ISLAMIC STUDIES

HU-101

Lecture - 1
TAWHEED

Maj Syed Roshan Zamir

Mce Nust
 SEQUENCE
1. Tawheed(literal and technical meaning)
2. Importance
3. Gateway to Islam
4. The fundamentals of Faith
5. Pillars of Faith
6. Shirk
7. Categories of Shirk
8. Categories of Tauheed
9. Shahadah(Faith)
10. Conditions of Shahada
11. Voilating the Shahadah
 Tawheed
Literal meaning
It comes from the arabic verb which means
Wahhada (uniqueness or unification).
 Technical meaning
It technically means that Allah is one in His
beings and attributes, He is the only one who is
worthy one to be worshipped and obeyed.
 Importance of the concept of
Tawheed
• It is the most fundamental and important
teaching of Muhammad (S.A.W.S).
• The polytheist of Allah denied the oneness of
Allah not the existence of Allah.
• It differentiates a true Muslim from Kafir.
• It is the concept which has been propogated
by all Prophets because it is the common
message in all religions.
 Cont..
• All the previous nations have been doomed
because of its denial except two nations.
Nation of Shuaib(A.S) and nation of Loot
(A.S)who were doomed for committing the
sins.
 Gate way to Islam
• The primary Kalima of Islam.
• It is to be recited for entering in to the circle of
Islam.
• The real difference lies in confession and
action accordingly. So one is perfect Muslim
and the other is non perfect Muslim.
 The Fundamentals of Faith (Iman)

• It basically means a person’s faith (belief).

• In Islamic terms, it is often mentioned the ‘”level
of Iman”, meaning the level of one's belief, how
convicted he is.
• A Muslim's Iman is not always the same.
However, it should always be increasing and not
decreasing, meaning you learn each and every
day a little more, and how to put your complete
trust and belief in Allah.
 The pillars of Faith

To Believe in:

1. Allah
2. His Angels
3. His revealed books
4. His Messengers
5. The Last Day
6. Al-Qadar
 1-Allah
• Allah - In His Existence, His Oneness, in His Attributes, His deserving
to be worshipped and supplicated and His right to legislate.

• Belief in Allah is the cornerstone of Islamic faith. All of the other

Islamic beliefs revolve around belief in Allah. It is a must that a
Muslim have the correct beliefs about Allah. If a person's belief
about Allah are not correct, then his whole faith may be ruined.

• Allah is the name of the essence of the only true God who exists by
necessity and deserves all the praise. Hence, He prefers it to the
rest of His names, extolled be His glory. It is this name – Allah- out
of all the names that combines all attributes of perfection. Allah is
One and Unique. He has neither a wife, a son, a partner, nor an
equal. He is the sole Creator and the Rubb of the universe.
 2-His Angels
His Angels - To believe in the existence of the angels
because Allah mentions this in His Book. They are bodies
of light who fulfill the commands of Allah obediently,
celebrating His praise day and night without slackening or
exhaustion. They are neither male nor female. They are
unseen by man. Though they have been created from
light they do have forms and bodies. They are servants of
Allah and have no aspect of divinity to them whatsoever.
They submit to His command completely and never stray
from fulfilling His orders. They have many duties such as
recording our acts; angel Jibreel was assigned to convey
the revelation to the prophets; Malikilmout is assigned
as the angel of death.
 Cont..
“(Remember) that the two receivers (recording
angels) receive (each human being after he or
she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting
on the right and one on the left (to note his or
her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter
but there is a watcher by him ready (to record
it)”.
 Cont..

According to some scholars, proper belief in the angels

comprises four matters:

– Believe in their existence.

– Believe in them in general but also one must believe in
their names that have been explicitly stated in either the
Qur'aan or authentic sunnah.
– Believe in their attributes as stated in the Qur'aan or
sunnah.
– Believe in the actions that they perform as mentioned in
the Qur'aan or authentic hadith.
 3-His revealed books
• To believe in all His Books that was sent with His prophets and
messengers to convey them to their peoples. Those scriptures
comprise the speech of Allah. They were doubtlessly, truthful, and
chaste at the point of revelation. The Qur'aan however, has
abrogated all the scriptures that were revealed before it. There are
forms of revelation that are mentioned by name in the Qur'aan
such as the Suhuf of Ibraheem, the Torah, the Gospel of Jesus, the
Psalms of David and the Qur'aan which is the best of them.
• The Qur'aan was revealed in portions, as circumstances warranted
over a period of 23 years, 13 in Makkah and 10 in Madinah. It is
divided into 114 chapters (surah') of different lengths.
• The Qur'aan is the only book that a Muslim should go by as this has
not changed, as it is protected by Allah. Also the content of the
other books (i.e. Torah, Gospel, etc.) presently have so many
changes and distortions that it cannot be regarded as the words of
Allah anymore.
 4-His Messengers
• His Messengers – Allah has sent messengers to all
people. Believing in all the Messengers that Allah sent
even though we did not see them. Since Allah informed
us about them, we take it for granted that they
conveyed to their peoples the Message with which
Allah sent them. The first Messenger Allah sent to
mankind was Nooh (Noah), and the last is Muhammad
( ). No prophet will come after Muhammad ( ). Some
of them are mentioned in the Qur'aan by name, such
as Moosa, Lut, Ibraheem, Eesa (Jesus), etc. (peace be
upon them). They were the best of people and were
specially chosen by Allah.
•
 5- The Last Day (Day of Revival)

• The Day of revival when all the people will be brought

before Allah for the reckoning according to their deeds, and
appropriate compensation (award or punishment). The Last
Day is called such because there will be no new day after it,
as the people of Paradise shall be in their abode as will the
people of Hell. Among its other names are "The Day of
Resurrection," "The Reality," "The Event," "The Day of
Judgement," and "The Overwhelming."
• You may have heard the non-Muslims refer to it as
"Doomsday". Yes it will certainly be doomsday for the
disbelievers.
 6-AL-QADAR
• Al-Qadar – Pre-ordainments (i.e. whatever Allah has ordained must
come to pass – in other words, fate and destiny). Belief in the Qadar
is the firm attestation to the fact that all general and particular
decrees have been prerecorded, and that every event has its course
by the decree of Allah. He has created everything, and foreordained
its proper measure.
• Though this aspect of Iman may be difficult to grasp at first, it is this
aspect which provides a Muslim with total contentment as proper
belief in Al-Qadar brings about tranquility and peace of mind. The
person realizes that everything that occurs is according to Allah's
Divine Decree. Furthermore there is a wisdom behind everything
Allah does. This belief gives a person strength and courage. He
knows that Allah has recorded his life and his sustenance for him.
Such comes only from Allah and is already decreed.
 SHIRK

The negation of Tawheed is Shirk (Associating

partners with Allah). Allah will not forgive those
that commit Shirk. People that commit Shirk are
referred to as Mushrikin. There are various
levels of Shirk, and a Muslim must be aware of
this great sin, as it is the path to the Hell-Fire.
 Cont..
The Prophet ( ) said:

“Shall I inform you about the gravest of all major

sins? We said: Certainly O Messenger of Allah.
He said ascribing partners to Allah and
disobeying your parents.”
 Categories of shirk
Shirk is divided into three categories:

• Major Shirk. (ash-Shirk ul-akbar):

As explained in the aforementioned ay'at and hadith, it is regarded as major Shirk.
• Minor Shirk. (ash-Shirk-ul-asgar):
This type of shirk does not constitute apostasy, but defects the Tawheed, and is
conducive or a vehicle to greater shirk. A person could fall into this shirk by either
utterances or actions. Utterances such as swearing by other than Allah is this type of
shirk.
• Hidden or Latent Shirk. (ash-Shirk-ul-khafi):
The hidden shirk pertains to intentions and wills – such as acting hypocritically and for
fame- that is, to do a thing which is usually done as a means for seeking nearness to
Allah, but does it only so that people commend him for it; such as performing prayer
in a perfect manner, or giving charity to be praised, or raising the voice with
remembrance of Allah.
 Categories of Tawheed
Tawheed-ar-Ruboobiyyah (lit. “Maintaining the Unity of
Lordship”)
The is the belief in the Oneness of Allah concerning His
actions, such as His being the sole Creator, Nourisher and
Sustainer of all the creation.

Tawheed-al-Uloohiyyah (Ibadah) (lit. “Maintaining the Unity

of Allah’s worship”).This means that all acts of worship must
be directed toward Allah and Allah alone as He is the only One
worthy of worship.

Tawheed-al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (lit. “Maintaining the Unity of

Allah’s names and attributes”).
 Tawheed-ar-Ruboobiyyah
“Indeed your Rabb is Allah, who created the
heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He
rose over the Throne (really in a manner that
suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover
over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created)
the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His
Command. Surely, His is the Creation and
Commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Rabb of the
'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)”
 Cont..
Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah is the belief that Allah
alone is the Rabb who creates, and handle the
affairs of His creation, and that He revive the
dead, causes death and extend benefits and
wards off evil. Nothing happened in creation
except what He allows to happen. In recognition
of this reality, Prophet Mohammad ( ) used to
often repeat “There is no movement nor power
except by Allah’s will”
 Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah
Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (the oneness of Allah in worship)
Uloohiyyah is a term denoting that Allah is the only one to Whom all forms of
worship should be directed in truth,action of the heart (feelings), words and
statements and actions of the limbs. The word Ilah is derived from it meaning:
Something that is adored, worship turned to i.e. an object of worship,
subservience and adoration. There is nothing besides Allah who is deserving
of that whether it is an angel, a Messenger, a Prophet, a pious person, and
this is the meaning of the testimony “Laa ilaaha illallaha (There is no Ilah that
is deserving of any form of worship in truth except Allah alone). With this
Tawheed Allah has sent all the messengers, Allah says:
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a
Messenger (proclaiming): Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away
from) Tâghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghuts besides Allah).
 Cont..
If you were to ask them: Who sends down water
(rain) from the sky, and gives life therewith to
the earth after its death? They will surely reply:
Allah. Say: All the praises and thanks be to Allah!
Nay, most of them have no sense.
 Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat
Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (the oneness of
Allah’s Names and Attributes):
• Because Allah is the greatest, His names and
attributes are unique and are called al-Asmaa
al-Husnaa (The most beautiful Names). Allah
says:
• Allah None has the right to be worshipped but
He To Him belongs the Most beautiful Names.
 Cont..
• There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the
All-Seer.
• The fact is that similarity between Allah’s attributes
and that of mankind is only in name and not in degree
and that Allah’s attributes should be taken in the
absolute sense, free from human deficiencies
(tamztheel). Also Allah may not be given the name al-
Gaadib (the Angry one), in spite of the fact that He has
said that He gets angry, because neither Allah nor His
messenger has used this name.
 The Testimony of Faith
(Shahadah):

Tawheed starts from and revolves around the testimony of faith

(Shahadah):

‫ن ُلَ ِإلَهَُ ِإ ُلا هللا‬ ُْ َ ‫ش َهدُ أ‬ْ َ‫أ‬

ُ‫ع ْبدهُ َُو َرسوله‬
َ ُ‫ن م َح امدا‬ ُ‫ش َهدُ أ َ ا‬ ْ َ ‫َُو أ‬

“Ash-hadu ala ilaha il-lal-lah,

wa ash-hadu anna mu ‫ح‬ َُ mmadan ‫ع‬
َُ bduhu wa rasooluh”

I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah,

and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
 Conditions of the Shahadah
(Testimony of Faith):
The Shahadah has certain conditions that must be fulfilled in order to deliver one who professes
it on the Day of Resurrection. These conditions are:

Knowledge, which consists of recognizing Allah as the only true God to Whom worship must be
dedicated, and denouncing all gods worshipped beside Allah as false, and that they can neither
extend benefit nor cause harm.

Certainty, that the belief in Allah must be unblemished with any doubt.

Acceptance, that is to accept all its conditions.

Submission, that is to fulfill its conditions submissively and willingly being content with Allah as
the Rabb (only Lord) and Mohammad ( ) as His last Prophet and Messenger.

Truthfulness, that is to fulfill its requirements truthfully.

Sincerity, that is to be sincere in worshipping Allah, dedicating all acts of worship to Him alone.

The love of Allah – the Exalted, and the love of His Messenger Muhammad ( ), and the love of
Allah’s devotees and the people of His obedience, which means love of all Muslims.
 Violating the Shahadah
(Testimony of Faith):
Anyone who knowingly and willingly violates the
Shahadah becomes a disbeliever. In order to know
whether you are violating the Shahadah or not, you
must first understand the true meaning of “Laa
illaha illallah”. The word illah means anything that
you regard as a god (which you worship). There are
many gods as Allah tells us in the Qur’aan about the
various gods people have. Now the true meaning of
“Laa illaha illallah” is not ‘There is no God but
Allah’ as many books translate, but it should be
“There is no god worthy of worship except Allah”.