To begin with, the oneness of Allah lies at the very heart of Islamic belief: Tawhīd affirms that Allah is One, unique, indivisible, without partner or equal, and that He alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and has absolute Authority over all existence. This belief is not just a mere abstract feeling; it demands exclusive devotion.
Tawhīd, oneness of Allah, is basically understood through three inseparable dimensions: affirming Allah’s Lordship (Rubūbiyyah), directing all acts of worship solely to Him (Ulūhiyyah), and affirming His beautiful Names and perfect Attributes (Asmāʾ wa Sifāt) without distortion, denial, or comparison. To uphold Tawhīd is to align one’s belief, intention, and action with the Qur’an and the Sunnah, so that worship, conduct, reliance, and hope are all rooted in the recognition of Allah’s absolute oneness.
Closely clipped to Tawhīd is al-khawf, the reverent fear of Allah. This fear is not mere terror or anxiety, but an awe-filled consciousness that arises from recognizing Allah’s majesty, power, and justice. Al-khawf is an act of worship when it is directed solely to Allah, motivating obedience, restraint from sin, and humility before Him. It is this fear that disciplines the soul and keeps the believer mindful of accountability, not fear of worldly harm or created beings. In this sense, fearing Allah strengthens Tawhīd, for it ensures that reverence and submission are reserved for Him alone, unnegotiably.
This consciousness of Allah’s oneness and authority is renewed constantly through worship. In every unit of prayer, the believer recites the words:
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help” (Sūrat al-Fātihah 1:5).
This verse is both a declaration and a covenant, affirming exclusive worship and total reliance upon Allah.
Practicing Tawhīd also requires the believer to reject superstition, to avoid attributing divine qualities to creation, and to understand Allah’s attributes as He revealed them, without excess or negligence. In doing so, the believer’s heart becomes anchored in sincerity and clarity of faith.
Alongside having the fear of Allāh and submitting oneself to him, stands al-mahabbah, loving Allah. Love is natural to the human heart; what defines a person is what they choose to love most. In Islam, loving Allah and His Messenger is not optional but an essential component of faith. A believer who does not place the love of Allah and His Prophet above all else must question the soundness of their īmān.
True love of Allah is not merely emotional attachment; it is reflected in obedience, loyalty, and preference for what Allah loves over what the soul desires. When a servant loves Allah sincerely, Allah loves that servant in return.
This principle is made explicit in the Qur’an, where Allah says:
Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Love of Allah, therefore, is inseparable from following the Prophet.
In an authentic hadith narrated by al-Bukhārī, the Prophet said that none truly believes until he loves the Messenger more than all else. The scholars understood this not as emotional excess, but as a love that manifests in adherence, trust, and submission.
Imām al-Shāfiʿī emphasized that loving Allah is cultivated through understanding—understanding the Qur’an, Islamic law, and the transmitted teachings of the Prophet and his Companions.
Knowledge deepens love, for the more one knows Allah, the more the heart inclines toward Him. This insight was further expanded by Shaykh Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله, who explained that love of Allah develops through consistent engagement with revelation, obedience, remembrance, humility, and awareness of divine blessings. Love grows as the servant remembers Allah frequently, draws closer through voluntary acts after fulfilling obligations, and gives precedence to Allah’s pleasure over personal desires.
Ibn al-Qayyim also highlighted that reflecting on Allah’s Names and Attributes nurtures love, as does recognizing His countless favors, both visible and hidden. True love of Allah softens the heart, producing humility and submission, especially in moments of solitude and worship, such as during the last third of the night when forgiveness is sought. Keeping righteous company, benefiting from the words of sincere believers, and guarding one’s speech further protect and nourish the heart. At the same time, distancing oneself from anything that hardens the heart or distracts it from Allah is essential, for love cannot flourish where heedlessness resides.
Thus, the oneness of Allah, fear of Him, and love for Him are not separate paths but interconnected pillars of worship.
