Divine Unity (Tawhid)
Divine Unity refers to the belief that Allah is One. He is not composed of parts and attributes, because any composed being is in need of parts and the one who composes it. Also, it is impossible for the being that is in need to give existence to itself, let alone give existence to one other than itself. Divine Unity is also the belief that Allah has no partners in Divinity or in His attributes.
We will now explain some proofs of Divine Unity:
First Proof
If there were numerous gods then for each one of them to be a god, it would require them to share Divinity. Each one of them requires distinction from the other to confirm duality. Thus, each one would be composed from what they both share and in what they both differ.
Second Proof
Existence of more than one god, without distinction, is impossible. Distinction is a cause of absence of what the other god may have of perfection. The one lacking perfection is in need. Therefore, the chain of need must end at the Self-Sufficient in essence from all dimensions. Otherwise, it would necessitate for all possible beings to be nonexistent, because the one that does not possess existence, cannot give it.
Third Proof
Indeed, Allah, the Exalted, is present without limitation. As ‘Ali (as) says:Limitation and end do not apply to Him,
because every limited being is composed of essence and the limitation of that essence. The limitation of essence would mean absence of perfection, which is in addition to that essence.
Thus, this composition is the worst of its types, as composition can be between two existing things or between one existence and one nonexistence. The supposed composition would be between an existence and a nonexistence. However, all types of compositions are impossible for Allah, the Exalted.
The existence which has no limitation must be One for which a second cannot be conceived, because conceiving a second to Him would necessitate limiting Him. A limitation is composed of existence and nonexistence.
Every composed is in need of what it is composed of. Therefore, association in Divinity ends in making the god in need of nonexistence. The Glorified Allah is Unique in essence and attributes. Hence, He has no second to Him, neither confirmed nor conceived.
Fourth Proof
Indeed, the unity in the system of all parts of the universe, and in the universe as a whole, proves the Oneness of the Creator. A close examination of the system and composition of every part of the categories of the universe, and their connection with each other, reveals that both parts of the universe and the universe as a whole are created by One, Omniscient, Omnipotent and All-Wise Creator.
Indeed, the formation of the parts of a tree, the parts of the body of an animal and its strength, their connection with each other, their connection with the Earth and the sun, the connection of the solar system with other solar systems and the galaxy, in one sentence is: Verily, from the composition of an atom and what goes on around it to the composition of the sun and the galaxies, reveal that the Creator of all is One:
And He it is Who is God in the heavens and God in the earth; and He is the Wise, the Knowing.
men! Serve your Lord Who created you and those before you so that you may guard (against evil). Who made the earth a resting place for you and the heaven a canopy and (Who) sends down rain from the cloud then brings forth with it subsistence for you of the
fruits; therefore do not set up rivals to Allah while you know.
Fifth Proof
Imam al-Sadiq (as) was asked, “Why is it not permissible that there be more than one creator of the universe?” Thus, he (as) replied:…Furthermore, if you claim that there are two gods, there must be a division between them both, which has always existed, and that division would have to be a third god. However, if you claim that there are three gods, then there must be two divisions between them, leaving us with five gods, and so on ad aeternum.
Sixth Proof
The Commander of the Faithful (as) said to his son al-Hasan (as):Beware, O son that if your Lord had an associate then his messengers would have certainly come to you and you would have seen signs of his sovereignty and dominion. You would have learnt his actions and attributes. However, He is One God like He has described Himself.
The outcome of the faith in Oneness of Allah, the Exalted, is His Unity of Service, because other than Him do not deserve service and cannot attain it. As everything and everyone other than Him is His servant:
There is no one in the heavens and the earth but will come to the Beneficent Allah as a servant.
Furthermore, service to other than Allah, the Exalted, is humiliation from the humiliated and begging from the needy. In fact, it is humiliation even for humility and is begging from the need itself.
O men! You are they who stand in need of Allah, and Allah is He Who is the Self-Sufficient, the Praised One.
Verily, faith in His Oneness and that every being is from Him, due to Him and will return to Him, is summarised in three sentences: There is no god but Allah; There is no power and no strength except Allah;
And to Allah all things return.
Fortunate is he who remembers these pure words constantly, and sleeps and wakes with them, and lives and dies upon them. Thus, he will succeed in reality:
Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall surely return.
The Effect of Divine Unity on Man and Society
Amongst the effects that occur when mankind reaches the reality of Divine Unity, is that the thinking and intent of an individual and society must focus on one goal. There is no goal higher than that. In fact, there is no other goal but:
Say: I exhort you only to one thing, that rise up for Allah's sake in twos and singly.
Even when the focus of the rays of the human soul is on nonessential points, it can do amazing things. However, if the rays of the human soul in thinking and intent focused on one reality, which is the beginning and the end of existence, andthe Light of the heavens and the earth
,
then to what stage will this man achieve?
If the individual and the society reach the status, concerning which the Glorified and Exalted says:
Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists,
then through their connection with Allah and moulding with Allah’s ethics, they will become such a source of goodness, privilege and perfection that cannot be described.
To end this discussion, we will mention the word which is a fort of Allah for protection from the wrath of this world and the hereafter. Abu Hamzah reported on the authority Abu Ja’far al-Baqir (as) saying:There is nothing greater in reward than testifying that: There is no god but Allah [La ilaha illa Allah], because nothing equals Allah, the Mighty and High, and nobody shares His Power.
From this tradition, we conclude that just as there is no equal or associate with Allah, the Exalted, in His Command; similarly, there is no deed equal to the testimony:there is no god but Allah [La ilaha illa Allah].
Likewise, there is nothing equal in reward for this deed.
Indeed, the verbal testimony
there is no god but Allah [La ilaha illa Allah],
protects the soul, wealth and honour in this world. Moreover, testimony with the heart causes salvation from the wrath of Hell in the hereafter, and success to the highest level of Paradise. Thus, this sacred word is the manifestation of mercy of both the beneficence [al-rahmaniyyah
] and the mercifulness [al-rahimiyyah
].
It is reported from al-Sadiq (as):Verily, Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, has taken an oath by His Dignity and Glory that He will never punish the people who believe in His Unity with Hell-fire.
It is reported from the Prophet (S):The one whom Allah has blessed with belief in Divine Unity shall have Heaven as his reward.
Surely whoever remembers these words constantly, the vessel of his heart will be secured with the anchor ofthere is no god but Allah [La ilaha illa Allah]
from the abyss of destruction and the waves of fear of calamities, whispers and evils:
Those who believe and whose hearts are set at rest by the remembrance of Allah; now surely by Allah's remembrance are the hearts set at rest.
The word:There is no god but Allah [La ilaha illa Allah],
is a remembrance that can be said loudly or quietly. Thus, it is the combination of hidden and apparent remembrance. It contains the sacred word “Allah.” It
is reported from the Commander of the Faithful (as) that it is the greatest name of Allah, the Exalted.
Say: Tell me if the chastisement of Allah should overtake you or the hour should come upon you, will you call (on others) besides Allah, if you are truthful? Nay, Him you call upon, so He clears away that for which you pray if He pleases and you forget what you set up (with Him).
Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported from the Prophet (S) that he said: Allah, Mighty be His Glory, said to Musa (as), “O Musa! If everything that exists in all the heavens, their inhabitants, and the seven earths, were placed in one side of the scale, and ‘there is no god but Allah’ was placed in the other side, then ‘there is no god but Allah’ would tip the scale.”
Thus, nothing from the earth, the heavens, the material and the abstract things, can equal ‘there is no god but Allah.’ None perceive its reverence but the ones who have reached the reality of negation and proof, as this testimony relates.
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Author: Ayatullah Wahid Khorasani
