Oneness
One in essence, attributes, and actions
Core Claim
Allah is One with no partner — in essence, attributes, and actions — not in the numerical sense but in that He has no partner
Why It Matters
Oneness is the essence of tawhid — if Allah had a partner, the order of the universe would collapse and worship would be invalid
Lesson
Oneness (al-Waḥdāniyya) means Allah is One with no partner — not in the sense of numerical 'one,' but in that He has no partner in His Essence, attributes, or actions.
In Essence: Allah's essence is unlike any creature's essence — it is not divisible, not multiple, not composed of parts.
In Attributes: His attributes are unlike ours — His knowledge does not resemble our knowledge, His power does not resemble our power, His hearing does not resemble our hearing.
In Actions: His act is bringing things from non-existence into existence — an act no creature can perform. Humans do not create — they manufacture and assemble from existing materials. Allah creates from nothing.
Imam ash-Shafi'i said: 'The anthropomorphist is a disbeliever' — meaning whoever likens Allah to bodies and attributes the qualities of creation to Him has disbelieved because they have associated the attributes of creation with Allah.
Allah said: 'He is the One, the Prevailing' (ar-Ra'd 13:16) — meaning He alone is unique in His oneness and prevails over all else.
When a name or action is applied to both Allah and creation, the agreement is only in the word — the meaning differs entirely. Humans 'make' things, but Allah 'creates' from non-existence.
Key Points
- 1
Allah is One in essence, attributes, and actions — He has no partner in any of them
- 2
Allah's act: bringing from non-existence into existence — no creature can do this
- 3
The anthropomorphist is a disbeliever — the saying of Imam ash-Shafi'i
Evidence
فَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
He is the One, the Prevailing.
Quran 13:16 (Surah ar-Ra'd)
“The anthropomorphist is a disbeliever.”
Imam ash-Shafi'i
Glossary
الوحدانية
al-Waḥdāniyya
Allah's oneness in essence, attributes, and actions — He has no partner
التجسيم
at-Tajsīm
Attributing bodily qualities to Allah — one of the greatest deviations
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