Part 3 of a series of translated articles from the book, Lessons from the Noble Quran (pp.12-14) by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan (may Allaah preserve him), translated by Moosaa Richardson.
[ In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful, may His Salaah and Salaam be upon His final Messenger, and upon all his family members and companions, and those who follow his way, to proceed… ]
Towheed has three categories understood directly from Allaah’s Book. This division of towheed is not from someone’s opinion, nor is it merely a traditional way to explain towheed. It is a division that is taken directly from Allaah’s Book.
The first category is towheed ar-ruboobiyyah, which means “to single out Allaah in understanding His Actions,” like His creating, providing, bringing of life and death, and keeping order in all affairs. A person understands that Allaah alone is the Creator, the Provider, the Ever-Living One in charge of all affairs.
The second category is towheed al-uloohiyyah, which means “to single out Allaah within the actions of the servant.” This includes all actions that draw them closer to Allaah, Glorified and Exalted, like:
Du’aa’ – supplication
Khowf – fear
Rajaa’ – hope
Rahbah – awe
Ragbah – longing
Tawakkul – trust
Isti’aanah – seeking general assistance
Istighaathah – seeking assistance in emergencies
Thabh – slaughtering
Nathr – taking oaths
All forms of worship must be strictly for Allaah alone, and nothing can be done for other than Him. This is what is called towheed al-‘ebaadah, or towheed al-uloohiyyah, and it is the towheed that is put into practice as the servant singles out Allaah in everything He has requested, with an intention for Him alone, in all acts of obedience.
The third category is towheed al-asmaa’ was-sifaat, which means “to believe in every Name and Attribute that Allaah affirmed for Himself, or those that His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) affirmed for Him.
These three categories are understood directly from Allaah’s Book. Every verse that mentions Allaah’s Actions, like creating, providing, bringing life and death, and controlling affairs, is describing towheed ar-ruboobiyyah. This is quite frequent in the Qur’aan. Allaah says [1]:
( Say: ‘Who owns the earth and all that is on it, if you truly have knowledge?’ They will say: ‘Allaah.’ Say: ‘Then won’t you be reminded?’ Say: ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Great Throne?’ They will say: ‘Allaah.’ Say: ‘Then won’t you have taqwaa?’ Say: ‘In whose Hands are the treasures of everything, and He protects while there is no protector against Him, if you truly have knowledge?’ They will say: ‘Allaah.’ Say: ‘How then are you deluded from the truth?’ )
Allaah also says [2]:
( Say: ‘Who is it that provides for you from the heavens and the earth?’ Or ‘who possesses hearing and sight and brings forth the living from the dead, and the dead from the living? And who is in control of the affairs?’ They will say: ‘Allaah.’ Say: ‘So then won’t you have taqwaa?’ )
Similarly, every verse that mentions the creation of the heavens and the earth or other created things is about towheed ar-ruboobiyyah.
Every verse mentioning worship, whether it be a command to worship Allaah or a prohibition of shirk, is about towheed al-uloohiyyah.
Every verse mentioning something about Allaah’s Names or Attributes is about towheed al-asmaa’ was-sifaat.
All of these categories are found in Allaah’s Book, and this is what led the scholars to say, “Tawheed is three categories: uloohiyyah, ruboobiyyah, and al-asmaa’ was-sifaat.” They did not invent this division on their own, rather it is something directly from Allaah’s Book. I will elaborate on this later, in shaa’ Allaah. [3]
Part 4 – Towheed as Understood by Philosophers…
FOOTNOTES
[1] The meaning of Soorah Al-Mu’minoon (23):84-89
[2] The meaning of Soorah Yoonus (10):31
[3] See Part 7 of this series.
Assalamualykum akhee , This is regarding the Kitab ut Tawheed book of Shaykh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (rahimahullah) which was explained by shaykh Fawzan (hafidahullah) .
Have you translated the completed book or just few chapter of it ?
http://www.troid.ca/index.php/aqeedah/tawheed/comprehensive-study/1085-explanation-of-kitaab-at-towheed-class-audio
JazakAllahukhayran.
Wa ‘alaykas-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. We only did the benefits of the texts, the explanation of the words was included in my translation of the text. So just where he says: ما يستقاد من الآية أو الحديث and yes, we finished the whole book, wal-hamdulillaah.
I am extremely sorry akhee , but I didn’t really understand . Just 1 more question , Does all the 58 class lectures of Kitab-ut-Tawheed in the above (troid.ca) link covers the entire topic in your transcription (237pages)?
I believe the 58 lectures covers the whole book, in the way I described. I do not know about the transcript though.
Okay جزاك اللهُ خيراً akhee ,
In shaa’Allah will be starting the lectures soon.
Finally , What do u advise me for understanding this beneficial book?
بارك الله فيك
Salam alaykoum dear Teacher,
“Trust” is among the worship that draw near to Allah.
-> Can we say to someone “I trust you”? Is “Trusting”, only toward Allah, or can we trust a creature? With a friend we would appreciate if you could elaborate why we can’t or why we can say “I trust you” to other than Allah.
Thank you!
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Yes, trusting people in things they are good at, relying on them (not in an absolute sense), and people being trustworthy and reliable in general is not a violation of Towheed in any way. Consider how Allah has described JIbreel as being “ameen” (trustworthy) in many Verses (for example: 26:193). The 26th chapter of the Quran is full of accounts of prophets reminding their people that they were “rasool ameen” (trusted messengers). The best employees are strong and trustworthy, as mentioned in 28:26. The Prophet Hood reminded his people that he was trusted/trustworthy to them (7:68). And of course, our Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) was known as as-Saadiq al-Ameen, the honest and trusted one.
What is forbidden to have [for other than Allah] is tawakkul, which is the total reliance of one’s heart and the unrestricted trust that a worshipper gives his object of worship. And Allah knows best.