Tawheed (توحيد) – The Oneness of Allah
What is Tawheed?
Tawheed is the foundation of Islam. It means believing that Allah is One, unique, and without any partner. Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of everything. He alone deserves our worship, prayers, and complete devotion.
Tawheed teaches Muslims to recognize the greatness of Almighty Allah and to live according to His guidance.
The Three Categories of Tawheed
1. Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship)
Believing that Allah alone is the Creator, Provider, and Sustainer of the universe. Everything exists by His will and power.
2. Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship)
Worshipping Allah alone without associating any partner with Him. Salah, dua, and all acts of worship should be directed to Allah.
3. Tawheed al-Asma wa as-Sifat (Oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes)
Believing in the beautiful names and perfect attributes of Allah as revealed in the Qur’an and authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), without comparing Allah to His creation.
The Importance of Tawheed
Tawheed helps Muslims develop a strong relationship with Allah. It encourages sincerity, trust, gratitude, patience, and obedience. It reminds us that Allah is the ultimate source of help and guidance.
The central message of Tawheed is expressed in the Shahadah:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
La ilaha illallah
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.
Tawheed in Daily Life
A Muslim can practice Tawheed by:
Worshipping Allah sincerely and following His guidance.
Trusting Allah while making responsible efforts.
Being honest, kind, and fair to others.
Remembering Allah in times of happiness and difficulty.
Avoiding shirk, which means associating partners with Allah.
Conclusion
Tawheed is the heart of Islamic belief. It teaches us to recognize the absolute oneness of Almighty Allah and to dedicate our worship and devotion to Him alone. Understanding Tawheed strengthens faith, guides our actions, and helps us live a life of righteousness and gratitude.
May Almighty Allah grant us sincere faith, sound understanding of Tawheed, and the ability to follow His guidance. Ameen.
Call to Action
Iman means faith or belief in Islam. It is the foundation of a Muslim’s life. It means believing in Allah, His angels, His holy books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine destiny. True Iman inspires us to worship Allah, follow His guidance, speak the truth, and live with kindness, honesty, and patience
Aqeedah (আকীদাহ) – Islamic Belief and Creed
1. What is Aqeedah?
Aqeedah (Arabic: العقيدة) means belief, conviction, or creed. In Islam, Aqeedah refers to the fundamental beliefs that a Muslim accepts with certainty in the heart.
Aqeedah explains who Allah is, why we worship Him, what we believe about His angels and messengers, and what happens after death. It provides the foundation for a Muslim’s understanding of Islam and guides their worship, character, and daily life.
The word Aqeedah comes from an Arabic root associated with tying or binding firmly. In Islamic usage, it refers to beliefs held firmly in the heart.
2. The Six Pillars of Iman
The six pillars of Iman are central to Islamic Aqeedah. They are mentioned in the famous Hadith of Jibril, in which the Angel Jibril asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about faith.
1. Belief in Allah
Believing that Almighty Allah is One, the Creator and Sustainer of everything. He alone deserves worship, and He has no partner.
2. Belief in the Angels
Believing in the angels created by Allah. They obey Him and carry out the duties He assigns to them.
3. Belief in the Divine Books
Believing in the revelations Allah sent to His messengers, including the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and the Qur’an. Muslims believe the Qur’an is Allah’s final revelation.
4. Belief in the Messengers
Believing in all the messengers sent by Allah to guide humanity. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final messenger.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment
Believing that Allah will resurrect humanity and judge everyone with perfect justice. People will be accountable for their beliefs and deeds.
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)
Believing that everything happens within Allah’s knowledge and decree. Muslims are responsible for their choices and actions, while trusting Allah’s wisdom.
3. The Main Foundations of Islamic Aqeedah
Tawheed – The Oneness of Allah
Tawheed is the central foundation of Aqeedah. It means believing in the absolute oneness of Almighty Allah and worshipping Him alone.
It includes believing that Allah is the only Creator and Sustainer, that He alone deserves worship, and that His names and attributes are perfect and unique.
Prophethood (Nubuwwah)
Allah sent prophets and messengers to guide humanity towards truth and righteousness. Muslims believe in all the prophets mentioned in Islamic teachings, including Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final prophet and messenger. His teachings explain how Muslims should understand and practice their faith.
The Hereafter (Akhirah)
Aqeedah includes belief in life after death, resurrection, the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell.
This belief reminds Muslims that earthly life is temporary and that their actions have consequences. It encourages people to do good, avoid wrongdoing, and prepare for accountability before Allah.
Divine Decree (Qadar)
Belief in Qadar means accepting that Allah has complete knowledge and wisdom regarding everything.
Muslims are encouraged to make good choices, work responsibly, pray to Allah, and trust Him. Belief in divine decree does not mean abandoning personal responsibility.
4. The Sources of Islamic Aqeedah
Islamic Aqeedah is based primarily on:
The Qur’an
The revealed Book of Allah and the primary source of Islamic belief and guidance.
The Authentic Sunnah
The authentic teachings, sayings, and practices of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which explain and clarify Islamic beliefs.
Muslim scholars have studied these sources and explained matters of belief in different scholarly traditions. When studying Aqeedah, it is important to rely on reliable Islamic knowledge and to understand the context of religious texts.
5. The Importance of Aqeedah in a Muslim’s Life
Aqeedah is important because it:
Strengthens faith and the relationship with Almighty Allah.
Helps Muslims understand the purpose of life.
Encourages sincere worship and obedience to Allah.
Develops trust, patience, gratitude, and humility.
Reminds people of their responsibility for their actions.
Provides guidance for making ethical and religious decisions.
6. How to Strengthen Your Aqeedah
A Muslim can strengthen their understanding of Aqeedah through regular learning and practice.
Read the Qur’an with a reliable translation and explanation.
Study authentic Hadith and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Learn the six pillars of Iman and understand their meanings.
Perform acts of worship sincerely for Allah.
Ask knowledgeable and trustworthy scholars when you have questions.
Practice honesty, kindness, patience, and justice in daily life.
7. The Difference Between Aqeedah, Iman, and Tawheed
Term
Meaning Aqeedah
The fundamental beliefs of Islam Iman. Faith and belief in the teachings of Islam.
Tawheed
Belief in the oneness of Allah and worshipping Him alone.
These concepts are closely connected. Tawheed is a central part of Aqeedah, while Iman describes the faith that Muslims hold in their hearts and express through their lives.
Conclusion
Aqeedah is the foundation of a Muslim’s faith. It teaches us to believe in Almighty Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree.
A sound understanding of Aqeedah helps Muslims worship Allah sincerely, follow the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and live with honesty, kindness, patience, and responsibility.
May Almighty Allah strengthen our Iman, grant us correct understanding of Aqeedah, and guide us to live according to His teachings. Ameen.
The Creation of Man
The various scriptures of the world and science agree that long before the creation of man, the Creator created this vast universe. He also administered and managed this massive creation through His countless malayek, whom we call fereshta in Persian and “Angel” in English. The gods and goddesses that the Indians, Romans, and Greeks believe in, and the malayek or fereshta, are the same thing. They are countless in number and are actually natural forces—the forces through which Allah manages all His creation in an orderly manner, and they possess no willpower of their own. Whatever rule Allah has bound anyone to, whatever duty He has assigned to anyone, that angel carries it out perfectly without the slightest deviation. In fact, no deviation can occur—because natural forces have no free will.
For example, the force of gravity is a malaik. The Creator has assigned it the duty of attracting and holding everything together. From the very beginning of creation, this angel has been performing its duty and will continue to do so until the end. It does not have the slightest willpower to pause this work even for a fraction of a moment; Allah has not given it that willpower. Similarly, fire, wind, water, electricity, and all such natural forces are fereshta, or gods and goddesses. Just as in other religions, gods and goddesses are in charge of some natural force—such as Varuna being the god of wind in Hindu scriptures, the sun being a god (Suryadev), the Greeks’ Neptune being the god of the sea and water, and the Romans’ Vulcan being the god of fire—likewise, in Islam, there are angels for fire, wind, etc. There are similarities in other matters too. According to all religions, they are vast in number—which is natural, because in this infinite creation, natural forces are also countless.
In Indian religions, their number is considered to be 330 million. Christians also state their number in the millions. The 13th-century priest and scholar Albertus Magnus calculated (how he calculated, Allah knows best) and found that the exact number of Angels, meaning fereshta, is 399,920,004—about 70 million more than the Hindus. In Japan’s Shinto religion, the number of gods and goddesses is 8 million. Going on the Miraj (Ascension), the World Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) saw that in the Baytul Mamur mosque, thousands of angels were entering from one side, performing prayers, and exiting from the other side. Speaking about their number, he said that those who exit after praying once will never get a second chance to pray—meaning they are countless (Hadith—narrated from Anas (RA) by Thabit al-Bunani, Muslim, Mishkat). From infinite time, Allah had been orderly administering and managing His vast creation with His countless malayek. Then, at one point in time, He desired to create man.