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The meaning of Tawheed is to single out Allah for all froms of worship, outwardly and inwardly, in speech and action. It is also to negate the worship of everything except Allah. Tawheed is the purpose of a Muslim‘s life. Allah says in the Qur’aan: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Soorat adh-Dhaariyat:56)

The concept of Tawheed is so important that Allahsent many Messengers and Prophets, all of whom came with the same message. Allah says: “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger,[saying], “Worship Allah and avoid taaghoot.” (Soorat an-Nahl:36)

The word taaghoot means anything worshipped other than Allah. This could be people, money, idols, stones, animals, trees, etc.

If a person worships any other being besides Allah, even though he may also believe in Allah, this is known as shirk and it is the opposite of Tawheed:

The importance of Tawheed can be seen in the hadeeth narrated by Anas where Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said that Allah says: “O son of Aadam, if you were to come to Me with sins that are close to filling the Earth, and you would then meet Me without ascribing any partners with Me, I would certainly [also] bring to you forgiveness close to filling it [the Earth].” (Al-Tirmidhi)

This hadeeth explains the great benefit of having Tawheed. Allah has promised to forgive those people who die whilst believing or worshipping only Allah. This means that all those people who have Tawheed will go to Paradise. However, innovations (in religious acts) and major sins can decrease the quality of a person’s belief in Tawheed.

Those people who do not worship only Allah will go to the Hellfire. Allah says in the Qur’aan: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him. But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Soorat an-Nisaa:116)

For this reason, Muslims believe that it is very important to spread the message of Islam to all people who worship things other than Allah.

The Signs of Tawheed in Allah’s Creation

Allah cannot be seen, however there are many signs that show that He exists and that He is the only one worthy of being worshipped. Those signs are present within the human body, on the earth and in everything else. In the Qur’aan, Allah tells people to think about what He has created and how this proves His oneness.

The following are a few examples:

“Then do they not look at the camels- how they are created? And at the sky how it is raised? And at the mountains- how they are erected?And at the earth how it is spread out?” (Soorat al-Ghaashiyah:17-20)

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.” (Soorat Aali ‘Imraan:190)

If people were to think carefully about the creation, they would know that only Allah could have created everything. Those who commit shirk by worshiping other than Allah , reject all the signs around them. There are many authentic ahaadeeth narrated by the Prophet (peace be upon him) which describe what happens to those who worship Allah alone and those who reject the signs and commit shirk. Here is one example:

‘Itbaan said that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Indeed Allah has forbidden Hell for the person who testifies that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah seeking by this the wajh (face) of Allah.” (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

These are only a few examples of the signs of Tawheed from the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

Tawheed is the difference between those who believe in Allah and those who disbelieve in Him. If something is important in Islam, there will be many proofs to support it. Also, if it is important, it will be very easy to understand. For this reason the concept of Tawheed is so clear that the young, the old, those who cannot write and those who cannot read understand it. Allah proves His oneness in the Qur’aan by mentioning that He has created everything. For this reason, Allah tells people not to worship any other ilaah or deity. Those who do, will be punished in Hell (see Soorat al-Israa’:39).

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ICO’s Publications – Islamic Studies curriculum – Grade 5/ Part1 https://goo.gl/m3JYZN