At the heart of Islam lies the concept of tawhid, without it, there is no Islam. Tawhid is the oneness of God, the belief that God is the one and only God. Islam has always been my way of life, and I have known for as long as I can remember that Allah (SWT) is the one and only true God, but I never truly delved into the concept. I have never questioned God and his oneness and superiority over His creation, but when reading “The Tawhidic Paradigm” by Hidayatullah, it was the first time I encountered the phrase “tawhidic paradigm” and read so deeply into it. “The Tawhidic Paradigm” opened conversation about things I have not ever given a second-thought to before, and also deepened my understanding of the true meaning of tawhid. Hidayatullah presents discussion around the gendering of God in the Holy Quran, opening dialogue about language barriers, modern-day feminism, and the transcendent nature of God in Islam.
Tawhid is the central concept of Islam, as Muslims believe that we were created to worship God and God alone. Without believing in tawhid, one cannot call themselves a follower of Islam. The phrase “tawhidic paradigm” emphasizes the absolute unity and sovereignty of God (Hidayatullah 111). Such a paradigm shapes Islam and ensures all life is under God’s rule. Tawhid transcends the simple acknowledgement of God’s singularity, rather it encompasses His absolute sovereignty over life as we all know it. Throughout her article, Hidayatullah references verses from the Quran and talks about their different “interpretations”. Because the Quran is God’s word, no human is truly able to grasp the true meaning of His words and His true message, explaining the various interpretations as Hidayatullah mentions. The limitations of human language is proof of God’s wisdom beyond human comprehension. Several interpretations of God’s word exist because God’s wisdom transcends that of mankind’s, making us incapable of fully understanding the Quran.
In her exploration of the tawhidic program, Hidayatullah examines conversations around the gendering of God in the Quran. The use of male pronouns for God in Arabic sparks considerable debate within modern-feminist views. Because of the maleness of God in the Quran, discussion of male superiority in Islam is often brought up. Hidayatullah points out that the Quran is the word of God, limited by human language (Hidayatullah 112). The Quran’s language, Arabic, itself is a language barrier between mankind and God Himself. God’s word has already been translated once for humans to maybe capture a glimpse of the meaning of God’s divine word. In the Quran, Allah (SWT) refers to Himself using male pronouns, however we know that God is ungendered. Hidayatullah highlights that asserting men as superiors over women, simply because of God’s maleness in the Quran is a sin (Hidayatullah112). The use of male pronouns when referring to God in the Quran sparks conversation about why God chose to refer to himself in a male sense, but the idea of gender is a human characteristic. Lowering God to the standards of man is the greatest sin because it breaches the tawhidic paradigm, the core value of Islam.
Using the maleness of God in the Quran to view God as male is unacceptable; using the maleness of God in the Quran to prove one being’s superiority over another is a grave sin. By attributing things such as pronouns and gender to God, it is almost an attempt to personify Him. Instead of focusing on the gender of God, we must recognize the barrier between our capacity of language and His words. Bringing God, the divine, to mankind’s level takes away from the oneness of God and His power over us all, His creations.
Instead of focusing on attributing such characteristics to God, Hidayatullah emphasizes the importance of reverting back to the traditional concept of tawhid. Focusing on the core of Islam, the tawhidic paradigm, shifts focus from feminist arguments about God’s gender to remembering the true meaning of tawhid. As Hidayatullah defines it, tawhid is the concept that God is “wholly singular, unique, and indivisible” (Hidayatullah 111). Hidayatullah’s emphasis on the singularity of God is a potent reminder of the fundamental principle of Islam. By remembering the uniqueness of God, conversations relating to the gendering of Him are steered away, and instead we are reminded that framing God within human attributes confines His divineness. The concept of God as “wholly, singular, and indivisible” exemplifies that God’s existence is beyond human comprehension and we may never know the reason for God referring to himself as “male” in the Quran. God’s word is beyond human comprehension and we must remember our positions as God’s creations on the earth He created. The tawhidic paradigm offers sincere groundwork for understanding the relationship between Creator and the created, reminding us of our incapability of truly understanding God’s word – the Quran.
The concept of tawhid lies at the heart of Islam, defining the oneness and indivisibility of God. Hidayatullah’s “The Tawhidic Paradigm” further explores the fundamental concept, emphasizing His superiority over His creations. Through conversation of gender and pronouns in the Quran, Hidayatullah emphasizes the wrong in attributing human-like characteristics to God. Focusing on the maleness of God in the Quran steers focus away from God’s indivisibility and makes room for us to bring God down to our level. With Hidayatullah’s emphasis on the importance of the tawhidic paradigm, it forces us to redirect focus towards the original concept of tawhid. Tawhid is more than simply the unity and oneness of God, rather it emphasizes God’s transcendence and superiority over his creations. Doing anything to bring Allah (SWT) to the level of his creation is a breach of the tawhidic paradigm and a grave sin. The tawhidic paradigm profoundly encapsulates God’s absolute transcendence, His incomparability, and His supreme sovereignty over all creation, especially mankind. By reminding us of the true meaning of tawhid, Hidayatullah urges us to approach God’s word with humility and self-awareness of the limitations of human language, and the divine.
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