As Muslims we know that Tawheed is divided into three categories,
- Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah
- Tawheed al-Uluhiyah
- Tawheed al-Asma wa Sifat
However some people argue that these categories of Tawheed are something new. And in their opinion only Ibn Taymiyyah and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab invented these categories. But these people do not realize that even the Salaf used to divide Tawheed into these three categories.
The books of the pious predecessors are filled with references to these different categories of Tawheed. And if I were to bring all their statements, this book would become very lengthy indeed! But sufficient for me is what some of our pious predecessors have said regarding the categories of Tawheed. And this will show that Tawheed is indeed divided into three categories and I will only quote scholars who lived before Ibn Taymiyyah, regardless of madhab.
- Imam Abu Hanifah [death 150 AH] mentions this in his book al-Fiqh al-Absat.
- al-Hafiz ibn Munduh [death 395 AH] mentions this in his book at-Tawheed.
- Ibn Jareer at-Tabari (the famous Mufasir) [death 310 AH] mentions it in his famous tafsir. (Surah Muhammad verse 19)
- Imam at-Tahawi [death 321 AH] mentions it in his book al-Aqeedah at-Tahawiyah.
- Abu Muhammad al-Marta-ish an-Naysaboriy [death 328 AH] is quoted by Abu Nuaym in his Hilyah, saying Tawheed is divided into three categories.
- Abu Hatim al-Busti [death 354 AH] mentions it in his book Rawdhatul ‘Uqalaa wa Nuzhatul Fudhala.
- Ibn Abee Zayd al-Qayrawaanee al-Maaliki [death 386 AH] mentions it in his book ar-Risalah.
- Imaam Ibn Battah al-Hanbali [death 387 AH] mentions it in his book al-Ibaanah.
- Abu Bakr al-Dardoshee al-Maliki [death 520 AH] mentions it in his book Siraj al-Muluk.
- Abu ‘Abdillah al-Qurtubi al-Maliki [death 671 AH] (the famous Mufasir) mentions it in his famous tafseer.
[Taken from the book al-Mukhtasar al-Mufeed fee bayaan dalaa-il aqsaam at-Tawheed, by Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzaq bin ‘Abdil Muhsin al-‘Abbaad]
Source: khalduun.com by Aboo Thaabit