My advice, specifically to new shahadas is that Tawheed is one of the most important things you should learn! Of course learning Arabic & Quran are important but if you don’t know the true meaning and understanding of tawheed you’re just reciting words. But this is not just directed towards new shahadas, this is to Muslims in general.
- Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah (lit. “Maintaining the Unity of Lordship”)
- Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (lit. “Maintaining the Unity of Allaah’s Names and Attributes”)
- Tawheed al-‘Uloohiyyah(lit. “Maintaining the Unity of Allaah’s Worship”)
Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah (Maintaining the Unity of Lordship)
This category is based on the fundamental concept that Allaah alone caused all things to exist when there was nothing; He sustains and maintains creation without any need from it or for it; and He is the sole Lord of the universe and its inhabitants without any real challenge to His sovereignty. In Arabic the word used to describe this creator-sustainer quality is Ruboobeeyah which is derived from the root “Rabb” (Lord). According to this category, since God is the only real power in existence, it is He who gave all things the power to move and to change. Nothing happens in creation except what He allows to happen. In recognition of this reality, Prophet Muhammad (saws) used to often repeat the exclamatory phrase “La hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaah” (There is no movement nor power except by Allaah’s will).
Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat (Maintaining the Unity of Allaah’s Names and Attributes)
For the unity of Allaah’s names and attributes to be maintained in the first aspect, Allaah must be referred to according to how He and His Prophet (saws) have described Him without explaining away His names and attributes by giving them meanings other than their obvious meanings. For example, Allaah in the Qur’aan says He gets angry with the disbelievers and the hypocrites. He says:
“That He may punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the pagans men and women, who have an evil opinion of Allaah. A circle of evil is around them; Allaah is angry with them, curses them and has prepared for them an evil end.”21
Is the belief that all acts of worship is directed to Allah alone. We must not pray to, worship or call upon any other being for help except Allah
“And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Mohammad salla Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) but We inspired him saying, ‘None has the right to worshiped but I (Allah), so worship Me (alone and none else).’”
[Surat al-Anbiya’ (21): verse 25]