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Tawhid: Islamic monotheism and its three categories
Tawhid, the oneness of Allah, is the foundation of Islam, the meaning of the Shahada and the message of all the prophets.
Surah Al-Ikhlas
“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4The three categories of tawhid
| Category | Meaning | Verse |
|---|---|---|
| Rububiyyah | Allah alone creates, provides, gives life and death | “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds” (1:2) |
| Uluhiyyah | He alone deserves prayer, supplication, sacrifice, trust | “You alone we worship” (1:5) |
| Asma wa sifat | His names and attributes are perfect and unique | “There is nothing like unto Him” (42:11) |
Discover the 99 names of Allah and the Throne Verse, Ayat al-Kursi, the greatest verse of the Quran on tawhid.
The fruits of tawhid
- Peace of heart: “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (13:28).
- Freedom: the believer bows only before their Creator.
- Forgiveness: “Whoever dies knowing that there is no deity but Allah will enter Paradise” (Sahih Muslim, 26).
- Trust (tawakkul) in Allah in all matters.
See also the Shahada and the prophets of Islam, all sent with this message.
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You may be wondering…
What does tawhid mean?
Tawhid comes from wahhada, “to make one”. It is believing that Allah is unique in His lordship, in the worship due to Him, and in His names and attributes. It is the message of all the prophets (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:25).
What are the three categories of tawhid?
Scholars distinguish: tawhid ar-rububiyyah (Allah alone creates, owns and governs the universe), tawhid al-uluhiyyah (He alone deserves worship) and tawhid al-asma wa as-sifat (His names and attributes are unique, without resemblance to creation).
Which surah sums up tawhid?
Surah Al-Ikhlas: “Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him.” The Prophet ﷺ said it equals a third of the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5013).
What is the opposite of tawhid?
It is shirk: associating another with Allah in worship, lordship or attributes. It is the only sin Allah does not forgive for someone who dies upon it without repenting (Surah An-Nisa, 4:48).
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