce the Quranic teachings on Tawhid and emphasize the importance of directing all worship and devotion towards Allah alone, purifying one's intentions and recognizing Allah's power and sovereignty.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "Whoever testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that Jesus is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, and His word which He bestowed upon Mary and a spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true and Hellfire is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith 43)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of the testimony of faith, or Shahada, which declares belief in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the status of Jesus as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah.

The Prophet Muhammad also stressed the importance of seeking forgiveness from Allah alone, stating, "Whoever seeks forgiveness from Allah, He will forgive him; and whoever seeks forgiveness from anyone besides Allah, he will not be forgiven." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5, Hadith 4251)

This Hadith reinforces the concept of directing all acts of worship, including seeking forgiveness, towards Allah alone.

The Prophet Muhammad also emphasized the importance of recognizing Allah's mercy and forgiveness, stating, "Allah, the Exalted, has said: 'O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.'" (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book 4, Hadith 1993)

This Hadith emphasizes the boundless mercy and forgiveness of Allah, and highlights the importance of seeking forgiveness from Him alone.

Overall, these Hadith reinforce the Quranic teachings on Tawhid and emphasize the importance of directing all acts of worship towards Allah alone, recognizing the status of Prophets and Messengers, and seeking forgiveness from Allah alone while acknowledging His mercy and forgiveness.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 76, Hadith 469)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of regular and consistent acts of worship, even if they are small, in pleasing Allah and achieving closeness to Him.

The Prophet Muhammad also stressed the importance of sincerity in worship, stating, "Allah does not look at your outward appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and deeds." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 114)

This Hadith highlights the importance of sincerity in all acts of worship, emphasizing that Allah looks at the intentions and inner state of the worshipper rather than their outward appearance or material possessions.

The Prophet Muhammad also emphasized the importance of upholding justice and fairness, stating, "Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart, and that is the weakest level of faith." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 79)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of standing up against injustice and evil, even if it is in the form of verbal protest or simply disapproving it in one's heart. It emphasizes the importance of actively working towards justice and fairness, which is an important aspect of Tawhid.

Overall, these Hadith reinforce the Quranic teachings on Tawhid and highlight the importance of regular and consistent acts of worship, sincerity in worship, and upholding justice and fairness as important aspects of Tawhid.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith 13)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of brotherhood and mutual love among believers, and is often cited as an important principle in Islamic ethics. It is an important aspect of Tawhid because it promotes unity and harmony among believers, which is essential for the establishment of a society based on the principles of Tawhid.

The Prophet Muhammad also emphasized the importance of humility and modesty, stating, "No one who has an atom's weight of pride in his heart will enter Paradise." (Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 163)

This Hadith highlights the importance of humility and modesty in Islamic ethics, and is an important aspect of Tawhid because it emphasizes the need for believers to recognize their own limitations and shortcomings in comparison to the greatness of Allah.

The Prophet Muhammad also taught that seeking knowledge is an important aspect of Tawhid, stating, "Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 1, Hadith 224)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of knowledge and learning in Islam, and highlights the fact that seeking knowledge is not only beneficial but also obligatory for all Muslims. It is an important aspect of Tawhid because it encourages believers to gain a deeper understanding of Allah's creation and to recognize His greatness and wisdom through the study of His signs.

Overall, these Hadith reinforce the Quranic teachings on Tawhid and highlight the importance of brotherhood, humility and modesty, and seeking knowledge as important aspects of Tawhid.

The Prophet Muhammad said, "The best remembrance of Allah is to say, 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah) and the best prayer is Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah)." (Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5, Hadith 3793)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of remembrance of Allah and highlights the best way to remember Him, which is through the declaration of Tawhid by saying, "La ilaha illallah" (There is no god but Allah). It also emphasizes the importance of gratitude and giving thanks to Allah through the phrase, "Alhamdulillah" (All praise is due to Allah).

The Prophet Muhammad also emphasized the importance of treating others with kindness and compassion, stating, "Allah is kind and He loves kindness in all things." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 73, Hadith 42)

This Hadith highlights the importance of kindness and compassion in Islamic ethics, and is an important aspect of Tawhid because it emphasizes the need for believers to emulate the kindness and compassion of Allah in their own interactions with others.

The Prophet Muhammad also taught that seeking forgiveness and repentance is an important aspect of Tawhid, stating, "Allah loves those who repent and loves those who purify themselves." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 75, Hadith 320)

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of seeking forgiveness and purification as a means of returning to Allah and strengthening one's relationship with Him. It is an important aspect of Tawhid because it highlights the need for believers to recognize their own weaknesses and shortcomings, and to turn to Allah for forgiveness and guidance.

Overall, these Hadith reinforce the Quranic teachings on Tawhid and highlight the importance of remembrance of Allah, kindness and compassion towards others, and seeking forgiveness and repentance as important aspects of Tawhid.