Chapter 1:
What is Tawheed?

Tawheed is the most important aspect of a person's life.

Throughout history, Allah sent prophets with the mission to advocate for the belief and practice of Tawheed.

So, what exactly is Tawheed?

Linguistically, the term 'Tawheed' originates from the Arabic verb 'wahhada', which means 'to single out'.

In Islam, Tawheed entails singling out Allah as the one and only true God in both belief and worship.

To comprehend and implement Tawheed, it is essential to learn and understand it’s three categories.

The first category is Tawheed in lordship.

This refers to affirming Allah's uniqueness in His actions, such as being the sole Creator and Sustainer of all things.

A simple example of what falls into Tawheed in lordship: Believing that Allah solely created the entire universe, including all the stars and planets.

The second catergory is Tawheed in worship.

This refers to the exclusive right of Allah to be worshipped, with no partners or substitutes.

A simple example of what falls into Tawheed in worship: Directing all acts of worship, such as prayer and supplication, exclusively to Allah.

It's important to note that Tawheed in lordship pertains to Allah's actions, while Tawheed in worship pertains to human actions.

The third category is Tawheed in Allah's names and attributes.

This category emphasizes the uniqueness of Allah's names and attributes, distinct from His creation.

It is compulsory to believe in the names and attributes that Allah has affirmed for Himself and that which His Messenger (ﷺ) has confirmed, 

without likening Him to His creation, distorting the meaning or denying any part of it. 

These three categories of Tawheed are interconnected and interdependent, collectively establishing true Tawheed.

An example of a nation who neglected one aspect of Tawheed while embracing another is the example of Quraish during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

They acknowledged Allah's lordship, believing that Allah was the sole Creator and Sustainer of all things,

but they used to worship other deities alongside Him,

thereby falling short in Tawheed in worship. Hence, they were not considered to be Muslims.

Tawheed has a direct connection to the declaration of faith (shahada), which we will discuss further in the upcoming chapter.