Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

tawhid: the oneness of god

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4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: tawhid: the oneness of god

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about tawhid: the oneness of god. Then check against the key terms: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: tawhid: the oneness of god. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Religious Studies because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: Explain two Muslim beliefs about the nature of Allah.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about tawhid: the oneness of god.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: tawhid: the oneness of god

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on tawhid: the oneness of god. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Tawhid is the central belief of Islam — there is only one God (Allah), with no partners, equals or divisions. It is the first part of the Shahadah: "There is no god but Allah." Surah 112 (Al-Ikhlas) expresses tawhid: "He is Allah, the One and Only."
Exam Tip: Tawhid influences every aspect of Muslim life: it forbids shirk (associating partners with God), which is the greatest sin in Islam. This is why Muslims reject the Christian Trinity (they see it as shirk) and why images of Allah or Muhammad are forbidden in mosques (to prevent idolatry).
RS Exam Tips — Tawhid: The Oneness of God: 1. For Tawhid: The Oneness of God questions, always include specific scriptural or source references where relevant 2. Explain both religious and non-religious viewpoints 3. Use specialist vocabulary precisely (e.g. terms from the specification) 4. Evaluate by analysing strengths and weaknesses of different views before reaching your conclusion 5. Link your discussion of Tawhid: The Oneness of God to its real-world impact on believers and society
UK Context: The Qur’an describes Allah’s creative power: “He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was upon the waters” (Surah 11:7). For Muslims, the natural world — its beauty, complexity and order — is evidence of Allah’s existence and power, inspiring gratitude and worship.
UK Context: The destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan by the Taliban in 2001 was justified by some Muslims as opposition to shirk (idol worship). However, the vast majority of Muslim scholars condemned the destruction, arguing that Islamic law does not require the destruction of other people’s religious symbols and that tolerance of other faiths is a Qur’anic principle.
UK Context: British Muslim athletes such as Mo Farah have spoken about how tawhid motivates their discipline and dedication. Farah has described his running career as an expression of gratitude to Allah for the talent he has been given, and he performs sujud (prostration) in gratitude after winning races.

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: Explain two Muslim beliefs about the nature of Allah.

Answer: 1) Allah is transcendent — he is above and beyond the created universe and beyond full human understanding. Surah 42:11 states "There is nothing like Him," meaning Allah cannot be compared to anything in creation. 2) Allah is immanent — he is close to his creation and present everywhere. Surah 50:16 says Allah is "closer to a person than their jugular vein," showing that although Allah is beyond creation, he is also intimately involved with it.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: tawhid: the oneness of god

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Q1: Explain two Muslim beliefs about the nature of Allah.

Answer: 1) Allah is transcendent — he is above and beyond the created universe and beyond full human understanding. Surah 42:11 states "There is nothing like Him," meaning Allah cannot be compared to anything in creation. 2) Allah is immanent — he is close to his creation and present everywhere. Surah 50:16 says Allah is "closer to a person than their jugular vein," showing that although Allah is beyond creation, he is also intimately involved with it.

Q2: "Tawhid is the most important Muslim belief." Evaluate this statement.

Answer: Tawhid is indeed the foundation of Islam — it is the first part of the Shahadah and the message of all prophets. Without tawhid, no other belief makes sense. However, some might argue that other beliefs are equally important for daily life: the Five Pillars give structure to Muslim practice, and belief in akhirah motivates moral behaviour. Ultimately, tawhid is the root from which all other Islamic beliefs and practices grow, making it the most fundamental.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: tawhid: the oneness of god

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Exam-Style Question

Attempt a past-paper style question on tawhid: the oneness of god from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.

Exam Tips: Always refer to specific sources of authority (scripture, sacred texts, religious leaders) | Explain contrasting beliefs — different views within and between traditions | Use key terminology precisely (e.g. tawhid, atonement, sanctity of life) | For 12-mark evaluation questions, consider both sides before reaching a justified conclusion | Link beliefs to their impact on individuals, communities and society | Acknowledge diversity — no religious tradition has a single, uniform view
Common Errors: Watch Out! Students often confuse Sunni and Shi'a beliefs about predestination. Wrong: "All Muslims believe everything is predestined and humans have no free will." Correct: "Most Muslims believe God has foreknowledge but humans have free will to choose; the balance between predestination and free will is understood differently across traditions."
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how tawhid: the oneness of god connects to another Religious Studies topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of tawhid: the oneness of god
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in tawhid: the oneness of god?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

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