He is One and Only One

By Karna Kitab Ku… , 27 May 2021
In Search of Him

Across the ages and cultures, humanity's deepest spiritual traditions converge on a profound truth: the ultimate reality is One—an indivisible, eternal divine essence beyond multiplicity. Whether called Brahman, God the Father, Allah, Waheguru, or Ahura Mazda, this singular source manifests in diverse forms yet remains fundamentally unified. This oneness transcends names, forms, and rituals, inviting us to recognize the divine unity underlying all existence.

Hinduism: Brahman as the One Without Second

Hindu scriptures, particularly the Upanishads, emphatically declare the non-dual nature of ultimate reality.

एकमेवाद्वितीयं ब्रह्म (Chandogya Upanishad 6.2.1: Brahman is one only, without a second.)

This foundational Mahavakya asserts that the Absolute is singular, with no duality or division.

Judaism: The Lord Our God is One

The cornerstone of Jewish faith is the Shema, a daily declaration of monotheism.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד‎ (Deuteronomy 6:4: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.)

This verse forms the heart of Jewish prayer, affirming God's absolute unity.

Christianity: One God, the Father and Creator

Christianity upholds monotheism, emphasizing one God manifest in creation.

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist. (1 Corinthians 8:6: One God, the Father, of whom are all things.)

This echoes the oneness inherited from Judaism.

Islam: Allah, the One and Only

The Quran dedicates an entire chapter to Tawhid, the absolute oneness of God.

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4: Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.)

This surah encapsulates pure monotheism.

Sikhism: One Creator, the Eternal Truth

Sikhism opens its scripture with a powerful affirmation of oneness.

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ (Mool Mantar, Guru Granth Sahib: One Universal Creator God, the Name is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image of the Undying, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent, by Guru's Grace.)

"Ik Onkar" declares the singular divine reality.

Zoroastrianism: Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord Alone

One of the earliest monotheistic traditions centers on Ahura Mazda as the sole uncreated deity.

Ahura Mazda is described as the supreme, uncreated creator, with no equal—opposed only by the destructive spirit, yet ultimately triumphant as the one true source of good.

Bahá'í Faith: The Oneness of the Divine Essence

The Bahá'í teachings explicitly affirm one God across all revelations.

The peoples of the world... derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. (Bahá’u’lláh: All derive inspiration from one heavenly Source and are subjects of one God.)

This underscores the unity of divine origin.

Buddhism: The Interconnected Oneness of Reality

While non-theistic, Buddhism points to ultimate reality as an interdependent oneness beyond separate existence.

In Mahayana traditions, the ultimate truth (Dharmakaya) is the undivided essence where all phenomena arise interdependently, realizing the non-dual nature of emptiness and form.

A Universal Echo

Though expressed differently—personal Creator in Abrahamic faiths, impersonal Absolute in Advaita Vedanta, interdependent emptiness in Buddhism—the core insight resonates: there is one ultimate reality, source of all, beyond division.

This oneness calls us not to mere intellectual assent but to lived unity: compassion across differences, harmony with creation, and inner peace in recognizing the divine in all.

He is One and Only One—eternal, boundless, the sacred thread weaving through every heart and tradition. In embracing this truth, humanity finds its deepest common ground.

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