How would you summarize the core message of the Qur'an in a single word?

Tawheed however suggests unity, oneness, arising from wah'hada no? Isn't it overloading and stretching this word by redefining it the way you are?

Isn't there a more accurate term for what you want to say, maybe ibada, islaam etc?

And if tawheed is the most important message, it's interesting why revelation started with the word iqra...? and quran is derived from this word too...

 

Interesting, it is also probable.
The word Tawheed does not only include the theological sense in terms of the unity of, rather توحيد الألولهية Tawheed al-'Uluhuyah (worship only Allah) and توحيد الربوبية Tawheed al-Rububiyah (obey only the rules, legislation and orders of Allah)
So the word Tawheed compromises ibadah, submission, and so on.
The words Islaam  ... Qura ... they are interesting terms but I did not want to define Islam of the Quran with the same or similar terms ... I prefer to make it a distinct one.
How does it sound?

The word Tawheed does not only include the theological sense in terms of the unity of, rather توحيد الألولهية Tawheed al-'Uluhuyah (worship only Allah) and توحيد الربوبية Tawheed al-Rububiyah (obey only the rules, legislation and orders of Allah)
So the word Tawheed compromises ibadah, submission, and so on.

How do you get from the linguistic meaning of tawheed, from the Arabic verb wahhada, which means "He made it one; or called it one", to the conclusion it refers to worship, ibada, submission, obeying rules, legislation and orders? There seems a large gap here...

If you could help explain the steps involved that would be helpful.

It is possible you are mixing the notion of tawheed with its implications, namely if we believe in the unity/oneness of Allah, we should do all those other things he has ordained such as ibada, taa'a etc?

 

 

If we try to understand it from a linguistic perspective, it may not give us this broader meaning on face value.

But the meaning in that context is driven from understanding the concept (or as you said 'its implications').

For example, the main purpose of creation (and subsequent revelation) is servitude (ibadah) to Allah as it is mentioned in:

وما خلقلت الجن والإنس إلا ليعبدون

"I have not created the Jinn and human beings except to servitude Me."

When ibn Abbas (ra) explained the meaning of the verse said it means: إلا ليوحدوني "i.e. except to Wahid (comes from Tawheed) Me"

So if we said the answer is Ibadah, it does not mean servitude to Allah alone, but may involve others beside Him, whether in the rule or in worship.

If we answer iqra or qira`ah, what kind of reading I should go through. I may also involve a circular definition as we will define the concept with its verb.

If we said Islaam, it may involve a circular definition as the Quran is revelation in the religion of Islam; but if you take Islam from a linguistic perspective, it would imply submission to Allah, but does not exclude others in either the worship or the rule.

Even from a linguistic perspective, it carries the meaning of giving a certain matter to only one person. For example, you can say, أوحدت حبي لك I love none (wahada) but you.

the famous linguist Ibn Mandhur said:
أَوحدته برؤْيتي إِيحاداً أَي لم أَرَ غيره
"Awhadtu Ihada (from wahada) with my vision means I saw none but him."

He also quoted al-Juhari's example:

لست في ها الأمر بأوحد
"I am not alone (Awhad-wahada) in this matter."

He also included a number of examples carry this meaning.

Thus, the concept Tawheed combines servitude to Allah in worship and rule and also excludes associating others beside Him.

How do you find it, now?