February 16, 2007
All Muslims believe that there is one Creator Who has created the world for a fixed duration and for a purpose. This is the most fundamental, indisputable, fixed, permanent, and inviolable aspect of Islam. Enshrined in the testimony of faith, la ilaha il’Llah, there is no deity except Allah, this basic belief of Islam is stated in the Qur’an in numerous forms. There are no two opinions about this belief, but at a time when the Muslim world is suffering from inner strife of unprecedented nature, the fullness of this belief has become somewhat clouded and distorted under the overwhelming impact of current events.
Tawhid, at its most basic level, means there is one and only one God. Since there is only one God, it follows that only His will is operative in the universe; that His dominion over the world He has created is indisputable. This God, known in Islam by His specific personal name Allah, is also Most-Wise (al-Hakim), Most-Merciful (al-Rahim). Since He is Most-Wise, He does not create anything without purpose.
There is, indeed, convincing evidence in the cosmic realm pointing to the purpose of creation. The entire cosmos is full of meaningful interactions: despite a very narrow margin, all primary forces operate in harmony with each other—even a small shift in the gravitational field will make it impossible for the cosmos to exist, but that small shift does not take place. Such teleological aspects of the cosmos are the subject matter of higher science and individuals like Einstein, Heisenberg, and Stephen Hawking have often written about these, even though some of these scientists do not believe in the Creator, no one actually denies the remarkable harmony and symmetry of the cosmos. This dimension of Tawhid is often clear to all believers.
What is now not clear to certain believers, however, is the operative extension of Tawhid in the realm of human history. That we all exist on this earth and act out our lives within a certain time and with a certain degree of freedom are self-evident truths. That some human beings accept the presence of a Creator and others do not are also apparent facets of the freedom granted to humanity. But, this disbelief does not change the actual existential reality: all human beings exist on earth within a certain time frame and with only a certain degree of freedom. What they do has consequences for them, as well as for the entire humanity.
Those who believe in the Creator and His message, which has been sent through Prophets, also believe that Divine Will operates in the entire cosmos, at all levels—from the tiniest ant to the greatest galaxy. These fundamental truths have always been operative in Islamic polity, but their contemporary understanding has become somewhat problematic for many Muslims. These problems stem from a lack of understanding of the political and social dimensions of the concept of Tawhid, which is now often not understood in its completeness.
The belief in the Oneness of the Creator can only be complete if it is operative in all realms of human existence. Tawhid is not merely a dry theoretical concept; it is like a lens through which one views everything. As such, it provides a worldview characterized by unity, coherence, and harmony—a worldview in which all parts of the universe and all aspects of existence are related to each other. Since the Creator is One, everything that exists is related to the same origin and source, there being no multiplicity of gods or creators, every dimension of one’s existence is related to the Creator through a dynamic relationship.
Tawhid also implies the liberation and freedom of humanity from bondage and servitude to multiple deities, be they idols of olden times or demigods of our own times. In other words, belief in the Oneness of the Creator liberates humanity from servitude to all those who wish to impose their will in opposition to God. This does not mean social and political anarchy; rather, it means devotion to order, justice, equality, goodness, and freedom in the highest sense. This profound aspect of Tawhid liberates humanity from servitude to the will and pseudo power of those who wish to impose their self-created versions of these noble ideals on humanity.
Order, freedom, justice, and equality are dimensions of social, economic, and political realms of human existence. They are properties which characterize interpersonal relations as well as inter-state relations. A fully conscious belief in Tawhid can liberate humans from servitude to all forms of slavery and subjugation be they intellectual, cultural, economic or political.
Political dimension of Tawhid provides the fundamental framework for the construction of state institutions as well as individual to state and state-to-state relationships. In fact, the entire political dimension of Islam is based on this concept. Since in recent times the very nature of state has gone through certain fundamental changes, it has become imperative for Muslim scholars and intellectuals to clarify these aspects of Tawhid. As opposed to the previous eras, when a secular caliph could do what he willed without creating a deep impact on the nature of relationship between the state and the individual, the contemporary state has appropriated a role that is all encompassing. State institutions and those who run them have now assumed a power they never had in the entire span of history. This radical change in the nature of state necessitates a reformulation of the political dimensions of Tawhid, a task that could reorient Islamic polity to its fundamental principles.
(To be concluded)
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