Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My  Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah`s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

My question follows a response from ealier e-mails that says there is three types of Tawheed.   My dear Muslim first I want to you to describe for me what is the word Tawheed? if the word is established from WAhada (waahid) how could we divide into three types? Isn't the Tawheed to believe there is absoletyly no such god But Allah subhana wata'alla and Mohammed (SCW) is the messenger of Allah (SW)?  

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

3 types of Tauheed

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved and dear Brother in Islam, we seek the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah is our efforts to explain the term ‘Tawheed’ led to any confusion or misunderstanding. Brother, you are absolutely and completely right in declaring that the term ‘Tawheed’ is derived from ‘Ahada’ (one and only one), and thus ‘tawheed’ when used in the Islamic sense would mean the Absolute and Total Oneness of the One and Only Lord of the Worlds.

There are no three types of ‘tawheed’, but the scholars, in light of the Glorious Quran, have simply divided the vast meaning of the term for us to have a better understanding of the term and its manifestations.

A simple example will illustrate our point. When someone seeks to understand the meaning of the term ‘woman’, one may try to explain to them by breaking down the term and explaining that a woman is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, etc. None of these types of woman are actually away from the term ‘woman’, nor does it take away anything from its meaning or essence.

Similarly, ‘Tawheed’ indeed means the belief in The Absolute One and Only Lord of the Worlds; and in light of the guidance of the Glorious Quran, broken down into three categories to better understand the manifestation of the term.

We sincerely seek the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah if anything we have said might have led to a misunderstanding of this all-important term, as Allah is our Witness, our only intention was to explain the manifestations of Tawheed so that none may associate a partner in His being the One and Only Lord of the Worlds in His Self, His Worship, nor make anyone in creation share even an iota of any of His Exclusive and Noble Attributes.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 255: Allah! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

Allah says describing Himself in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Ash-Shura verse 11: There is Absolutely nothing like Him (Allah) in the whole Universe!!! He is the All-Hearing, The All-Seeing!! To Him Alone belong the keys of the treasures of the heavens and the earth!!

Allah says in Chapter 112, Surah Ikhlas Verse 1-4: Say: He is Allah, the One and Only. Allah is Independent of all, and all are dependent on Him. Neither has He any offspring, nor is He the offspring of anyone; and NONE is equal to Him in rank.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Bani Israel verse 110: For to Him (Allah) belong the most beautiful names.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan