Tawhid (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))

Tawhid as a Key Islamic Belief

Tawhid as a Key Muslim Belief

• The word Allah comes from the Arabic Al-ilah meaning The God (the only God)

• Muslims believe that Allah is One God, indivisible and absolute; nothing comes close to Him as the ultimate source of power and creation

• Everything belongs to Allah; everything humans have is on loan from Allah. Humans only exist because Allah wills them to

• Allah has 99 names or characteristics which make it clear that there is one true God, these include al-Ahad (the one and only) and al Wahid (the one)

• According to a Hadith Muhammad (pbuh) said that Muslims should mention Tawhid first when telling non-Muslims about Islam

How Tawhid affects Muslim Belief and Practice

• Muslims have total faith in Allah. They are not swayed by other religions

• Muslims physically display their belief in one true God by performing the posture of ‘sujood’ (prostration) to one God whilst praying

• Shahada, the Muslim Declaration of Faith is one of the five pillars and involves saying that Allah is the only God

  • The Shahada involves reciting the words, ‘I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God’

  • It is usually said a few times each day. It is said at birth as the first words a baby hears, and Muslims aim for these to be the last words they say before death

  • The Shahadah forms the foundation of the other four pillars. A non-Muslim can convert to Islam by saying the Shahadah and meaning it sincerely

• Belief in one true God can bring humility and modesty and prevent jealousy

• Everything that happens to a Muslim is for a reason. Belief in one all-powerful God allows them to accept their own situation and any injustice they may face

• Suffering is viewed as a test from Allah to see how they respond. This helps to cope with suffering

Islam as a Monotheistic Religion

Islam as a Monotheistic Religion

• Monotheism is central to the Muslim belief in Tawhid (the oneness of God)

• Muslims reject polytheism in all of its forms because God should not be compared to anyone or anything

  • Polytheistic religions in the world include Shinto, Taoism and the religions of Ancient Greece and Egypt

• Shirk is seen as the worst sin for Muslims and so comparisons between Allah and anyone or anything else is seen as sinful

• Association with Him refers to worshiping other Gods as well as or instead of Allah

• The Qur’an is clear that worshiping idols (false Gods) is a sin for Muslims

• Muslims reject the Christian belief in the Trinity as they believe that Jesus could not have been the Son of God, as he could not have had God’s qualities

  • However, Jesus is still viewed as an important prophet within Muslim belief

• Some Muslims also reject Hinduism as being polytheistic although Hindus believe in one God but in many forms