Question:

How does “La ilaha illa Allah” (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) encompass all types of Monotheism (Tawhid)?

Answer:

It encompasses all types of monotheism, either by way of inclusion or by way of implication. When a person says, “I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,” what immediately comes to mind is the monotheism of worship—which is known as Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah.

This necessarily includes Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (the Oneness of Lordship), because no one worships Allah alone unless they already acknowledge Him as their Lord.

Likewise, it includes Tawhid al-Asma’ wa al-Sifat (the Oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes), because a person only worships One whom they know possesses the names and attributes that make Him worthy of worship. This is why Abraham said to his father: “O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?” [Maryam: 42].

Therefore, the monotheism of worship inherently includes both the monotheism of Lordship and the monotheism of Names and Attributes.