Statements by the Scholars Regarding Tawhîd and Its Types
Muhaddith Ibnu Battah Rahimahullâh1
In his "al-Ibânah", the Muhaddith (Hadîth scholar) Ibnu Battah al-Ukbarî Rahimahullâh (d. 387H) from amongst the Hanbalî jurists, while sticking to the order "Lordship", "Divinity", and "the Divine Names and Attributes", stated the following regarding these types of Tawhîd,
... and this is because the basis of faith in Allâh that is obligatory upon the creation to believe in when confirming faith in Allâhu Taâlâ is in three things:
1. The servant believes in His existence, so that this would serve to contradict the Maddhab (school of thought) of Ahl'ut Ta'tîl (people of denial) who do not recognize the existence of a Creator. [In many texts, the term "رَبَّانِيَّتَهُ", meaning "His Rabbâniyyah (Lordship)" is used in place of "His existence", although this term appears in the narration we have chosen to quote here. Translator.]
2. That he believes in His Wahdâniyyah (Oneness), so that this would serve to contradict the Madhâhib (pl. Madhhab) of Ahl'us Shirk (polytheists/pagans), who recognize the Creator and associate others (as partners) with Him in worship.
3. That he believes in Him as described by the Attributes which are not possible for Him to not be described with of Ilm (Knowledge), Qudrah (Power), Hikmah (Wisdom), and everything else that He described Himself with in His Book.
For we know that many of those -who affirm in an absolute manner and unify Allâh- often deviate in His Sifât. His deviation in Allâh's Sifât becomes something which damages his Tawhîd. For this reason, we find that Allâhu Taâlâ has addressed His servants by calling them to believe in every one of these three aspects and to have faith in them. When it comes to Him calling them to affirm His existence and Oneness, we are not going to mention it here due to the length and vastness of speech regarding it.
This is also because the Jahmî claims he affirms both [Rubûbiyyah and Ulûhiyyah. Translator], whereas his denial of the Sifât nullifies his claim of both.
1- Ibnu Battah al-Ukbarî, al-Ibânat'ul Kubrâ, 6/173.
