Q. Discuss the Muslim belief in oneness of Allah [Tauheed]?

[10]

Tauhid or the belief in the Oneness of Allah is the first and the main principle of Islam. It means
that Allah is the Only Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is Ever-Living without a beginning
or an end (the first and the last). He is Independent while others are dependent on Him for their
existence and survival. He is the source and support of all life. He is the only one worthy of
worship. Allah is Omnipotent (having unlimited authority or power). He knows everything; the
hidden and the manifest (obvious, apparent). He is not bound by space and time; He is everywhere
and has knowledge of the past, present and future. Surah Ikhlaas proclaims this in the most
comprehensive way: '' Say He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal. He does not beget nor is He
begotten, and there is none like Him'' (112:1-4). Surah Ikhlaas is also called one-third of the
Qur'an which means that one-third of the subject matter of the Qur'an revolves around Tauheed. A
person becomes a Muslim just by believing and uttering the expression: '' There is no god but
Allah and Mohammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah''. According to the leading scholars of
Islam, there are three kinds of Tauhid:

1. Tauhid-ar-Rabubiya (Oneness of Lordship of Allah)

2. Tauhid-al-Uluhiya (Oneness in the Worship of Allah)
3. Tauhid-al-Asma-wa-Sifat (Oneness of the names and qualities of Allah)\

Tauhid-ar-Rabubiya refers to the belief that Allah is Self-Existent; He is the Creator and the
Sustainer of the universe. As the Quran says: “To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens
and the earth……….” (2:117) and “Is there a doubt about Allah the creator of heavens and
the earth ?” (14:10). Allah is Omnipotent, the Law Giver and the Judge. The verse of the Throne
says: “….who is there who can intercede in His presence except as He permits…’’ (2:255).
Tauhid-al-Uluhiyat refers to the belief that since Allah is the creator, He is the only one worthy
of worship. All supplication, beseeching (Pleading) and imploring (begging) are due only to
Allah. Qur’an says “ You alone we worship and Your aid we seek’’ (1:4).

Tauhid-al-Sifat refers to the belief that Allah is matchless not only in His Essence but also in His
names and Attributes. None can be named or qualified with the names or qualifications of Allah,
for example Karim, Raheem, Rehman etc. “And there is none like unto Him” (112:5). We must
believe in all the qualities of Allah which He has stated in His Book or mentioned through His
Messenger without changing, twisting or ignoring their meaning. The acknowledgement of
Tauheed is the fundamental belief in Islam and is the basis of salvation (rescue). We cannot see
Allah but His existence is confirmed when we ponder over the universe, that such an organized
and well coordinated world could not have come into existence on its own.