Introduction to the Concept of Tawheed.
- It is impossible to overstate the importance of Tawheed for all mankind. Tawheed is the fundamental teaching of all divinely originated religion. It is the message of all Prophets and Messengers who appeared since the beginning of time. It is the very basis of all Islamic beliefs and practices. Tawheed is the concept of Perfect Monotheism: ‘There is one and only one god, Allāh, who creates and sustains all of creation, and nothing must be worshipped except for Him (Allāh). The word Tawheed is itself derived from the Arabic word which means ‘one’. Tawheed is the absolute unity of the diety which is expressed concisely in the Islamic statement of faith: ‘There is no god but Allāh.’
[~Taken from Kitâb At-Tawheed- Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdul Wahhab, page 21]
2. Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism) is to believe in the following six articles of faith:-
a. Allāh
b. His Angels
c. His Messengers
d. His Revealed Books
e. The Day of Resurrection
f. Al-Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments, i.e. whatever Allāh has ordained must come to pass).
And to act on the following five principles of Islam:-
a. To testify Lā ilāha illallah, wa Anna Muhammad-ur-Rasūl Allāh (None has the right to be worshipped but Allāh and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh).
b. To offer (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly (Iqāmat As-Salāt).
c. To pay Zakāt.
d. To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah).
e. To observe Saum (fast) during the month of Ramadān.
[~Interpretation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’aan (page 637) in the English Language. A ummarized version of At-Tabari, Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathīr with comments from Sahih Al-Bukhari, by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Hilali]
3. Literal Meaning:- Root word of Wahhada, derived from Al-Wahid (the One). If said: Wahhadahu (made it One), and Ahhadahu and Mutawahhid, it means Mutafarrid (Alone).
Applied Meaning:- Believing in the Oneness of Allāh in Lordship and Godship. And that He possesses good names and exalted attributes. And believing in the message of Muhammad (ﷺ) and that he is the seal of all prophets and obeying him by what Allāh has revealed unto him.
Shaykh Ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: The Tawheed which all the Messengers were sent for is indeed composed of confirmation of Godship for Allāh alone, by bearing witness that there is no god but Allāh and worship none but Him, and trust in Him, and do not set others as protector but Him, and do not hate but for the sake of Him, and do not perform any deed but for the sake of Him.
[~The Fortress of Tawhīd- حصن التوحيد باللغة الإنجليزية, page 33]
