Basic Beliefs of Islam

Chapter 6 : Tawhid - Oneness of God

There are FIVE basic beliefs of Islam. In Islamic terminology, we call them Usul - e - Din. i.e., fundamentals of Islam. Anyone who has slightest doubts in these basic beliefs, or accepts them without understanding, is not a true Muslim. These basic principles of Islam are as follows;

It is important to know the meanings and have good understanding of these basic principles of Islam.

What is Tawhid ?

Tawhid is the most basic principle of Islam.

Islam is the only religion which teaches a pure, perfect and unadulterated concept of monotheism, and entertains no compromise with nationalism, racism, polytheism, trinitariasm, saint-worship, idol worship or considering anyone in anyway equal to God or par t of God. The concept of Tawhid has two inseparable components.

1 - Belief in the existence of God. 2 - Belief in the absolute oneness of God.

Those who do not believe in the existence of God are called atheists. In Islamic terminology, we call them Kafir and Mulhid.

And those who do not believe in the absolute oneness of God are called polytheists. In Islamic terminology, we call such people as Mushrik. Both Mulhid and Mushrik are the most condemned people, and their ultimate end is eter nal hell-fire.

Thus, the most essential requirement of being a Muslim is that one must believe in the existence of God and also in His absolute oneness.

The most basic teaching of Islam is that the universe and everything in it, such as sun, stars, planets, moon, mountains, oceans, trees, animals, men, and billions of other material and invisible things around the universe, have been created by Allah Taala alone without any help from anyone. Mathematically speaking, anything other than Him and everything other than Him is His creation.

The Holy Quran has beautifully explained the meaning of Tawhid in Surah Al-Ikhlas which is also known as Surah Tawhid;

Say: Allah is one, the eternal God. He begot none, nor was He begotten. None is equal to Him or like Him. (112) This surah precisely tells us that there is none comparable or equivalent to Him. In surah ash- Shura, Quran tells the same fact in simple manner, "Nothing is similar to Him". (42:11)

Existence of God.

A special branch of Islamic theology, known as Ilm-ul-Kalam, deals with this subject in full detail. But is there any need to discuss the existence of God ? Do we discuss such plain observation such as that we have five fingers? Do we argue such apparent things like why there is light during the day and darkness during the night?

No, we don't really discuss such simple matters. Then the issue of Existence of God is also an obvious truth which doesn't need any debate or lengthy discussion. Quran also considers it a self-evident case.

"Their messengers said; Is there a doubt about Allah, the creator of the heavens and the earth. It is He Who invites you, in order that He may forgive you and your sins and give you respite for a term appointed" (14:10)

Quran further shakes the frozen minds:

"Is it not enough that your God is the proof of all things"?

This is a beautiful Quranic proof of the existence of God. Thus, the attentive and intelligent people consider God to be the proof of all existing things, not the existing things to be proof for God. So, there should be no doubt in the existence of God and there should be no need of any kind of serious argumentation. What we really need is to strengthen the faith in God. For this reason Quran invites the believers to ponder in the creation of Allah.

However, we are living in an age of doubt, where people are denying the naked truths. For this reason, we shall discuss the existence of God from various angles and at a reasonable length. Does science prove existence of God ?

History of science tells us that man has an inborn desire to acquire knowledge. This desire is born out of his natural urge to know about his Creator. Many scholars believe that man's struggle to gain knowledge began with an effor t to understand God.

All scientists believe that the basic aim of scientific researches is to know the tr uth. So every sincere effort in scientific research will prove the existence of God because it is a universal truth. Quran invites all researchers in their respective fields of specialization to ponder in the creations of Allah in order to testify His existence and His Oneness.

"And your God is one : there is no god but He; He is the beneficent, the merciful. Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profit men, and the water that Allah sends down from the clouds, then gives life with it to the earth after its death and spreads in it all kinds of animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heavens and the earth, there are signs for a people who understand". (2:163-164)

Almost every discipline of science is covered in this shor t verse of the Holy Quran. It is true. Today, the existence of God is a common observation of all scientists working in different fields of science.

How to prove the existence of God at school level ?

Existence of God is so obvious and visible that it can be convincingly proved at all levels. When your chemistry teacher tells you about the structure of atom, he teaches you that some tiny particles known as electrons, are revolving around the nucleus.

You should ask him a simple question; Sir: Who has initiated the movement of electrons ?

Because your physics teacher has taught you that, Isaac Newton in first law of motion says, that nothing can move unless someone makes it to move. So if electrons are moving in their respective orbits, then who has made them to move ? Did any scientist tell you about any kind of force which has brought these electrons into motion?

No, without any dispute everyone says "NO".

Then, how the electrons started moving around the nucleus in their respective orbits? The answer of this question is nothing but what we teach you in Tawhid. "He is Allah. There is no god but Him". (20:8)

Both physics and chemistry teach you that you can not explain the structure of atom and first law of motion completely without believing in Tawhid. Thus every book of science and each discovery of the scientists teaches us, how great is our Lord Who has created every thing which exists in the universe.

The human body is a marvelous creation of Allah Subhanahu taala. Every part of the body is divinely computerized to do a specific job. For instance, heart is a tireless, powerful muscle which works round the clock. It pumps 4.7 liters of blood throughout the body ever y minute. i.e., 7,600 liters of blood in one day. Millions of pages are not enough to describe the amazing features of the body and its accessories.

Thus, physics, chemistry and biology explicitly tell about the reality of God. Hence, science adequately proves the existence and oneness of God. Brain Exercise :

If we see sunlight, we affirmativly confirm the presence of sun without seeing it. If we find a car parked in a forest, we assuredly conclude that someone has brought it here with a definite intention. If we don't see the owner, we will look for him. If we can't find him around, still we will believe that someone has brought it here.

If we observe the chairs and desks orderly arranged in a room, and a blackboard with chalk and duster, we confidently assume that it is a classroom for students. We did not see the person who has arranged it, and we do not know the person who has arranged it. But we believe with certainty that a concerned person has done it for a definite purpose.

Now with the same eyes, if we see the moon, stars, oceans, trees, animals, and millions of other things, and we find that all of them are serving a definite purpose in the universe, then should we not believe that someone, who can be none but an omnipotent God, has created them with a definite purpose.

Thus, denying God means, denying the existance of univers. In Quranic terminology such a person is referred as Kafir.