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Tawhid

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The foundational Islamic doctrine of the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God (Allah), rejecting any form of association or partnership with Him.

Detailed Definition
Tawhid is the core of Islamic theology, affirming God’s indivisibility, transcendence, and sole right to worship. It shapes Muslim ethics, cosmology, and aesthetics—rejecting idolatry in all forms. In poetry, especially Sufi verse, Tawhid inspires themes of unity, annihilation of the ego (fana), and the soul’s return to its Source. Poets use metaphors of light, ocean, or mirror to express the paradox of a singular Reality manifesting in multiplicity, often echoing the Shahada: “There is no god but God.”
Example
Example in poetry:
A theological poem: “Tawḥīd is not just ‘one God’—it’s the unity behind all diversity”; In a modern verse, “Tawḥīd means no racism—because all faces reflect One Light”; A minimalist reflection: “Tawḥīd: the root of justice”; A Sufi lyric: “Lā ilāha illā Allāh—this phrase dissolves the illusion of separation.”
Additional Notes
Tawhid is the fundamental, non-negotiable doctrine of Islam: the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God (Allah). It asserts that God is one in His essence, attributes, and right to worship. Every aspect of Islamic belief and practice stems from Tawhid. Its opposite is Shirk (associating partners with God). For literary analysis, Tawhid is the central theme of the Quran and provides a lens of radical monotheism through which to view all of Islamic spirituality, art, and philosophy.
Also Known As
Oneness of God Divine Unity
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