The 3 Fundamental Categories of Tawḥīd: A Complete Explanation from Qur’an & Sunnah Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam
❖ Definition of Tawḥīd: Linguistic and Technical
◈ Linguistically:
The term Tawḥīd is derived from waḥḥada yuwaḥḥidu, meaning: “to declare something as one and unique.”
◈ Technically (Shar‘i Definition):
True Tawḥīd is established by combining both negation and affirmation:
➊ Negation: Denying divinity to all false gods.
➋ Affirmation: Declaring that only Allah alone is truly worthy of divinity and worship.
⟹ For example, when someone says: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah”, they negate all false deities and affirm only Allah’s right to be worshipped.
❖ The Three Categories of Tawḥīd
Based on the consensus of scholars, Tawḥīd is categorized into three foundational divisions:
➊ Tawḥīd al-Rubūbiyyah
➋ Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah
➌ Tawḥīd al-Asmā’ wa al-Ṣifāt
➊ Tawḥīd al-Rubūbiyyah (Oneness of Lordship)
Affirming that Allah alone is the Creator, Owner, and Controller of all affairs.
(a) Creation (Khalq)
◈ Only Allah is the Creator:
﴿هَلۡ مِنۡ خَٰلِقٍ غَيۡرُ ٱللَّهِ…﴾ (Surah Fāṭir: 3)
﴿ أَفَمَن يَخلُقُ كَمَن لا يَخلُقُ…﴾ (Surah al-Naḥl: 17)
﴿وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُم وَما تَعمَلونَ﴾ (Surah al-Ṣāffāt: 96)
◈ Man-made objects are not true creation; e.g., an artist shapes but does not create from nothing.
(b) Ownership (Mulk)
◈ Complete sovereignty belongs only to Allah:
﴿تَبارَكَ الَّذى بِيَدِهِ المُلكُ…﴾ (Surah al-Mulk: 1)
﴿قُل مَن بِيَدِهِ مَلَكوتُ كُلِّ شَىءٍ…﴾ (Surah al-Mu’minūn: 88)
◈ Human ownership is limited and conditional:
﴿أَو ما مَلَكتُم مَفاتِحَهُ﴾ (Surah al-Nūr: 61)
﴿إِلّا عَلى أَزوجِهِم أَو ما مَلَكَت أَيمـنُهُم﴾ (Surah al-Mu’minūn: 6)
(c) Control and Regulation (Tadbīr)
◈ Allah alone governs the universe:
﴿أَلا لَهُ الخَلقُ وَالأَمرُ…﴾ (Surah al-A‘rāf: 54)
◈ The planning of creation by others is limited; Allah’s control is perfect and absolute.
➋ Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah (Oneness in Worship)
◈ Affirming that only Allah deserves to be worshipped — no other being shares in this right.
◈ This is the main area of deviation of the polytheists, despite their belief in Allah’s Lordship and Attributes.
﴿إِنَّهُ مَن يُشرِك بِاللَّهِ فَقَد حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ الجَنَّةَ…﴾
(Surah al-Mā’idah: 72)
“Indeed, whoever associates others with Allah – Paradise has been forbidden for him.”
➌ Tawḥīd al-Asmā’ wa al-Ṣifāt (Oneness in Names & Attributes)
◈ Affirming only those names and attributes for Allah that:
➊ He has described Himself with in the Qur’an
➋ Or His Messenger ﷺ described Him with in the Sunnah
Foundational Principles of This Category
➊ Taḥrīf (Distortion): Changing or twisting meanings is prohibited
➋ Ta‘ṭīl (Negation): Denial of Allah’s attributes is forbidden
➌ Takayyuf (Specifying Modality): Describing how the attributes exist is not allowed
➍ Tamthīl (Anthropomorphism): Drawing resemblance to creation is forbidden
Examples:
➊ “His Two Hands are outstretched”
﴿بَل يَداهُ مَبسوطَتانِ…﴾ (Surah al-Mā’idah: 64)
✔ We affirm Allah has Hands, without knowing how and without comparing to creation.
﴿لَيسَ كَمِثلِهِ شَىءٌ…﴾ (Surah al-Shūrā: 11)
➋ “Istiwā’ ‘ala al-‘Arsh” (Ascending above the Throne)
✔ Mentioned in seven places in the Qur’an:
﴿الرَّحْمٰنُ عَلَی الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوٰی﴾
✔ “Istiwa’” means rising and establishing; not “Istilā’” (domination), which is a distortion.
➌ Names like “Al-Ḥayy” and “Al-Qayyūm”
✔ “Al-Ḥayy” = The Ever-Living: eternal and without beginning or end
✔ “Al-Samī‘” = All-Hearing: implies the attribute of perfect hearing
Methodology of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors)
◈ Affirm all names and attributes as mentioned, without distortion, denial, modality, or comparison.
◈ The Salaf explained “Istiwa’” as ‘uluw (elevation) without resemblance.
Conclusion
◈ Tawḥīd comprises three essential categories:
➊ Tawḥīd al-Rubūbiyyah – Oneness in creation, ownership, and control
➋ Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah – Oneness in worship
➌ Tawḥīd al-Asmā’ wa al-Ṣifāt – Affirmation of Allah’s names and attributes as revealed
◈ Anyone who commits shirk in any of these areas is considered:
✘ A mushrik (polytheist)
✘ A disbeliever (kāfir)
✘ And is eternally condemned to Hell
❝ Hādhā mā ‘indī, wallāhu a‘lam biṣ-ṣawāb ❞
(This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is right.)
