Dividing Tawhid into two categories: Tawhid of Allah the Exalted, and Tawhid of the Messenger in following him

The Shaykh : Therefore, the remedy is to deepen our understanding of our religion and not to stray from it, particularly regarding the creed. The creed is the foundation of everything, and it is derived from the good word, "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no deity but Allah), and the completion of the testimony, as you know, "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." We say that there are two types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah): tawhid related to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), which has three categories according to the scholars: tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes). As for the second tawhid, it is the tawhid of the Messenger in following him. The tawhid of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is well known to those who truly practice tawhid, but unfortunately, it is not well known to most Muslims today. As for the tawhid of the Messenger in following him, this is a recent and new term, and there is no harm in using it to help Muslims understand that just as it is not permissible to single out anyone other than Allah for worship, it is likewise not permissible to follow anyone other than the Messenger of Allah. Just as it is not permissible to single out anyone other than Allah in the comprehensive sense that includes the three categories, it is not permissible to follow anyone other than the Messenger of Allah. He (peace be upon him) is unique in being followed, and this is indicated by His saying (the Exalted): "So follow me, and no one is with me in following, ever. Everyone who came after the Messenger (peace be upon him), whether from the Companions, the Tabi'un, or those who follow them, or those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment, are merely means to make those who come after them know that the true, singular one to be followed is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When the Muslim knows this first tawhid from the testimony "La ilaha illa Allah" with its divisions and its three categories, and also knows this second tawhid which is included in the statement "I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," then he is on the right path and becomes one of those who follow the righteous predecessors with excellence until the Day of Judgment. However, the utmost in this matter is that the issue is... and that the Muslim should not live seeking the material that does not correct his creed or establish his conduct, but rather it may only secure his sustenance and livelihood. Although we do not deny this, we see... all secondary matters are relative to the primary knowledge, which is the religious knowledge that corrects a person's creed and establishes his conduct in this worldly life. We ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to teach us what benefits us, to increase us in knowledge, and to guide us to act upon what He has taught us. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : ... I ask you a question... gathered together, and you may know what we did not know before we came to you; we were with our brother the Khatib.