Ash-Shaikh Zaid Muhammad Al-Madkhalee

 (حفظه اللّه)

Q:  What is Tawheed, how may types are there, and what is the reward for the one who realizes (and actualizes) it in this life and the next?

 A:  Tawheed is singling out Allâh in worship and  the freeing of Allâh from shirk, major and minor, meager and abundant, and being free from it and it’s people as He said, glory be to Him the Most High:

(قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ) “Say (O Muhammad ): ‘Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims’” (6:162-63).   And He said,   glory be to Him:   ( رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَاعْبُدْهُ وَاصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَادَتِهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّ) “Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, so worship Him (Alone) and be constant and patient in His worship. Do you know of any who is similar to Him? (of course none is similar or coequal or comparable to Him, and He has none as partner with Him). [There is nothing like unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer].” (9:65)  As for the types of Tawheed then there are three:  Tawheed al-Ulûhiyyah, Tawheed ar-Rubûbiyyah, and Tawheed Al-Asma’ was-Sifât. Tawheed al-Ulûhiyyah is singling out Allaah in every type of worship.  Tawheed ar-Rubûbiyyah is the confirmation that Allâh is the Creator, the Provider, The One who gives life and death The Handler of all affairs, and The Ruler of all the creation, who is not asked about what He does and they (creation) are asked. 

Tawheed Al-Asma’ was-Sifât is the certain belief that for Allâh are beautiful names and lofty attributes without distorting, neutralizing, comparing, adapting the meaning, nor making them like the creation in example.  Rather we say as Allâh has said:

(لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ) “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (42:11)

As for the reward for Tawheed in this life, then it is safeguarding of one’s blood (life), wealth, honor, and a safe tranquil life.  As for the reward of the monotheist in the next life then it is the favor of Allâh, Paradise, salvation from His anger and the fire, and above that the delight of seeing Allâh's noble face and that is the great achievement.

Translated by:  Eesa John Starling,

taken from: http://www.edawah.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=78