tawhid

Tawhid is the central concept of Islam, denoting the oneness and absolute sovereignty of God (Allah). The term comes from the Arabic root for "to unite" or "to make one," and it expresses the belief that God is singular in essence, power, and authority, with no partners or equals in divinity.

Scholars commonly describe tawhid as comprising three related dimensions. Tawhid al-Rububiyya affirms that God is the sole creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. Tawhid al-Uluhiyya (also called tawhid al-ibadah) holds that only God is worthy of worship. Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat asserts that God's names and attributes are true and real, but must be understood without likening Him to created beings, often avoiding any anthropomorphic interpretation.

The Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad emphasize tawhid. The profession of faith in Islam—the shahada: “There is no god but God”—encapsulates this core belief and underpins Muslim worship, ethics, and daily life. Shirk, the act of associating partners with God or ascribing divine qualities to others, is considered the principal violation of tawhid.

Islamic theology has developed various approaches to interpreting God’s attributes while preserving tawhid. Sunni traditions such as Ash’ari and Maturidi synthesize affirmation of divine attributes with caution against anthropomorphism, while the Athari school favors a more textual approach. Other schools, such as the historically influential Mu’tazila, offered rationalist interpretations of divine unity and attributes. Across denominations, tawhid remains the foundational criterion of Muslim belief and practice.