UNIT 3: PILLARS OF IMAN (FAITH)

Tawheed (Oneness of Allah)

Linguistically; the word Tawheed means ‘unification’ i.e., to make something one. Allah is Waahid, meaning that He has no rivals or partners in any way.

Islamically; it means attributing Oneness to Allah and describing Him as being One and Unique, with no partner or peer in His Essence and Attributes. The opposite of Tawheed is 'Shirk' which is to associate partners with Allah by giving to others that which belongs to Him. E.g., asking idols for help instead of Allah.

The Concept of Tawheed Monotheism (Tawheed) i.e. belief in One Allah alone is such a strong Faith and

foundation of Islam upon which the whole structure of Islam is based. All prophets called their people on True Faith which is expressed by testifying of ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ (meaning, none has the right to be worshiped except Allah). This is because the correct belief (Aqidah) is the foundation of Islam. Only those actions and statements that stem from the correct belief are acceptable to Allah and therefore, it is a Muslim’s duty to safeguard his Aqidah against all defects. (Qur’an, 112)

Worship is exclusive right of Allah owed to Him alone. Monotheism is such an important part of faith that Prophet Muhammad (saw) during the thirteen years of his preaching in Makkah focused mainly on Tawheed and called people upon it by forbidding any partners to Allah. The Holy Quran is full of this concept of Monotheism and most of the verses of the Qur’an are about Monotheism.

Attributes of Allah (swt)

To Allah belong the most beautiful names. (Qur’an 17:110(. Sources of Islam give no less than ninety-nine different Attributes to Allah Almighty. Allah is the greatest name which contains all the Divine Attributes and is the sign of the essence and cause of all existence. Allah is Allah’s name only and nothing else

can assume this name or share it. The following are the Attributes of Allah (swt).

Specific Objectives By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) state the meaning of Tawheed b) describe the attributes of Allah (swt) c) identify the significance of Tawheed d) define the term ‘shirk’ and explain its manifestation e) appreciate the need of tawheed in the life of a Muslim f) explain the characteristics of angels and their functions

Name Italic Meaning

1 حمن ArRahman The Beneficent الر

2 حيم ArRaheem The Merciful الر

3 ملك

Al-Malik The Sovereign ال

4 وس د ق Al-Quddus The Sacred ال

م 5لا As-Salam The Peaceful الس

6 من

ؤ م Al-Mu’min The Infuser of Faith ال

7 ال

هيمن Al-Muhaymin The Guardian م

8 عزيز

Al-Aziz The Mighty One ال

9 ار بج Al-Jabbar The Compeller ال

10 ب كت م Al-Mutakabir The Dominant ال

11 الق

خ Al-Khaaliq The Creator ال

12 بارئ

Al-Baari The Evolver ال

13 صور م AlMusawir The Fashioner ال

14 ار فغ AlGhaffaar The Forgiver ال

15 ار هق AlQahhaar The Conqueror ال

16 اب وه AlWahhab The Giver of all ال

17 اقز Ar-Razzaq The Sustainer الر

18 اح تف Al-Fattah The Opener ال

19 عليم ل Al-Alim The Omniscient ا

20 ابض ق Al-Qabidh The Restrictor ال

21 باسط

Al-Baasit The Extender ال

22 افض خ Al-Khafidh The Reducer ال

افع 23 Ar-Rafi The Elevator الر

24 عز م

Al-Mu’izz The Glorifier ال

ذل 25 Al-Mudhil The Abaser الم

ميع 26 As-Sami’ The All-Hearer الس

27 بصب Al-Baseer The All-Seeing ال

28 م كح Al-Hakam The Abitrator ال

ل 29عد Al-Adl The Just One ال

30 طيف Al-Latef The Subtle One الل

31 بب خ Al-Khabeer The All-Aware ال

32 ليم ح Al-Haleem The Forbearing ال

33 عظيم Al-Adheem The Mightiest ال

34 ور فغ Al-Ghafoor The Forgiver ال

35 ور ك AsShakoor The Grateful الش

36 عل Al-Aliyy The Exalted ال

37 بب ك Al-Kabeer The Great One ال

38 فيظ

ح Al-Hafidh The Guardian ال

قيت 39 Al-Muqeet The Sustainer الم

40 ال Al-Haseeb The Reckoner حسيب

ليل 41ج Al-Jaleel The Majestic ال

42 ريم ك Al-Kareem The Bountiful ال

43 قيب Ar-Raqeeb The Watchful الر

44 جيب م Al-Mujeeb The Responder ال

واسع 45 Al-Waasi’i The Embracing ال

46 كيم ح Al-Hakeem The Wise One ال

47 ود ود Al-Wadud The Loving One ال

48 مجيد

Al-Majeed The Majesty ال

49 باعث

Al-Ba’ith The Awakener ال

50 هيد

A-Shaheed The Witness الش

51 قح Al-Haqq The Truthful ال

وكيل 52 Al-Wakeel The Trustee ال

وي 53ق AlQawiyy The Strong One ال

54 متي Al-Mateen The Firm One ال

55 ول Al-Waliyy The Protector ال

56 ميد

ح Al-Hameed The Praised ال

57 صح م

Al-Muhswi The Appraiser ال

58 بدئ م

Al-Mubdi The Originator ال

59 عيد م

Al-Mueed The Restorer ال

م 60ال ي

Al-Muhyi The Giver of Life ح

61 ميت م

ل Al-Mumeet The Taker of Life ا

62

ح Al-Hayy The Ever-Living ال

وم 63 يق AlQayoom The Existing ال

64 واجد

Al-Waajid The Finder ال

65 ماجد

Al-Maajid The Majesty ال

66 واحد

Al-Waahid The Only One ال

67 حد

لا Al-Ahad The Sole One ا

68 مد As-Samad The Besought by All الص

69 ادر ق Al-Qaadir The Powerful ال

70 در تق م Al Muqtadir The Authoritative ال

م 71دق م Al-Muqaddim The Expediter ال

72 ر خؤ م AlMu’akhir The Delayer ال

ل 73 Al-Awwal The Very First الأو

74 Al-Akhir The Infinite Last الآخر

75 اهر A-Dhaahir The manifest الظ

76 باطن

Al-Baatin The Hidden ال

77 وال Al-Waali The Protector ال

78 عالت م AlMuta’ali The Most High ال

79 ب Al-Barr The Righteous ال

80 واب At-Tawaab The Relentor الت

81 قم تن م Al-Muntaqim The Retaliator ال

و 82 Al-Afuww The Pardoner العف

83 وف

ؤ Ar-Ra’oof The Most Kind الر

84 مالك

كل م ال

Maalik-ul-Mulk The Owner of All Sovereignty

و 85 ل ذ

لاجراموال ال

Dhul-Jalaali-wal-Ikram The Possessor of Majesty and ك

Honour

86 سط

ق م Al-Muqsit The Just One ال

امع 87ج Al-Jaami’ The Assembler ال

88 ي غ Al-Ghaniyy The Rich ال

89 ي غ م Al-Mughni The Enricher ال

مانع 90ل Al-Maani’ The Preventer ا

91 ار Ad-Dharr The Afflicter الض

افع 92 An-Naafi’ The Benefiter الن

93 ور An-Noor The Prime Light الن

هادي 94 Al-Haadi The Guide ال

بديع 95 Al-Badi’i The Originator ال

96 باق

ل Al-Baaqi The Eternal ا

97 وارث

Al-Warith The Inheritor ال

98 شيد ArRasheed The Guide to Right path الر

99 ور ب As-Saboor The Most Patient الص