Tawheed is the belief in the oneness of Allah. This belief is the cornerstone of Islam. Affirming to Shahadah, “La illaha illallah Mohammadur Rasoolullah” (There is no god but Allah and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is His messenger) is the dividing line between true Muslims (mumin) and disbelievers (kafir). But this is not as simple as it seems. Mere uttering of Shahadah doesn’t make a person a true believer. There are three levels of Tawheed. One is explicitly reciting Shahadah by tongue; second is accepting and believing it in heart (this is the level that demarcates a mumin from a mushrik (one who affirms Shahadah by tongue but doesn’t accept it in heart); and the third level is where one’s actions reflect this belief.
One’s actions should reveal that one has submitted to Allah’s will and that one is living life as per Quran and Sunnah. One’s goal is to please Allah alone. One’s love and reverence is for Allah alone. One seeks sustenance from Allah alone.
Tawheed is believing in the attributes and beautiful names of Allah (Asma-ul Husna) that he is the all powerful, all seeing (Al-Baseer) and the all knowing (Al Aleem); the lord of the creation, of the heavens and earth and whatever is between; the one who is in charge of everything; in whose hands is our life and destiny; who alternates night and day, sorrow and joy, misery and wealth, life and death. It is Allah alone who grants paradise or hellfire; it is the Allah alone who decides who is to be taken to the straight path and who to be led astray; it is Allah alone who is worthy to be worshipped; and it is Allah alone who can grant us success, happiness and peace. No one can harm us until he wills and no one can protect us unless he wills.
We know that Allah watches everything we do but still we commit sins freely without any fear; we know we will be held accountable of all the wrongs; we know the word of the Quran is the ultimate truth and Allah is in charge of our lives, but still we fail to act steadfast on Deen. We know whatever Allah bestows on us is the best for us but still our hearts long in despair. Quran says that it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts will find peace, but still we look for tranquillity and peace in materialistic aspects like wealth, fame and recreation. We know Rizq is in the hands of Allah alone but still we knock and beg at the doors of faith healers, shrines and officers. We commit fraudulence to get a job but we forget to pray for the job. This is the level where our Tawheed is weak.
Isn’t Allah powerful enough to hear us and fulfil our wishes? Has the faith healer or officer got more power? Do they love and care for us more than Allah does? The day we will realise the power of Allah and submit completely our body, heart and soul to Allah’s will, that day we will bloom with happiness, peace and tranquillity. Blessings will follow us, sufferings will leave us. Tawheed is about living and dying with and for La illaha illallah Mohammadur Rasoolullah. The first task every messenger was sent with was to tell people that Allah is one and to worship him alone; “don’t associate anyone with him in worship”. The day when Allah and the messenger Mohammad (PBUH) will be dear to us more than ourselves, our parents, spouses, children, and all the worldly stuff, that day we will be called true Muslims. That day we will fear Allah alone; we will be freed from the cause of fear.
Make Allah your strength and power and no one else will ever be able to harm to you. Seek help from patience and prayer and Allah will always be with you. He will ease your sufferings in ways you cannot even imagine.
Acceptance and following of the commandments of Allah and the Prophets is the key element in Tawheed. It is not like, I love Allah but I don’t offer Namaz; I love Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and i know his teachings but it is difficult for me to be honest, truthful, kind and humble. When we will be sound in Tawheed, only then we will be sound in other pillars of Islam like salah (Prayer), soom (Fasting), Haj and Zakat. Imaan is like a tent and Tawheed is the central pillar on which it rest, while the other four are corner pillars. The strength of Imaan depends most on the central pillar that is Tawheed; without it, we will be weak Muslims.
To sum up, Tawheed is directing all love, reverence, worship and submission to Allah alone, as he alone is worthy to be worshipped and followed. In Surah al–Isra, verse 39, Allah tells people: “Do not worship any other deity or ilaah. Those who do will be punished in hell.” In another verse in Surah An Nisa, verse 116, Allah says: “Indeed Allah does not forgive association with him…” This association with Allah is called Shirk and it is the opposite of Tawheed. Men with Tawheed will enter paradise and those who commit Shirk will be punished in hell. There is no sin greater than Shirk. If a man commits sins that will fill the gap between earth and heaven but seeks forgiveness, he will be forgiven; but a man with Shirk will never be forgiven.
Let us conclude with a beautiful couplet by Sir Allama Iqbal:
“Kyun mannatein maangta hai auron ke darbar se Iqbal
Wo kaunsa kaam hai jo hota nahi tere parwardigar se”

—The writer is a lecturer at GDC (Boys), Kupwara. [email protected]

Vaseem Ahmad Rather