The Alignment of Islam and Oneness

Purpose, Way of Living, and Universal Truths

Islam, with its emphasis on submission to the will of God (Allah) and living a life of ethical conduct, shares certain values with the Oneness Movement (OM), such as the importance of compassion, justice, and wisdom. However, the two traditions differ significantly in their metaphysical views, particularly regarding the nature of God, the role of the individual, and the concept of salvation.

This article explores the alignment between Islam and OM in key areas such as purpose/goal, way of living, salvation, wisdom, compassion, and justice, while also highlighting important differences in their spiritual frameworks.

1. Purpose and Goal: Submission to Allah and Merging with Oneness

Both Islam and OM emphasize spiritual growth and aligning oneself with a higher truth. However, their ultimate goals differ in how they conceptualize the divine and the individual’s relationship to it.

• Islam’s Purpose: Submission to Allah: The ultimate purpose in Islam is to submit to the will of Allah and live in accordance with His guidance as revealed in the Qur’an and through the Prophet Muhammad. The word Islam means "submission," and the goal is to live a life that aligns with Allah’s divine will, leading to peace and harmony both in this life and the hereafter.

• Oneness Movement’s Purpose: Merging with Oneness: In OM, the purpose is to realize the fundamental truth of Oneness—the recognition that all beings are interconnected fragments of the same universal consciousness. The goal is not submission to a separate deity but rather the transcendence of ego and the realization that the self and the universe are one and the same. Merging with Oneness represents the return to the source of all existence, beyond duality and individuality.

Alignment and Difference: Both Islam and OM emphasize aligning oneself with a higher truth, but Islam’s focus is on submission to the will of Allah as the singular divine being, whereas OM’s goal is the realization of Oneness through the dissolution of individual identity. Islam emphasizes the relationship between the individual and God, while OM focuses on the merging of the individual with the collective universal consciousness.

2. Way of Living: Sharia and Mindful Engagement

Both Islam and OM provide guidelines for ethical living, but their frameworks for how individuals should engage with the world differ in scope and structure.

• Islam’s Way of Living (Sharia): Islam offers a comprehensive system of law known as Sharia, which governs all aspects of a Muslim’s life—religious, social, and ethical. Sharia includes the Five Pillars of Islam, which guide a Muslim’s worship and behavior, including prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage, and the declaration of faith. Ethical conduct is rooted in obedience to Allah’s commandments and living a life of integrity, justice, and compassion.

• Oneness Movement’s Way of Living: In OM, the way of living is centered around mindful engagement with the world, recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings. Ethical living in OM involves cultivating virtues such as wisdom, kindness, and strength, understanding that every action affects the collective consciousness. OM encourages living in alignment with Oneness, promoting sustainability, compassion, and ethical behavior that uplifts both the individual and the collective.

Alignment and Difference: Both Islam and OM emphasize ethical living as a key aspect of spiritual growth. However, Islam’s Sharia provides a more structured approach to ethical behavior, with specific rules and commandments, while OM focuses on mindfulness and the cultivation of virtues without a fixed legal framework. Islam’s ethical conduct is rooted in submission to Allah’s will, whereas OM’s is based on the recognition of universal interconnectedness.

3. Salvation: Paradise through Obedience and Realization of Oneness

Salvation in Islam and OM is understood through different metaphysical lenses, with Islam focusing on obedience to Allah and OM focusing on the realization of universal consciousness.

• Islam’s Salvation (Paradise through Obedience): In Islam, salvation is achieved through faith in Allah and obedience to His commandments. Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment, where every soul will be held accountable for its actions, and those who have lived righteously will be rewarded with eternal life in Paradise (Jannah). Salvation is both a matter of divine grace and personal responsibility, as Muslims must strive to live in accordance with the will of Allah to attain a place in the hereafter.

• Oneness Movement’s Salvation: OM teaches that salvation is not about reward or punishment after death, but rather the realization of Oneness—the transcendence of ego and illusion. Salvation comes through awakening to the truth that all beings are interconnected, and that the individual self is an illusion. By cultivating virtues such as wisdom and strength, individuals elevate their consciousness and move toward merging with Oneness, transcending the cycle of birth and death.

Alignment and Difference: Both traditions offer a path to salvation, but Islam’s salvation is framed within the context of obedience to Allah and the reward of eternal life in Paradise, while OM focuses on self-realization and the transcendence of individuality into the infinite consciousness. OM does not emphasize a final judgment or eternal reward, but rather the process of awakening to Oneness as the ultimate goal.

4. Wisdom: Divine Revelation and Direct Gnosis of Oneness

Wisdom is highly valued in both Islam and OM, but each tradition approaches it from a different perspective.

• Islamic Wisdom (Hikmah and Qur’an): In Islam, wisdom (Hikmah) is closely tied to divine revelation. The Qur’an is considered the ultimate source of wisdom, as it is the direct word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims seek wisdom by understanding and following the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith (the sayings and actions of the Prophet). Wisdom in Islam is about knowing and living in alignment with Allah’s will.

• Oneness Movement’s Wisdom: In OM, wisdom comes from the direct experiential knowledge of Oneness. This wisdom is cultivated through inner reflection, meditation, and the development of virtues such as wisdom, kindness, and strength. OM emphasizes that true wisdom is not found in external revelation but in the direct experience of the interconnectedness of all life and the dissolution of the ego.

Alignment and Difference: Both traditions value wisdom, but Islam views it as something revealed through divine scripture and the teachings of the Prophet, while OM focuses on inner exploration and the direct realization of Oneness. In OM, wisdom is a virtue that arises from personal experience rather than adherence to a revealed text.

5. Compassion: Mercy in Islam and Compassion through Oneness

Compassion is central to both Islam and OM, though their motivations for compassion differ slightly.

• Islamic Compassion (Rahmah): In Islam, compassion and mercy (Rahmah) are seen as essential attributes of Allah, and Muslims are encouraged to reflect these qualities in their own lives. The Qur’an emphasizes the importance of showing mercy and kindness to others, as well as to animals and the environment. Acts of charity, kindness, and forgiveness are highly valued, and compassion is seen as a way to live in alignment with Allah’s will.

• Oneness Movement’s Compassion: In OM, compassion arises from the recognition that all beings are part of the same universal consciousness. OM teaches that harming others is equivalent to harming oneself because all beings are interconnected. Compassion is a central virtue, and individuals are encouraged to act with kindness and empathy, not only toward other humans but also toward animals and the natural world.

Alignment: Both Islam and OM promote compassion as a core value, though Islam frames it as reflecting the divine mercy of Allah, while OM teaches that compassion is a natural result of recognizing the interconnectedness of all life. In both cases, compassion leads to ethical action and the alleviation of suffering.

6. Justice: Divine Law and Karmic Resonance

Justice is a fundamental principle in both Islam and OM, though their views on how justice operates are distinct.

• Islamic Justice (Adl): In Islam, justice (Adl) is a key attribute of Allah and a central principle of Sharia law. Justice is about upholding fairness and righteousness in both personal conduct and society. Muslims are called to act justly in all aspects of life, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly according to the teachings of the Qur’an. On the Day of Judgment, Allah will enact ultimate justice, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.

• Oneness Movement’s Justice (Karmic Resonance): OM’s concept of justice operates through the principle of karmic resonance—the idea that every action, thought, and intention has consequences that reverberate throughout the collective consciousness. Justice in OM is not administered by a divine being but is a natural balancing force that ensures harmony within the interconnected web of existence. Positive actions create positive resonance, while harmful actions create negative consequences.

Alignment and Difference: Both traditions emphasize the importance of justice, but Islam views justice as a divine mandate carried out through Sharia law and ultimately through Allah’s judgment, while OM sees justice as an inherent aspect of karmic balance within the collective consciousness. In OM, justice is self-regulating through the natural laws of karma, while in Islam, justice is both a human responsibility and part of Allah’s divine plan.

7. Cultivation of Virtues: Wisdom, Kindness, and Strength in OM and Islamic Virtues

One of the core goals of OM is the cultivation of virtues, particularly wisdom, kindness, and strength, which help individuals align with the truth of Oneness. Islam also emphasizes the cultivation of key virtues, such as faith, patience, generosity, and compassion.

• Islamic Virtues: Islam promotes the development of virtues that reflect the will of Allah, including Sabr (patience), Taqwa (piety), Ikhlas (sincerity), and Rahmah (compassion). These virtues help Muslims live a life that is pleasing to Allah, align with His commandments, and contribute to the betterment of society.

Alignment and Difference: Both Islam and OM encourage the cultivation of virtues, but OM’s focus on wisdom, kindness, and strength is framed within the context of aligning with Oneness, whereas Islam’s virtues are cultivated in obedience to Allah’s will. In both cases, virtues are essential for personal growth and contributing to the greater good.

Conclusion: The Alignment and Differences Between Islam and Oneness

Islam and the Oneness Movement (OM) share several common values, including the importance of compassion, justice, and wisdom. However, they differ significantly in their understanding of God, salvation, and the nature of the self.

Islam is centered around submission to Allah’s will and emphasizes living in accordance with Sharia law to achieve salvation and eternal life in Paradise. OM, on the other hand, focuses on the realization of universal Oneness, where the individual transcends ego and merges with the infinite consciousness. Salvation in OM is about awakening to the interconnectedness of all beings, rather than seeking divine judgment or reward.

Both traditions provide frameworks for cultivating virtues that align individuals with a higher truth, helping them contribute to the well-being of others and the world. Despite their differences, both Islam and OM offer pathways toward greater spiritual awareness and alignment with universal principles of compassion, wisdom, and justice.