Questions and Answers on Tawhid
Tawhid is the foundation of Islam and the greatest command of Allah. It was the first call of the prophets and messengers, peace be upon them. A servant’s worship is not valid unless it is for Allah alone, free from shirk and showing off, and in accordance with what Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم legislated.
Whoever knows Allah, devotes worship sincerely to Him, and leaves shirk and its causes has followed the path of the prophets and messengers. A Muslim should learn Tawhid, teach it to his family, and ask Allah to keep him firm upon it until he meets Him.
What does Tawhid mean?
Tawhid means singling out Allah عز وجل in what belongs uniquely to Him: His Lordship, His right to be worshiped, and His names and attributes.
It means that a Muslim believes Allah alone is the Creator, Provider, and Controller of all affairs; that He alone deserves worship; and that He has the most beautiful names and highest attributes, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Him to creation.
Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him. [Al-Ikhlas: 1-4]
Why is Tawhid the most important matter in Islam?
Because Allah created creation to worship Him alone, sent the messengers to call to His Tawhid, and revealed the books to clarify His right over His servants.
I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me. [Adh-Dhariyat: 56]
We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, saying: Worship Allah and avoid taghut. [An-Nahl: 36]
What is the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah?
The meaning of La ilaha illa Allah is: there is no deity truly worthy of worship except Allah.
It negates worship from everything besides Allah and affirms worship for Allah alone. It does not merely mean that Allah is the Creator, because the early polytheists affirmed that Allah was the Creator and Provider, yet they did not enter Islam until they worshiped Allah alone and abandoned worship of others.
That is because Allah is the Truth, and what they call upon besides Him is falsehood, and Allah is the Most High, the Grand. [Al-Hajj: 62]
What is Allah’s right over His servants?
Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him alone and do not associate anything with Him.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O Mu‘adh, do you know the right of Allah over His servants?” I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: “That they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him.” Then he said: “Do you know their right upon Him?” I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: “That He will not punish them.” Agreed upon.
What are the categories of Tawhid?
The scholars explain Tawhid through three categories:
- Tawhid of Lordship: believing that Allah alone is the Creator, Provider, and Controller of all affairs.
- Tawhid of Worship: singling out Allah alone in worship, such as du‘a, prayer, sacrifice, vows, and reliance.
- Tawhid of Names and Attributes: affirming what Allah affirmed for Himself and what His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم affirmed for Him, without distortion, denial, asking how, or likening Him to creation.
This categorization is taken from studying the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah and is a teaching method for clarifying the meanings of Tawhid.
Is it enough to believe that Allah is the Creator?
No. Believing that Allah is the Creator is not enough by itself. A person must worship Allah alone and avoid associating partners with Him.
If you ask them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will surely say: Allah. [Al-‘Ankabut: 61]
They acknowledged that Allah was the Creator, but they worshiped others along with Him, and that was shirk.
What does worship mean?
Worship is a comprehensive term for everything Allah loves and is pleased with, from outward and inward statements and actions.
Examples include prayer, supplication, sacrifice, vows, fear, hope, love, reliance, seeking aid, charity, reciting the Qur’an, honoring parents, and other acts legislated by Allah.
Say: Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. [Al-An‘am: 162-163]
What is the most dangerous contradiction of Tawhid?
The most dangerous contradiction of Tawhid is shirk with Allah. Shirk is directing any act of worship to other than Allah, such as calling upon other than Allah, sacrificing for other than Allah, or seeking rescue from the dead or absent in matters only Allah can do.
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. [An-Nisa: 48]
Whoever associates partners with Allah, Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his refuge is the Fire. [Al-Ma’idah: 72]
Is du‘a worship?
Yes. Supplication is among the greatest acts of worship, so it is not permissible to direct it to other than Allah.
“Supplication is worship.” Then he recited: “Your Lord said: Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” [Ghafir: 60] Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi, and authenticated by Al-Albani.
How does a Muslim realize Tawhid in daily life?
A Muslim realizes Tawhid through matters such as:
- Devoting worship sincerely to Allah alone.
- Maintaining the prayers and obligations.
- Calling upon Allah alone and not attaching the heart to others.
- Relying upon Allah while taking permissible means.
- Avoiding shirk, innovations, and superstitions.
- Learning correct belief from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
- Asking Allah for firmness upon Tawhid until meeting Him.
Are fear, hope, and love acts of worship?
Yes. Fear, hope, and love are acts of worship of the heart. A Muslim loves Allah with the greatest love, hopes for His mercy, fears His punishment, and does not direct any worship to other than Him.
Among people are those who take others besides Allah as equals, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah. [Al-Baqarah: 165]
What is the effect of Tawhid on the heart?
Tawhid frees the heart from attachment to creation, fills it with tranquility and firmness, and teaches the servant that benefit and harm are in Allah’s hand and that there is no refuge from Him except with Him.
Those who believe and do not mix their faith with wrongdoing: they will have security, and they are guided. [Al-An‘am: 82]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained that the wrongdoing in this verse refers to shirk, citing Luqman’s statement: “O my son, do not associate partners with Allah. Indeed, shirk is a tremendous wrongdoing.” [Luqman: 13] Agreed upon.
Does seeking ruqyah or treatment contradict Tawhid?
No. Seeking lawful treatment or legislated ruqyah does not contradict Tawhid, because Allah commanded taking means. However, the heart must not depend on the means or believe that they benefit independently. Benefit and healing are from Allah alone.
“Seek treatment, O servants of Allah, for Allah has not placed a disease except that He has placed for it a cure, except for one disease: old age.” Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi, and authenticated by scholars.
Is wearing amulets and charms part of Tawhid?
It is not permissible to hang amulets or charms to repel the evil eye, illness, or calamity, because this is attachment to other than Allah. It may be shirk depending on the person’s belief and what is attached.
“Whoever hangs an amulet has committed shirk.” Narrated by Ahmad and authenticated by scholars.
The legislated alternative is reliance upon Allah, maintaining the adhkar, and using ruqyah from the Qur’an and established supplications.
Does swearing by other than Allah contradict Tawhid?
Swearing is an act of magnification, so it is not permissible to swear by other than Allah, such as swearing by the Prophet, the Ka‘bah, trust, or parents.
“Whoever swears should swear by Allah or remain silent.” Agreed upon.
“Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed kufr or shirk.” Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi, and authenticated by scholars.
Does showing off affect Tawhid?
Yes. Showing off is a serious danger. It means doing an act of worship so people will see and praise it. It is minor shirk when the foundation of the deed is for Allah but it is mixed with seeking people’s praise, and it may nullify the deed it accompanies.
Whoever hopes to meet his Lord should do righteous deeds and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord. [Al-Kahf: 110]