التوحيد
Linguistically the word التوحيد is used to mean unification whereas from the Islamic legislative perspective meaning of التوحيد is to “single out Allaah in all forms of worship with regard to beliefs, actions and sayings” It is represented by the testimony that we make as Muslims أشهد ألا إله إلا الله، وأشهد أن محمداً رسول الله. Understanding and practical implementation of التوحيد is the single most important aspect of our existence without which we are in danger of its opposite which is الشرك.
Hence the reason why التوحيد is important is because it is the fulfillment of the reason for which we were created. Allaah says in Soorah Ath-thaariyaat :
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (I did not create Jinn and mankind except to worship me)
However the term العبادة (worship) from the Islamic perspective has a very unique meaning different from its usage in other religions and it is the comprehensive study and understanding of التوحيد that will assist Muslims to correctly adopted and implement the worship of Allaah.
Call of every Prophet
It is important to remember also that the call of every Prophet was primarily to التوحيد first. Because when the society has truly understood التوحيد its rectification becomes easier. Allaah says
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الْطَّـغُوت( We have sent to every nation a Prophet calling to worship Allaah (upon Tawheed) and to avoid all false deities of worship (16:36)
Division of التوحيد
So Scholars from the earliest times have divided التوحيد into three components to help facilitate its easy understanding and implementation
Categories
توحيد الرببية
This is the belief that Allah (SWT) is One without partner in His dominion. He is Lord and Sustainer of the universe in all matters of creation, planning and controlling, i.e. the Creator. Tawheed al-Rububiyah is based on the fundamental concept that Allah (SWT) alone caused all things to exist. Allah (SWT) sustains and maintains the creation and He (SWT) is independent from His creation. Allah (SWT) says;
" Allah is Creator of all things, and He is Guardian over all things." [Quran Az-zumar 39:62] ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَكِيلٌ۬
"Allah created you and whatever you do." وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمۡ وَمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ [Quran As-Saaffaat 37:96]
"And no calamity strikes except by Allah’s permission." مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۗ [Quran At-Taghaabun 64:11]
توحيد الاسماء والصفات
This is the belief that Allah (SWT) is one without similitude in His names and attributes. Allah (SWT) must be referred to in the manner He and His Messenger (SAW) have described Him. Allah (SWT)’s attributes and names must be taken in the absolute sense, free from human deficiencies of interpretation. Allah (SWT) states;
"There is nothing like Him" لَيۡسَ كَمِثۡلِهِۦ شَىۡءٌ۬ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡبَصِيرُ [Quran Ash-Shura 42:11]
"And never has there been anyone coequal with Him." وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُ ۥ ڪُفُوًا أَحَدٌ [Quran Al- Ikhlas 112:4]
If we start applying human interpretations to Allah (SWT)’s attributes, in essence what we are doing is assigning human attributes to Allah (SWT). This is contrary to the fact that He is independent from His creation. So we do not do the following:
Comparison : تشبيه
Tashbeeh means comparing the Attributes of Allah (swt) to His creation.
Distortion : تعريف
Means changing or altering the meaning.
Negation : تعطيل
Means denying or negating Allah’s Devine attributes..
False Taweel : تأويل
Means making false interpretation of Allah’s Attribute.
توحيد الالهية
A confession with your heart that you have to say: "I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone." And act upon that confession so that we pray to none but Allah, invoke none but Allah, ask for help from none (unseen) but Allah, swear by none but Allah, offer an animal as sacrifice to none but Allah, …etc. and that means, -- all that Allah and Allah’s Messenger, صلى الله عليه وسلم, order you to do (in Qur’an and in As-Sunna [legal ways of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم]) you must do, and all that Allah, s.w.t, Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم forbid you, you must not do. And this is called (your confession for the) "Oneness of the worship of Allah",
When the complete conviction of Tawheed (i.e. to submit, to worship, to obey, to follow sincerely for Allah (SWT) ) becomes a reality in each aspect of an individual’s life, man is released from all other bonds and attachments. Thus the only allegiance is to Allah (SWT) and there is complete disassociation from Kufr. This allegiance is to Allah, His deen, His books, His messengers and to the path of His good servants and purification from any Taghout. ‘Al-Taghout’ has been defined by Ibn Qayim as anything where the servant exceeds his limit of servitude.
"Whoever rejects Taghout and believes in Allah will have grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break." فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ [Quran 2:256]
Conclusion
Each classification overlaps and is inseparable. Therefore to negate any aspect of Tawheed is to negate a fundamental principle of Tawheed.
Why Important to study this in this manner?
· To know who to worship Allaah in a manner He is pleased with
· To know who to avoid the opposite which is what?.....الشرك
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ ا
We all know that the first question that will be asked of us when we are in the grave is من ربك “Who is your Lord?”. The correct understanding and practical implementation of التوحيد will ان شاء الله provide us with a sound basis to answer this all important question with ease….AMEEN!
