What is Tawheed?

 

The first thing that a Muslim must know is knowledge about his Lord; Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, his Creator, the Controller of his affairs, and the One to Whom he shall return.

Tawheed in Arabic means attributing Oneness to Allaah and describing Him as being One and Unique, with no partner or peer in His Essence and Attributes.  

One of the Names of Allah is Al-Ahad, meaning "The One and Unique". This name stresses the uniqueness of Allah. Everything else is one of something, but Allah is unique, with no origin, and there is absolutely nothing like Him. 

Another Name is Al-Waahid, meaning "The One". This name stresses the absolute singularity of Him. He has no partners, no rivals, no children, no parent, no peers, nothing equal to Him in any way whatsoever.

So Tawheed means knowing Allaah is One, with none like unto Him. Singling out Allaah alone  with anything and everything that specifically pertains to only Him.

Whoever does not acknowledge Allaah in these terms and does not describe Him as being One with no partner or associate does not believe in Tawheed. 

The categories of Tawheed, as mentioned by the people of knowledge, are three:

1. Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah (Oneness of Allaah’s Lordship)

2. Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah (Oneness of Allaah’s sole right to all worship)

3. Tawheed Al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (Oneness of Allaah’s Names and Attributes)

The scholars know this categorization by studying and examining the verses of the Quraan and 

Ahadeeth.

1.  Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah

Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah is to single out Allaah alone with the actions of creating (everything), 

owning (everything), and controlling (everything).

First, Allaah alone is the only  Creator. He created everything, decreeing the creation before its 

existence. His creation includes what He Himself has made by His own actions as well as the 

actions of the creation.

Second, Allaah alone is the only absolute owner of everything; the heavens and the earth and everything it contains. The ownership of Allaah is an absolute and complete ownership and He does with it whatever He wants.

Third, as for the controlling of all the affairs, Allaah alone is singled out with this action. He is 

the One who controls all affairs of the creations. He is the Giver of life and death, the One Who brings benefit and causes harm, the only One Who answers prayers, the One who gives provision, etc...This is a complete and all-encompassing control; nothing and no one can prevent or oppose His decision.

2. Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah

Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah is to single out Allaah alone with ALL acts of worship. People must not take anyone or anything else along with Allaah, worshipping them or believing they can help them or seeking nearness to them as they do with Allaah. 

It is this type of Tawheed with which the Messengers were sent, and by which the Books were revealed. All of the Messengers called their people to worship Allah ALONE.

If someone were to believe that Allaah is the only Creator, Owner, and Controller of all affairs and that He deserves what befits Him of Names and Attributes, yet he worships along with Allaah other than Him; then his acceptance of the other two types of Tawheed would never benefit him. 

So if one were to completely believe in Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Asmaa was-Sifaat, yet he goes to the grave of someone deceased, making vows to him and seeking nearness to him, or he makes wishes on stars or other such acts, etc… then such a person has committed shirk, and is a disbeliever destined to reside in the Fire forever.

3. Tawheed Al-Asmaa was-Sifaat

Tawheed Al-Asmaa was-Sifaat is to single out Allaah alone with what He has named Himself with or described Himself with in His Book or upon the tongue of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم . 

This is by affirming whatever (names and attributes) Allaah has affirmed for Himself without distorting or denying them or their meanings, nor believing them to be similar to the creation’s, and without questioning “How” they are (seeking thereby to arrive at the same level of understanding of them as Allaah Himself has). 

It is incumbent to believe that whatever Allaah has named and described Himself with of names and attributes are real and actual. However, we do not delve into them, asking “How” they are and we do not believe them to be similar to the names and attributes of the creation in any way.

For example, Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an that He has Two Hands from which He gives generously to His slaves. We're not supposed to imagine or talk about "how" His Hands are in reality because that is beyond our comprehension, and there is NOTHING like Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.

Reference :

Tawheed: Its Meaning & Categories

Original Title: تعريف التوحيد

Author: Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen  رحمه الله

Source: Fataawaa Arkaan Al-Islaam (Question No. 1)