Allah is the proper name of God and humble submission to His Will, Divine Ordinances and Commandments is the pivot of the Muslim faith. It is the first part of the Shahadah that ‘there is no god but Allah’, which is about the Oneness of Allah or ‘Tauhid’. It means that there is one God only that is Allah. He is unique, and nothing is like Him. There are numerous verses in the Qur’an about Tauhid or the Oneness of Allah.
The Oneness of Allah is summarised in Quran, in Surah Al-Ikhlas:
“Say, He is Allah the one and only. Allah the eternal. He neither gives birth nor is He born. And there is none like Him.” (112:1-4)
In surah Fateha, the first surah of the Qur’an, it says:
“You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.” (1:4) )
Similarly, the Qur’an also states in Surah Al-Nisaa:
“Worship Allah and join no partner with Him.” (4:36)
Associating partners with Allah is called Shirk. It is opposite of “Tauhid” the oneness of Allah. Shirk is not only the worship of idols, but also offering prayers or supplications to anyone, living or dead, believing that they hold the same qualities as Allah. It is up to Allah to forgive all of our sins, but according to Qur’an Shirk is the only sin which will not be forgiven if not repented during one’s life.
Tauhid is of three types:
- Tauhid-ar-Rububiyya
- Tauhid-al-Uluhiyya
- Tauhid-al-Asma was-Sifaat
Muslims are required to believe in all of the above types of Tauhid to have the correct Faith. This was the message brought by all the Messengers of Allah (SWT) from Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus to Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Them All).
Tauhid-ar-Rububiyya
Belief in Oneness of the Lordship of Allah (SWT), meaning Allah (SWT) is the one and only Lord of everything.
He is Al-Khaliq, which means He created everything including the universe, the stars, the planets, the sun, the moon, the heavens, the earth with all living and non-living things. It is He Who gives life and death.
He is Ar-Rab, which means He alone is the Sustainer, and the Giver of Security.
He is Al-Malik, which means everything good or bad happens with His permission. If a person chooses to do a bad thing, Allah gives him the ability to do it. And if a person chooses to do a good thing, Allah (SWT) gives him ability to do that.
Tauhid-al-Uluhiyya
It means the Belief that only Allah (SWT) could be worshipped. No one has the right to be worshipped but Him alone.
The word “Worship” (i.e. Ibadah) means a number of things. It means that all kinds of worship are for Allah and no one else, so pray to Allah (SWT) only, ask for help from Allah (SWT) only, swear by Allah (SWT) only, offer an animal as sacrifice to Allah (SWT) only.
It means that all that Allah (SWT) orders you to do you must do, and all that Allah (SWT) stop you to do, you must not do.
Tauhid-al-Asma was-Sifaat
It means the Belief that all good names and qualities which Allah (SWT) has mentioned in Quran, or Muhammad (PBUH) has used for Him, all those names and qualities are for Him only, without changing their meanings or neglecting them.
These names and qualities are not for anyone else but Allah (SWT) and we must not use them for any of Allah’s (SWT) creation.
As Allah (SWT) said in Surah Shura:
“There is nothing like Him and He sees and hears (all things).” (42:11)
Similarly Allah (SWT) said in Surah Ta-Ha:
“The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne.” (20:5)
So Allah is with us all of the time through His knowledge, as He sees and hears everything from the Throne, known as Arsh. He does not need to be with us physically. He is everywhere; He sees and hears all that we do or say or think, through His knowledge.