Tawhid is a revolutionary concept and constitutes the essence of the
teachings of Islam. It means that there is only one supreme Lord of the
universe. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and the sustainer of the world and
of mankind.
Now can one observe the inexhaustible creativity of nature, its
purposefulness, its preservation of that which is morally useful and
destruction of that which is socially injurious, and yet fail to draw the
conclusion that behind nature there is an all-pervading mind of whose
incessant creative activity the processes of nature are but outward
manifestations? The stars scattered through infinite space, the vast
panorama of nature with its charm and beauty, the regular waxing and
waning of the moon, the astonishing harmony of the seasons—all of these
point towards one fact: there is a God. We witness a superbly flawless plan
in the universe—can it be without a planner? We see great enchanting
beauty and harmony in its working—can they be without a creator? We
observe wonderful design in nature—can ~t be without a designer? We feel
a lofty purpose in physical and human existence—can it be without a will
working behind it? We find that the universe is like a superbly written,
fascinating book—can it be without an author? Truly, God said:
O, Mankind: worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you,
so that you may ward off evil; Who has made the earth a resting place for
you, the sky a canopy and Who causes water to pour down from the
heavens, thereby producing fruits as food for you. So do not set up rivals
to God, when you know better. (Qur'an 2:21-22)
This is the basic tenet to which Muhammad asked humanity to adhere. It is
an important metaphysical concept and answers the riddles of the universe.
It points to the supremacy of law in the cosmos and the all-pervading unity
behind the manifest diversity. It presents a unified view of the world and
offers the vision of an integrated universe. It is a mighty contrast to the
piecemeal views of the scientists and the philosophers and unveils the truth
before the human eye. After centuries of groping in the dark, man is now
coming to realize the truth of this concept, and modern scientific thought is
moving in this direction.3
But it is not merely a metaphysical concept: it is a dynamic belief and a
revolutionary doctrine. It means that all men are the creatures of one God
and that they are therefore all equal. Any discrimination based on color,
class, race, or territory is unfounded and illusory. It is a remnant of the
days of ignorance that chained men down to servitude. Humanity is one
single family under God, and there can be no sanction for those barriers.
Men are one—and not bourgeois or proletarian, white or black, Aryan or
non-Aryan, westerner or easterner. Islam gives us a revolutionary concept
of the unity of mankind. The Prophet came to unite humanity on the word
of God, which says:
Cling firmly together by means of God's rope, and do not be divided.
Remember God's favor towards you when you were enemies; He united
3 See Francis Mason (ed.), The Creat Design, Duckworth.
your hearts so that you became brothers because of His favor. (Qur'an
3:103)
This concept also defines the true position of man in the universe. It says
that God is the Creator and the Sovereign, while man is His vicegerent on
the earth.4 This exalts man to the noble and dignified position of being
God's deputy on earth and endows his life with a lofty purpose: to fulfill
the will of God on earth. This will solve all the perplexing problems of
human society and establish a new order wherein equity and justice, as well
as peace and prosperity, will reign supreme.
The starting point of Islam is the belief in the oneness of God
(tawhid).
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