Dividing Tawhid into Two Categories and Three Categories

Question:
Is it true that some scholars divided tawhid (the oneness of Allah) into three categories, while others divided it into two, and are we permitted to modify these categories? Yes.

Answer:
Yes, this is correct. Some scholars said that tawhid has two categories: tawhid in knowledge and affirmation, which is tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship) and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes), and tawhid in worship and seeking, which is tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship). This is a general summary. If you specify, you say that tawhid has three types: tawhid al-rububiyyah, tawhid al-uluhiyyah, and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat. Why? Because regarding the names and attributes, there was opposition from the principles of the innovators in denying them or interpreting them figuratively (ta'wil). Therefore, it was separated into a distinct study and made an independent ruling in order to refute them. This is a correct division that returns either to the general summary or to the specific division, and the meaning is the same. Yes.