Why is the Issue of Monotheism and Polytheism so important?

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THE PROOF OF ONENESSLearn How to face Polytheism from Abraham.

We all know briefly that Islam and all other celestial religions are very sensitive against polytheism.

The proof is however, not clear to everyone. The arguments for the Oneness of God or monotheism and against polytheism are not known to most people. Four arguments and proofs can be presented.

1. The Unity of God is the base of recognizing all the attributes of God. We cannot attain enlightenment about God without understanding His Unity because (according to the explanation that will be given later) the fountainhead of God’s unity is His infinity and His entity is the personification of all good attributes free from all deficiencies. In short, by accepting polytheism we will be devoid of understanding the recognition of God.

2. The divine light of His Unity spreads all over this universe. This universe and all that is in it are interconnected and illuminated by His Unity. We should study all its components to have a correct recognition of this universe. If we consider its components to be unregulated then we will not escape misjudging this universe.

This universe is single and from where did we learn this? It is based on God’s Oneness. The Oneness of God is the proof of the Oneness of this universe and the oneness of this universe is the sign of God. Surah Mulk in verse 3 says, “You can see no fault in the creation of the Most Beneficent. Then look again, “Can you see any rift?”

3. The oneness of society is the fountainhead of the development and perfection of this world. Contradiction and strife is always the cause of ruin, weakness and desolation. Unity and affinity, is the source of strength and power and development. The belief in the oneness of the single God is a bond of strength in the hearts of millions of people. It creates unity in them and destroys apartheid and nationalistic bias (They are one because their creator is one)

In the days of ignorance the Arab society had weakened and was in doldrums because it was aloof from the belief in One God and was divided by the idols they worshipped. Then came Islam. The idols were broken and the link with Tawhid joined and made them into a force. In a short time this same society became so powerful that not only the Arabs but other societies and nations became subservient to them.

4. The perfection of social development and human talents is only possible in the shadows of the Unity of God.

This is because the base of society depends purely on keeping the false gods away from the hearts. Its actual base is that all human actions should be dictated by God’s will. All steps should be taken accordingly and to fight and move towards it. The society should stay aloof and make no move except by God’s will.

It is this Oneness that teaches mankind to be sincere and what is that lesson? It is through this belief in Oneness that we learn to avoid all kinds of hypocrisy, self worship, yearning for prominence, befriending the world, Satan and polytheism. If you study it you will find that belief in Oneness and the refutation of polytheism influences our actions, intentions, behavior individually and collectively. This is the reason Islam has given more stress on the confirmation of Tawhid or oneness than the refutation of polytheism and has been so determined in its arguments that no evil ideology can stand before it.

We will mention two hadith before we end this discussion:

In the first hadith the Holy messenger speaks to Abdullah Ibn Masood, “O Ibn Masood! Beware! Do not be entrapped in polytheism even for a moment, even though you may be sawed or cut to pieces , hanged to death or burnt alive” (1) This hadith fully demonstrates the importance and necessity of Tawhid.

I the second hadith we find that Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said, “ the Banu Ommaiyya had given permission to learn about faith but they were not permitted to attend to the problem of polytheism ( so that they may understand the truth of polytheism) so that they may be able to fore them into it whenever they wanted. (2)

It is now clear that polytheism was a tool of oppression in the hands of the enemies of Islam and they used it. The belief in Oneness (Tawhid) and its signs is a power through which the unjust can be uprooted.

We come to two conclusions from this discussion on Tawhid.

1. God is not made of material parts (esoteric as well exoteric)

2. The entity of God has no replica or equals. All these arguments are present in the Holy Qura’n.





(1)Behar-ol-Anwar Vol.74Page 107 (Beirut)
(2) Usul Kafi Vol.2 Page 415 Hadith 1.



THE PROOF OF ONENESSLearn How to face Polytheism from Abraham.
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