In a minute
The first and greatest belief in Islam is that God is One. Muslims believe He alone created everything, sustains everything and deserves worship. He is unlike anything we can picture, and yet closer to each of us than our own heartbeat. He has no partner, no equal, no parent and no child. Allah is simply the Arabic word for "the God". Muslims call on Him by His many beautiful names, such as the Most Merciful, the Most Loving and the All-Wise.
What it is and how it's lived
Tawhid: oneness
Muslim scholars describe God's oneness in three ways:
- One in His being: He is unique, not divided, not made of parts, not born and not giving birth.
- One in His attributes: His knowledge, power, mercy and life are perfect and unlike any creature's.
- One in His actions and in worship: He alone creates and sustains, so worship, prayer, ultimate trust and ultimate love belong to Him alone.
The opposite of tawhid is shirk: associating partners with God, or giving anything else the worship that is His. Muslims regard it as the gravest wrong, because it puts creation in the Creator's place.
The beautiful names
The Qur'an says "His are the most beautiful names" (59:24). The Prophet spoke of ninety-nine names of God (paraphrased; Sahih al-Bukhari 2736, Sahih Muslim 2677). Every chapter of the Qur'an but one begins "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful" (Bismillahi'r-Rahmani'r-Rahim). Muslims say Bismillah before eating, travelling or starting work. They say Subhan Allah (glory be to God) at something beautiful, and Alhamdulillah (praise be to God) in good times and bad. These phrases keep God present in ordinary life.
→ See the 99 Names section of this site for each name in depth.
How Muslims come to know God
Through His words in revelation; through His signs (ayat) in the natural world, from stars to seeds; and through worship and remembrance. The Qur'an asks people again and again to look, reflect and give thanks.
Its inner meaning
Tawhid frees as well as commands. If only One deserves worship, then no person, nation, possession or fear can own you. It also unites: one God, one human family, all equally His creatures. And it brings peace: "Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!" (13:28).
Key verses
"Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him." (Qur'an 112:1–4, Pickthall)
Arabic:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
"Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth." (Qur'an 2:255, Pickthall — opening of the Verse of the Throne)
"Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer." (Qur'an 42:11, Pickthall)
"We verily created man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein." (Qur'an 50:16, Pickthall)
"And when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me." (Qur'an 2:186, Pickthall)
From the Prophet (peace be upon him)
- When God created creation, He wrote in a Book kept with Him: "My mercy prevails over My anger" (paraphrased; Sahih al-Bukhari 7404, Sahih Muslim 2751).
- God says: I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me; if he draws near to Me by a hand's span, I draw near to him by an arm's length (paraphrased; a hadith qudsi, Sahih al-Bukhari 7405, Sahih Muslim 2675).
- God divided mercy into a hundred parts. He sent one part down to earth, and from it every mother's tenderness comes; He kept ninety-nine with Him (paraphrased; Sahih al-Bukhari 6000).
Common misunderstandings, answered gently
- "Allah is a moon god" or "an Arab god". Allah is the Arabic for "God", used by Arab Christians and Jews and found in Arabic Bibles. Muslims believe Allah is the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus, the God of all people.
- "The Muslim God is only about rules and punishment." The names Muslims repeat most are ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. The Qur'an says: "Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins" (39:53).
- "Muslims believe God is distant." The Qur'an speaks of God as transcendent, "naught is as His likeness", and also as intimately near, "nearer to him than his jugular vein".
Muslim and Christian understandings of God differ on the Trinity and on Jesus. Muslims believe God has no son (112:3), while Christians believe in one God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each faith explains this in its own words on our faiths pages.
Sunni and Shia
Tawhid is the first root of faith for Shia Muslims too. Shia theology adds God's justice ('Adl) as its own root: God never wrongs anyone and does only what is wise and good.
Reflection
Which name of God do you most need today: the Merciful, the Patient, the Provider, the Healer?
In the other traditions
- Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). The divine name is held so holy that it is not pronounced; Jews say Adonai or HaShem. Maimonides' principles of faith begin with God's existence and unity.
- Christianity: Christians believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Holy Trinity), and that "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
Watch
A Muslim telling
A Muslim telling