Tawheed (Monotheism) is the foundation of the Religion

Tawhid: (Ifrādullāhi bil-ibādah)

Kalimatu-t-Tawhid (ang salita ng Tawhid)

‫ال إله إال الله‬

We are obligated to understand the importance of Tawheed and the punishment
of those who turn away from it –this is the most important affair that is mentioned in the
Qur’an.

The people of Tawheed are the people of Paradise. As for the people of
polytheism who worship others besides Allah, then they are deprived of Paradise, and
their abode will be the Hellfire. That is because the people of Tawheed worship Allah
alone ―meaning that they are true and sincere in their worship of the one true God (in
Arabic: Al-Ilāh) ―they do not direct any aspect of their worship to other than Allah, not
to prophets, saints, stars, angels, trees or righteous men ―they do not take anyone as
an intercessor between them and their Lord, they call on Him directly in prayer and
supplication, whether in times of ease of hardship
The people of Tawheed worship Allah, the one true God (Ilāh), just as the
Prophets and Messengers did throughout the ages ―culminating in their following of
the final Messenger, Muhammad (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam). After he was sent,
Prophethood was sealed, such that all religion is to be taken from the revelation that
was sent to him. Much of the previous scriptures had been corrupted by the hands of
priests and rabbis ―so Allah sent the final Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) with
Revelation (the Qur’an and Sunnah) that abrogated all previous revelations. So the
people of Tawheed worship Allah alone just as the Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi
wasallam) had done.
The people of Tawheed are not restricted to a particular land, country, tribe, race
or colour ―rather, anyone who worships Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and he
abandons all forms of polytheism and he follows the Messenger Muhammad (salallāhu
‘alaihi wasallam) is a person of Paradise. Some of the people of Tawheed may be
punished for their sins that are less than polytheism (shirk), but their punishment will not
be eternal, and they will be entered into Paradise eventually.

Every person of Tawheed must testify to the oneness of Allah and the
Messengership of Muhammad. As for the testimony of Tawheed, then it is “Lā ilāha
illallāh” (There is no deity worthy of worship except for Allah) ―meaning that there is no
God, being, or object worthy of worship, in truth, except for Allah. This testimony the 2
pillars (Rukn) of Lā ilāha illallāh.
1. The negation of worship being directed to anything besides Allah (the Mighty and
Majestic) because there is nothing else worthy of our worship.
2. The affirmation of true worship for Allah alone―and with this, sincere worship is
accomplished by this mighty shahādah, and with it, a person enters into Islām. By this
testimony, a person attains protection and safety in terms of his life, wealth, and honor
in this world ―and he attains salvation in the Hereafter.
Tawheed is the very purpose of the sending of the Messengers (‘alaihimus-
salām) from the first of them to the last of them. Allah, the MostHigh, said to the Prophet
(salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam):
‫َأ‬ ‫َأ‬ ‫َأ‬
‫َوَما ْر َس ْلَنا ِمن َقْبِلَك ِمن َّر ُس وٍل ِإاَّل ُنوِح ي ِإَلْيِه َّنُه اَل ِإَٰلَه ِإاَّل َنا َفاْعُبُدوِن‬
“Wa maaa arsalna min qablika mir Rasoolin illah nooheee illaihi annahoo laaa
ilaaha ilaaha Ana fa’budoon”

“And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that,
‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Me, so worship Me.'” (Al-Anbiyā: 25)
Allah informed mankind that each of the Prophets would say to their people:

‫َل‬ ‫َأ‬ ‫َٰل‬ ‫َّل‬ ‫َل‬ ‫َل َأ ْل‬

‫َقْد ْر َس َنا ُنوًح ا ِإ ٰى َقْوِمِه َفَقاَل َيا َقْوِم اْعُبُدوا ال َه َما َلُكم ِّمْن ِإ ٍه َغْيُرُه ِإِّني َخاُف َع ْيُكْم َعَذاَب َيْوٍم‬
‫َعِظيٍم‬

“Laqad arsalnaa noohan ilaa qawmihee faqaala ya qawmi’ budul laaha maa lakum
min ilaahin ghairuhoo inneee akhafu ‘azaaba Yawmin ‘Azeem”
“We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, ‘O my people, worship
Allah, you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a
tremendous Day.'” (Al-A’rāf: 59) The Prophet Muhammad (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam)
went sent to affirm this Tawheed with a complete affirmation and he prohibited people
from associating partners with Allah, whether it entails lesser or greater polytheism.
Allah stated about Himself:

‫َّر ُّب الَّسَماَواِت َواَأْلْر ِض َوَما َبْيَنُهَما َفاْعُبْدُه َواْصَطِبْر ِلِعَباَدِتِهۚ ۚ َهْل َتْعَلُم َلُه َس ِمًّيا‬
“Rabbus samaawaati wal ardi wa maa bainahumaa fa’bud hu wastabir
li’ibaadatih; hal ta’lamu lahoo samiyya”
“He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, so
worship Him alone and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of
any who is similar to Him?” (Maryam: 65)
 This one verse contains three types of Tawheed. The first is His Lordship, in His
saying: “He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them.”
The second is His worship, in His saying: “So worship Him alone and be constant
and patient in His worship.” The third is His Names and Attributes in His saying: “Do
you know of any who is similar to Him?” proving that Allah has Names and Attributes
that are unique to Him such that there is nothing like unto Him, the Mighty and Majestic.
The Categories of Tawhid
Tawhid ar-Rububiyah
Tawhid al-Rububiyyah means affirming that Allah is One and Unique in His
actions, such as creation, sovereignty, controlling affairs, provision, giving life and
death, sending down the rain, and so on. A person’s Tawhid is not complete unless he
affirms that Allah is the Lord, Sovereign, Creator and Provider of all things, that He is
the Giver of life and death, the One Who brings benefit and causes harm, the only One
Who answers prayers, the One Who is in control of all things, in Whose Hand is all
goodness, the One Who is able to do whatever He wills – which also includes believing
in the divine will and decree (al-qadar), both good and bad.
‫َو َل ِئن َس َأ ْل َت ُهم َّم ْن َخ َل َق ٱل َّس َم ٰـ َٰو ِت َوٱ ْل َأ ْر َض َل َي ُقو ُل َّن َخ َل َق ُه َّن ٱ ْل َع ِزي ُز ٱ ْل َع ِلي ُم‬

“Wa la’in sa altahum man khalaqas samaawati wal arda la yaqooluna khalaqa hunnal
‘Azeezul ‘Aleem”
“And indeed if you ask them: ‘Who has created the heavens and the earth?’ They will
surely say: ‘The All-Mighty, the All-Knower created them’” [Al-Zukhruf 43:9]
And they affirmed that Allah is in control of all things and that in His Hand is
sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. Thus it is known that affirming the Lordship of
Allah is not sufficient for a person to be a true Muslim, rather he must also affirm that
which is implied by that, namely the oneness of the divinity of Allah and he must devote
his worship to Allah Alone.

Did anyone deny Tawhid al-Rububiyyah?

This Tawhid –Tawhid al-Rububiyyah – is not denied by any of the sons of Adam. No
one says that the world has two equal creators. No one argued with the idea of Tawhid
al-Rububiyyah except Pharaoh, who denied it out of arrogance and stubbornness and
even claimed – may Allah curse him – to be the Lord. Allah says of him (interpretation of
the meaning):

‫َف َقا َل َأ َن ۠ا َر ُّب ُك ُم ٱ ْل َأ ْع َل ٰى‬

“Faqala ana rabbu kumul-a’laa”

And said, “I am your lord, the most-high!”

‫ٱل َّل ُه َخ ٰـ ِل ُق ُك ِّل َش ْى ٍۢء ۖ َو ُه َو َع َل ٰى ُك ِّل َش ْى ٍۢء َو ِكي ٌۭل‬

“Allaahu Khaaliqu kulli shai’inw wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shai’inw Wakeel”

Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Maintainer of everything.

Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah
Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah means devoting all acts of worship, both inward and
outward, in word and deed, to Allah Alone, and not worshipping anything or anyone
other than Allah, no matter who he is. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

‫َو َق َض ٰى َر ُّب َك َأ َّلا َت ْع ُب ُد ٓو۟ا ِإ َّل ٓا ِإ َّيا ُه َو ِبٱ ْل َٰو ِل َد ْي ِن ِإ ْح َس ٰـ ًنا ۚ ِإ َّما َي ْب ُل َغ َّن ِعن َد َك ٱ ْل ِك َب َر َأ َح ُد ُه َم ٓا َأ ْو ِك َلا ُه َما َف َلا َت ُقل َّل ُه َم ٓا ُأ ٍّۢف َو َلا َت ْن َه ْر ُه َما َو ُقل َّل ُه َما َق ْو ًۭلا‬
‫َك ِري ًۭما‬

“Wa qadaa Rabbuka allaa ta’budooo illaaa iyyaahu wa bilwaalidaini ihsaana; immaa
yablughanna ‘indakal kibara ahaduhumaaa aw kilaahumaa fala taqul lahumaaa uffinw wa
laa tanharhumaa wa qullahumaa qawlan kareemaa”

For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honour your parents. If
one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them ˹even˺ ‘ugh,’ nor yell
at them. Rather, address them respectfully.
۞ ‫َوٱ ْع ُب ُدو۟ا ٱل َّل َه َوَلا ُت ْش ِر ُكو۟ا ِب ِهۦ َش ْي ًۭٔـا ۖ َو ِبٱ ْل َٰو ِل َد ْي ِن ِإ ْح َس ٰـ ًۭنا َو ِب ِذى ٱ ْل ُق ْر َب ٰى َوٱ ْل َي َت ٰـ َم ٰى َوٱ ْل َم َس ٰـ ِكي ِن َوٱ ْل َجا ِر ِذى ٱ ْل ُق ْر َب ٰى َوٱ ْل َجا ِر ٱ ْل ُج ُن ِب َوٱل َّصا ِح ِب ِبٱ ْل َجۢن ِب َوٱ ْب ِن ٱل َّس ِبي ِل َو َما َم َل َك ْت‬
‫َأ ْي َم ٰـ ُن ُك ْم ۗ ِإ َّن ٱل َّل َه َلا ُي ِح ُّب َمن َكا َن ُم ْخ َتا ًۭلا َف ُخو ًرا‬

Worship Allah ˹alone˺ and associate none with Him. And be kind to parents, relatives,
orphans, the poor, near and distant neighbours, close friends, ˹needy˺ travellers, and
those ˹bondspeople˺ in your possession. Surely Allah does not like whoever is arrogant,
boastful
It is called Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah because it is based on ta-alluh lillah which is
worship and devotion of Allah accompanied by love and veneration.

It is also called Tawhid al-‘Ibadah (oneness of worship) because it means that a

person worships Allah by doing what He has commanded and avoiding that which He
has forbidden.

It is also called Tawhid al-Talab wa’l-Qasd wa’l-Iradah (Oneness of goal, purpose

and will) because it means that a person does not seek anything except the Face of
Allah, so he worships Him sincerely.
 This is the kind of Tawhid concerning which people went astray, which is why the
prophets were sent and the Books were revealed. This is the purpose for which the
universe was created and laws were prescribed. Concerning this, disputes arose
between the prophets and their peoples, so the stubborn were doomed and the
believers were saved.

Whoever goes astray with regard to this Tawhid, such as devoting some of his
worship to someone other than Allah, has gone beyond the pale of Islam and drifted
away from true belief. May Allah protect us from that.

Tawhid al-Asma wa’l-Sifat

With regard to Tawhid al-Asma wa’l-Sifat (Oneness of the Divine Names and
Attributes ), to single out Allah's names and attributes as described in the Quran and
Sunnah without comparing, explaining, negating, or distorting any of His names or
attributes.
This form of Tawheed involves the Names and Attributes of Allah. This knowledge
comes from the Quran and authentic reports. Allah often describes Himself in the
Quran. In this way we learn who Allah is and how we can worship Him.

His Names and Attributes are not not to be shared with anyone. For He is the Unique
One that has no partners. It is therefore important to know the Names and Attributes of
Allah.

Allah has 99 Names like the narration of the Prophet confirms. His Beautiful
Names are Unique and belong solely to Him. A Muslim will rewarded for memorising all
His Names and acting upon them.

ۗ ۚ‫ِضۗ َمنَذا ۚ َّلٌۭةِذٌۭم‬ ۗ ‫ٌۭم َواَل َنْوٌۭمۚ ۚ َّلُه َما ِفىلَّسَمٰـَٰوِت َوَما ِفىَأْلْر‬ ‫لَّل ٓاَل َلٰـ اَّل ْل ْلَقوۚ ۚ ْأ‬
‫ى‬ ‫ُمٌۭة اَل َتُخُذُهِسَنٌۭة‬ ‫ُه ِإ َه ِإ ُهَو َحُّى ُّي‬
‫ُك‬
‫ۚ ِإ ِبَماَش ٓاَءۚ ٱ َوِسَع ْر ِسُّيُه ٱلَّسَمٰـَٰو‬ ‫اَّل‬ Y ‫ُهٍۢء ِإاَّل ِبِإْذِنِهۚ ۦ َيْعَلُم َما َبْيَن َأْيِديِهْم َوَماَخ ْلَفُهْم ۖ ٓ َو ُيِح ي وَنِبَش ْى ٍۢء ِّمْن ِع ِم‬
‫ِه‬ ‫ْل‬ ‫ُط‬ ‫اَل‬ Y ۖ ۚ‫َيْش َفُع ِع نۥٓۦَد‬
‫ٱ ْل َع ِل ُّى ٱ ْل َع ِظي ُم‬

Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining.
Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the
heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could possibly intercede with Him without
His permission? He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but
no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills ˹to reveal˺. His
Seat1 encompasses the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not
tire Him. For He is the Most High, the Greatest (Surah Al-Baqara, 255)

The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:

"Verily, there are ninety-nine names for Allah, i.e. hundred excepting one. He who
enumerates them would get into Paradise."
(Sahih Muslim Book 35, Hadith 6476)
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“The keys of the Unseen are five and no one knows them but Allah: no one knows what
is in the womb but Allah, no one knows what will happen tomorrow but Allah, no one
knows when it will rain but Allah, no one knows where he will die but Allah, and no one
knows when the Hour will be established but Allah.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6944)

The “key” to Paradise is laa ilaaha illallaah. Every key has unique “teeth” that allow it to
unlock a door. The “teeth” of the key laa ilaaha illallaah are its seven well-known
conditions. Every Muslim must know them, they are:

1. Knowledge (‘Ilm) of what it means and entails – that none has the right of
worship in truth, except Allāh.

2. Certainty (Yaqin) that Allah alone is to be worshipped, which negates doubt.

3. Sincerity (Ikhlas) in worshipping Allah alone and not hypocrisy.

4. Truthfully (Sidq) believing in it. It is that the person is truthful when he makes the
announcement of laa ilaaha illallaah – truly with his heart
.
5. Accepting (Qabul) what it means and implies and not refusing it.

6. Submitting (Inqiyad) to what it necessitates and not rejecting.

7. Loving (Mahabbah) it and what it means, in opposition to hate.

The Shahādah has a special place in Islām – it is the foundation of Islām. The rest of
the four Pillars and the other aspects of the religion put into practice these two
statements of faith.

There is a hadeeth that states that the Adhān should be made into the ear of the
newborn. However, the hadeeth is not authentic as Shaikh Al-Albānī has pointed out.

Shahādah in Practice:

DO NOT:

 worship idols or other gods besides Allāh – to do so is “shirk” (polytheism)

 follow the example of other people when it contradicts Islām
  treat anything in your life more important than serving and worshipping Allāh

DO:

 follow the Qur’ān which is the Word of Allāh revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
 follow the teachings and example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him)
 put Allāh first in everything you do

Types of Shirk

What is shirk?
One of the most important obligations is to know the meaning of shirk, its seriousness
and its different types, so that our Tawheed (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and our
Islam may be complete, and our faith may be sound.

1. Ash Shirk al Akbar (Major Shirk)

Is very serious and takes one out of the folds of islam.
This means ascribing to someone other than Allah something that belongs only
to Allah, such as Lordship (rububiyyah), divinity (uluhiyyah) and the divine names and
attributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifat).

This kind of shirk may sometimes be outward, such as the shirk of those who worship
idols and graves, or the dead or absent.

Or it may sometimes be hidden, such as those who put their trust in other gods besides
Allah, or the shirk and kufr of the hypocrites. For even though their (hypocrites’) shirk
puts them beyond the pale of Islam and means that they will abide forever in Hell, it is a
hidden shirk, because they make an outward display of Islam and conceal their kufr and
shirk, so they are inwardly mushriks but not outwardly.

2. Ash Shirk al Asghar (Minor Shirk)

Hidden shirk destroys the value/reward of that act. Check out your intentions before,
while doing, and after doing any deed.

Minor shirk is still a major and serious sin

Example:

 ar-Riya (showing off) (Surah Al-Maun ayat 5-7)

 The one who makes oath by other than Allah (SWT) “Whoever swears (makes oath) by
other than Allah has committed shir.” [Riyaad us-Saaliheen, book 17, chapter 314 hadith
#1771]
 Amulets and Charms
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) stated the following: 'Spells (ruqyah),
amulets, and love charms are shirk.” “Whoever wears an amulet, may Allaah not
fulfill his need, and whoever wears a sea-shell, may Allaah not give him peace.”