Did the polytheists of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance associate partners with Allah in the oneness of lordship?
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Question:
The questioner asks: Is it correct for one to say that the polytheists of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance associated partners with Allah in all three types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), since taking omens and astrology are shirk (associating partners with Allah) in lordship, because they are beliefs in matters specific to Allah? As for their acknowledgment of the oneness of lordship, is that only in general terms?
Answer:
O my brothers, do not confuse people with these matters. What is it that occupies you with these matters? This is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Whoever associates partners with Allah in the oneness of worship has certainly associated partners with Allah in the oneness of lordship, without doubt. Associating partners with Allah in worship necessitates associating partners with Allah in lordship; I am certain of this. So the focus is on the oneness of worship. As for the oneness of lordship, it exists in the fitrah (the innate natural disposition); it is ingrained in the fitrah, and no one denies it.
But whoever associates partners with Allah in servitude and worship has not associated partners with Allah in lordship, yes. And therefore the Messengers, peace and blessings be upon them, only call to the oneness of worship, because that is the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) that is required; it is the tawhid that Allah commanded people to follow.[Al-Baqarah 2:21] He commanded them to worship and said, "Worship Me," commanding worship. [Al-Fatihah 1:5]
The Messengers say to their people, "O my people, worship Allah." This is a call to the oneness of worship, and it includes the oneness of lordship. Whoever acknowledges the oneness of worship has acknowledged the oneness of lordship, a fortiori. Yes.
The questioner asks: Is it correct for one to say that the polytheists of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance associated partners with Allah in all three types of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), since taking omens and astrology are shirk (associating partners with Allah) in lordship, because they are beliefs in matters specific to Allah? As for their acknowledgment of the oneness of lordship, is that only in general terms?
Answer:
O my brothers, do not confuse people with these matters. What is it that occupies you with these matters? This is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Whoever associates partners with Allah in the oneness of worship has certainly associated partners with Allah in the oneness of lordship, without doubt. Associating partners with Allah in worship necessitates associating partners with Allah in lordship; I am certain of this. So the focus is on the oneness of worship. As for the oneness of lordship, it exists in the fitrah (the innate natural disposition); it is ingrained in the fitrah, and no one denies it.
But whoever associates partners with Allah in servitude and worship has not associated partners with Allah in lordship, yes. And therefore the Messengers, peace and blessings be upon them, only call to the oneness of worship, because that is the tawhid (the oneness of Allah) that is required; it is the tawhid that Allah commanded people to follow.
O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْIt is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُThe Messengers say to their people, "O my people, worship Allah." This is a call to the oneness of worship, and it includes the oneness of lordship. Whoever acknowledges the oneness of worship has acknowledged the oneness of lordship, a fortiori. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، هل المشركون في الجاهلية كانوا يشركون في توحيد الربوبية؟ للشيخ الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.