What is called tawhid al-hakimiyyah is added to the categories of tawhid
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The fifth question of the fatwa number ( 18870 )
Q 5: Some people—among the callers to Allah—have begun to focus on mentioning tawhid al-hakimiyyah, in addition to the three known types of tawhid. Does this fourth category fall under one of the three types, or does it not, such that we should make it an independent category that we must focus on? It is said that the Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab focused on tawhid al-uluhiyyah in his time, as he saw people falling short in this regard, and Imam Ahmad in his time focused on tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat, as he saw people falling short in tawhid in this regard. But now people have begun to fall short regarding tawhid al-hakimiyyah, so we must focus on it. What is the validity of this statement?
A 5: The types of tawhid are three: tawhid al-rububiyyah, tawhid al-uluhiyyah, and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat. There is no fourth category. Ruling with what Allah has revealed falls under tawhid al-uluhiyyah, because it is one of the types of worship of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and all types of worship fall under tawhid al-uluhiyyah. Making al-hakimiyyah an independent type of tawhid is the action of an innovator, and no one among the Imams has said this, to our knowledge. However, some of them summarized and made tawhid two types: tawhid in knowledge and affirmation, which is tawhid al-rububiyyah and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat; and tawhid in seeking and intention, which is tawhid al-uluhiyyah. And some of them detailed it and made tawhid three types, as mentioned before. And Allah knows best. And it is obligatory to focus
on tawhid al-uluhiyyah in its entirety, and to begin by forbidding shirk (associating partners with Allah), because it is the greatest of sins and it nullifies all deeds, and its practitioner is eternally in the Fire. All the Prophets began by commanding the worship of Allah and forbidding shirk. And Allah has commanded us to follow their path and proceed according to their methodology in da'wah and other matters of the religion. Focusing on tawhid in its three types is obligatory in every time, because shirk and ta'til (denial of the divine attributes) still exist, and indeed their occurrence increases and their danger intensifies in the last of times, and their matter is hidden from many Muslims, and the callers to them are numerous and active. The occurrence of shirk is not limited to the time of the Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab , nor is ta'til of the names and attributes limited to the time of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on them both), as stated in the question. Rather, their danger has increased and their occurrence has multiplied in the communities of Muslims today, so they are in urgent need of one who forbids falling into them and clarifies their danger. Knowing that standing firm in obeying the commands of Allah, leaving His prohibitions, and implementing His Shari'ah—all of this is included in realizing tawhid and being safe from shirk. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 5: Some people—among the callers to Allah—have begun to focus on mentioning tawhid al-hakimiyyah, in addition to the three known types of tawhid. Does this fourth category fall under one of the three types, or does it not, such that we should make it an independent category that we must focus on? It is said that the Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab focused on tawhid al-uluhiyyah in his time, as he saw people falling short in this regard, and Imam Ahmad in his time focused on tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat, as he saw people falling short in tawhid in this regard. But now people have begun to fall short regarding tawhid al-hakimiyyah, so we must focus on it. What is the validity of this statement?
A 5: The types of tawhid are three: tawhid al-rububiyyah, tawhid al-uluhiyyah, and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat. There is no fourth category. Ruling with what Allah has revealed falls under tawhid al-uluhiyyah, because it is one of the types of worship of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and all types of worship fall under tawhid al-uluhiyyah. Making al-hakimiyyah an independent type of tawhid is the action of an innovator, and no one among the Imams has said this, to our knowledge. However, some of them summarized and made tawhid two types: tawhid in knowledge and affirmation, which is tawhid al-rububiyyah and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat; and tawhid in seeking and intention, which is tawhid al-uluhiyyah. And some of them detailed it and made tawhid three types, as mentioned before. And Allah knows best. And it is obligatory to focus
on tawhid al-uluhiyyah in its entirety, and to begin by forbidding shirk (associating partners with Allah), because it is the greatest of sins and it nullifies all deeds, and its practitioner is eternally in the Fire. All the Prophets began by commanding the worship of Allah and forbidding shirk. And Allah has commanded us to follow their path and proceed according to their methodology in da'wah and other matters of the religion. Focusing on tawhid in its three types is obligatory in every time, because shirk and ta'til (denial of the divine attributes) still exist, and indeed their occurrence increases and their danger intensifies in the last of times, and their matter is hidden from many Muslims, and the callers to them are numerous and active. The occurrence of shirk is not limited to the time of the Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab , nor is ta'til of the names and attributes limited to the time of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on them both), as stated in the question. Rather, their danger has increased and their occurrence has multiplied in the communities of Muslims today, so they are in urgent need of one who forbids falling into them and clarifies their danger. Knowing that standing firm in obeying the commands of Allah, leaving His prohibitions, and implementing His Shari'ah—all of this is included in realizing tawhid and being safe from shirk. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.