GENERAL QUESTIONS

Write about Muslim belief in Oneness of Allah (Tauhid). [10]

The Oneness of Allah is the first and basic faith of Islam. There are three parts of this faith: Allah is Alone in His Existence, there is no partner with Him in His Attributes and He Alone is worthy of Worship. Associating partner with Allah in anyone of the above three parts is called shirk.

When it comes to Existence of Allah, He is present from the beginning and He will last forever. He has neither ancestry nor children. The Quran says, “Say He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him” (112: 1-4). Those who believed that angels were daughters of Allah committed shirk in His Existence. Similarly, believing that Uzair or Christ is the son of Allah, is shirk in His Existence. The concept of Trinity is also against the Oneness of Allah.

Now coming to the Attributes of Allah, He Alone is the Creator, Sustainer and Master of the universe. There is no partner with Him in Controlling and Sustaining this universe. He is All-Knowing and All-Powerful. No creature can share his Divinity or His unique Attributes. He knows the secrets in the hearts of the people. He is beyond human comprehension and imagination. He is above having any similarity with any of His creations. The Quran says, “There is nothing whatever like unto Him …” (42: 11). He has unlimited Authority and Powers. He Alone can help all the creatures in the universe. If a person gives a call for help to a deity, who is far away from Him or is dead, he commits shirk. Here the person believes that the deity sees him and can help him. Only Allah is All-Aware and Helper of the people.

And finally coming to the worship of Allah; no one can be a partner with Him in His worship. The Quran says: “…adore not the sun nor the moon, but adore Allah who created them…”(41: 37). At another place: “…there is no god but I, therefore worship and serve Me …” (21: 25). Bowing down before any deity, idol, grave, sun, moon, fire or stars is shirk. Slaughtering animals on the shrines in the names of those who are buried there is also shirk. Seeking help from idols and graves is another form of shirk. Shirk is an unpardonable sin. The Quran says, “Allah will not forgive those who associate other gods with Him; but He will forgive whom He will for other sins. He that associates other gods with Him is guilty of a heinous sin” (4: 48). All the good deeds like prayers, fasting, hajj and charities of a person shall go in vain if he commits shirk.