MONOTHEISM & POLYTHEISM


**What is Belief?**

Sometimes, belief is a certainty that cannot be understood by touching, hearing, or seeing. True belief means believing in something beyond the five senses. Polytheism and monotheism represent two distinct approaches to understanding the divine and the universe's complexity. Both belief systems have shaped human history, culture, and spirituality in profound ways.


**MONOTHEISM:**

Monotheism is the belief that one God is the only deity. It includes the Abrahamic religions, which are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. These religions believe in one deity, and this belief is known as monotheism (one God theory).


**POLYTHEISM:**

Polytheism is a belief system based on the belief in multiple deities. A prominent example is Hinduism. A person who believes in polytheism is called a polytheist, and the religion can be called polytheistic.

A religion cannot be both polytheistic and monotheistic. We should know where polytheism originated. The first man, Adam (peace be upon him), prayed to the Almighty Allah:

"ربَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ"

("Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.").


Polytheism arrived ten generations later. Ahmed Deedat, a famous activist, said that the African tribes, like the Zulus, were examples of monotheism in ancient mankind. The Tixo and Modino tribes, who lived south of the Zambezi River, were historical witnesses to the monotheism that prevailed among ancient tribes. External pressures and inducements divert individuals from pure monotheism to polytheism. Every human being born on earth is naturally inclined toward monotheism. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "All babies are born in pure nature, but their parents make them a Jew, a Christian, or a fire worshipper." In Islam, the term "shirk" refers to idolatry or polytheism, which means the deification or worship of anything or anyone other than Allah. Islam preaches strict monotheism against polytheism, emphasizing Tawhid (Oneness of God), which asserts that God is one, unique, and absolute. 

In Surah Al-Fath (48:6), Allah says: "He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women—those who assume about Allah an assumption of evil nature. Upon them is a misfortune of evil nature; and Allah has cursed them and prepared Hell for them, and evil it is as a destination."


The theological foundation of the Qur'an rests on the oneness of God, and its primary motto is: "لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ" ("There is no god but Allah"). This motto is repeated in the Qur'an more than sixty times in different expressions. The Islamic perspective on polytheism and monotheism is clear: Tawhid is the core belief, and shirk is the ultimate transgression. This belief in the oneness of God unites Muslims worldwide and forms the foundation of their faith and practice.


Polytheism, on the other hand, offers a rich, diverse spiritual landscape, while monotheism provides a clear, unified framework for understanding the divine and moral life. Monotheism helps us in several ways: sense of purpose, spiritual focus, social cohesion, and resilience in adversity.


Polytheistic traditions often embrace the complexity of human experience, acknowledging that life encompasses a range of emotions and situations. This flexibility can be liberating, allowing individuals to find personal connections with the divine that resonate with their unique experiences.


In my view, both belief systems offer valuable insights. Monotheism can provide a strong moral compass and a sense of belonging, while polytheism encourages acceptance and appreciation of diversity. Ideally, a dialogue between the two could enrich our understanding of spirituality, promoting mutual respect and coexistence.

 

          -AYISHA HAMNA MK- 

             VMHM MUKKAM-