How is Tawheed and the Oneness of Allah established in the heart?

 

Tawheed (توحيد) Meaning: Acknowledgment of the Oneness of Allah — that is, recognizing Allah’s absolute singularity in His essence, worship, and attributes, without associating any partners with Him. The foundation of a Muslim’s faith is this concept of Tawheed. When it becomes deeply rooted in the heart, a person’s thoughts, actions, and lifestyle begin to align with Allah’s commands.

The instruction given to disciples (murids) to undergo chilla (spiritual retreat) in every possible way is aimed at bringing about this transformation. It is intended so that the murid may reform and rid themselves of bad habits and negative traits. When a murid, through chilla, changes their previous nature, character, and behavior, they cease to be the same person as before. The one you saw at first is no longer the same; they have become a different person. When a person’s nature and character change, the person himself changes. Their true essence lies in their nature and character. When that nature and character no longer remain as before, the person is no longer the same — even though their physical body remains unchanged. And the physical form is something that is never of true significance. Thus, a new kind of spiritual force emerges within such a person, known as the reality of faith (haqiqah of Iman). And when this essence of faith finds a place in the heart, then Tawheed — the oneness of Allah — becomes firmly established in the heart, and all traces of polytheism (shirk) are expelled from it.

1. Establishing Tawheed in the Light of the Qur’an

1. Allah is the only deity to be worshipped:
   "Your God is one God; there is no deity except Him. He is the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful."
   — (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 163)
2. Do not associate partners with Allah:
   "Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills."
   — (Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 48)
3. Allah alone creates and controls:
   "He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is."
   — (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 117)

2. Establishing Tawheed in the Light of Hadith

1. Faith in Tawheed is the key to Paradise:
   The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
   "Whoever says sincerely, 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah), will enter Paradise."
   — (Sahih Bukhari: 6443)
2. No deeds are accepted without Tawheed:
   The Prophet ﷺ said:
   "Allah says: I am the most independent of partners. Whoever performs an act in which he associates others with Me, I will reject it entirely."
   — (Sahih Muslim: 2985)
3. Teaching Tawheed was the mission of every prophet:
   The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
   "I and the prophets before me were commanded: 'Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him.'"
   — (Sahih Bukhari)

3. Ways to Establish Tawheed in the Heart

"As long as your focus remains on yourself, the feeling of plurality will remain. But when you turn your gaze away from your own existence, only the existence of the One remains."

1. Study of the Qur’an and Hadith:
   Regular reading and reflection upon the Tafsir (exegesis) of the Qur’an and the Hadith instill in the heart the attributes and majesty of Allah.
2. Consistent dhikr (remembrance) and worship:
   Through dhikr, prayer, and supplication, the heart becomes illuminated with the remembrance of Allah.
3. Avoiding acts contrary to Tawheed:
   One must abstain from talismans, superstitions, witchcraft, belief in stars, etc., as these are forms of shirk (polytheism).
4. Reflecting on the creation of Allah:
   The heavens, the earth, animals, celestial bodies — all these contain signs of Allah’s oneness and power. Focusing on them helps establish Tawheed in the heart.

Conclusion

Tawheed is the foundation of Islam and the basis of all good deeds. It is not merely a statement of the tongue but a firm belief of the heart that should be reflected in every aspect of life. The Qur’an and Hadith deeply educate us about Tawheed and warn us of the dangers of shirk. Therefore, it is every believer's duty to establish Tawheed at every level of life — in the heart, in thought, and in action.

If the light of Allah’s oneness enters your heart, then you will truly become a believer, Insha’Allah.