Islam
Tawheed (Divine Unity)
The Tawheed Uloohiyyah (Uluhiyyah - Oneness of Allah)
The tawheed that is sought from us is tawheed al-uloohiyyah (uluhiyyah - Oneness of Allah). All of the Messengers began by calling their people with: "Worship Allah, as you have no deity to worship other than Him"1. They began like this, calling to tawheed al-uloohiyyah (uluhiyyah - Oneness of Allah), as the Qur'an reports about them. That is because tawheed al-uloohiyyah (uluhiyyah - Oneness of Allah) is what mankind is ignorant of, and the Shaytaan tries to keep them away from its proper understanding.
As for tawheed ar-ruboobiyyah (rububiyyah), it is something understood and continuously present inside the souls. It is not sufficient enough to save the servant. It does not make anyone a believer nor can anyone enter the circle of tawheed by way of it. This is why the Messenger (sallAllahu 'alayhe wa sallam) fought the disbelievers of Quraysh, while they believed that Allah was the Creator, the Provider, the Controller of affairs, and the One who brings life and death. He fought them, declaring their blood to be permissible until they affirmed tawheed al-uloohiyyah (uluhiyyah - Oneness of Allah). He (sallAllahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: "I have been ordered to fight the people until they say 'Laa ilaaha illAllah.' For if they say that, then their blood and property are safe from me, except with its (the shahaadah's) rights 2, and their account will be with Allah"3.
This is proof that the greatest thing sought from the creation is tawheed al-uloohiyyah (uluhiyyah - Oneness of Allah), since he (sallAllahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did not say, "I have been ordered to fight the people until they affirm that Allah is the Creator, the Provider, and the Bringer of life and death." Everyone agrees to this. Rather he said: "...until they say 'laa ilaaha illaah'". This means until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone.
Source: Tawheed al-uloohiyyah (uluhiyyah)
Footnotes:
[1] the meaning of Soorah Al-A'raaf (9):59
[2] translator's note: like the stoning of the adulterer, for example, or the seizure of zakaah from those who withhold it
[3] an authentic narration collected by Al-Bukhaaree (#2946) and Muslim (#21)
Subscribe to Latest Articles