The meaning of Tawheed ul-Rububiyyah, Tawheed ul-Uloohiyyah, and Tawheed ul-Asmaa' wal-Sifat

The Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "Not to punish them (if they do so)." (Sahih Bukhari)

Categories of Tawheed (Belief in the Oneness of Allah)

First question from Fatwa No. 9772:

Q: What is the meaning of Tawheed ul-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah’s Lordship), Tawheed ul-Uloohiyyah (Oneness of Worship), and Tawheed ul-Asmaa’ wal-Sifat (Oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes)?

A: Tawheed ul-Rububiyyah is to believe in Allah’s Omnipotence; He Alone is the Originator of creation, maintenance, life, death, etc. As for Tawheed ul-Uloohiyyah, it is the sincerity of devotional acts e.g. Salah (Prayer), Sawm (Fast), Zakah (obligatory charity), vows and sacrificial animals. Tawheed ul-Asmaa’ wal-Sifat is to talk of Allah’s Names and Attributes in the same manner He and His Prophet (peace be upon him) did; giving Him the same Names and Attributes He calls Himself therewith free from Tashbih (comparison), Tamthil (likening Allah’s Attributes to those of His Creation), Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), or Ta`til (denial of Allah’s Attributes).

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member	Committee Deputy Chairman	The Chairman
`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan	`Abdul-Razzaq `Afify	`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz