The path of knowing Allah and His oneness ← Lesson 4
What is the meaning of tawhid?
Tawhid is singling out Allah in what is exclusive to Him: we believe that He is the Lord, Creator and Manager, we direct all worship to Him alone, and we affirm for Him what He affirmed for Himself of the names and attributes in the manner befitting Him.
The definition that gathers the way
That Allah be one in His lordship, worship, names and attributes
It is not enough for a person to know that Allah created him and provided for him; he must worship Him alone and direct nothing of worship to other than Him, and believe in the names and attributes of Allah as they came in the Book and the Sunnah, without likening or distortion.
Three verses draw the meaning
The evidence from the Qur'an
﴿ وَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴾“And your god is one God; there is no god except Him, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
﴿ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴾“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”
﴿ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ ﴾“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
A map for understanding, not a new religion
The three categories of tawhid
The scholars mentioned these categories by induction from the texts of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, to bring the meanings closer and gather similar evidences, not because they are devotional wordings that must be memorised before understanding their meaning.
Tawhid of lordship
Belief that Allah alone is the Creator, Provider and Manager, and that the affair of the whole universe is in His hand.
A question that helps you: who created, provided and managed?Tawhid of divinity
Singling out Allah alone for worship: supplication, prayer, fear, hope, slaughter, vows and all acts of worship.
A question that helps you: to whom do I worship and supplicate?The names and attributes
Belief in what Allah named Himself and described Himself with, without likening or negation, in the manner befitting His majesty.
A question that helps you: how did Allah make Himself known to us?The key of Islam
What is the relation of tawhid to saying La ilaha illa Allah?
Its meaning: none is truly worshipped except Allah. It negates the deserving of worship from what is other than Allah and affirms it for Allah alone. So tawhid is not only intellectual knowledge, but belief, worship and submission.
He made clear that the three categories of tawhid were known by induction from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and that tawhid of divinity is the belief that Allah alone deserves worship, and it is the meaning of 'La ilaha illa Allah'.
Turn the definition into worship
Three pauses today
- At a blessing: Remember that Allah is the Provider, so thank Him and do not attribute the credit independently to the means.
- At a need: Begin by supplicating Allah and seeking His help, and take the permissible means.
- When reading one of the names of Allah: Affirm it as it came, and reflect on its effect on your worship and conduct.
Which category answers the question: to whom do I direct my worship?
Choose one answer.
Sources of this lesson
The texts are original and the explanation is drawn from an official source, with final approval remaining for human Shari'ah review.
- The Noble Qur'anAl-Baqarah 163, al-Fatihah 5, al-Shura 11Original text
- Explanation of the types of tawhid and the difference between themShaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz — the official siteOpen the source
- Dividing tawhid into three categoriesShaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz — a statement that it is taken from inductionOpen the source
- The categories of tawhid and their inclusion within the two testimoniesShaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz — the official siteOpen the source
- Detail on the issue of tawhidShaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him — the three categories of tawhid and an explanation of their meaningsOpen the source