How many types of monotheism are there in Islam?

There are two types of Monotheism in Islam, which are as follows:

TAUHID  (Islamic Monotheism) 

Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism) is to believe in 1: Allah,
2: His Angels, 3: His Messengers. 4: His revealed Books, 5: Day of
Resurrection, 6: and Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainment i.e. whatever Allâh
ordained must come to pass),

and to act on the five principles of Islam, i.e., I:
to testify that La ilâha illallâh wa anna Muhammad-ur Rasul Allâh (None has the
right to be worshipped but Allâh and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allâh, 2:
to offer the (five compulsory congregational) prayers (Iqamat-as-Salat), 3: to
pay zakat, 4: to perform Haji (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah), 5: to observe fast
during the month of Ramadan. To believe in Allâh means declaring Allâh to be
the only God in the heavens and the earth and all that exists. It has three
aspects:

(A) The Oneness of the Lordship of Allâh; Tauhid-ar-Rubûbiyyah:
To believe that there is only one Lord for all the universe, Who is its
Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer, and the Giver of security, etc., and
that is Allah,

(B) The Oneness of the Worship of Allâh;
Tauhid-al-Ulühiyyah: To believe that none has the right to be worshipped (e.g.
praying, invoking, asking for help from the unseen, swearing, offering
sacrifice, giving charity, fasting, pilgrimage) but Allâh.

(C) The Oneness of the Names and the Qualities of Allâh;
Tauhid-al-Asma was-Sifat: To believe that:

(1). We must not name or qualify Allâh except with what
He or His Messenger (PBUH) has named or qualified Him;

(ii) None can be named or qualified with the Names or
Qualifications of Allâh; e.g. Al-Karim;

(i) We must believe in all the qualities of Allâh which
Allâh has stated in His Book (the Qur’ân) or mention through His Messenger
(Muhammad (PBUH) without changing their meaning or ignoring them completely or
twisting the meanings or likening them (giving resemblance) to any of the
created things eg. Allâh is present over His Throne as mentioned in the Qur’ân
(V. 20:5);

“The Most Gracious (Allâh) rose over (Istawa) the
(Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty),” over the seventh
heaven; and He comes down over the first (nearest) heaven to us on the day of
‘Arafah (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul-Hijja), and also during the last third part
of the night as mentioned by the Prophet, we will do, but He is with us by His Knowledge,
not by His PersonalSelf (bi-Dhâtihi).

It is not as some people think that Allâh is present
everywhere – here, there, and even inside the breasts of men.

Also, Allâh says: “There is nothing like Him and He
is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer” (V.42:11).

This holy verse proves the quality of hearing and the
quality of sight for Allâh without likening them (or giving resemblance) to any
of the created things) and likewise, He (Glorified) says:

“To one whom I have created with Both My
Hands,” (V.38:75); and He also says: “The Hand of Allâh is over their
hands.” (V.48:10).

This confirms two Hands for Allâh, but there is no
similarity for them. This is the belief of all true believers, and was the
belief of all the Prophets of Allâh, from Nûh (Noah), Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Mûsâ
(Moses) and ‘Isâ (Jesus) till the last of the Prophets, Muhammad (PBUH).

These three aspects of Tauhîd are included in the meaning
of Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh).

It is also essential to follow Allâh’s Messenger,
Muhammad (PBUH): Wujúb al-Ittibâ’ and it is a part of Tauhîd-al-Ulûhiyyah.

This is included in the meaning, “I testify that
Muhammad (PBUH) is Allâh’s Messenger,” and this means, “None has the right
to be followed after Allâh’s Book (the Qur’ân), but Allâh’s Messenger
(PBUH).” Allâh says:

“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) gives you,
take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).” (V.59:7)

And also Allâh says:

“Say (O Muhammad PBUH to mankind), ‘If you (really)
love Allâh then follow me [i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân
and the Sunnah (legal ways of the Prophet PBUH )], Allâh will love you and
forgive you of your sins.’ ” (V.3:31).

SHAHADAH – CONFESSION OF A MUSLIM

 

لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله

 

La ilaha illallah, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl-Allah

(None has the right to be worshipped but Allâh and Muhammad PBUH is the Messenger of Allâh). It
has been noticed that most mankind, who embrace Islam, do not understand the
reality of the meaning of the first fundamental principle of Islam, i.e. La
ilaha illallah, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped
but Allâh…. and Muhammad PBUH is the Messenger of Allâh). So it is essential to
explain something of the meanings of this great sentence (principle) in some
detail:

 

لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله

 

La ilaha illallâh, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl-Allâh “None has the
right to be worshipped but Allâh… and Muhammad us all who is the Messenger of
Allâh” has three aspects: a,b and c.

a. It is that you have to pledge a covenant with (Allâh),
the Creator of the heavens and earth, the Ruler of all that exists, the Lord of
Majesty and Highness, on four points (or conditions):

Point I: A confession with your heart that the Creator
(of everything) is Allâh; it is that you have to say: “I testify that the
Creator of all the universe including the stars, the planets, the sun, the
moon, the heavens, the earth with all its known and unknown forms of life, is
Allâh. He is the Organizer and Planner of all its affairs. It is He Who gives
life and death, and He (i.e. Allâh Alone) is the Sustainer, and the Giver of
security.” And this is called (your confession for the) “Oneness of the
Lordship of Allâh,” — Tauhid-ar-Rubûbiyyah.

Point II: A confession with your heart that: “I testify
that none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh Alone.” The word
“worship” (i.e. ‘Ibadah) carries a great number of meanings in the Islamic
terminology: it conveys that all kinds of worship are meant for Allâh Alone
(and none else, whether it be an angel, Messenger, Prophet *Isâ (Jesus) – son
of Maryam (Mary), ‘Uzair (Ezra), Muhammad, saint, idol, the sun, the moon and
all other kinds of false deities.) So pray to none but Allâh, invoke none but
Allâh, ask for help from none (unseen) but Allâh, swear by none but Allâh,
offer an animal as a sacrifice to none but Allâh,..etc, and that means, — all
that Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad PBUH order you to do in the Qur’ân and the
Sunnah (legal ways of Prophet Muhammad PBUH you must do, and all that Allâh and
His Messenger Muhammad PHUB forbid you, you must not do. And this is called
(your confession for the) “Oneness of the worship of Allâh”, —
Tauhîd-al-Uluhiyyah. And that you (mankind) worship none but Allâh.

Point III: A
confession with your heart that: “O Allah! I testify that all the best of names
and the most perfect qualities with which You have named or qualified Yourself
in Your Book (ie the Qur’an) or as Your Prophet Muhammad has named or qualified
You, with his statement, I believe that all those names and qualities) are for
You without changing their meanings or neglecting them completely or likening
them (giving resemblance) to others.” As Allah says:

There is
nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” 

(V. 42-11).

This holy
Verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of sight for Allah
without likening them (giving resemblance) to others, and He also says:

To one whom I
have created with Both My Hands,” (V.38:75) and He also says:

The Hand of
Allāh is over their hands.” (V.48:10)

This confirms
two Hands for Allâh, but there is no similarity for them. Similarly, Allah
says:

“The Most
Gracious (Allah) rose over (Istawa) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits
His Majesty).” (V.20:5).

So He rose
over the Throne really in a manner that suits His Majesty. And Allah is over
His Throne over the seventh heaven, as the slave-girl pointed towards the
heavens when Allah’s Messenger (Muhammad PBUH asked her as to where Alláh is.
He comes down over the first (nearest) heaven to us during the last third part
of every night and also on the day of ‘Arafah (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of
Dhul-Hijjah), as mentioned by the Prophet as we al de, but He is with us by His
Knowledge, not by His Personal-Self (bi-Dhátihi). It is not, as some people say
that Allah is present everywhere – here, there, and even inside the breasts of
men. He sees and hears all that we do or utter. And this is called (your
confession for the) “Oneness of the Names and Qualities of Allah,” —
Tauhid-al-Asma’ was Sifat and this is the right belief, the belief which was
followed by the Messengers of Allah [from Núh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Músa
(Moses), Dawûd (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), ‘Isa (Jesus) to Muhammad (Peace be
upon all of them) and the Companions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) and the
righteous followers of these Messengers. (Peace be upon all of them).

Point IV: A
confession with your heart: “O Allah! I testify that Muhammad PBUH is Your
Messenger ” That means that none has the right to be followed after Allah,
but the Prophet Muhammad PBUH as he is the last of His Messengers. As Alláh
says:

 

Muhammad
(PBUH) is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah
and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever AllAware of
everything.” (V.33:40).

“And
whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad, PBUH) gives you, take it and whatsoever he
forbids you, abstains from it,”(V.59:7).

And Allâh
says:

“Say (O
Muhammad, PBUH to mankind): ‘If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e.
accept Islamic Monotheism, follow The Qur’ân and The Sunnah).'” (V.3:31)

As for others
than Muhammad PBUH, their statements are to be taken or rejected as to whether
these are in accordance with Allâh’s Book (i.e. the Qur’ân) and with the
Sunnah) legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements) of the Prophet L, sal
to or not. As the Divine revelation has stopped after the death of Prophet
Muhammad PBUH and it will not resume except at the time of the Descent of ‘Isà
(Jesus) — son of Maryam (Mary) and he (i.e. Jesus) will rule with justice
according to the Islamic laws, during the last days of the world as it has been
mentioned in the authentic Hadith (i.e. narration of Prophet Muhammad PBUH).
(Sahîh-Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadîth No. 425).

b. It is
essential to utter: Lâ ilâha illallah, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl Allâh (none has the
right to be worshipped but Allâh, and Muhammad by us all oto is the Messenger
of Allah.) As it has come in the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to
his uncle Abû Tâlib at the time of the latter’s death: “O uncle, if you utter
it (La ilaha illallâh, Muhammad-ur-Rasûl Allâh, none has the right to be
worshipped but Allâh and Muhammad PBUH is the Messenger of Allah), then I shall
be able to argue on your behalf before Allâh, on the Day of Resurrection.”
Similarly, when Abû Dharr Al-Ghifârî embraced Islam, he went to
Al-Masjid-al-Haram and he proclaimed it loudly in front of the Quraish infidels
until he was beaten severely.

c. It is
essential that the limbs and all the other parts and organs of one’s body
testify to it, and this is very important as regards its meaning (i.e., the
meaning of La ilaha illallah Muhammad Rasul Allâh – none has the right to be
worshipped but Allâh and Muhammad PBUH is the Messenger of Allâh). So whoever
has confessed this (to his Lord), he shall not commit sins like robbing,
killing, stealing, illegal sexual intercourse, eating pig meat, drinking
alcoholic beverages, taking undue advantage of orphan’s property, cheating in
trade, bribery, and earning money through illegal means, telling lies,
backbiting or otherwise the limbs and all the other parts and organs of his
body will testify against him that he was a liar in his words which he pledged
to Allâh. In case he commits the above sins, he should know that it is a sin
that obliges him to repent to Allâh, and ask His Forgiveness, as (his) body
parts (.e. skin, private parts, hands, tongue, ears) will testify to the
above-mentioned crimes (ie. actions) against himself on the Day of
Resurrection.

And with the
confession of this great sentence (i.e. principle) a person enters in the fold
of the Islamic religion accordingly, it is essential for him to believe in all
the Messengers of Allah and not to differentiate between them. As it is
mentioned in His Book. Allah says:

“Do then
those who disbelieve think that they can take My slaves [iethe angels; Allah’s
Messengers; ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)] as Auliya (lords, gods,
protectors) besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for
the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allâh – Islamic Monotheism).

“Say (O
Muhammad PBUH: ‘Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their)
deeds?’ “Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought
they were acquiring good by their deeds! “They are those who deny the
Ayat) proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their
Lord and the Meeting with Him in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain,
and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall not give them any weight. “That
shall be their recompense, Hell, because they disbelieved and took My Ayat
(proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) and My Messengers by way
of jest and mockery. “Verily! Those who believe in the Oneness of Allah-Islamic
Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, shall have the Gardens of Al-Firdaus
(Paradise) for their entertainment. Wherein they shall dwell (forever). No
desire will they have to be removed therefrom. “Say (O Muhammad PBUH to
mankind): If the sea were ink for (writing) the Words of my Lord, surely the
sea would be exhausted before the Words of my Lord would be finished even if we
brought (another sea) like it for its aid”. Say (O Muhammad sal ste). I am only
a man like you, it has been revealed to me that your llâh (God) is One Iláh
(God, – i.e. Allâh). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him
work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his
Lord.” (V. 18:102-110).

This
introduction is necessary for anyone who wishes to embrace Islam. After this
confession he or she) should take a bath (i.e. Ghusl) and then offer a two
Rak’at prayer, and act upon the five principles of Islam, as narrated by Ibn
‘Umar Lapis also in Sahîh Al-Bukharî, Vol.1 Hadîth No.7:

Narrated Ibn
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them): Allâh’s Messenger PBUH said: Islam is
based on the following five (principles):

1. To testify
Lâ ilâha illallâh wa anna Muhammad-ur-Rasul-Allah (none has the right to be
worshipped but Allâh and that Muhammad is The Messenger of Allâh ).

2. To perform
(Iqamat) As-Salat. 

3. To pay
Zakar. 

4. To perform
Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah). 

5. To observe
Saum (fast) during the month of Ramadan. and must believe in the six articles
of Faith, i.e. to believe in:

(1) Allâh, (2)
His angels, (3) His Messengers, (4) His revealed Books, (5) the Day of
Resurrection, and (6) Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments i.e. whatever Allâh has
ordained must come to pass)

IMPORTANT
NOTE:

The acceptance
of righteous deeds depends on the following two basic conditions which must be
fulfilled:

(1) The
intentions while doing such deeds must be totally for Allâh’s sake only without
any show-off or gaining praise or fame, etc.