Tawheed is the Oneness of Allah, accepting it is the first step to becoming a Muslim. It lies in the first part of the Shahada which is LA ILAHA ILALLAH, which can be correctly translated as, “There is none worthy of worship, to be obeyed or loved exclusively except Allah.”

The issue of Tawheed is a burning topic for the growing population of Muslims. Sadly, many people seem to be perplexed as to why others want to stress the issue of Tawheed so much because as far as they are concerned, Tawheed is a simple issue and of no great importance. However, this outlook towards Tawheed by some is contrary to the reality of its importance, as is shown in the Hadith where Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri reportes that Allah’s Messenger said “When Musa asked Allah to teach him a prayer to recite whenever he remembered or called upon him, Allah answered: 'Say, O Musa, there is no god but Allah.' Musa said: 'O lord, all your servants say these words.' Allah said: 'O Musa, the seven heavens and all they hold, and the seven earths as well, if all these were weighed against this word of “there is no god but Allah the later would out weigh the former'.”[Ibn Hibban and al-Hakim]

We see from the above mentioned Hadith that Allah (swt) Himself teaches the Prophets the importance of Tawheed- so indeed it must be a great matter. We must believe that Allah is Alone in Divinity and nothing compares to Him- be it a Prophet, sun, star, angel or whatever they wish to place besides Him. As Allah says in the Qur’an “…There is nothing like unto Him…"(42:11). This means no one can make laws like Allah’s and no one can be as kind or as loving as Allah (swt), for Allah (swt) is the Most High in all His majesty in all aspects.

In the first century Hijra someone asked Wahab ibn Munabbah whether the words, “La ilaha illAllah", were the key to paradise. “Certainly”, he replied, “But of course every key has teeth, so if you come with one that has teeth, the door will open, but if you don’t, it won’t open.” The ‘teeth’ that are mentioned here signify the components that are required for one to understand the Kalima of ‘La ilaha ilAllah’.

Similarly, just as there is a unique key for each individual door -the key to paradise too has unique ‘teeth’ that will enable one to enter its gardens. We can see from the understandings of the Salaf us Saalih (the pious predecessors) that they understood Tawheed to be more just verbal testimony of La ilaha illAllah. So for one to fully comprehend Tawheed, one needs to firmly quash any doubts that one has about Tawheed within them. The real purpose of studying Tawheed is to avoid Shirk, and likewise, one must also have to study Shirk and Kufr to know what is Tawheed.

Firstly, before discussing what is needed to fully understand the Oneness of Allah (swt) in all His names and Attributes, we must identify what we are required to do from Allah (swt) and why we should follow Him. Allah says in the Qur’an “Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. La ilah illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (3:18). Allah (swt), Himself testifies that He is One, along with the Angels and the Ulema. So unless one wishes to truly anger and disobey Allah, one should think otherwise.

In the famous story of Ibraheem (as) and Nimrod the King who claimed to be a God, we learn that Ibraheem (as) challenged him and told him to raise the Sun up from the West. Nimrod was angered, for he knew he had been defeated, for no-one or thing can match Allah (swt). Many things and people are worshipped today, but the only true Ilah (Diety) to be worshipped is Allah. As is said in the Qur'an by Allah Himself, “…There is no ilaha except Allah” (38:65). Allah (swt) also says “That is because Allah - He is the truth, and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides him, it is “Batil" (falsehood). And verily, Allah -He is the most High, the most Great” (22:62). Here Allah (swt) again states that He is One, and He refutes and declares as ‘falsehood’ anything that is worshipped besides Him. Many people have translated the Shahada as “No god worshiped except Allah”. This is incorrect! Because Allah, Himself, says there are other false deities worshipped beside Him. A more precise statement is, “There is no True God worshipped but Allah.” Finally, Allah shows in the Qur'an, “No doubt, Allah holds the skies and the earth so that they both do not move away from their places, and if they were to move from their places, there is none who could grasp them after Him. For sure, He is Ever more Forbearing, oft-Forgiving” (35:41). Allah shows His Might and that only He could do such things, actions that other false Gods could never accomplish. Only one who has a disease in his heart and wishes to turn away from the favours of Allah could worship something false besides Him. May Allah protect us from such a fate!

Allah says in the Qur'an, “And I did not create the Jinn or mankind but to worship me” (56:51). The whole purpose of our creation is to make ibada (worship) to Allah (swt) . Allah (swt) also shows us in the ayah, “(It is He) Who has created Death and Life that He may test which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might Oft-Forgiving” (67:2). As one can only imagine, in order to worship Allah, one must know who He is and how to worship Him. Similarly, if someone told a friend to purchase him a TV, but failed to specify what TV he wanted, the friend would be unable to determine which TV he was meant to buy and thus fail in his task. If one wants to worship Allah, but has no idea Who is Allah and how one is meant to worship him, one too would fail in worshipping Allah (swt) Alone.

Another duty that is enjoined by Allah (swt) upon the Muslims is to invite the masses to His worship. Allah says, “And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship taghut besides Allah)." (16:36). Allah (swt) also says: “And we did not send any Messenger before you (Muhammad ), but we revealed to him “La ilaha illAllah Ana “ (None has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah ), so worship me alone.”(21:25). With these two verses, it is evident that the Messengers were calling the people to believe in Allah Alone and reject all false gods and things attributed to Allah. One may say, but that call was for the prophets and now they are gone, but that does not mean that we should abandon the same call. However, this perverted thinking contradicts the ayah that orders us to follow the Prophet (saw) “Say: If you do love Allah then follow me (Muhammad) Allah will forgive your sins and love you” (3:31). Now that we have established that we must worship Allah and also call people to His worship, we must learn how to worship Him and what to worship Him alone in. We must also know how to call the people to Tawheed and what this act precisely entails, as one cannot call others to something, when
one himself lacks understanding in the very thing that one is calling to.

Knowledge versus Ignorance

Knowledge about whom we are worshipping, the nature, concepts, and methodology of worshipping are critical for the practice as well as the understanding of Islam. Knowledge in Islam calls for complete dissociation from false deities and for the purification of our intentions. The intention behind any act of worship must be devoted to Allah alone. It is only rational that one knows about the nature of the true deity of worship, so that one can decide on when and how one is supposed to direct his acts of worship. As Allah says in the Qur'an, “So know La ilaha illAllah and ask for forgiveness...” (47:19). So the first is a Shariah command by Allah which is to have knowledge of His Oneness. Once you obtain such knowledge, you need to ask for mercy from Allah, but this asking of mercy can only occur when you have obtained knowledge about the unlimited capability of Allah (swt). This point is emphasized more in the following verse where Allah says, “This is an announcement to mankind and that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is the only One Ilah and that this be an advice for the intellectual people” (14:52).

Allah warns mankind of His Oneness and He also addresses those that think to use their brains, for the one who denies a creator is in theory someone who is dead in soul and almost void in the brain. If knowledge is the first attribute of the shahada, then the opposite is ignorance, as Allah asks the rhetorical question, “Say are those equal who know, and those who know not” (39:9). The answer is obvious and the question needs not to be put in a question format- other similar natured rhetorical questions are asked by Allah , such as ‘…Say: "Are the blind and the one who sees equal…?'. But the question is, what is it that the believing people know and others do not? It is of course the Tawheed of Allah , as Allah tells the Prophet (saw) to call those who do shirk with Allah , Jahil people, “Say: Is it other then Allah you order me to worship O you Jahiloon (Ignorant people)?.” (39:64)

To gain knowledge is obligatory in Islam and this is understood by the hadith of Anas where he narrated the Prophet (saw) saying, “Seeking knowledge is fard on every Muslim” (Ahmed). So if Tawheed is the greatest part of Islam and most crucial, then it would only naturally make sense that it would be the very first knowledge one to seek..

Certainty versus Doubt

The declaration of the Shahada and belief in Allah and His Messenger must be done with conviction and certainty in heart and mind. As Allah (swt) says in the Quran “Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and his Messenger and never since doubted” (49:15). This concept is reiterated in the Hadith where the Prophet (saw) said: “I bear witness that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah, and I am his Messenger. The slave of Allah who would meet him without harboring any doubt about this (i.e. Shahada) would enter al- Jannah” (Muslim). So Allah says that the true believers are those who have no doubt in His worship and His Oneness. Allah (swt) exposes those that follow doubts and opinions without certainty. “Most of them follow naught but conjecture. Assuredly conjecture can by no means take the place of truth. Indeed! Allah is Aware of what they do” (10:36). It therefore can be deduced that true belief in Islam can only be attained through certainty and conviction and not through doubt and conjecture.

Sincerity versus Pride

The intention behind accepting Islam and performing acts of worship must be purely for the sake of sincerely obeying Allah (swt) . Allah says in the Qur'an, “Surely Pure religion is for Allah only. And those who choose protecting friends beside Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near unto Allah . Indeed! Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Indeed! Allah guides not him who is a liar, an ingrate” (39:3). Allah (swt) also says, “And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah offering Him sincere devotion being true (in faith); to establish regular Prayer; and to practice regular Charity; and that is the Religion Right and Straight.” (98:5)

It is clear to see that we must have sincerity in our Worship and Tawheed and direct it towards Allah (swt) Alone. It is stated in a Hadeeth: “The happiest person on the Day of Judgment will be the one who said sincerely from his heart:“None has the right to be worshipped but Allah ” (Bukhari).

Pride is the opposite of sincerety, and some aspects of pride are enough to take one outside the fold of al- Islam. As shown in the Hadith narrated by ibn Mas’ud: “The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) observed: “He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride shall not enter Paradise”. A person (amongst his hearers) said: “Verily a person loves that his dress should be fine, and his shoes should be fine”. He (the Prophet) remarked: “Verily, Allah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride that which disdains the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people” (Sahih Muslim). It was due to pride that many pre-Islamic pagans refused to accept the call of Islam. Allah (swt) reminds us that it was specifically pride that made them turn away from the message of Islam: “Truly when la ilaha illAllah is said to them, they puffed themselves up with pride. And (they) said “Are we going to abandon our alihah just because of this poet who is insane!” (Saffat: 35-36). Due to pride in family name, so called honor and money, many of the Quraish refused to accept the call of Tawheed . Indeed, ‘pride’ was also the straw that broke the back of Iblis, when he refused to bow to Adam (as), and thus Iblis came to be known as ‘the accursed one’.

Acceptance versus Rejection

Acceptance of Tawheed means, accepting it in the heart, on the tongue, and on the limbs. Once someone accepts Islam he must verbally declare his Shahada. Allah address many times those who do good deeds and pray Salah, “Indeed those who do good deeds, they are the best of creation” (98:7). As we know doing good deeds increases your emaan, and is in fact a sign of your acceptance of Allah ’s deen. Allah states in the Qur'an “Oh you who believe enter into Islam whole heartedly (Kaffatan)…” (2:208). The word ‘kaffatan’ means in “perfectly” or “completely.” So we cannot have any doubt or rejections in regards to any of the commands established by Allah or His Rasool. This is well explained in the following Ayah in which Allah (swt) says “…Then is it only a part of the Book that you believe in and do you reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful of what you do” (2:85). Allah (swt) warns against having a half hearted approach to the Deen. In another ayah Allah (swt) shows that the only way of life He will accept is the Divine one that He has sent, “This day have I perfected your religion for you completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” (5:3). So no schisms or ‘isms’ are accepted by Allah except that of Islam. This concept is brought to light again in the book of Allah . “Whoever rejects Taghut and then believes Allah, has grasped the most trustworthy (Astamsaka) handhold that will never be taken away...” (2:256). It is to be noted that Allah (swt) used the word ‘Astamsaka’ and not ‘Masaka’. ‘Astamsaka’ means to grasp something firmly with both hands, whilst ‘Masaka’ means to hold something loosely with one hand only. So Allah (swt) commands us that we grasp Islam tightly with both hands and it is forbidden for us to have one hand on Islam and one hand on any belief or system that is contrary to it. The trustworthy handhold here is described by Ibn Abbas (ra) as ‘La ilaha illAllah’. The ‘Taghut’ is anything that is worshipped or obeyed besides Allah . This could be a man, idol, or an ideology such as Communism or Democracy.

Submission Versus Rejection

Submission is fulfilled by obedience to Allah and His Messenger and by safeguarding against what Allah has forbidden. Again, submission is in the heart, tongue, and limbs. It is also the true definition of a Muslim as he is one who submits to all the commands of Allah with no sense of dissatisfaction. It is only then, that all concepts of good and bad, and love and hate are in accordance with the Commands of Allah (swt).

An important point to be noted is that ‘accepting and ‘submitting’ are two different actions. Allah (swt) wants Muslims to ‘submit’ to His Commands, but many Muslims today claim to only ‘accept’ His Commands, but do not submit to them. Like many so called Muslims, when asked to perform prayer reply “yes Salah is fard” and when asked why they don’t pray, they offer pathetic excuses such as “I’m tired” , or “I have to go work”!. Do these people think Allah will let them off?
These so called Muslims may reply “I love Allah and do worship Him in my own way.”

But Allah (swt) is the One who Created man and it is He Who deems which Shariah is the best for man to submit to. The word shariah is more then just the penal system of Islam, it is every command givien by Allah or His Messenger (saw). So it is a Shariah command to perform prayer, to fast in Ramadan, to grow the beard, and to be united. Following one’s desires over and above the commands of Allah can lead to Shirk, “Have you seen him who chooses for himself God as his own lust?” (25:6). This ayah seems to address the atheist, but it also addresses anyone who thinks that his criterion of determining what is wrong and right is his own “judgment”. When in fact our source of judgment is based upon the Ayah: “...And when you differ in any thing refer back to Allah and his Messenger (saw)” (4:59). Indeed, submission is very important for one’s Tawheed as proven in the Ayah: “Whoever submits his face to Allah , while he is doing good has grasped the most trustworthy hand hold” (31:22).

Love for Allah Versus Hate for Allah

As a believer, one of the conditions is to love Allah and everything He has told us to love. If someone has some enmity or feels some injustice in Allah (swt’s) commands or His orders, then he has in fact negated his Shahada. For one of Allah (swt’s) attributes and names is al Adl, “THE JUST.” So if someone believes Allah to be unjust he has then gone against the attribute of Allah , and by also negating this, he claims Allah is not Most Merciful and this implies imperfection to Allah (swt). Rasoolullah (saw) said, “Whoever possesses (the following) three qualities will relish the sweetness (delight) of emaan: The one to whom Allah and his Messenger becomes dearer then anything else; that he loves a person for Allah (i.e. to purely seeking Allah and his pleasure); that he hates to revert to kufr after Allah has rescued him from it as he hates to be thrown into Hell.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

It is part of the Shahada to love Allah exclusively in the highest sense. Loving someone because they are good to you is different from the blinding love of following and obeying someone in every order. As the highest point of love can only be shown to Allah , as seen in the ayah, “And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals. They love them more as they Allah . But those who believe love Allah more” (2:165). Hating does not have to include pure enmity towards a clear order. For instance, if some one refuses to pay zakah, but believes in its importance, this could be enough to take one outside the fold of Islam. For every action is by an intention and indeed a refusal of any action is also by an intention.

Obeying Man-Made Laws Versus Allah 's Laws

Today, this is probably the most misunderstood branch of Tawheed. Allah (swt) is Al Hakam, (the Legislator), and also He is Al Hakim, (the Most Wise), and He is also Al Adl, (the Most Just). So to believe someone can make laws besides Allah negates these names and attributes of Allah. Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an, “Then We have put you on a plain way of (Our) commandment. So follow you that (Islamic Monotheism and its laws), and follow not the desires of those who know not.” (45:18). The word used in the Ayah for the ‘plain way’ is ‘Shariah’, and every command given by Allah (swt) or His Rasool(saw) is a Shariah command that we must always follow unless textually specified otherwise . There is a big misconception that that the Shariah is only the implementation of the Hudood, which is the set Islamic punishment for certain crimes.
As indicated in the aforementioned Ayah, Allah (swt) commands us not follow the Jahil people or the people of desires. Any one who follows against the command of Allah or makes his own command, is indeed following their desires while Allah makes it clear not to follow them. This command is backed up in the hadith of not following anyone in sin. Ali (ra) reports that the Messenger said: “There is no obedience to anyone in disobedience to Allah, verily obedience is in that which is correct” (Bukhari and Muslim). To legislate or establish another law or laws that are not based from Islam is Shirk and setting yourself up as a rival to Allah . As seen in the ayah, “Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed. And had it not been for a decisive Word (gone forth already), the matter would have been judged between them. And verily, for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers), there is a painful torment” (42:21). Allah (swt) clearly shows in the ayah that to institute or legislate laws besides the laws of Allah is to set up a partner besides Allah . Every Muslim knows that Islam is more then just a spiritual religion - it is a complete Divine way of life. So to make laws that order us how to govern our lives is something that Allah (swt), Alone in is His Majesty, has the right to do.

Judgments between ourselves must always be referred back to the Shariah of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) says “If you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination” (4:59). Allah (swt) warns mankind not to set themselves up as partners besides Himself: “And if any of them should say: “Verily, I am an ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah ),' such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)” (21:29). The extent of following of one’s desires instead of following the Shariah of Allah (swt) can take one out of the Milla (nation) of Islam. “Have you seen him who chooses for himself God as his own lust?” (25:6). So the ruler who alters or establishes his own laws based from his own vain desires is a false god, and all false gods we must reject and disbelieve in. To obey the command of the ruler that makes legislation besides Allah can also lead one to remove himself from the camp of emaan. As seen in the ayah, “And certainly, the Shayatin (devils) do inspire their friends to dispute with you, and if you obey, then you would indeed be Mushrikun” (6:121). The shaytan has many workers and sadly some of these are amongst mankind. This particular ayah was revealed due to some Jews in their rebellious nature, who tried to convince a band of Muslimeen to eat from carrion meet, claiming this is more just, as it has passed away from a natural cause. But this command goes against a clear command of Allah of not to eat this kind of meat. Consequently, to obey someone in a command of shirk leads one to leave Islam, and this is made very clear in a hadith of Nabi , where Tariq ibn Shihab _ narrates that Allah’s Messenger said, “A man was admitted into paradise because of some flies, and another was thrown into hell because of some flies as well. They (Companions) said: “How is it, O Messenger of Allah”. He said: “Two men passed by some people who worshipped an idol. None could pass by it without offering anything for sacrifice. They (the people) said to one of them: “Offer something as sacrifice”. He said: “I have nothing to offer”. They said: “Offer anything even some flies”. He offered some flies (as sacrifice) and thus was set free. But, he was thrown into the hell-fire. They( the people) said to the second: “Offer anything as sacrifice”. He said: “I wouldn’t offer anything as sacrifice to any other then Allah the Almighty”. They cut his neck off and he was admitted into paradise” (Ahmed Musnad). Following the order of giving sacrifice to other than Allah can lead a man into destruction and into the horrid torture of the Hellfire. As we are told in the Qur'an to only sacrifice to Allah , “Say my salah, my sacrifice, my living and dying are for the lord of the ‘Alameen.” (6:162-163). So with all this, it is clear that to allow others to legislate laws is to make a religion besides His (swt’s), and as Allah says, “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (5:3) Indeed, the only religion Allah will accept is Islam, so those who ordain new laws make a false religion and it is shirk to follow any religion, but Allah (swt’s).

An example can be given of Ibrahim (as) who asked his father why he worshipped something made from his own very hands. In the same way, Muslims need to ask, why would someone make laws made from own his mind and desires and then legislate it and call people to obey it. An idol is more then a wooden statue, indeed an idol is a belief and an ideology. Worship of Allah extends to more than prayer and fasting. This is evident in the hadith of Adi bin Hatim when once the Messenger of Allah was reciting this verse ‘They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah)…’ (9:31), Adi bin Hatim said, “O Allah’s messenger! They did not worship them.” Allah messenger said: “They certainly do. They (i.e. the rabbis and monks) made lawful things as unlawful and unlawful things as lawful, and they (i.e. jews and christians) followed them; and doing so they really worshipped them.” (Ahmed, At- Tirmidhi and ibn Jariri)

To conclude, it is clear from the Quran and the Sunnah that a persons Tawheed is the only thing that can save him from punishment in the life Hereafter. At Tirmidhi narrated that Anas bin Malik heard Nabi say. “On the day of resurrection, a man from among the ummah will be called before all creatures and there, before him will be spread out nighty-nine records. Each record is as long as an eyeshot. He will be asked: Do you deny any of these sins? Have my angels, who write and keep (the records for the creatures) wronged you? He will answer: No, my Lord. He will be asked: Do you have any excuse or good deed (which you do not find here)? The man will answer: No. He will be told: But, you do have a good deed with Us and this day were there will be no Zulm. He will be presented with a card on which there is the inscription: “I testify that there is no God but Allah , and that Muhammed is the slave of Allah and messenger. “The man will say: O Lord! What can this card do against all these records? He will be answered: You are not going to be wronged; and the records? He will be answered: You are not going to be wronged; and the records will be weighed against this card, the latter would outweigh the former” (Tirmidhi, and An-Nasai, Ibn Hibban and Al Hakim).

May Allah guide us back to the understanding of the Anbiyah and Sahaba, and give us the Emaan of those who Allah is pleased with.