What Is Tawheed Al-Haakimiyyah?

Is it possible for you to clarify for me the meaning of Tawheed Al-Haakimiyyah? It seems to me that it is half of Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah?! As I have heard that Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibraheem - the Shaykh of Ibn Baaz - was from those who taught the people Tawheed Al-Haakimiyyah and then this phrase was rejected by many of the Saudi Salafees and they considered it as a Bid'ah. So is this correct?! Then is it possible for you to refer me to the books, which discuss this side of Tawheed?


Answer:

Tawheed Al-Haakimiyyah means unifying Allaah, the Most High, alone; One in His judgement (Hukm) and His legislation (Tashree'). So just as He, the Most High, has no partner in his Dominion and in controlling the affairs of the creation, likewise, He has no partner in the judgement (Hukm) and legislation (Tashree').

As He, the Most High, said: "The Hukm (judgment) is for none but Allâh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him, that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not." [al-Qur'aan 12:40]

And He, the Most High, said: "And Allaah judges and there is none to reject His Hukm (judgment)." [13:41]

And He, the Most High, said: "And there are none who associate with Him in His Hukm (judgment)."

And He, the Most High, said: "Is it the Hukm (judgment) of Jaahiliyyah, which they seek? And who is better than Allaah in ruling for a people of certainty?"

And "And in whatsoever you disagree about, then its Hukm (judgment) is to Allaah."

And He, the Most High, said: "And if you obey them, then you would be Mushrikoon."

...as well as other than these from the clear (Muhkam) verses, which indicate this category of Tawheed and with which the Eemaan of a person is not correct except with it.

And the Hadeeth, which is authentic (Saheeh) from the Prophet , that he said: "Verily, Allaah is the Hakam (ruler or judge) and to Him is the Hukm (judgment)."

But is this category of Tawheed from the Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah (also called Tawheed al-Ebaadah) or is it the other half of it?

I say: It is not another category besides Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah, however; is enters beneath Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah. And from it is what enters beneath Tawheed Ar-Rooboobiyyah and from it is what enters beneath the Tawheed of Allaah, the Most High, in His Asmaa' wa Sifaat.

But when the Shirk in the Ummah increased in its ruling by other than what Allaah revealed and its taking the rulings to the legislations of Kufr and the Taaghoot, it was necessary to specify this important category of Tawheed by mentioning it on its own to draw to sight of the people towards its importance and that without it, they have not brought the Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah as it must be and is obligatory.

And the likes of that would be if you found a people who committed Shirk from the point of obedience. So you would say to them, "It is obligatory that you come with the Tawheed At-Taa'aah (Obedience) and that you do not obey anyone, for himself, except Allaah."

So this statement of yours would be correct and it is not allowed to object to you or to say to you, "You have come with a new Tawheed, which you have labeled 'Tawheed At-Taa'aah' or with a Tawheed other than Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah!!"

And like that, is if you found a people who associated with Allaah, other intermediaries from the aspect of love (Mahabbah) and allegiance and disavowal (Al-Walaa' wa'l-Baraa').

So you would find it necessary upon yourself to point to the Tawheed of Love (Mahabbah) and that the loved one, for himself, is Allaah alone. But this Tawheed is not a new Tawheed besides Tawheed Al-'Uloohiyyah, just as your saying about Tawheed Al-Mu'habbah is not an invention or an innovation (Bid'ah) in any way.

….So if you know this, then you know that this movement that is being propagated against this category of Tawheed by the opposition, has no justification except that they wish to belittle this type of Tawheed and so that they can justify what comes from the intentional shortcomings from the Tawagheet (plural of Taaghoot) of the ruling (Hukm) from their rejection and objection of this important aspect of Tawheed.

And as for your question about the books, which discuss this aspect of Tawheed, they are very many. The most important and highest and greatest is the Noble Qur'aan and then the books of the Prophetic Sunnah and the books of beliefs ('Aqeedah) such as the books of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim and Ibn 'Abdul-Wahhab and his grandsons. And from the contemporaries, the books of Sayyid Qutb, may Allaah, the Most High, be merciful to him. And from them, especially, his book "Al-Thilaal" and "Al-Ma'aalim" and "Khasaa'is Al-Tasawwur" and "Muqawimaat At-Tasawwur Al-Islaamee".

And also, the books of his brother Muhammad Qutb and from the books, that are specific to this aspect such as the book "Tawheed Al-Haakimiyyah" by our brother the Shaykh Abee Ithaar and also the books and letters of our brother, the Shaykh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisee. And if you looked also, to our books and projects, then you would not be lacking any additional benefits from this point, inshaa'Allaah. The books are many, but where are the readers and those who act (upon them)??!"