Allah is One

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

In this blog I will discuss Allah's uniqueness in His Oneness. I hope to clear up any confusion about the praise “Allah is One” and in doing so I also hope to prove intellectually Allah's Divine Unity. InshaAllah with this essay I pray it clears up any misconception that is attached to the word “One” when we speak about God's Oneness.

First I would like to point out that we in Shia Islam believe Allah is not One in numbers but he is One in the meaning there is no other like Him. We are as humans a lower level of being made out of matter and therefore we are not able to perceive Him with our eyes since eyes are matter material and Allah is not made out of matter. It is kind of like saying we can not see reasoning or intellect but we know humans have this ability. Allah is like that intellect we can not see but know its there.  I would like to show Quran and hadith on this subject.

"Some faces on that day (i.e., the Day of

Judgment) will be radiant, looking towards their Lord. (75:22-23)

The word "Nadhira" that is used in the above verse does not necessarily imply seeing with one's eyes. Imams (AS) have have said other verses of Quran to support the definition of the word "Nadhira" in this verse as similar to the meaning of "Muntadhira", which means looking forward to. On the commentary of this verse, Imam Ali (AS) said The verse means looking forward to what Allah, the Mighty and the Majestic, has promised them. And the word 'Nadhira' sometimes means 'expecting/waiting/looking forward' ('al-Muntadhira'). Haven't you heard the saying of Allah: '(But I am going to send him a present) and I am looking forward (Nadhira) to what (answer) the ambassadors will return (27:35).' This means I am waiting (al-Muntadhira) for what the ambassadors will return. As for the verse: 'For indeed he saw him at a second descent. Near the Lote-tree of the uttermost boundary (53:13-14)', it means when Muhammad (S.A.W.) was near the Lote-tree of the uttermost boundary which none of His creations has passed it (saw Gabriel). It is His saying in the followed verses: '(His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong! For truly did he see one of the great signs of his Lord! (53:17-18)', he saw Gabriel in his shape twice. Verily Gabriel is a great creature and is from amongst the spiritual entities whose creation and shapes are not fully understood except by the Lord of the Universe

- al-Ihtijaj, v1, p243

- Bihar al-Anwar, v90/93, p101, Hadith #1

Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said: "Avoid pondering over (the Essence of) Allah, because pondering over (the Essence of) Allah would only increase deviation/error. Verily Allah cannot be reached by the sight (of minds) and cannot be described by      proportion

- Kitab al-Tawhid, p457, Hadith #14

- Wasa'il al-Shia, v16, p197, Hadith #21334

- Bihar al-Anwar, v3, p259, Hadith #4

"Eyes do not comprehend him and he comprehends the eyes and he is the Kind, the Knowing" (An'aam(6) / 103)

One may ask then is there a way we can know Allah truly exist since we can not see Him. The answer is yes. A beautiful hadith from Imam Ali AS tells us so when he AS said “I never worship somebody whom I have not seen visions do not capture him using sights of the eyes, but, hearts capture him by the essence of the belief." (Nahj-ul-balaghah, sermon 179)

I think in summing up the explanation of Allah's oneness the perfect quote from Shaykh Saduq who wrote in ‘A Shi’ite Creed’ the English translation of I’teqadat-Al-Imamiah pages 27-28:
“Know that our belief concerning Tawheed is that Allah, exalted is He, is one (Wahid) and Absolutely unique (ahad). There is naught like unto Him; He is prior (qadim, Ancient). He never was, and never will be, but the Hearing (Sami) and the Seeing One (Basir); the Omniscient (‘alim); the Wise (Hakim); the Living (Hayy); the Everlasting (Qayum); the Mighty (aziz); the Holy (Quddus); the Knowing One (‘Alim); The Powerful (Qadir); the Self Sufficient (Ghani). He cannot be described by his essence (jawhar); His body (jism); His Form (Sura), or by his Accidental Qualities (Arad)…

He is a Thing (Shay) but not like other things. He is unique (Ahad), Eternal Refuge (Samad)”, He begets not, lest He may be inherited; not is He begotten, lest He may be associated (with others). There is no one like unto Him; He has no equal (nidd) or opponent (didd), compeer (shibh) or consort (sahibah). Nothing can be compared with Him (mithl); He has no rival (nazir), no partner (sharik). “Human eyes cannot behold Him”. The thoughts of men cannot compass Him; while He is aware of them. “Slumber overtakes Him not, nor sleep” [2:225]; and He is the Gracious (latif) and the Knowing One (khabir), the Creator (khaliq) of all things. There is no deity (ilah) other than Him; to Him (alone) belongs (the power) of Creation (khalq) and authority (amr). Blessed (tabarraka) is Allah, the Lord if the World's. And he who believes in tasbih (imminence) is a polytheist (mushrik). And he who attributes to the Imams (beliefs) other than those that have been stated concerning the Unity of Allah (tawhid) is a liar”.

With that I would like to conclude that Allah is One to whom all things turn too. He is unique and His religion is unique including  uniqueness of the message (of all messengers), uniqueness of Qiblah and our divine book the Holy Quran, uniqueness of all Islamic laws (fiqh) for all human beings, uniqueness of the Muslim nation, and finally uniqueness of the Day of Judgment (Resurrection Day).

I pray this blog has cleared up any misconceptions or any misunderstandings about Allah's uniqueness.
May Allah grant us with the knowledge to understand Him and may Allah guide us to Him. Ameen.