The truth about ‘tawhid’: how a central tenet of Islam became a violent strain linked to the Sri Lanka bombings

Groups whose names reference their belief in the concept, which declares absolute monotheism, have come under scrutiny in Sri Lanka for their links to Islamic State

Experts say the spread of ‘tawhid’ needs to be monitored as radicals exploiting the concept seek to change how locals have traditionally practised Islam in a multi-religious society

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Security personnel patrol outside St Anthony’s Church, one of the sites bombed on Easter Sunday. Photo: EPA

Published: 2:58pm, 16 May 2019Updated: 10:47pm, 16 May 2019

A violent strain of Islam born from radicals exploiting a central tenet of the religion, known as tawhid, has come under the spotlight as Sri Lankan police continue to investigate the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday bombings on churches and hotels.

About 100 people have been arrested since last month’s attacks, which have been blamed on two groups – the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) and the Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI). Both have been outlawed by authorities.

Not much was known about the NTJ – founded by radical preacher Zahran Hashim – until it was named by Sri Lankan authorities. Hashim, known for his tough views against Sufi Muslims, founded the group five years ago.

Other groups with tawhid – sometimes spelt thowheed – in their names have also come under scrutiny, including the Ceylon Thowheed Jamaath, the India-based Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ), as well as the hardline Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamaath (SLTJ), whose secretary was arrested in 2016 after he made insulting comments against Buddhism.

The TNTJ have disassociated themselves from Hashim and condemned the attack.

But observers of political Islam are concerned over possible links between the groups and Islamic State (Isis), which has claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Last week, Sri Lankan sources said a 24-year-old software engineer in police custody had been monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for having links with Isis. Aadhil Ameez, the sources told Reuters, was the likely link between the two groups that carried out the attacks, killing more than 250 people and injuring many more.