The Nature of Allah and Tawhid
The Nature of Allah and Tawhid
Tawhid (the oneness of God) is the most fundamental belief in Islam. Everything in Islamic theology flows from this concept.
Tawhid — The Oneness of God
- Tawhid means absolute monotheism — there is only one God (Allah), and nothing is equal to or comparable with him
- The Shahadah (declaration of faith) begins: "There is no god but Allah" — this is the first of the Five Pillars
- Shirk (associating partners with God) is the greatest sin in Islam — it is the only sin Allah will not forgive
- Surah 112 (Al-Ikhlas): "Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal. He neither begets nor is born. And there is none comparable to Him"
The Nature of Allah
Muslims believe Allah has many attributes, revealed through the 99 Names of Allah (al-Asma al-Husna):
| Attribute | Meaning | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Omnipotent (Al-Qadir) | All-powerful | Allah controls everything in the universe |
| Omniscient (Al-Alim) | All-knowing | Allah knows all things — past, present and future |
| Merciful (Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim) | Compassionate and merciful | Every surah of the Qur'an (except one) begins "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" |
| Just (Al-Adl) | Perfectly fair | Allah will judge everyone fairly on the Day of Judgement |
| Transcendent (Al-Mutakabbir) | Beyond human understanding | Allah is above and beyond creation |
| Immanent (Al-Shahid) | Aware of and involved in creation | Allah is closer to a person than their jugular vein (Surah 50:16) |
| Creator (Al-Khaliq) | Creator of all things | Everything exists because Allah willed it |
Sunni and Shi'a Perspectives
- Both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims agree completely on Tawhid — there is no difference in their belief in the oneness of Allah
- The differences between Sunni and Shi'a Islam relate to leadership after Prophet Muhammad, not to the nature of God
The Six Articles of Faith (Sunni)
Sunni Muslims believe in six core articles:
1. Tawhid — belief in the oneness of Allah
2. Malaikah — belief in angels
3. Kutub — belief in holy books
4. Rusul — belief in prophets
5. Akhirah — belief in the Day of Judgement and the afterlife
6. Al-Qadr — belief in predestination (Allah's divine plan)
The Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi'a)
Shi'a Muslims have five foundational beliefs:
1. Tawhid — oneness of God
2. Adalah — divine justice (God is always fair)
3. Nubuwwah — prophethood
4. Imamah — leadership of the Imams (divinely appointed leaders descended from Ali)
5. Mi'ad — the Day of Judgement and resurrection
Exam Tips
- Tawhid is the single most important concept in Islam — it underpins everything
- Know the difference between the Six Articles (Sunni) and Five Roots (Shi'a) — the key difference is Imamah (Shi'a only) and Al-Qadr (Sunni emphasis)
- For AO2: If Allah is merciful AND just, how can he send people to hell? Does belief in predestination remove free will?
- Use Surah 112 as evidence — it is short and perfectly summarises Tawhid