Tawhid (Oneness): The Courage to Lay Down the Burden
I am writing this article to share a truth that lightens the burden of the heart: Tawhid is not merely a sentence of belief, but a way of laying down the burden.
For a long time, I searched for the reason for my exhaustion in the wrong place. The difficulties of life were heavy, yes. But the real weight was not the difficulties themselves. The weight was that I claimed ownership of them.
At one point, I realized this:
What exhausted me was not responsibility, but the illusion of sovereignty.
Why Does the Burden Feel Heavy?
Sometimes when a person says “I am responsible,” without realizing it, they are actually saying this:
“Everything must be under my control.”
When it is not, guilt begins. As guilt increases, the burden becomes heavier. And without realizing it, a person places themselves at the center of life.
However, the following expression in Risale-i Nur changes the matter from its root:
“True oneness with God is realized when we perceive in all things the imprint of His power, the seal of His sovereignty, and the subtle design of His creation…”
This sentence, beyond being a matter of creed, offers a perspective that relaxes the soul. It says:
You are not the ruler of the universe.
You are not the administrator of life.
You are not the owner of the results.
Accepting the existence of Allah theoretically is easy. But in practice, letting go of control is difficult. This is exactly where the burden begins. If there is belief but no surrender, a person still tries to carry the load on their own shoulders.
The Hidden Ego: “I Must Carry It”
The ego here is not an arrogant claim of greatness. On the contrary, it often appears in the guise of sacrifice:
• “I must fix everything.”
• “If it doesn’t happen, it will be because of me.”
• “I must be strong.”
• “If I do not control it, everything will fall apart.”
These thoughts may appear virtuous from the outside. But in essence, they are the assumption of a role that does not belong to the human being. While Lordship belongs to Allah, the human being assumes the role of administrator.
And a human being cannot carry this role. Because this burden is too much for the human being.
Tawhid (Oneness): The Courage to Let Go of Control
True Tawhid is not merely saying “God exists.”
True Tawhid is being able to say, “I am not the ruler.”
When this sentence is first spoken, it does not diminish a person; on the contrary, it relieves them. Because the human being was not created to administer the universe.
The following sentence in Risale-i Nur summarizes this process:
“Faith produces Tawhid. (Oneness)
Tawhid (Oneness) produces surrender.
Surrender produces trust.
And trust necessitates happiness in both worlds.”
This peace does not mean being happy at every moment.
This peace means knowing at every moment that you are not ownerless and alone.
What Happens When the Burden Changes?
The responsibilities in life do not end. Pain does not disappear in a magical way either. But something very fundamental changes: the owner of the burden.
A person exerts effort while releasing attachment to the outcome, knowing that the results are ultimately not theirs to claim.
They make effort but do not attempt to manage the universe.
They do what they can but do not blame themselves for what they cannot control.
Tawhid (Oneness) is not laziness.
Tawhid (Oneness) is separating effort from sovereignty.
When the burden becomes heavy, perhaps we still reflexively try to hold onto it. But now we can remember this:
“This is not my job.”
At that moment, the ego descends; the heart becomes lighter.
Tawhid (Oneness) ceases to be a theory and transforms into a form of healing.
And perhaps in the simplest sentence, we can say this:
We do not collapse because we cannot carry the burden.
We collapse because we forget that the burden does not belong to us.
When we remember, we begin to recover.
And this is a great healing for us.
