Concept of Tauheed and Islamic Aqaid
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Concept of Tauheed — Key Facts for FPSC CSS (Pakistan)
Definition of Tauheed:
- Arabic: “التوحيد” — making something one, asserting oneness
- Islamic Definition: Belief in the Oneness of Allah — that Allah is One, Unique, and has no partners
- Shahada: “La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah” — There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
Three Dimensions of Tauheed:
| Dimension | Arabic Term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tauheed al-Rububiyyah | توحيد rububiyyah | Oneness of Lordship |
| Tauheed al-Uluhiyyah | توحيد الألوهية | Oneness of Worship |
| Tauheed al-Asma wa al-Sifat | توحيد الأسماء والصفات | Oneness of Names and Attributes |
Kalima Tayyab: “La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah”
- First part negates false gods (اللا إله)
- Second part affirms the true God (إلا الله)
- Third affirms Prophet’s messengership
⚡ CSS Tip: Tauheed is the PILLAR of Islam — without belief in Tauheed, no other Islamic belief or practice has meaning. It is the foundation of the Islamic faith.
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Concept of Tauheed — Detailed Study Guide
The Concept of Tauheed — Comprehensive
1. Tauheed al-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship)
Meaning: Belief that Allah is the One and Only Lord (Rabb) of the universe
- He alone created the heavens and earth
- He alone provides sustenance to all creation
- He alone gives life and death
- He alone controls all affairs
Quranic Evidence:
- “Say: Who provides for you from the sky and the earth?” (Yunus: 31)
- “He is the Lord of the Throne (Arsh)” (Al-Muddathir: 56)
- “Your Lord is Allah who created the heavens and earth in six days” (Al-A’raf: 54)
2. Tauheed al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship)
Meaning: Worship belongs to Allah alone — no one else deserves worship
- Ibadah (عبادة): Comprehensive term for worship — love, obedience, fear, hope, reliance
- Ibadah includes: Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj, and all forms of worship
- Shirk: Associating partners with Allah — the greatest sin in Islam
Types of Shirk:
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shirk-e-Akbar (Major) | Intentional polytheism | Worshipping idols, statues |
| Shirk-e-Asghar (Minor) | Showing off (riya) | Doing good deeds to impress others |
| Shirk-e-Khafi | Secret shirk | Love of something more than Allah |
Warning in Quran:
- “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him” (An-Nisa: 48)
- “Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (false gods) and believes in Allah” (Al-Baqarah: 256)
3. Tauheed al-Asma wa al-Sifat (Oneness of Names and Attributes)
Meaning: Allah’s names and attributes are unique — no one shares them
- 99 Beautiful Names (Asma al-Husna): “To Allah belongs the most beautiful names” (Al-A’raf: 180)
- Allah’s attributes: Ar-Rahman (Most Gracious), Al-Qadir (All-Powerful), Al-Hakim (All-Wise)
Correct Approach to Quranic Attributes:
- Approach 1: Mutashabihaat (لاحسابات) — accept without questioning
- Approach 2: Tafwid — delegate to Allah’s knowledge
- Approach 3: Bid’ah wrong approach — anthropomorphism (assigning human attributes)
Must Avoid:
- Tashbih: Comparing Allah to creation
- Ta’til: Denying Allah’s attributes
- Tahrif: Distorting meanings
Islamic Aqaid (Beliefs)
Core Beliefs (Arkan al-Iman)
Six Articles of Faith:
| Article | Arabic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | الإيمان بالله | Belief in Allah |
| 2 | الإيمان بالملائكة | Belief in Angels |
| 3 | الإيمان بالكتب | Belief in Divine Books |
| 4 | الإيمان بالرسل | Belief in Messengers |
| 5 | الإيمان باليوم الآخر | Belief in Day of Judgment |
| 6 | الإيمان بالقدر | Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar) |
1. Belief in Allah
Requirements:
- Know Allah exists
- Know His Oneness (Tauheed)
- Worship Him alone
- Love for the sake of Allah
- Be content with Allah’s decisions
2. Belief in Angels (Mala’ika)
Characteristics:
- Created from light
- Do not eat, drink, or sleep
- Have specific duties
- Never disobey Allah
Major Angels:
| Angel | Duty |
|---|---|
| Jibril (Gabriel) | Revelation |
| Mikael (Michael) | Provision/sustenance |
| Israfil | Blowing the trumpet (Qiyamah) |
| Azrael (Malak al-Maut) | Taking souls |
| Munkir and Nakir | Questioning in grave |
| Raqib and Atid | Recording good/bad deeds |
3. Belief in Divine Books
Holy Books Revealed:
| Book | Recipient | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Suhuf (Scrolls) | Various prophets | Guidance |
| Taurat (Torah) | Prophet Musa (Moses) | Revealed in Sinai |
| Zabur (Psalms) | Prophet Dawud (David) | Psalms |
| Injil (Gospel) | Prophet Isa (Jesus) | Gospel |
| Quran | Prophet Muhammad (SAW) | Final revelation |
Quran’s Status:
- Final and Complete: “This day I have perfected your religion” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)
- Preserved: “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message (the Quran)” (Ad-Dukhan: 2)
- Arabic: “We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran” (Yusuf: 2)
4. Belief in Messengers (Rusul)
Requirements of Prophethood:
- Truthfulness
- Trustworthiness (Amanah)
- Conveyance (Tabligh)
- Intelligence
- Infallibility (Ismah)
Rasul vs. Nabi:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nabi (نبي) | Prophet — given Shariah, but may not bring new law |
| Rasul (رسول) | Messenger — brings new Shariah with new law |
Ulul Azmi (Messengers of Steadfastness):
- Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Prophet Musa (Moses)
- Prophet Isa (Jesus)
- Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
5. Belief in Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah)
Events:
- Signs of Qiyamah (Ashraat al-Sa’ah): Minor and major signs
- Death and Barzakh: Grave — punishment or blessing
- Blowing of Trumpet: Israfil blows trumpet twice
- Resurrection: All humans raised from graves
- Hashr (Gathering): All souls gathered in Mahshar
- Mizan (Weighing): Deeds weighed on scale
- Meezan (Balance): Records examined
- Sirat: Bridge over Hell
- Judgment: Allah judges, sends to Jannah or Jahannam
6. Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar)
Four Levels of Qadar:
| Level | Arabic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | علم | Allah’s eternal knowledge |
| 2 | kitabah | Recording in Lawh al-Mahfuz |
| 3 | mashaa’a | Allah’s will |
| 4 | khalq | Creation of all things |
Key Principle: “La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah” — There is no power except from Allah
- Belief in Qadar does NOT mean fatalism
- Humans have free will (Ikhtiyar) within Allah’s will
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Concept of Tauheed — Complete Notes for FPSC CSS
Schools of Thought on Tauheed
Ash’ari School
- Founder: Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari (874-935 CE)
- Key position: Attributes of Allah are eternal, but not like human attributes
- Emphasizes: Reason in understanding religion
Maturidi School
- Founder: Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (853-944 CE)
- Similar to Ash’ari but allows some room for rational understanding
- Predominant in Hanafi areas (Turkey, Central Asia, South Asia)
Mu’tazila
- Key position: Attributes are same as essence; denied anthropomorphism
- Emphasized: Reason over tradition
- Rejected by mainstream Sunni scholars
Tauheed and Modern Issues
Shirk in Modern Times
| Practice | Status |
|---|---|
| Astrology, horoscopes | Major shirk |
| Superstitions (breaking mirror, Friday travel) | Minor shirk |
| Seeking help from dead (Khawarij) | Major shirk |
| Relying on charms, amulets | Shirk |
Bid’ah (Innovation in Religion)
- Definition: Introducing something new in religion as if it were part of religion
- Hadith: “Every innovation in our affairs is a misguidance”
- Types: Good bid’ah vs. bad bid’ah (all are misguidance according to hadith)
CSS Examination Preparation
Key Questions:
1. "Define Tauheed and explain its three dimensions."
2. "What is the difference between major (Akbar) and minor (Asghar) Shirk?"
3. "Discuss the six articles of faith in Islam."
4. "Explain the concept of Qadar and free will in Islam."
5. "How does Tauheed differ from polytheism (Shirk)?"
Key Differences:
- Tauheed: Oneness of God — unique, no partners
- Shirk: Associating partners — Allah does not forgive
- Islam: Surrender to God
- Kufr: Disbelief — denying Allah's signs
Comparison with Other Religions:
- Christianity: Trinity concept — Father, Son, Holy Spirit (NOT accepted in Islam)
- Judaism: Strict monotheism (recognized in Quran)
- Islam: Absolute monotheism — complete oneness of God⚡ CSS Strategy: For Islamic studies, memorize the Arabic terms and their meanings. The CSS exam often requires you to explain concepts in Arabic terminology and provide Quranic verses. Know the differences between Ash’ari and Maturidi schools.
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