Precious Gems from Sharh At-Tadmiriyyah

Categories of Tawheed

Ibn Taimiyyah said, “The first consists in affirming the Oneness of Allah in knowledge and in speech.” That is, the first principle, which is Tawheed and As-Sifat (Divine Attributes), consists of Tawheed in knowledge and speech. This type is expressed as affirming Allah’s Oneness through acknowledgement and affirmation, or Tawheed based on knowledge and information, because its proofs are (based on) information (from the Prophet [e] and the Companions [y]).
These words indicate that Tawheed is divided into these two categories, while it is well known that Tawheed is divided into three categories: Tawheed of Lordship, Tawheed of worship and Tawheed of Allah’s Names and His Divine Attributes. But there is no contradiction and no incompatibility between the two categorisations. Rather, they are two paths that lead to the same thing, for affirming Allah’s Oneness in worship, in intention and purpose and in one’s deeds is Tawheed of worship, while affirming Allah’s Oneness in matters pertaining to belief, both in knowledge and in speech, is Tawheed of Lordship and Tawheed of Allah’s Names and His Divine Attributes.