Tawhid & Taharah – SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Tawhid is the Muslim belief that Allah is the only God and the only one to be worshipped. Taharah means purity or cleanliness in Islam, of both body and soul. Muslims keep Taharah so that they are ready to worship Allah, for example by performing Wudu before prayer.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain the meaning of Tawhid and name its three types;
• state why Tawhid is important and give examples of Shirk;
• explain Taharah and state its two types;
• list the steps of Wudu and say when Ghusl is required;
• name the things that are considered najis (impure);
• describe the connection between Tawhid and Taharah.

What is Tawhid?

Tawhid is the most important belief in Islam. It means believing that there is only one God (Allah). Muslims believe that Allah is the only one who should be worshipped. This is the first thing a Muslim must believe.

Tawhid comes from the Arabic word “wahid”, which means “one.” So Tawhid means “making one” or “declaring oneness.” When Muslims talk about Tawhid, they are talking about the oneness of Allah.

What are the three types of Tawhid?

Muslim scholars explain that there are three main parts of Tawhid.

1. Tawhid ar-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship)

This means believing that Allah is the only creator of everything. He is the one who makes the rain fall and the plants grow. He is the one who gives life and causes death. He is the Lord (Rabb) of all worlds. No one shares His power in creating or controlling the universe.

Example: When you see a beautiful sunset or a newborn baby, remember that Allah alone created these things.

2. Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship)

This means that Muslims should worship only Allah. No person, object, or being should be worshipped besides Him. All prayers, fasting, charity, and other acts of worship must be for Allah alone.

Example: When Muslims pray five times a day, they are showing that they worship only Allah.

3. Tawhid al-Asma wa as-Sifat (Oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes)

This means believing in all the names and qualities of Allah mentioned in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah has the most beautiful names, such as the Most Gracious (Ar-Rahman), the Most Merciful (Ar-Raheem), and the All-Knowing (Al-Aleem).

Example: When Muslims say “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem” (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), they are remembering Allah’s names.

Why is Tawhid important?

Tawhid is the foundation of Islam. It is mentioned many times in the Quran. For example, Surah Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112) says:

“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah is Eternal and Absolute. He does not give birth, nor was He born. And there is nothing like Him.”

This short chapter explains Tawhid in a simple way. It tells us that Allah is one, He does not have children, He was not created, and there is nothing similar to Him.

Tawhid helps Muslims to:

• Know who to worship
• Understand their purpose in life
• Feel peace in their hearts
• Stay away from false gods or idols
• Live a life that pleases Allah

The first pillar of Islam is the Shahadah (declaration of faith), which says: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” The first part of this statement is all about Tawhid.

What is Shirk, the opposite of Tawhid?

The opposite of Tawhid is “Shirk.” Shirk means associating partners with Allah or worshipping something besides Allah. This is considered the greatest sin in Islam because it goes against the most basic teaching of the religion.

Examples of Shirk include:

• Praying to statues or idols
• Believing that other beings have the same power as Allah
• Thinking that lucky charms can protect you
• Asking the dead for help

Muslims try very hard to avoid all types of Shirk, big or small.

What is Taharah?

Taharah means “purity” or “cleanliness” in Islam. It includes keeping both the body and the soul clean. Muslims believe that cleanliness is half of faith, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught.

Taharah is very important because Muslims must be in a state of purity before they pray, touch the Quran, or perform certain acts of worship. Allah loves those who keep themselves clean and pure.

What are the types of Taharah?

There are two main types of Taharah:

1. Physical Taharah: keeping the body, clothes, and surroundings clean
2. Spiritual Taharah: keeping the heart and mind pure from bad thoughts and intentions

Physical Taharah: Wudu (ablution)

Wudu is washing certain parts of the body before prayer. The steps of Wudu are:

1. Say “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah)
2. Wash the hands three times
3. Rinse the mouth three times
4. Clean the nose three times
5. Wash the face three times
6. Wash the arms to the elbows three times
7. Wipe the head with wet hands
8. Wipe inside and behind the ears
9. Wash the feet up to the ankles three times

Muslims must perform Wudu before each prayer if they have done anything that breaks their Wudu, like using the bathroom, sleeping, or passing gas.

Physical Taharah: Ghusl (full bath)

Ghusl is taking a complete bath to clean the entire body. Muslims must perform Ghusl:

• After having intimate relations
• After finishing the monthly period (for women)
• After childbirth
• After wet dreams

For Ghusl, a person must wash their entire body with water, making sure no part remains dry.

Physical Taharah: keeping clothes and surroundings clean

Muslims should:

• Wear clean clothes, especially for prayer and visiting the mosque
• Keep their homes and neighbourhoods clean
• Remove dirt and impurities (najasah) from clothes and prayer places

Physical Taharah: cleaning after using the bathroom

Muslims use water to clean themselves after using the toilet. This is called “istinja.” Using only toilet paper is not enough for complete cleanliness in Islam.

Spiritual Taharah

Spiritual cleanliness is just as important as physical cleanliness. It includes:

• Keeping the heart free from jealousy, hatred, and pride
• Controlling anger and negative thoughts
• Being honest and truthful
• Avoiding backbiting (talking badly about others behind their backs)
• Making sincere repentance (tawbah) when making mistakes
• Remembering Allah often

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions.”

What things are considered impure (najis)?

In Islam, certain things are considered ritually impure (najis) and must be cleaned before prayer:

• Urine and faeces from humans and animals (except birds)
• Blood and pus
• Dogs’ saliva
• Pig products
• Alcoholic drinks
• Vomit

If these touch the body, clothes, or prayer place, they must be washed away before prayer.

How are Tawhid and Taharah connected?

Tawhid and Taharah are connected in important ways:

1. Worship connection: To worship Allah alone (Tawhid), Muslims must be in a state of purity (Taharah).
2. Heart purity: True Tawhid cannot exist without a pure heart. As the Quran says, “Only those with pure hearts will succeed.”
3. Following Allah’s commands: By keeping clean as Allah commanded, Muslims show their obedience to the One God.
4. Spiritual growth: Both Tawhid and Taharah help Muslims grow closer to Allah and become better people.

Tawhid is about making Allah the centre of your life, and Taharah is about being ready to meet Him in prayer and on the Day of Judgement.

What practical tips can students follow in daily life?

For Tawhid

• Remember Allah throughout the day
• Learn about Allah’s names and attributes
• Avoid showing off in acts of worship
• Ask help only from Allah

For Taharah

• Keep a water bottle for Wudu when travelling
• Have special clean clothes for prayer
• Use miswak or a toothbrush to keep the mouth clean
• Take regular showers
• Keep nails short and clean
• Remove body hair regularly

Evaluation

1. What does the word “Tawhid” mean, and which Arabic word does it come from?
2. Name the three types of Tawhid and give one example of each.
3. What is Shirk? Give two examples.
4. State the two types of Taharah.
5. List the steps of Wudu in order.

Assignment

1. Write down four things that break Wudu or make Ghusl necessary, and say which of the two each one requires.
2. Explain in your own words two ways in which Tawhid and Taharah are connected.