Tawheed Meaning: Understanding Oneness in Islam

Tawheed meaning in Islam is to worship and believe in one God, who is Allah alone, believing in all his attributes and divinity.

Allah created us to worship him Alone, it is the true purpose of life, as Allah says in the holy Quran: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah adh-Dhaariyat:56)

Additionally, one of the five pillars of Islam is to testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. which shows us how important Tawhid is in Islam.

Now, Let’s understand Tawheed’s oneness of Allah in more details and its importance for Muslims.

What is the Tawheed meaning?

Kalimah tawheed meaning in Islam is that there is only one God and he is Allah alone. We have only one God to worship and he is Allah, he has no partner.

What is an example of Tawheed meaning?

What is tawheed? An example of the meaning of Tawheed is the statement of oneness “la ilaha illallah” which means no real god to worship except Allah.

Tawhid in the Quran.

The Quran says:

قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَمَّن يَمْلِكُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَمَن يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

“Who is it that provides you with sustenance out of heaven and earth, or who is it that has full power over [your] hearing and sight? And who is it that brings forth the living out of that which is dead, and brings forth the dead out of that which is alive? And who is it that governs all that exists?” And they will [surely] answer: “[It is] God.” (Quran 10:31)

All the Prophets were sent to call their people to worship Allah alone.

Here is a verse about Tawheed oneness of Allah in the holy Quran:

لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

“Indeed, We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!” [Al-A’raf 7: 59]

Allah says in the holy Quran:

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) all false deities” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying justified. So travel through the land and see what the end of those who denied (the truth) was.” [An-Nahl 16:36]

Allah also said in the holy Quran:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

“And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Will you not then be afraid (of Him, i.e., of His punishment)?” [Al-Mu’minun 23:23]

Is tawheed mentioned in the quran? Yes tawheed is mentioned in the quran, here is how Allah defined Tawheed meaning in the Quran:

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَٰشِفَٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

“And verily, if you ask them: “Who created the heavens and the earth?” Surely they will say: “Allah (has created them).” Say: “Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allah – if Allah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?” Say: “Sufficient for me is Allah; in Him, those who trust (i.e., believers) must put their trust.” [Az-Zumar 39:38]

هَٰذَا خَلْقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ

“This is the creation of Allah. So show Me which those (whom you worship) besides Him have created. Nay, the Zalimun (polytheists, wrongdoers, and those who do not believe in the Oneness of Allah) are in plain error.” [Luqman 31:11]

“And indeed when we heard the Guidance (this Qur’an), we believed therein (Islamic Monotheism), and whosoever believes in his Lord shall have no fear, either of a decrease in the reward of his good deeds or an increase in the punishment for his sins” [Al-Jinn 72:13]

“Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): “Who provides for you from the sky and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living? And who disposes the affairs?” They will say: “Allah.” Say: “Will you not then be afraid of Allah’s punishment (for setting up rivals in worship with Allah)?” [Yunus 10:31]

“Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): “Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah? Show me. What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!” [Al-Ahqaf 46:4]

“[Musa (Moses)] said: “Verily, you know that these signs have been sent down by none but the Lord of the heavens and the earth (as clear evidence i.e. proofs of Allah’s Oneness and His Omnipotence.). And I think you are, indeed, O Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) doomed to destruction!” [Al-Isra 17:102]

“Has he made the Alihah (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God – Allah)? Verily, this is a curious thing!” [Surah Sad 38:5]

“That is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of all things. Then worship Him, and He has power to dispose of all affairs” [Al-An’am 6:102]

“Were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm Belief.” [At-tur 52:35,36]

“And they say: “There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except Ad-Dahr (time). And they have no knowledge of it: they only conjecture.” [Al-Jathiya 45:24]

“And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his father and his people: “Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, Except Him (i.e. Allah Alone) Who did create me; and verily He will guide me.” [Az-Zukhruf 43:26-7]

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Al-Baqarah 2:256]

“…..Then anyone who violates his oath does so to the harm of his own soul. And anyone who fulfills what has been covenanted to Allah; Allah will soon grant them a great reward” [Al-Fath 48:10]

“And I have followed the religion of my fathers, – Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaq (Isaac), and Ya‘qub (Jacob) [A.S], and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah nor worship Him).” [Yusuf 12:38]

“And they rejected those signs in iniquity and arrogance, though their souls were convinced there of…” [An-Naml 27:14]

“O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you, and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious). Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [Al-Baqarah 2:21,22]

“And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith: to them shall We join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in anything. Every person is a pledge for that which he has earned.” [At-Tur 52:21]

“And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people, and he said: “O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah (God) but Him. Will you not then be afraid (of Him i.e. of His punishment)?” ” [Al-Mu’minun 23:23-4]

“And they said: “If it had been the Will of the Most Gracious (Allah), we should not have worshipped them (false deities).” They have no knowledge whatsoever of that. They do nothing but lie!” [Az-Zukhruf 43:20]

“And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ﷺ) but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).” [Al-Anbiya 21:25]

“And recite to them the story of Ibrahim (Abraham). When he said to his father and his people: “What do you worship?” They said: “We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted.” He said: “Do they hear you when you call on (them)? “Or do they benefit you or do they harm (you)?” They said: “(Nay) but we found our fathers doing so.” [As-Shu’ara 26:69-74]

“Those who took partners (in worship) with Allah will say: “If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His Will).” Likewise belied those who were before them, (they argued falsely with Allah’s Messengers), till they tasted Our Wrath. Say: “Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us? Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie.” [Al-An’am 6:148]

“And ask (O Muhammad ﷺ) those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: “Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allah)?” [Az-Zukhruf 43:45]

“Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Protectors (helpers, lords, gods) beside Him (say): “We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah.” Verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever.” [Az-Zumar 39:3]

“And they worship besides Allah things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say: “Do you inform Allah of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?” Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)!” [Yunus 10:18]

“…..Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?…..” [Al-Baqarah 2:255]

“And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with” [An-Najm 53:26]

“Verily! I am Allah! Lâ ilâha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) for My Remembrance” [Surah Ta-Ha 20:14]

“And whoever invokes (or worships), besides Allah, any other God, of whom he has no proof; then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely! The Disbelievers will not be successful.” [Al-Mu’minun 23:117]

“…..False worship (shirk) is indeed the highest wrongdoing” [Luqman 31:13]

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives anything else to whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin” [An-Nisa 4:48]

“… Whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far-off place.” [Al-Hajj 22:31]

What is the Tawheed meaning in the Quran?

Tawheed meaning in the Quran is to believe in the oneness of Allah and worship him Alone. Knowing that he is the one to him we return, the one who created heavens and earth, who created us and all creatures. Here are verses about Tawheed in the Quran:

Allah says in the Quran,

أَجَعَلَ ٱلْءَالِهَةَ إِلَٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌ

“Has he made the Alihah (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God – Allah)? Verily, this is a curious thing!” [Surah Sad 38:5]

ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ

“That is Allah, your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of all things. Then worship Him, and He has the power to dispose of all affairs” [Al-An’am 6:102]

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O humankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you, so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious). [Al-Baqarah 2:21]

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Say, “He is Allāh, [who is] One,

ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

Allāh, the Self-sufficient

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

He neither begets nor is born,

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ

Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” [Surah Ikhlash]

“And your Ilah (God) is One Ilah [ilahun wahidun] (God — Allah), La Ilaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” [al-Baqarah 2:163]

“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: ‘Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).’ But there is no Ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah [ilahun wahidun] (God —Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them” [al-Maidah 5:73]

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent Mu’adh ibn Jabal to Yemen, he said to him: “You are going to people from among the People of the Book, so let the first thing to which you call them by belief in Allah alone (Tawhid). If they accept that, tell them that Allah has enjoined five prayers on them daily and night. If they pray then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them zakah from their wealth to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. If they agree to that then take it from them but avoid the best of people’s wealth.” [In Sahih al-Bukhari (7372) and Sahih Muslim (19)]

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the belief that Allah is One, establishing regular prayer, paying zakah, fasting Ramadan and Hajj.” [Sahih Muslim]

Tawhid meaning From the Quran is to believe that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. That is the true meaning of Islam.

Allah says in the Quran:

“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam” [Al ‘Imran 3:19]

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter, he will be one of the losers” [Al ‘Imran 3:85]

Why is Tawheed important to Islam?

Why is Tawheed important to Islam? As Muslims, we believe that Allah created us to worship him alone. Tawheed is a sign of our faith and one of the 5 pillars of Islam. To be a Muslim you must believe that there is no God but Allah, he is the one and only God, and he has no partner or rivals.

Allah said in the holy Quran: “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [Az-Zariyat 51:56]

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him…” [Al-Isra’ 17:23]

All prophets called their people to believe in the oneness of Allah and to guide them to the right path. Allah said in the Quran:

“And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) all false deities” Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth).” [An-Nahl 16:36]

We were instructed in the Quran to worship Allah alone:

The only thing that Allah doesn’t forgive is worshiping other gods:

“… Whoever assigns partners to Allah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far-off place.” [Al-Hajj 22:31]

What are the 7 types of Tawheed?

Now that we understand the tawheed definition it is time to learn the types of tawheed. Scholars have divided and categorized the Tawheed meaning into three types or categories and they are:

Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah which means Oneness of Divine Lordship: which means to believe in the oneness of Allah and his attributes. Believing that he created us, created the heavens and earth, giving life and death. Allah says about tawhid in the Qur’an: “Verily, to Him belongs the creation and the command, blessed be Allaah, the Lord of the worlds” (al-A`raaf 7:54).

Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah: This type of Tawheed refers to worshipping Allah only, and not worshipping any other gods beside him. Everything and every deed we do should be for Allah alone, no one should be associated with him.

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him” [al-Isra 17:23]

“Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship)” [al-Nisa 4:36]

“Say: My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded with and I am the first of those who submit (to him with Islaam and Tawheed)” (al-An’aam 6:162),

“Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)” (al-Kawthar 108:2).

Tawheed meaning in Islam is to worship Allah alone, follow his instructions and commands, do good deeds, and avoid any bad deed or anything that Allah forbade us from doing.

Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (Oneness of the Divine Names and Attributes): This means to call upon Allah with the names he described and named Himself with, and with the names the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) described and named Him with.

Throughout the article, we learned the Tawheed meaning and why it is important to Islam. Therefore, by now we know that Tawhid means worshipping only one God and he is Allah, he has no partner or associate. This is the true essence of Islam and the true belief of a Muslim. If you found the article helpful feel free to share it. If you still have any questions comment below and we will be more than glad to help you.

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