Islam: Tawhid

Question 1

What is Tawhid

Answer 1

the belief that there is one God. It is first in the 6 articles of faith

Question 1

What is the Shahadah

Answer 1

There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is his messenger

this is said to a new-born baby
this should be the last words a Muslim says

Question 2

Ar-Rububbiyah

Answer 2

maintaining the oneness of lordship

Question 3

Al-Ibadah

Answer 3

maintaining the unity of worship

Question 4

Al-Sifat

Answer 4

maintaining Allah-s attributes and names

Question 5

Importance of the name ‘Allah’

Answer 5

it has no plural - so there is one God
it is only ever used for God

Question 6

Surah 112, showing Tawhid

Answer 6

“Say he, Allah, is the one and only, God the Eternal, Absolute. Allah is he on whom all depend. He begets not nor is He begotten. And none is like Him.

Question 7

Qur’an 42:11

Answer 7

He is Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

Question 8

Qur’an 21:22

Answer 8

“Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah , they both (heaven and earth) would have been in a state of disorder”

Question 9

Common chants in Salat

Answer 9

Allahu Akbar
this means God is great - in the terms of Anselm. i.e. God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived

Question 10

God’s control of the end of the world

Answer 10

• he has power to bring the world to an end
• he has the power to judge humans and send them to either heaven of hell
• two angels sit on either shoulder of the Muslim and mark down his actions for the day of judgement

Question 11

God’s immanence

Answer 11

“we are nearer to man than his jugular vein” - 50:16

They believe that God is part of the universe, so science and learning will be a discovery of God.

everything is dependent on God’s creative power

Question 12

God’s mercy and compassion

Answer 12

Only known through revelation
Allah put Adam in charge of earth - to be his vice-regent, yet mercifully sent angels to show humans how to do this.

“My mercy extends to all things” Surah 7:156.

Question 13

Horrie + Chippindale quote about Tawhid

Answer 13

“Allah is greater than anything else, or anything which can possibly be imagined”

Question 14

Turner

Answer 14

“Uncompromising monotheism”

Question 15

Key issues

Answer 15

Is the belief in Tawhid significant?
Evaluation of argument for existence of God vs interpretations and description of God in Qur’an
Comparison of different interpretations of anthropomorphic descriptions of God in Qur’an