Categories of Tawheed
Literally, Tawheed means asserting oneness. But when it is used with reference to Allah, it means realising and maintaining of Allah’s unity in all of man’s actions which directly or indirectly relate to Him.
It is the belief that
- Allah is One, without partner in is dominion and His actions (Rubuubiyyah)
- One without similitude in His essence and attributes (Asmaa wa Sifaat)
- One without rival in His divinity and in worship (Uluuhiyyah ‘Ebaadah)
These are the 3 categories of tawheed and the omission of any of the above mentioned aspects is referred to as Shirk: to worship others in line with Allah.
TAWHEED AR-RUBUUBIYYAH - Maintaining The Unity of Lordship
Fundamentals:
- Allah alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing
- He sustains and maintains creation without any need for or from it.
- He is the sole Lord of the Universe and its inhabitants without any real challenge to His Sovereignty
- Nothing happens in creation except what He allows to happen
La Hawla wa la quwwata illah billah - There is no movement nor power except by Allah’s will
TAWHEED AL-ASMAA WAS-SIFAAT - Maintaining the Unity of Allah’s Names and Attributes
There are 5 aspects attached to this category:
1. Allah must be referred to according to how He and His Prophet (saw) without explaining away His names other than from the obvious meanings.
2. Refer to Allah as He has referred to Himself without giving Him new names or attributes.
3. Refer to Allah without giving Him the attributes of His creation (We DO NOT hear and see as Allah does, although these same words are used)
4. Men are not to be given the attributes of Allah (i.e. to say that one has the knowledge of the past, future and the unseen. This is the sole attribute of Allah)
5. Allah’s names in their definite form cannot be given to His creation unless preceded by Abd (Slave of) (i.e. Abdur-Rahman, Abdul-Hameed…) and names such as Abdur-rasul and Abdun-nabi and Abdul-husayn are forbidden as they mean Slave of the messenger, Slave of the Prophet and slave of Husayn respectively. We are slaves to no one but Allah.
TAWHEED AL-’EBAADAH - Maintaining the Unity of Worship
This refers to worshipping Allah ALONE at all cause and cost. fulfilling the 1st two categories and then worshipping others in line with Allah were the attributes of the Mushrikuun (idolators)
A prayer:
Oh Allah, Please protect me from all kinds of evil and protect me from the whispers of Shaitaan and protect me from commiting Shirk directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly. Please provide me abundant knowledge of the religion, allow me to teach and to be taught and please take me away when I am in the state of Imaan.
Buzzing off…
fana~
