Imam as-Saffarini al-Hanbali (d. 1188 A.H.) On the Categories of Tawheed

Imam as-Saffarini states in Lawami‘ al-Anwar al-Bahiyyah:

اعْلَمْ أَنَّ التَّوْحِيدَ ثَلَاثَةُ أَقْسَامٍ: تَوْحِيدُ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ، وَتَوْحِيدُ الْإِلَهِيَّةِ، وَتَوْحِيدُ الصِّفَاتِ، فَتَوْحِيدُ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ أَنْ لَا خَالِقَ وَلَا رَازِقَ، وَلَا مُحْيِيَ وَلَا مُمِيتَ، وَلَا مُوجِدَ وَلَا مُعْدِمَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى، وَتَوْحِيدُ الْإِلَهِيَّةِ إِفْرَادُهُ - تَعَالَى - بِالْعِبَادَةِ، وَالتَّأَلُّهِ لَهُ، وَالْخُضُوعِ وَالذُّلِّ، وَالْحُبِّ وَالِافْتِقَارِ، وَالتَّوَجُّهِ إِلَيْهِ - تَعَالَى، وَتَوْحِيدُ الصِّفَاتِ أَنْ يُوصَفَ اللَّهُ - تَعَالَى - بِمَا وَصَفَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ، وَبِمَا وَصَفَهُ بِهِ نَبِيُّهُ ﷺ نَفْيًا وَإِثْبَاتًا، فَيُثْبَتُ لَهُ مَا أَثْبَتَهُ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَيُنْفَى عَنْهُ مَا نَفَاهُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ.

Know that Tawheed is divided into three categories: Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah, Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah, and Tawheed as-Sifat. Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah is that there is no creator, sustainer, giver and taker of life, originator, or annihilator except Allah the Exalted. Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah is to worship Him alone, glorify Him, submit and humble oneself to Him, love Him, depend on Him, and turn to Him alone. Tawheed as-Sifat is that Allah - the Exalted - is described with what He has described Himself with and what His Prophet (peace be upon him) has described Him with, in affirmation and negation. So, what He has affirmed for Himself is established, and what He has negated for Himself is denied.

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Ibadah Discourse