Tawhid
taw-HEED
The oneness of Allah — the axis on which the entire universe turns.
A synthesized overview will appear here as content grows.
Root Analysis
The root w–ḥ–d carries the meaning of singularity and uniqueness. The word Ahad (used in Surah Al-Ikhlas: 'Allah is Ahad') is from this root — but Ahad carries a stronger sense of absolute, irreducible singularity than Wahid (one in a numerical sense). The scholars distinguish: Wahid means 'one' as opposed to 'two'; Ahad means 'one' in a sense that admits no comparison, no conjunction, no alongside. Tawhid is the affirmation of both — Allah is Wahid (not multiple) and Ahad (uniquely, incomparably singular).
Quranic Occurrence
The verb wahhada and the noun tawhid appear relatively rarely in the Quran — but the concept of tawhid pervades every page. The divine names (Al-Ahad, Al-Wahid, Al-Samad), the denial of partners (la sharika lah), and the negation of anything comparable to Allah (laysa ka-mithlihi shay') are the Quran's constant expression of tawhid.