The Unparalleled Oneness of?Allah

Understanding The Uniqueness of Allah Through The Chapter of Sincerity

Tauhid, the Oneness of Allah or the Uniqueness of Allah. It’s the foundation of the Islamic creed, which makes Islam unique by giving the Creator His Rightful status. He’s separate from His creation, and He doesn’t possess any characteristics of His creation. There’s none co-equal or comparable to Him.

Surah Al-Ikhlas ( The Chapter of Sincerity) provides a brief but detailed explanation of this concept. Numerous Quranic verses and prophetic traditions further illuminate its significance.

The Oneness of?Allah

Surah Al-Ikhlas begins with the powerful declaration: “Say, ‘He is Allah, the One.’” This echoes the first part of the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith: “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah.” The Quran repeatedly emphasizes this point, as in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:163):

“And your god is one God. No deity is worthy of worship except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) underscored the importance of this belief, saying:

“Whoever dies knowing that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah will enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim)

Allah’s Self-Sufficiency and Creation’s Dependence

The second verse of Al-Ikhlas describes Allah as “The Eternal, Who all creatures need and doesn’t need His creation.” This concept is reinforced in Surah Fatir (35:15):

“O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.”

A hadith Qudsi further illustrates this point:

“O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything.” (Sahih Muslim)

Rejecting Divine Parentage or Offspring

“He begets not, nor was He begotten,” directly counters concepts of Allah having children or parents. This is reiterated in Surah Al-An’am (6:101):

“[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.”

Allah’s Incomparability

The final verse of Al-Ikhlas, “And there is none co-equal or comparable to Him,” is echoed in Surah Ash-Shura (42:11):

“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”

This concept is further emphasized in a hadith where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah says: ‘The son of Adam denied Me and he had no right to do so… As for his denial of Me, it is his saying: He will not remake me as He made me at first?—?and the initial creation [of him] is no easier for Me than remaking him.’” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

The Importance of Tauhid in?Practice

Tauhid is not merely a theoretical concept but a transformative force that has a profound effect on a person’s life. Allah emphasizes its significance in the Quran:

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer?—?We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward in the Hereafter according to the best of what they used to do” (16:97).

This verse directly links true faith with righteous deeds and their positive outcomes in both this life and the next. The Prophet Muhammad further highlighted the practical importance of Tauhid, saying:

“The best remembrance is ‘There is no god worthy of worship but Allah’, and the best supplication is ‘All praise is due to Allah’” (Tirmidhi).

Indeed, Tauhid is the only path to genuine contentment and tranquility in both worldly life and the hereafter. As Ibn al-Qayyim eloquently stated,

“In the heart, there’s a void that can’t be filled except with the company of Allah, and in it, there’s a sadness that can’t be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him, and in it, there’s an emptiness that can’t be filled except with love for Him, by turning to Him and always remembering Him. If a person were given all the world and what’s in it, it would not fill this emptiness.”

Tauhid, as expressed in Surah Al-Ikhlas and supported by numerous other Quranic verses and hadiths, stands as the central pillar of the Islamic faith. It shapes a person’s worldview, guiding their relationship with Allah and influencing every aspect of their life.

Embracing the oneness, self-sufficiency, and incomparability of Allah, cultivates a deep spiritual connection and helps a person strive to align their actions with divine guidance, seeking to fulfill the purpose of their creation.