Monotheism, refutation of Trinity, and the unity of divinity

لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّـذِيْنَ قَالُـوٓا اِنَّ اللّـٰهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ ۘ وَمَا مِنْ اِلٰـهٍ اِلَّآ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ وَاِنْ لَّمْ يَنْتَـهُوْا عَمَّا يَقُوْلُوْنَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّـذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْـهُـمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْـمٌ (73)

The Christians went astray in the matter of Tawheed (monotheism) and in the recognition of Allah Almighty. One group believed that Allah manifested in the form of Jesus (peace be upon him), and thus considered Jesus to be God. This was the belief of the Hulooliyyah and Ittihaadiyyah sects. They also believed that Jesus had absolute control and authority, and they were known as the Ya‘qubiyyah.

Another group, the Nestorians and Melkites, had different beliefs. One group said that Jesus (peace be upon him) is the son of Allah, and thus they divided divinity into three parts. They believed in the concept of “three divine persons” and considered Allah as having three entities: God, Jesus, and Mary (May Allah forbid). This belief in sonship is clearly mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah:

وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَى الْمَسِیْحُ ابْنُ اللّٰهِؕ

Another group, the Nestorians, believed in Trinity and said that God is three. They divided divinity into three principles: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (as they interpreted it). They considered divinity as divided attributes—knowledge and life being transferred to Jesus and Jibril (Gabriel) respectively.

Thus, they divided divinity into three parts.

The origin of the doctrine of Trinity actually lies in Greek philosophy, which also believed in three principles: God, spirit, and matter. They considered spirit and matter as independent forces controlling the universe.

When Christianity spread to Rome and the Romans accepted it, they were originally believers in such triadic concepts. In order to make Christianity acceptable to them, the doctrine was wrongly interpreted and the concept of Trinity was introduced into Christianity.

Similarly, if a person influenced by Western thought or others distorts Islam according to his own opinion—like Sir Syed and his companions—then the original form of Islam gets corrupted. This leads to sects, disputes, and divisions, where people say “you believe this and I don’t,” or “you don’t believe this but I do.” Because of such distortions, the true image of Islam becomes damaged.

Trinity also existed among Hindus. They believed in three gods: Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadev, which they considered manifestations of creation, preservation, and destruction. These ideas were also based on dividing divinity.

Islamic belief is that divinity neither accepts trinity nor division. It does not accept plurality or fragmentation. As mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya:

لَوْ كَانَ فِیْهِمَاۤ اٰلِهَةٌ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ لَفَسَدَتَاۚ

If there were other gods besides Allah, the heavens and earth would be corrupted.

And in Surah Bani Israel:

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ آلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذًا لَّابْتَغَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلًا >

And in Surah Ghafir:

مَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ إِلَٰهٍ ۚ إِذًا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَٰهٍ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ >

So neither multiplicity nor division is acceptable in divinity. Divinity is a single unity that cannot be divided—neither in essence nor in attributes. No one is given any share in divine attributes, whether in matters of creation or legislation.

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Division of divinity is impossible. The polytheists of Makkah also said:

إِلَّا شَرِيكًا تَمْلِكُهُ وَمَا مَلَكَ

They attributed partners in authority, while in reality no one has any share in Allah’s dominion.

وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا

No one is partner in His command and judgment.

So neither multiplicity of gods nor division of divinity is acceptable. Divinity is absolute unity—no plurality, no fragmentation.

This applies both in essence and attributes, and in all matters—whether creative or legislative. It is not correct to say that Allah is the knower of the unseen and someone else is also a knower of the unseen, or that both are independent in controlling matters.

All affairs belong to Allah alone. Love, fear, hope, worship, seeking help—everything must be directed only to Him. He alone is the true disposer and controller.

Any division in divinity is false.

لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّـذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْـهُـمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْـمٌ

If people do not understand through argument and reasoning, then they will be made to understand through punishment.

This is a warning so that people repent before punishment arrives.

لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّـذِيْنَ قَالُـوٓا

Indeed those people have disbelieved who said:

اِنَّ اللّـٰهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ ۘ

That Allah is one of three.

وَمَا مِنْ اِلٰـهٍ اِلَّآ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ

There is no deity except One God.

This is a refutation of the belief that divinity is either multiple or divided.

If they do not stop from what they say:

لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّـذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْـهُـمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْـمٌ

Then those among them who disbelieve will be touched by a painful punishment.

أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ

Will they not turn to Allah in repentance?

وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ ۚ

And seek His forgiveness?

Repentance means correcting one’s future actions, while seeking forgiveness means asking pardon for past sins. Many people ask for forgiveness but do not correct their future behavior.

وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.